DE-MYSTIFYING MANGA
Pamela Jayne & Krista King-Oaks 2014 KPLA Spring Conference DEFINITIONS TO KNOW
• Comic Strip: A short sequence of 1 page or less • Comic Book: Serialized comics appearing in a magazine- sized booklet • Graphic Novel: Novel –length comics or a collection of comic books that tell a single narrative arc appearing in book form • Manga: Stylized Japanese graphic novel in which both page and panels are read right to left. • Anime: Animation of Japanese origin that can share both style and narrative tropes with manga. Not to be confused with a book; is television or film format.
MANGA VS. ANIME
Manga = Text/Book Anime = TV/Film MANGA
• Whimsical comic • Illustrations in black & white • Read right to left • Serialized • Multiple Genres • Multiple ages/audiences
ANIME
• Derived from English word “animation” • “Japanimation” • Feature films to manga adaptations
READING WESTERN COMICS VS. MANGA
Western Eastern Reads: L R Reads: RL (“backwards”) Usually in full color Usually in black and white More square panels More fluid layout More varied art styles Defined by specific art style Third-person narrative First-person narrative More text heavy; narration Dialog and visuals move story
HOW TO READ MANGA VISUAL AID Image credit: http://www.mangaforkids.com/images/howto-spread.jpg MAJOR PUBLISHERS
Marvel Comics DC Comics Dark Horse Comics Image Comics IDW Publishing Gemstone Publishing Fantagraphics Kodansha Viz Yen Press
BLOGS TO FOLLOW
• Good Comics for Kids (School Library Journal) • No Flying No Tights • Graphic Novel Reporter • About.com Manga • Anime News Network
WEBSITES/APPS
Viz Media Yen Press Image Comics Dark Horse Comics Kaboom! Studios Marvel DC MANGA/ANIME RATINGS *Not necessarily comparable to Western age rating systems
AGE RATINGS
• Age Ratings Snapshot on Good Comics for Kids • http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/2011/10/25/question-tuesday-age-ratings-snapshot/
MANGA CATEGORIES
Kodomo Published for children Beginning readers through elementary school Limited appeal in American markets Titles not originally released as Kodomo can be released in US as all ages title CHILDREN’S MANGA
Pokemon Hikaru No Go Dragon Ball Z Beyblade Fairy Idol Kanon Yotsuba BROAD MANGA CATEGORIES
Shonen Shojo Boys, 10-18 years old Girls, 10-18 Focus on friendship Focus on friendship, love Adventures; coming of age Comedy Comedy Romance Sports Paranormal Sci-fi Shojo Beat Shonen Jump POPULAR SHONEN MANGA
•Bleach •Death Note •Fullmetal Alchemist
•InuYasha •Naruto •One Piece POPULAR SHOJO MANGA
•Dengeki Daisy
•Fushigi Yugi
•“Alice” series MANGA CATEGORIES
Seinen “Men’s comics” Geared towards older teens and adult men Realistic take on life More explicit violence, nudity and sex Fan service is common and more explicit Often gritty and realistic feel SEINEN MANGA TITLES
Black Lagoon Trigun Akira Berserk Neon Genesis Evangelion Oh My Godess MANGA CATEGORIES
Josei “Women’s comics” Geared towards older teens and adult women Realistic take on life – relationships and single women More explicit violence, nudity and sex Fan service is less common JOSEI MANGA TITLES
Butterflies, Flowers Ristorante Paradiso Honey and Clover Little Butterfly Don’t Blame Me Camera, Camera, Camera
MANHWA
Korean comics Read left to right
Bride of the Water God The Color of Earth Forest of Gray City Moon Boy 13th Boy
MANHUA
Chinese comics Reads right to left Appear both in full color and in black and white
The History of the West Wing Wild Life
IF YOU LIKE…
Action/Historical Fiction/Suspense: •Afterschool Charisma •Black Butler •D Gray-Man
Comedy: •The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzymiya •Ouran High School Host Club •Ranma One Half IF YOU LIKE…
Paranormal Romance: -Black Bird -The Earl and the Fairy -Rosario Vampire
Realistic Romance: -Ai Ore! -La Corda d’Oro -Toradora! POPULAR SERIES ADAPTATIONS PSSST…WE HAVE A SECRET…
You don’t have to be an expert, or even like manga or anime, to collect, advocate, and program with it in your library! QUESTIONS?
Krista King-Oaks Pamela Jayne
Children’s Programming Librarian Teen Librarian KCPL, Covington Branch BCPL, Main Library [email protected] [email protected] FURTHER RESOURCES
• Library Collections for Teens: Manga and Graphic Novels by Kristin Fletcher-Spear & Merideth Jenson- Benjamin, VOYA Press, 2011 – ISBN: 9781555707453 • Mostly Manga: A Genre Guide to Popular Manga, Manhwa, Manhua, and Anime by Elizabeth F. S. Kalen, Genreflecting Advisory Series by Libraries Unlimited, 2012 – ISBN: 9781598849387