Manga
A Report in EL 3127
Contemporary, Popular and Emergent Literature
Submitted to:
MARY GRACE A. SANTIAGO
Subject Instructor
Submitted by:
Mariel M. Danggalan
CHAPTER V: Introduction to Emerging Literatures
MANGA
A. Introduction
Manga is a Japanese art form that encompasses drawn cartoons, comic books, and graphic
novels. Manga is different from non-Japanese cartoon, comic books, and novels in a number of ways.
For starters, manga reads right to left, back to front. This means that the last page of a book or comic
in the West would be the first page of a manga. Next, according to Simon Richmond’s The Rough
Guide to Anime, “in their original Japanese form, manga magazines are mainly printed in black ink on
white or color-tinted pages on flimsy recycled paper. They will typically have four hundred or more
pages and contain a score of serialized and one-off stories.” Tezuka is considered the founder of
modern Japanese manga, and his comics that used cinematic techniques had a tremendous amount
of influence on postwar manga artists (Schodt, Manga!; Shimizu). Story manga became very popular
after World War II.
Manga shares its art style with anime, the characters have large eyes and large spiky haircuts,
that helps to distinguish them better. Manga is published in black and white, as opposed to western
comic books that are mostly in color. The main reason for this is because mangas are drawn by a
single person and are published weekly. Coloring them would take up too much time. Manga
chapters are published in various weekly magazines and are later collected in volumes.
There is a large number of genres present in the manga world, almost every single one you
can imagine. That is why their target audience mostly classifies them. There are five large groups in
total. We can start with shounen and shoujo. Shounen manga is for boys and is often action-packed
and adventurous with some comedic elements. Shoujo manga is aimed at girls often involves
romance and everyday life, although it does not shy from action and adventure as well. Seinen
manga is aimed at men and deals with adult themes, drama, violence, and even sexually explicit
material. Josei is written for women and deals with more mature themes than shoujo manga. It often
deals with relationships but from the view of an adult. Finally, kodomo is manga for little children.
Manga drawing styles range from characters with “enormous, expressive eyes and wacky
hairstyles,” to figures made up of a handful of squiggles to highly detailed, realistic images. “The
cinematic style of presentation” explains Richmond, “is common along with graphic ‘sound effects’
and speed lines to emphasize action.” Boys are characterized by jagged straight lines and girls are
presented in a more flowing and flowery style.
Manga stories are also slower in pace than Western-style comics are, with artists often
“lingering over particular incidents or details to create mood, stress a plot point or highlight a
particular action or emotion.” Finally, manga often feature multi-layered storytelling, long-running
plots, and complex, emotionally realistic characters. Examples of manga include Dragon
Ball, Fullmetal Alchemist, Princess Knight, Lone Wolf and Cub, and Hello Kitty. These titles may
sound familiar because you’ve probably seen the anime versions. According to Simon
Richmond’s The Rough Guide to Anime, around sixty percent of anime (Japanese animation) are
adaptations of already successful manga. This might be the reason many people confuse the two
mediums.
Though anime is increasing in popularity in the U.S. (and it's huge in Japan), manga is even
bigger—and it has always been. In fact, manga has been used to describe comical drawings for at
least two centuries in Japan. The “man” in manga can be read as meaning “in spite of oneself” or
“lax,” while “ga” means “picture,” explains Richmond. “The word’s invention has typically been
ascribed to the great Katshusika Hokusai (1760-1849), whose fifteen-volume collection of four
thousand humorous sketches entitled Hokusai Manga was published in 1814.” However, explains
Richmond, “Adam Kern, an associate professor of Japanese literature at Harvard University, links
manga’s coinage to Santo Kyoden, a kibyoshi artist who used the word in print in 1798.”
