This was something I posted on 9rules but wanted to get everyone’s opinion on:
Anime and manga are Japanese creations which have found a strong following in the States. But, will we ever see American-made anime and manga develop as big a foothold in the US as Japanese-made anime and manga?
Die-hard purists in the anime community refuse to acknowledge that anime or manga written or directed by an American can be just as good as anime from Japan. I’ve read reviews by fans who say Tekkonkinkreet- an awesome anime- was poorly done, due mainly to the fact American Michael Arias directed it.
Manga is also being written and drawn by American mangaka, and sometimes receive flack that their creations are a pale shadow compared to Japanese manga.
Are these opinions valid or are they a reflection of elitism stagnating growth in our community?
Americans, or Westerners in general, may never truly understand the Japanese perspective of anime/manga storytelling, being they weren’t immersed in it from birth. Yet, Americans who do become involved with either medium, can learn to create anime/manga with their own perspectives using the same style of storytelling.
Themes are important in anime, but isn’t it feasible to develop Western themes which will connect to those audiences in a more meaningful way? Moe means nothing to the average American and elicits feelings of revulsion among the more progressive who do know what moe is. It has no connection with mainstream US audiences except to serve as a reminder of how far feminism has come.
Each country has their own mythology and their own history which shape the archetypes in their storytelling. Is it possible to blend Japanese and American mythos to create something new which can still be labeled anime and manga?
Question:
Is pursuing American anime and manga viable or pointless?
*Is pursuing American anime and manga viable or pointless?*
Being the unashamed capitalist that I am, I have to say the market forces will determine that fact. Asking if any product is viable or pointless is basically forecasting for sales/production figures. All businesses that produce or sell something do that, and I’m certain someone somewhere (probably Del Rey, TokyoPop & Dark Horse for Manga) has probably run the numbers.
But from a strictly conceptual viewpoint, a defining feature of the terms Manga & Anime is that it is Japanese. Here, we would just call them comics and cartoons. In fact, my wife calls manga and anime, comics and cartoons.
Ultimately though, I think it boils down to an individual story rather than a broad classification. Is a story good enough to be published and sold–if so, then it needs to be produced, otherwise, it needs to be tossed aside or reworked.
Adam Warren’s ‘Empowered’ immediately came to mind when I read this. There’s even a comment in volume one about how his work is too manga for comic books and too comic book for manga. I personally love his work as a nice blending of the two.
The current generation of content creators largely grew up isolated from each other. Very little manga made it to the comic books shops and I’m guessing that not too many spider-men and supermen made it too Japan. The future content creators are growing up with both. I believe that the line between manga and comic book will get a LOT blurrier as that generation takes the reins.
In other words, there’s still a gulf between the two now, but it’s only a matter of time…I think how much time is the real question
@Kidan, but if American comics are done in the manga style and told the same way but with Western elements, what would that be? To me, that’s American manga, and if the manga must have the “American” in front of it to appease purists, so be it. It’d still be manga to me.
@McE, I agree with your point about the two styles slowly meshing. The way kids are growing up on manga instead of other comics is fascinating. American comics just don’t have the foothold that manga does at mainstream bookstores. I go and shop in three or more aisles of manga whereas comic books have maybe one shelf on the magazine rack.
I think the debate comes down to two things: how much of a cultural export is anime/manga versus an artistic product? If you consider anime and manga a cultural export, then, yes, pursuing American versions are pointless because in order for something to be a cultural export it needs that “authentic” label. If, however, you consider it an artistic product, then it isn’t pointless to pursue American anime and/or manga, as it will provide another artistic iteration which may or may not have value. Personally, I think it is worthwhile to pursue American anime/manga; IMO it’s artistic expression and there’s no “copyright” on how anime and manga are made (including packaging format, drawing style, storytelling).
Also, to piggyback on Kidan, if it sells than whose to say it’s pointless?
And to the people that think Tekkonkinkreet’s anime wasn’t good because of an American’s direction– you’re nuts! That’s like saying any foreign director of an American film is doing it a disservice, or that any J-rock band is horrible because rock music is an American invention, or that any Asian classical musician is horrible because classical music is a European invention…As you can guess, I could go on and on.
Until the level of care found in most Japanese manga is found in it American counterpart, I will respectfully decline. It’s just not in our blood yet. Perhaps in a generation, things will change, like Ichiro’s famous “thirty years” quote about Korea during the World Baseball Classic.
