Manga is Japan’s style of comics or graphic novels. This style was developed in the late 19th century in Japan, although elements of it predate artistic elements found in the 12th century. Within Japan, manga refers to comics and cartoons but outside of the United States it serves as an umbrella term for comics published in Japan. Manga has been incredibly popular in Japan for a while, but more recently is also growing in popularity in the United States – leading to further interest in Japanese culture in general.
One element of manga is that you read it right-to-left instead of the typical left-to-right. Usually manga is printed in black and white, although there are some books and series that come in color. Usually manga comes in series that is divided into volumes, with a long story line centered around a common hero or heroine. Some manga is printed in magazines, this style of publication booming alongside the Russo-Japanese war of the early 20th century.
There is a difference between manga and anime. Manga is printed, while anime is animated. While both are a part of Japanese culture, they are not the same thing. However, a lot of anime is inspired by manga and can use the same characters or themes.
Manga is created with different targeted demographics. Shojo manga is aimed at tween and teenage girls, as it often revolves around drama, growing up, and romance. Shojo manga is less focused on action, and instead has more focus on the drama of a developing story line. Sailor Moon is a very famous example of shojo manga.
Shonen is a manga targeted towards tween and teenage boys – also focusing on friendship, coming of age, but with a focus on action and adventure as well. Dragon Ball is a very well-known example of the shonen genre of manga.
Kodomomuke manga is aimed for young children. This genre has cute stories with fun themes and lessons for the children to learn. Pokemon is an example of kodomomuke manga that is known all over the world for the animated series that came from it.
Seinen manga is a genre that contains mature content for adults. The themes of violent acton, sex, and other darker themes are common in seinen manga. Seinen manga usually features male protagonists who have to accept the fact that the hero can’t always save the day. One of the most popular seinen mangas is Akira which was also adapted into an anime.
Writer: Kayley Hill
