Manga and Anime

Manga or Japanese comics are deeply ingrained in Japan's society, possibly making an impact internationally. Today it's an established part of the entertainment industry world, in forms of corporations, publishers, and production teams, most of which are located in Japan's capital, Tokyo. Where manga has revved up its publicity worldwide, animated manga or anime (pronounced "ann ni may" from the French word "Animé") having been released as films, video and series on television, having a larger exposure through such media. Hopefully the following paragraphs will include some points that have influenced and shaped the way how anime is what it is today.

Oh My Goddess! - The three main characters from left to right are
Skuld, Belldandy and Urd All the main characters in the popular television series Sailor Moon

Some differences between western comics and cartoons to manga and anime are that characters seem to be portrayed with some unique traits: having egos with personalities, in a somewhat genial, hearty, honourable, (though some in an artifical) way. Some anime seem to combine empathic storytelling, action and animation, to make it somehow appealing to be enjoyed in a bent way. In Japan the readership and viewing of manga is high, where people can be seen reading in many places. There are many different genres in both anime and manga, too.

The target for anime and manga aren't limited to children only, where demographics and wide acceptance of adults, given the various genres provided, when compared to superhero American comics genre. Some plots created have touched on relevant issues such as medicine or art to the casual reader to flick through. In Japan, high percentage of readership too, might be the result of families preferring their children engaging in such activity, rather than physically engaging activities, namely sports.

Even a prime minister, in Japan and sumo wrestler view manga.

There are reasons why that would be the case of manga readership. This can be traced back to its use in Japan's feudal period, as artistic entertainment. Initially manga were formed from paintings to depict situations of interpretations of gods and heaven and hell, class structures of the Japanese society at the time (samarai, merchants, scholars, farmers), and animals. During the 17th century after the first Americans ships landed in Japan such paintings consolidated to Zen pictures - pictures with a serious sense of spirituality. These were printed from wood press, where printed paintings were carved from wood, similar to how lino prints are developed today. Some pictures capture the moods of people in the form of characters seeking a bit of fun - sexual misdemeanours to perhaps a stress release to escape the rigidness of Japanese society. During this period merchants were able, free and were able to invest provide cheaply these paintings for entertainment, obviously having an effect to the readership during that era, influencing current high manga readership, manga being an amalgam past popular different picture painting styles during the country's feudal period to what it has evolved to today.

Aside from examining readership it seems too that plot emphasis is different in manga, where more is placed on highlighting emotion aspect of characters, reflections of how a character is feeling from his/her actions and thoughts too, perhaps a momentary reflection on his or her past, present and future. Another thing that seems evident in anime is spontaneity, stressed out heavily when characters display feelings of sadness and sorrow, where this might be important as the plot progresses. Other issues raised in plot targeted for adults have been loneliness where this seems to be the case in Japan and many other increasing reliant technological societies. Issue of metamorphosis have too been appeared time and again in anime and manga. Often characters in cold and rigid societies become alternative beings with supernatural powers, avoiding their 'normal' lives probably being monotonous and dreary to them or used to fix a problem which require the power of the alternative being(s).

Certainly it seems that, manga and anime has diversified whether plots are well constructed, too.

To other things about manga, particularly the physical casing is unique when compared to the magazine format of American comics. Formats of the size being slightly smaller than A4 are used in circulating American comics, on the other hand, manga is presented in binded book and magazine formats roughly about ten times the thickness of a weekly D.C. comic. Manga artists also place greater attention and expand graphical details within dramatic situations/scenarios per frame, where more pages are required, making a manga pictorial much thicker than an American comic. Within these manga "magazines" are a variety manga produced by different artists, where most are presented in episodes.

With commercialism up in educational institutions, factories, public transport, and possibly (?) ramen shops, ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) too, a growing trend manga, as an advertising tool seems to moving into the wider community today within Japan. TV being introduced in Japan in 1960's, has given anime an outlet to make such serials popular, screening daily. During those times, political climate in the country, involved ceding military and government control to the U.S. where some structures were set, where one of them was Mickey Mouse, probably having some influence on serials of manga and anime in Japan, as to it is today.

Given the advent of technological improvements in the 20th century, alterations of both anime and manga must be credited to many talented artists, where some have developed plots involving fantasy with modern technology, others of futuristic worlds with characters using "mecha" robotics. Plot that dealt with anything robotic have been coined with the label of "mecha", where probably the labeling was done internally in Japan. Others have endeavoured to develop sophisticated plots, diversifying into themes such as sports, action, romance, comedy, including original themes into hard core pornography, erotica, or a mixture of genres. Horrific genres and sexually explicit ones - hentai have added a new dimension to manga and anime as well.

Pokémon Keychain Figurines - Mass marketing of the popular worldwide children anime
series "Pokémon"

There's a inherent richness in anime, I believe that is somewhat related to previous and present daily undertakings and events the creators have during their lifetime. Take away the sincerity of moods integral to characters interact to each other, intense asian mannerisms coupled with (exaggerated, awkward, personal & sensitive) moments while responding in (delicate, touchy, absurd, helpless or various) circumstances, and along with the musical arrangement provided, would devastate and scrap the enjoyment, anime provides. This is why I believe why people are drawn to anime; not only the offer of satisfaction of complex plot, and that they can relate to it in some way or another, it's the psychological impression characters give, that can stir raw emotion within.

