Japanese Anime and Manga Essay Example

on his own creation, Tetsuwan Atom, also known as Astro Boy. This animated program marked the inception of a regular series containing a recurring cast engaged in fictionalized stories. Featuring the adventures of a robotic boy crusading against crime and defending his associates, Tetsuwan Atom was based on Tezuka's manga series by the same title. Its immense popularity led to its distribution worldwide. 1977 saw the release of Uchi?? enkan Yamato, aka Space Cruiser Yamato, the first ever animated movie to attain massive success with teenagers and adults in Japan. Prior to this milestone, animation was typically perceived as children's entertainment and held a status comparable to Disney cartoons in the West.

Japanese cinema has embraced the culture of anime, with Mononoke-hime (Princess Mononoke) becoming the top-grossing film in history since its release in 1997. The unique style of Japanese manga and anime is easily recognizable and characterized by vividly hued hair and big eyes. However, this portrayal varies greatly, from Miyazaki Hayau's gentle figures to L. Matsumoto's "ugly" heroes with uneven drawings.

The style of storytelling in Japanese comics is noticeably distinct from that of Western comics, characterized by greater uncertainty and a lesser focus on heroic figures. A prime example is the Pokemon movie, where the dialogue had to be modified for its release in the United States to provide greater clarity distinguishing the "villains" from the "heroes". In contrast to the West, the most coveted Pokemon T-Shirt in Japan features Pikachu, an adorable character from the show that exceeds sales of those highlighting Ash, the protagonist of the program.

The difference in emphasis on heroes in Western animation is shown here, as well as

the contrasting themes in anime. While death and romance can be depicted in Japanese TV anime shows, they are often removed from American versions deemed unsuitable for children. A prime example is "GoLion" ("Voltron"), which deleted references to a main character's death in the U.S. version.

Anime and manga depict everyday life in Japan, often featuring scenes of students in class or people working in their offices. Although some Western children may find these themes uninteresting, the genres cater to all types of people, including corporate bosses with manga about executives stopping hostile takeovers. Kathleen Kennedy, the executive producer for Steven Spielberg's The Lost World: Jurassic Park, has acknowledged the influence of anime on Western movies. Spielberg's film-making process resembles the composition of an animated film where visuals precede the story, similar to how computer-generated images in Hollywood films are essentially computer-drawn animations. Thus, anime has become a major inspiration for successful animated movies enjoyed by both adults and children, such as Toy Story and Antz.

Anime and manga have gained massive popularity worldwide, including within Japan. Western-made anime films like Titan A. E. further demonstrate the growing trend. Iconic anime series like Pokemon, Sailor Moon, and Dragon Ball have all been incredibly successful across the globe.

It appears that Japanese animation will maintain its success for an extended period.