An easily accessible A-Z guide to the world of Japanese anime and manga, Manga Impact details everything from world-famous movies to the very latest cutting-edge projects by emerging directors and animators. Thematic essays and directory-style entries on the most influential creators and characters in manga and anime are included in this book that covers acclaimed directors such as Miyazaki Hayao (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle) and Otomo Katsuhiro (Akira), as well as exhaustive background information on myriad TV series, studios and artists such as Pokemon, Studio Ghibli and Tezuka Osamu. Lavishly illustrated with a wealth of iconographic images and presented in a dynamic comic book design, Manga Impact is an essential reference book that will delight newcomers, fanboys and cineastes alike.
An exploration of anime’s masterpieces and game-changers from the 1960s to the present—with contributions from writers, artists, superfans and more. Anime—or Japanese animation—has been popular in Japan since Astro Boy appeared in 1963. Subsequent titles like Speed Racer and Kimba the White Lion helped spread the fandom across the country. In America, a dedicated underground fandom grew through the 80s and 90s, with breakthrough titles like Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira making their way into the mainstream. Anime Impact explores the iconic anime movies and shows that left a mark on popular culture around the world. Film critic and longtime fan Chris Stuckmann takes readers behind the scenes of legendary titles as well as hidden gems rarely seen outside Japan. Plus anime creators, critics and enthusiasts—including Ready Player One author Ernest Cline, manga artist Mark Crilley, and YouTube star Tristan “Arkada” Gallant—share their stories, insights and insider perspectives.
Discover Katsuhiro Otomo’s visionary work and post-Akira Japanese comic culture. The catalyst of an era, of a world that was unaware of its downfall, Katsuhiro Otomo’s visionary work marked a turning point in the industry. First, in his homeland, Japan, in terms of graphics and plot on an entire generation of post-Akira artists who adopted his attention to detail, his realism and his dizzying views. But above all with his international reach, which threw Japanese comic strips and animations into the limelight in numerous countries, by trampling the rest of the world’s notion that cartoons are exclusively for children. This book dives headfirst into the radioactive culture that is the creative power of Katsuhiro Otomo, from the mangaka’s— already explosive—beginnings, up to winning recognition for Akira. Discover the themes and influences of this fundamentally anti-establishment work by exploring its socio-economic or simply literary aspects. The author of the work analyzes the phenomenon, from its tiny seed to the mighty tree, and reveals why Akira is, above all, a purely Japanese series. This book will provide you with an analysis of the socio-historical context of Akira. It aims to help Western readers to better understand the escence of this graphic and narrative treasure. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rémi Lopez graduated with a degree in Japanese from Bordeaux III University. In 2004, he cut his teeth as an author when he wrote website columns on video game soundtracks. Two years later, he joined the Gameplay RPG magazine in which he carried out the same task. He then followed the then editor-in-chief, Christophe Brondy, and his entire team to a new project: the monthly Role Playing Game magazine. Rémi wrote The Legend of Final Fantasy VIII and the book on the Original Soundtrack for Pix'n Love publications in 2013.
Interest in comic books, graphic novels, and manga has never been greater, and fans of these works continue to grow around the world. From American superheroes like Superman and Spiderman to Japanese manga like Dragon Ball, there is a rich world of graphic storytelling that appeals to a wide range of readers—from young children just beginning to read to adults of every age who are captivated by dynamic illustrations and complex characters. Once dismissed as “just” for children, comic books are now appreciated for their vibrant art and sophisticated storylines. In Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Randall Bonser explores the history, evolution, diversification, and impact of graphic storytelling. This book looks at the origins of illustrated stories and how they evolved over the decades. A celebration and exploration of the rapidly growing world of comics, this book discusses such topics as the history of graphic storytelling, from cave drawings to zombie comics the impact of American superhero comics on popular culture diversity in comics the tools comic book and graphic novel creators use to communicate easy starting points for readers new to comics Featuring reviews of more than 90 graphic novels and popular manga series, this book provides recommendations of what teens should consider reading next. The author also provides a short course on how teens can create and distribute their own comics. For those who either want to start reading comics but aren’t sure where to start, or as a gateway for the comics enthusiast to explore a different graphic novel genre, Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga: The Ultimate Teen Guide provides a fun and fascinating introduction to these worlds.