I agree with everyone who says it will be pursued in the future because now a generation has grown up with it. I think it isnt accepted today because otaku like anime/manga is japanese and different. We get to experience a new culture with a different look on life. We dont really want to read what we already did in history class.
I think the more American manga/anime becomes available, the more people will get accustomed to it and the lines that divide the two (American vs Japanese) will blur or disappear. With that said, there will always be those “purists” who will never call the work Americans produce “Manga”
For me the issue is a mute point. It was the work of Fred Gallagher “Megatokyo” that got me interested in manga in the first place and now I read manga produced by Japanese, Koreans, Canadians and Americans.
I love it all!!
Speaking of American Manga, has everyone noticed this tidbit of news from the NY Anime Festival?
http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=12547
The X-Men as shojo manga…not sure if I should be amused or scared…
@Rena, agreed that the anime style and form of storytelling are forms of artistic expression that no one owns the copyright on.
@JO, The level of care? Ouch! Isn’t that a slam to American mangaka in saying they have no quality control in their work?
@Andrew, who says we’ll be reading a manga about the American Revolution? Manga and anime already use themes from other cultures (the French Revolution, WW II: The European Front) what’s wrong with adding our spin to it? Yes, Civil War anime would be a bore, but who’s to say we can’t comment on other cultures in our voice?
@mike, yeah, purists will never accept that a Westerner could ever match their Japanese counterparts. Their loss; more for us!
@Kidan, okay, good example of what I wouldn’t do. Why take old American comic books, bring them back only to beat them to death in another country? Gahhhh! The X-men have had more reiterations than any other US comic books. That franchise is too bloated by far to even consider taking on another incarnation.
About the X-men comics, They got Dave’s name wrong. It’s Roman not Roma. Anyhoo both Dave and his wife Raina are very talented people in their own rights. Dave has written many comics http://www.yaytime.realmsend.com/postimages/flight_preview_small.jpg and Raina illustrates “The Baby sitters Club” graphic novels. http://www.goraina.com/ My daughter collects her books and i credit Raina for getting Lottie interested in reading!! Raina has a awesome weekly comic about getting her teeth knocked out as a child. Very much worth the read time!!
It will be interesting to see how they do with The X-men.
To user, Rachel: Speaking about American Revolution manga, I’m actually looking for one. I had seen the AnimeBoston 2006 themed mascots, who were dressed in for that time period, and I couldn’t get what seemed to me like an awesome idea out from my head. If anyone finds such a volume, please send a link!
But a contradiction. How would Civil War anime be boring?
…Yeah…Memoirs of a geisha. Completely Nihon other than the language. Sure there were some things…like the fact that it starred 3 chinese actresses…and it could be seen as some kind of steriotype, the whole thing but you know what? I’ll be damned if that wasn’t a freaking fantastic movie. Getting to the point, Americans have a chance at a japanese audience because of this logic. Countries influence eachother constantly. Nothing stops me from loving j rock or evil german techno all the same, especially loving manga made by an american. the key is to be appealing and skilled. My Cat loki is the cutest thing ever, the young artist really accomplished something there. She’s from massachusettes. >:D IMMA WRITE THAT DOWN! it’ll be on the shelves by 2014!!!!! Americans have a great chance at manga in this , if they have honest to god skill and determination. And satan’s help. …kidding.
@Prof. Rasah, Civil War anime would be a bore since any real war based fiction to me is depressing; unless it involves zombies and werewolves. But if any medium could make the Revolution interesting and entertaining, it’s anime!
@AAnna, determination and skill are key, plus an eye for the manga/anime mode of storytelling.
evil German techno rules!
@Rachel, most stuff written or taped about the Civil War, especially the school text books which censor themselves into sheer dullness, can’t even scratch the surface.
If they made a manga about just a small portion of the assassination attempts or the biggest manhunt in US history that resulted from the only successful plot towards President Lincoln, and if it were done carefully, then it could have the possibility of passing even Death Note in regard with suspense.
One needs to look back and find all the myths, legends, and so forth ghost stories and such, because most authors edit it all out, but you’ll find your taste. Zombies and werewolves, I’m sure they’re in there. Women disguising themselves as men to join the fight, stories like that, too!
But in the meantime, I’ll be very happy just by finding a Revolutionary War manga. XD