A Brief History…

To begin with, Anime is the most common word used to refer to Japanese animation. Fans (otaku) use Anime to refer to television shows and movies. Manga is the graphic novel/comic book  form. Japanese history is rich with graphic novels and animated films. They stand apart from American cartoons in three major respects. The first is the artistic style is very different from western-Disney-esque animated style. Secondly, Anime and Manga are aimed largely at adults and teenagers. Thirdly, Manga often deals with harsh subjects, such as rape, abuse, mental illness, violence, etc. If you are expecting Superman or Archie, you will be quite surprised. It is surmised that 75% of Anime films and TV. shows made are based on Manga, which are unbelievably popular in Japan. For this reason I will focus on Manga; if you like it, you can probably find the Anime to watch, too!

In the late 1990s Anime and Manga began to gain ground with American teenagers, with the release of Akira, Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z, and the like. Many companies outside of Japan are now issuing translated Manga in multi-volume sets at an increasing pace. In many cases they are not flipping the images and leaving the manga in the original right to left format (meaning the American must read the book ‘backwards’). Most readers have little trouble reading un-flipped Manga.

Definitions

There are several different genres of Manga. Action/Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction, etc. But there are several genres that are refered to by Japanese words, and so I will give a brief definition of them before we get the Manga series themselves!

 

Shojo- This genre is aimed at teenage girls. It is typified by romance, passion, girl friendships, and enough misty-eyed drama to give day-time soaps a run for their money.

 

Shoujo-ai- Literally means "girl love", and has been adapted to denote lesbian relationships. This can also be action/adventure, shojo, etc. It can also be called Yuri, which means it will be more erotic or pornographic in nature.

 

Shonen-ai- “Boy love”. This can be found in shojo, action, horror, etc. This genre is very popular with girls. Yaoi is the more erotic/pornographic genre.

 

Hentai- Now this is pornography. In Japan ‘live’ pornography is illegal, so there is a ton of this on the market. Beware of Blue Girl is all I’m saying!

Annotated Bibliography of Manga

G-Rated (for younger children)

Card Captor Sukura

by CLAMP (Pika): A very good ‘Magical Girl’ genre series by CLAMP. The main character Sakura is put in charge of collecting several magical cards which begin to cause trouble for people in her neighborhood. Sakura gets help from her best friend Tomoyo and from the super guardian beast Kero. There are a couple of fun twists that make this series unique and humorous. This is a good series for kids, but parents will want to be aware that the Japanese version has no less than three very obvious same sex crushes between major characters.

Sailor Moon

by Naoko Takeuchi (TokyoPop): Sailor Moon is a ‘Magical Girl’ genre series that has been incredibly popular in Japan. Tsukino (Serena) Usagi, a likeable but clumsy crybaby, who is also Sailor Moon, and her friends the Sailor Scouts. The premise is that centuries ago there was a kingdom upon the moon ruled by Queen Serenity that was attacked by an enemy, and to protect her daughter and her court, the Queen sent them into the future to Earth, without their memories. There is no foul language, the violence is comic and the only nudity is implied in the stock transformation sequence. There is kissing and romantic sequences, but nothing distasteful. Again, there is a same-sex  romance in the series, between two of the scouts, Sailors Uranus and Neptune.

The Flame of Recca

by Nobuyuki Anzai (VIZ Media LLC): This is a fighting series, but not too graphic. Recca Hanabishi is a normal high school student who discovers he has some unusual abilities- like he can shoot flame from his hands. He meets a girl named Yanagi who has healing powers, and a mysterious woman named Kage Houshi. Recca also faces evil forces - Kurei, a man who shares Recca''s ability, and his father, who wants Yanagi in order to gain immortality. This is a great series for kids who liked Dragon Ball Z and Yuu Yuu Hakusho.

Fruits Basket

by Natsuki Takaya (TokyoPop): One of my personal favorites! Tohru Honda is a homeless, orphaned high school student who, through a strange turning of fate,  gets to move into the house of the cutest boy in school, Yuki Sohma, in exchange for doing the house work. The Sohmas have a big secret- each one is cursed by the spirit of an animal from the Chinese zodiac, and turn into that animal whenever they become weak or are hugged by a person of the opposite sex. The Sohmas are controlled by the head of the family, Akito. Tohru’s influence slowly teaches each member of the family of their own goodness, and that each of them can be loved. One of the most popular manga series in the world, and one of my favorites. No bad language, nudity, or violence (though there is some pretty funny innuendo!)