With the advent of television, the use of different perceptive views by Osumu Tezuka, blending thoughts of characters gave a new aspect to anime in the 1980's, who became an influential artist within the industry. Personally terming as his "cinematic effects", a scheme in allowing focal points for particular scenes to be shown in a different way was done by him, where dynamic changes in backgrounds occur, changing from one colour to another when characters show dramatic change of thought or speech or react to a situation (such as in Astroboy). The industry also changed the way frames were used after his method made a lasting impression to readers and viewers, given its greater flexibility in presenting and emphasising thoughts of characters. Many anime production companies have used the techinque to great effect, but it seems that characters now seem to assume a certain American flatness both distinctively seen in the character apperance and attitude, unfortunately.

Camping out on the streets of Japan: People camped overnight to purchase tickets for the
first Evangelion movie. Queues were up to 500 metres long

I've found when comparing catagories of western comics and cartoons to manga and anime, satisfaction and intricate plots exist in some anime, and have seen dreadful manga and anime as well. The successful ones are publicised moderately to the rest of the world. Csupo/Nickelodean have been successfully in Rugrats, and the Superman's death and revival (D.C. Comics), in the western entertainment industry. Probably the language barriers and culture has a lack of in roads in manga and anime, outside Asian countries. The latest venture between Walt Disney studios and the Tokuma Group (an alliance of Japanese publishing corporations) of distributing of Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke), might be it, through mainstream cinemas outlets.

If you're interested in exploring anime/manga in Japan, an understanding and having command in kanji of Japanese language at an intermediate level is required. Perhaps only a few non popular manga and anime features are subtitled or dubbed and are available outside Japan. The interest on anime outside Japan, seems steady, where subtitled or dubbling facilities in foreign countries has increased the coverage marginally, too.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: An fragile moment between Rei Ayanami and Gendo Ikari Neon Genesis Evangelion: Eva-01, an evangelion(bio-mecha robot) with Shinji Ikari
inside, in action Neon Genesis Evangelion: Enquiry of Horaki Hikari(Black haired girl)
to Asuka Langley-Souryuu(Red-haired girl)

There are similarities how the Japanese industry handles its production from their counterparts around the world. Both anime and cartoon teams put effort in creating graphical, technical designs. Plots in anime and manga aren't at all times centred on characters, some place attention to physical objects or manifestations man-handled by particular character(s) and some have strange ideals too, as in Neon Genesis Evangelion. When handled by the character this alters the character(s) in some way, especially in forms when the character(s) enacts some transformation to it, he or she with the object when focussing on the object.

Behind the screen producting of anime, slight deviation exists from what's done in western cartoon companies. Management, in Japanese production teams company wise are allowed to sometimes direct, coordinate and assemble anime by themselves. Music and sound compositions too, which flow well in anime, are dealt similarly how other cartoon productions are done across the globe. The original creator, in anime in generating the plot, has a large say and controls production, where the artist directs a character's action personally and how characters should act, having artistic control over the content. The result is in an anime production, minor technicalities of colour and shade layouts, backgrounds, matching music and sound effects surrounding the plot, are more than likely directed by the artist, and executed by his or her assistants. This is unlike syndicated productions in the U.S., where the control normally lies with the syndicated publishing houses, having the final judgement in deciding in the development and output of a cartoon whether a movie or a serial should be released, pending a review by the publishing house.

Deep plots seem much evident in some quality anime, where a character personalities can change, to express a greater range of emotions, over the course of a plot. I do admit, though that I find it interesting to view some anime with complex and interesting plots. Sometimes morals are offered in too, which at times are a bit puzzling. Aside from that, I feel that the parts of the industry has so far served the its aim to bring intrigue and entertain to viewers. Both anime and manga have presenting to viewers some insight of the interactions (albeit a one dimension representation) of the Japanese people. Also some ideas have been reciprocated back to Hollywood's film and television producers. Such a theme spawning from them, has been the Star Wars series. Some might shun this credit to the manga and anime world.

One of the troubling uses of manga has been its use in the past AUM Shinrikyo (headed by Shoko Asahara) and other similar doomsday sects texts, possibly giving them some leverage in exposing themselves and practices to the horror of the public of Japan. Authorities have so far reduced and have cracked down these forms of manga, knowing the lure for more Japanese citizens, into the cult underworld tremendous negative reprecussions to its society; who knows recruitment of present cult followers into practising terrorist activities could be done by targeting young children, via manga possibly. A sad thought, really.

The scope of manga and anime continues to draw in more of the world's audience as it spreads, showing many facets of Japan, both present and past. To conclude, there are still many pondering questions, where hopefully entry of a more creative, dynamic range of anime (and manga) will be added to the present large and diverse collection, allowing it to grow and develop to enthral many in years to come. This last question remains to be seen.

Text Copylefted: 1998-2001 Spirowal

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