Week 10: Anime & Manga

Comics and Cartoons have always been popular here in the United States. Throughout the years it has become a part of popular culture; racking in millions at the box office and exposing people to new ideas. Similarly in Japan we take notice that Manga and Anime is the leading form of entertainment. Manga has been around Japan since the late 19th Century and has become one of the most influential forms of art around the globe. After World War II manga had become immensely popular in Japan, especially with the creation of Astro Boy. Manga and Anime blossomed in the states and have become inspiration for young artists everywhere. I believe it is important for artists to understand and appreciate the Japanese style and take inspiration from the thousands of stories that can range in genres such as Slice of Life or Fantasy. Although I don’t believe a young artist should dedicate themselves to learning solely how to draw Manga and Anime. Manga is known for its singular style, which can hinder the growth of an artist exploring their talents. A quick look at the popular Manga and Anime currently will show that the Japanese style has a foundation of what it should look like; very few Japanese artists break the mold. We can compare this to Disney’s animated features and how they must fill this mold in order to stay true to what Disney is. The downside of Manga is just that, throughout the thousands of stories and animated features, it becomes a blur of some sort, as if the nation wide style has become a little too cookie cutter in terms of it’s visuals that it almost feels as if every Manga is connected. Even though I believe Manga and Anime is a little too visually similar along its works I can still appreciate the stories they can tell. That’s what I believe artists should take inspiration from and that is the originality a lot of these stories hold. Since Manga and Anime cater to the needs of all age groups, artists and writers can explore darker tones in storytelling and generate ideas that are absolutely stunning and original. The world of Manga and Anime is vast and any artist should take their time to learn and appreciate what it holds and offers. Artists should take inspiration from the countless stories and apply it to their own works in order to grow as artists and storytellers.