Kodacha: Sana’s Stage (Child’s Toy)

by Miho Obana (TokyoPop): Sana is a hyper-energetic child star who tries to ‘fix’ the problems of everyone around her. She and Akito, the school bad-boy, start out as enemies but quickly become something very different. This is a wonderful series- hilarious, touching, with a good story line.

Ranma ½

by Rumiko Takahashi (VIZ Media LLC): This is the story of a boy, Ranma Saotome, who has fallen into a cursed spring. Now when he is doused with cold water, he is transformed into the form of the girl that drowned in the spring 1500 years ago. Doused with hot water, he changes back to his original male form. The story starts with Ranma moving into the Tendo household where he finds he has been betrothed to Akane Tendo, the youngest daughter with tomboy tendencies. Both appear to resent the engagement and much mayhem results. This is a fun and popular series and very suitable for children.

Trigun

by Yasuhiro Nightow (Dark Horse): Trigun is an excellent comedy series!! The hero, Vash the Stampede, is an outlaw with a fortune on his head. However, he has a strong principle of not taking a human life, so all of the damage and casualties that follow in his wake are caused by the people after the reward. Vash is being followed by two insurance agents, Meryl and Millie, who are there to try and stop all the damage that is driving up insurance rates! Lots of gun-fighting but very little gore.

Everybody Else

Shojo

Fushugi Yugi (The Mysterious Play)

by Yu Watase (VIZ Media LLC): This is more PG than G-rated. This story is about  Miaka, a junior high student who gets sucked into the book ‘The Universe of the Four Gods’- and ends up in ancient China where she becomes the priestess to the god Suzaku! In order to save the country of Hong-Nan, and also to go home, Miaka must assemble twelve celestial warriors. Complications? Her best friend Yui, was also sucked in to the book, but has been manipulated into hating Miaka and is now her enemy! The added complication is Miaka has fallen desperately in love with Tamahome, one of the warriors sworn to protect her. This story focuses on love, friendship, and perseverance. The only thing that parents might find questionable is the fact that Yui was raped when she entered the book, and she hates Miaka for not protecting her. This really is a fabulous (and extremely popular) series.

Kare Kano

by Tsuda Masami (TokyoPop): Yukino has always been the top student in her school. Pretty, athletic, smart- she is the most popular person in school. But, she does it all to satisfy her own vanity and need to be the best! But everything changes in high school, where she is booted into 2nd place by Soichiro, a boy who is better than her at schoolwork, sports, and actually is nice! The rivalry gives way to close friendship, which quickly becomes love. It turns out Soichiro has a history that is covered in shadows, and by loving and helping him, Yukino becomes the person she has always wanted to be. Very romantic, very dramatic, and very long!

Mars

by Fuyumi Soryo (TokyoPop): Rei, a high school trouble maker and professional motorcycle racer, and Kira, the ultra-shy artist, find in each other someone to help them deal with the serious family issues each has experienced. When I say problems, believe me, I mean it- everything from suicide to molestation. And yet we see the innocent love these two share transform each into a better, more whole person. Very dramatic, and very addictive series.

Paradise Kiss

by Ai Yazawa (TokyoPop): A short series (only five volumes), but a great one for girls who love fashion. Yukari wants nothing more than to make her mother happy by studying hard and getting into a good college. One afternoon, however, she is kidnapped by a group of self-proclaimed fashion mavens calling themselves "Paradise Kiss." Yukari suddenly finds herself in the roller coaster life of the fashion world, guided by George, art-snob extraordinaire, and her first love. In a glamorous makeover of body, mind and soul, she is turned from a hapless bookworm into her friends’ own exclusive clothing model. Beautiful artwork and a moving, realist storyline.

The Wallflower

by Tomoko Hayakawa (Del Rey): This has got to be the funniest manga series I have ever read. The four hottest guys in Japan have a dilemma- they can get free rent to stay at this amazing western mansion, but only if they can convert Sunako, the landlady’s niece, into a ‘lady’. Yeah, right. Sunako is obsessed with horror, blood, gore, and when most people see her they think she is a ghost. Its hilarious and fantastic series!