Fast forward to the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, manga became a mainstay of those
“chunky” monthly magazines such as Shonen Club. Popular strips, such as Norakuro by Suiho
Tagawa, about a puppy who signs up for the army, were compiled into hardback books selling over a
million copies. Says Richmond, “the process is identical today with the most successful strips and
serials from manga magazines and newspapers being collected into multi-volume paperback and
hardback books known as tankobon.” And, as mentioned, most manga are adapted into anime series
or films, and many even become live action movies.
B. Famous writer/author and sample works
1. Osamu Tezuka: Astroboy
This man has been dubbed “the father of manga,” as he spurred
the manga revolution in Japan. In addition to creating the
popular Astroboy series, he also penned the
unfinished Phoenix series before he passed away in 1989. His art
has an iconic cartoonish style that almost resembles the style of his
idol, Walt Disney.
2. Naoki Urasawa: 20th Century Boys
Naoki Urasawa was influenced by Tezuka’s revolutionary manga.
His manga has a very distinct appearance, and his stories are
impeccable. Urasawa is most famous for 20th Century Boys, a
manga that follows Kenji Endo and his companions. They seek to stop
a cult-leader by the name of “Friend” who aims to eliminate their
childhood memories.
3. Kentaro Miura: Berserk
Kentaro Miura created Berserk, a manga that went on to become one
of the most brutal anime of all time. His artwork will leave you in awe,
both because of its depiction of grotesque violence and its extreme detail.
Miura does an amazing job at shading, making each page worthy of
staring at for several minutes to admire his work.
4. Hirohiko Araki: Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure
Hirohiko Araki has one of the most unique art styles out of all the
mangaka. His characters’ faces are well-defined, with the male cast
having both a manly, yet glamorous appearance. Jojo’s Bizarre
Adventure is the prime example of Araki’s vibrant drawings. Better yet,
it’s now available in full color, allowing you to enjoy the supernatural plot and lively artwork even
more.
5. Junji Ito: Tomie
If you’re a horror fan, you’ll appreciate the work of Junji Ito. He’s
the horror king of manga, producing works so creepy that they’ll freak
out even the most stoic person.
Ito doesn’t write about the typical horror tropes like vampire and
zombies—he creates psychological thrillers that haunt you. Tomi, for
example, follows a manipulative succubus who triggers the deaths of
many men around her. Ito’s crisp art style will give you goosebumps.
6. Sui Ishida: Tokyo Ghoul
Sui Ishida incorporates watercolor into his art, making for an
unforgettable and beautiful style. The covers of Tokyo Ghoul encompass
this faint, pastel look, directly opposing the dark and gory plot of the manga.
You may not get the same watercolor look inside the manga, but the
artwork and plot are still just as noteworthy.
7. Go Nagai: Devilman
sGo Nagai was considered a controversial mangaka in the past. He
combines an innocent-looking art style with violent and risque themes.
However, his work isn’t considered scandalous today by any means.
Devilman is Nagai’s most popular manga. It follows a teenager who’s
been possessed by a devilish creature and must fight a war against his
fellow demons.
8. Eiichiro Oda: One Piece
What makes Eiichiro Oda so notable is his commitment to his
work. He’s written over 900 chapters of One Piece, and he still hasn’t
stopped. Oda’s quirky and charming art style makes his manga a fun read. Plus, any mangaka who’s
hasn’t run out of ideas (or hasn’t gotten tired of drawing the same characters over and over again)
demands respect.
9. Oneyusuke Murata: One Punch Man
Oneyusuke Murata combines a minimalist art style with utter complexity—you’ll especially see
this contrast in One Punch Man. He sometimes draws the protagonist, Saitama, with extreme
simplicity—in other scenes, he makes Saitama look lifelike.
10. Hiromu Arakawa: Fullmetal Alchemist
Not only is Hiromu Arakawa one of the most legendary mangaka
because of her artwork, but she’s also one of the most inspirational.
Arakawa has defied stereotypes—she wrote and drew a shonen manga, a
genre typically dominated by male mangaka. Fullmetal Alchemist is her
most famous work for its creativity and steampunk style. It’s versatile
enough to be enjoyed by manga and non-manga fans alike.
