This was an important event in the development of manga. Image via YouTubeįollowing World War II, Japan found itself under the occupation of the United States. Anime is usually, but not always, the animated version of manga.ĭragon Ball is perhaps the most famous manga-turned-anime out there. Outside Japan, “manga” is used to describe comics only while “anime” covers cartoons and animated comics of many kinds. This is why, historically speaking, there could be many early examples referring to the aesthetics and narratives used in modern-day manga. In Japanese, the term “manga” can refer to all kinds of cartooning, comics and animation, as it is composed of two kanji - “man”, meaning “whimsical or impromptu” and “ga”, meaning “pictures”, together forming 漫画. Inside Katsushika Hokusai’s Manga books, said to be among the first examples of the comics form in history.
In 1814, it showed up again, as the title of Aikawa Mina’s Manga hyakujo and the celebrated Hokusai Manga books of drawings by the famous ukiyo-e artist Hokusai. During the Edo Period (1603-1867), another book of drawings, Toba Ehon, embedded the concept of manga, yet the term itself was first used in 1798, to describe the picture book Shiji no Yukikai (Four Seasons) by Santō Kyōden. In fact, their technique of drawing a characters’ legs to simulate running was adopted by many manga-ka (manga makers and comic book artists) working today.
What many believed were the very first manga in Japan appeared in the 12th and 13th century, in a series of drawings like frogs and rabbits titled Choju-giga (Scrolls of Frolicking Animals) produced by several artists. Image via Īlthough modern manga came to be amid an expansion of artistic creativity during the US occupation of Japan between 19, their origins can be traced centuries back. What is manga and what makes it still so beloved and trendy?Įxamples of Shukan Shonen, one of the most selling manga magazines in Japan. Part of the “otaku” (“nerd”) culture, these comics have been a major player in the country’s publishing industry, creating a robust market, reaching millions of readers of all ages and influencing a number of works of comic book art in a variety of other nations.įrom history and teenage romance to futuristic science fiction and profound themes of life, manga became an important, almost inevitable aspect of Japan’s identity and they helped spread knowledge and understanding of it across the planet.įocusing on creating a unique aesthetic and alluring narratives, they often evolve into anime and even cosplay, remaining constantly popular within their ever-growing community and collectors. With a long history deeply rooted in the rich Japanese art, manga are one of the most fascinating phenomena in Japan and the whole world.