Manga is more than a genre in the comics field: it is a vital creative medium in its own right, with hundreds of millions of readers worldwide, a host of graphic styles, and a rich history now spanning seven decades. Now for the first time, that history is told by an award-winning expert in the field. Covering topics from Akira to Mazinger Z, this book is fully illustrated throughout, and photos of key creators accompany accessible sidebars and timelines. Answering the key questions of any fan where did my favourite manga come from, and what should I read next? this book will open doors to neophytes and experts alike.
2022 Eisner Award Winner for Best Academic/Scholarly Work Japanese comics, commonly known as manga, are a global sensation. Critics, scholars, and everyday readers have often viewed this artform through an Orientalist framework, treating manga as the exotic antithesis to American and European comics. In reality, the history of manga is deeply intertwined with Japan’s avid importation of Western technology and popular culture in the early twentieth century. Comics and the Origins of Manga reveals how popular U.S. comics characters like Jiggs and Maggie, the Katzenjammer Kids, Felix the Cat, and Popeye achieved immense fame in Japan during the 1920s and 1930s. Modern comics had earlier developed in the United States in response to new technologies like motion pictures and sound recording, which revolutionized visual storytelling by prompting the invention of devices like speed lines and speech balloons. As audiovisual entertainment like movies and record players spread through Japan, comics followed suit. Their immediate popularity quickly encouraged Japanese editors and cartoonists to enthusiastically embrace the foreign medium and make it their own, paving the way for manga as we know it today. By challenging the conventional wisdom that manga evolved from centuries of prior Japanese art and explaining why manga and other comics around the world share the same origin story, Comics and the Origins of Manga offers a new understanding of this increasingly influential artform.
What do you get when you cross popular manga style with legends of mythology and folklore? Manga Magic! In this one-of-a-kind guide, beloved and prolific manga artist Supittha "Annie" Bunyapen (a.k.a. Ecthelian on deviantART) shows you how to put original spins on popular fantasy figures and creatures, with insight on everything from what they wear to where they dwell. Inside, you'll learn how to: • Develop fantastic characters--from basic anatomy to important details like hair and skin tones. • Design costumes fit for a goddess (or fairy, or Pan, or what-have-you) right down to armor, jewelry and footwear. • Color with confidence. Achieve various results using basic watercolor techniques, special effects and markers. • Set the scene with great backgrounds--from aerial views to underwater scenes. • Bring it all together, step by step. 20+ start-to-finish demos feature a variety of mythic characters, from wood nymphs and Golem, to multiple gods and goddesses. Whether you base your characters on traditional Greek mythology, Japanese folklore or fantastical renditions of your own imagining, this guide will lead you step by step through the creation of your own magical manga worlds!
The best fantasy manga drawing instruction...now with focus on fantasy! Manga artist and popular YouTuber, Mina "MISTIQARTS" Petrovic, helps you bring your wildest manga fantasies to life. Let your creativity loose as you learn how to draw hair that glows like a rainbow, animals that take human form, strange and outrageous scenery, and so much more. Following a friendly, step-by-step approach, you'll learn how to achieve the sleek, beautifully simple look of manga with a fantasy twist in no time. • Create your own unique manga fantasy characters, creatures and mascots • Design otherworldly fashions, fierce weapons, cool hairstyles and accessories • Put it all together into dynamic fantasy scenes and settings You'll find important basics on feature placement and body proportions, expert tips on everything from fixing mistakes to creating exciting compositions, and six start-to-finish demonstrations on drawing manga fantasy characters from sorcerers to samurai. This book has everything you need to strike the perfect balance in your art between compellingly believable and utterly fantastic.
Draw awesome manga characters and scenes just like the pros! Capture the excitement of manga in your drawings! Inside you'll find hundreds of dynamic illustrations for achieving the hot, action-packed look you want. Loaded with detail and over 40 step-by-step lessons, you'll learn the skills and tips you need to create amazing characters and scenes. From drawing characters in cool poses to exploring visual storytelling, Manga Madness will show you the way! Drawing basics such as shading, perspective and foreshortening Japanese terms, traditions and character types Quick tips for having fun and improving your work From pretty girls and rebellious heroes to space pirates and giant robots, you'll get fast results for your best manga drawings yet!