Action

Full-Metal Alchemist

by Hiromu Arakawa (VIZ Media LLC): In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical ‘auto-mail’ limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his brother and himself, the legendary Philosophers Stone. One of the most popular series on the market today, and also a very popular television series on Adult Swim.

GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka

by Tohru Fujisawa (TokyoPop): Eikichi Onizuka, former motorcycle gang leader, has changed his life around completely to become a school teacher- the greatest school teacher ever! Or at least that was his plan. Now, he’s got to learn how to teach, and how to control his class in a school where the students have taken over, and have caused former teachers to have nervous breakdowns! This is a classic, and hilarious to boot. Definitely a guy’s series.

Inu-Yasha

by Rumiko Takahashi (VIZ Media LLC): Kagome is a high school student who falls down a well and discovers she is in an ancient and mythical Japan! There, Kagome discovers that legends can be true, and that she is connected to past in more ways than she ever could have imagined. Her destiny is linked to one legendary creature, Inu-Yasha, a half-dog/half-human demon. That same trick of fate also ties them both to the Shikon Jewel, also known as ‘The Jewel of Four Souls’. Any demon who possesses the smallest shard of the jewel will instantly acquire unimaginable power! A famous and popular series, typical of the action genre.

Tsubasa

by CLAMP (Del Rey): Syaoran and his friends are on a quest to retrieve the magically potent feather-shaped shards of Princess Sakura’s memory, his childhood best friend and secret love. The search is multi-dimensional and they travel to many universes. Twist? In order to regain the memories of his beloved princess, the price Syaoran has to pay is that she will never remember him. This story is filled with action, fast-paced, and beautifully written. It is funny and heart-warming at the same time. An excellent series!

XXXHolic

by CLAMP (Del Rey): I really enjoy this series! Watanuki is an interesting boy- he has the power to see spirits and they continuously go after him! Fate leads him to Yuko, the Time-Space witch, who has the power of granting wishes…for a price. Yuko agrees to grant Watanuki’s wish (to stop seeing spirits); in return he must work as her indentured servant, and work in her shop, helping her grant the wishes of others. An interesting, complicated plot, that weaves in with another Clamp series, Tsubasa. Fantastic artwork, funny, and thought-provoking.

Gorgeously Bloody (Horror)

Hellsing

by Kouta Hirano (Dark Horse):  A secret war brews in the night, and in this war humans are only pawns! The Hellsing Organization deploys in the shadows to protect the mortal world from vampires. All of a sudden, artificially spawned vampires have appeared, forcing Hellsing to unleash their greatest weapon- the rogue vampire Alucard! I would classify this series under Horror. If you want blood, death, violence, gore, foul language and sex, this is what you want! Exquisite artwork.

X/1999

by Clamp (VIZ Media LLC):Kamui Shiro is a young man who was born with the power to decide the fate of the Earth- a destiny he can barely bring himself to believe. But as other players in the prophecy begin to gather around him- the “Seven Seals”, with the power to protect the Earth, and the “Seven Harbingers”, who are fated to destroy it- he has no choice to come to terms with his fate- including the inevitable destruction of the people he loves. Gorgeous artwork, spectacular sword fights, intricate storylines, and all the blood you can handle.

Further Resources

• Anime, Manga, & Japanese Popular Culture Research at http://www.animeresearch.com
• AnimeNfo at http://www.animenfo.com/
• Anime Tourist at http://anime-tourist.com/index.php
• Comicoplis Bookstore at http://www.comicopolisonline.com/
• The Librarian's Guide to Anime and Manga at http://www.koyagi.com/Libguide.html
• Anime Café at http://www.abcb.com
• Books about Manga
• Allison, A. (2000). Permitted and Prohibited Desires.University of California Press
• Gravett, P. (2004).Manga : 60 Years of Japanese Comics. Collins Design.
• Kinsella, S. (2000).Adult Manga: Culture and Power in Contemporary Japanese Society. University of Hawaii Press
• Schodt, F.L . (1996).Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga. Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press.
• Schodt, F.L. (1983). Manga! Manga!: The World of Japanese Comics. Tokyo, New York, London: Kodansha International.

 

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