What is manga?

Manga is a distinctive style of comics originating in Japan. The creator of manga is known as mangaka.

This art form can be traced back to the “Chojugiga” (Scrolls of animals), drawn by Kakuyu (1053 – 1140). And it gradually developed as a narrative form in the hands of Hokusai Katsushika (1760 – 1849). Manga’s popularity increased after the end of World War II.

What sets manga apart from cartoons is that it is published only in serial form. Appearing in instalments in magazines, manga doesn’t give the entire story in one go to keep readers coming back for more.

How to read manga

Beginners might find it hard to read traditional manga as it reads from right to left (while English reads from left to right). So the pages turn in the opposite direction.

Manga are categorised by genre and content – shoujo for teen girls and shonen for adolescent boys. All manga for young readers are classified as kodomo.

The popularity of manga has given rise to doujinshi (“fan art’). Doujinshi is manga created by fans. Like any other fan fiction, it is written by fans, who use their own imagination to take the story forward or in a different direction.

Characteristics

Done in pen and ink, manga drawings are usually black and white. Although every artist brings her unique touch, the drawings lay emphasis on clean lines.

Most characters have large, almond –shaped eyes, while the rest of their body is comically out of proportion.

Popular works

  • Written and illustrated by Akira Tonyama, the “Dragon Ball” manga series was published from 1984 to 1995. The manga was adapted into an anime (animation) and the story became an international success. It follows the adventures of Goku who is in search of Dragon Balls.
  • “Deadpool: Samurai” is a manga series by Sanshirou Kasama and Hikaru Uesugi, based on Marvel’s comics.
  • “Death Note”, a complex psychological thriller manga running to 12 volumes, has also been adapted into an animated film.
  • “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind” by Hayao Miyazaki is a captivating tale about an ecological catastrophe.
  • “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train” directed by Haruo Sotozaki, has become the highest grossing animated film, breaking the record held by “Spirited Away.”

DID YOU KNOW?

The manga industry is protected under Japanese law. So books cannot be sold for less than their cover price, even online.

 

Picture Credit : Google

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