Comments on: Is Pursuing American Anime and Manga Viable or Pointless?

By: Prof. Rasah

Prof. Rasah — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:28:54 +0000

@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

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:19:32 +0000

@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!

By: AAnna

AAnna — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:13:53 +0000

…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.

By: Prof. Rasah

Prof. Rasah — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:05:41 +0000

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?

By: mykeyoung

mykeyoung — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 03:59:57 +0000

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.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:32:43 +0000

@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.

By: Kidan

Kidan — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:53:27 +0000

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…

By: mike

mike — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 03:20:28 +0000

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!!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:43:42 +0000

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.

By: JO

JO — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 07:45:24 +0000

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.