C. Summary: Astro Boy
Astro Boy is a 2009 computer-animated superhero film loosely based on the manga series of the
same name by the Japanese writer and illustrator Osamu Tezuka. It was produced by Imagi
Animation Studios, and directed by David Bowers, who co-wrote the screenplay with Timothy
Harris. Freddie Highmore provides the voice of Astro Boy in the film alongside the voices of Kristen
Bell, Nicolas Cage, Bill Nighy, Matt Lucas, Eugene Levy, Nathan Lane, Samuel L. Jackson, Charlize
Theron, and Donald Sutherland.
The film was released by Summit Entertainment. This was the last film produced by Imagi Animation
Studios before the company shut down on February 5, 2010. The film was first released in Hong
Kong on October 8, 2009, and in the United States on October 23, 2009. It received mixed reviews
from film critics and was a box office bomb, earning $42 million worldwide on a $65 million budget.
Title of the Literary Work: Astro boy by Osamu Tezuka
Type: Adventure, science fiction, superhero
SUMMARY
Starring Astro, Japan's first Superhero and a modern folk hero- an anime adaption for the new
century based on the seminal manga 'Astro Boy' by the 'God of Manga' Osamu Tezuka.
Astro Boy tells the story of a youthful robot boy - Astro - modeled after the deceased son of a
research scientist, Dr. Tenma. Originally intended to be kept a secret, the atomic-powered robot
becomes a reluctant superhero who fights for justice and peace for humans and robots alike. Created
in Metro City, he lives among a 'retro-futuristic' society populated by humans and robots. His creator
Dr. Tenma, head of the Ministry of Science, builds Astro in his son's image. Astro never can fill the
void that Dr. Tenma feels over the loss of his son. Tenma shuts down Astro, burns down the Ministry
of Science and flees. Some time later, Astro is discovered by Dr. O'Shay, the new head of the
Ministry. Dr. O'Shay takes in Astro and serves as his mentor. Driven by the belief that robots and
humans should be friends, Dr. O'Shay is Astro's greatest ally. He provides Astro with a home, enrolls
him in school and creates a robot family for him. Astro possesses superb strength, including jet-rocket
feet and arms that allow him to fly at extreme speeds. However, the secret to his victories is not his
super-powers; the quality that makes him superior to other robots is his artificial brain, the most
advanced in the world. This unique quality, termed kokoro in Japanese, allows Astro to experience all
of the same emotions as humans. He's clever, resourceful and has a strong sense of justice, always
attempting to reason with his adversaries. Mankind's only hope of surviving the onslaught of
rebellious robots is a robot himself...the fearless, selfless, incorruptible champion known as Astro. In
his quest for peace and justice, Astro often goes it alone, but he is occasionally aided by his robot
sister or even rebel robots that he is able to enlist. Astro also has human friends from school who
often become entangled in his conflicts.
CHARACTERS WITH THEIR DESCRIPTION
ASTRO BOY was created in the image of Tobio Tenma therefore he
inherited his basic personality traits. Due to Tobio being a child when he
died, Astro has inherited his same childlike innocence including his
childlike naivety, Astro by nature has a strong sense of justice and for
deciding what is right and wrong. Mostly a pacifist, Astro will not stray
from using force if he has no choice, although he always tries to solve
situations diplomatically. Astro is incredibly protective of family and
friends and will often risk his own life to protect them from harm.
Tobio Tenma was the young son of Dr. Tenma and Hoshie Tenma.
Tobio was a bright young boy who was often set aside by his father in
favor of his work. After Tobio was killed in a tragic accident, Dr. Tenma
created a robot to replace him. That robot would later be known as Astro
Boy.
Dr. Umataro Tenma is a recurring major character in the Astro Boy
series. He is a legendary robotics engineer and a PhD. graduate
from Nerima University. Tenma gained widespread fame for developing
the Bewusstsein artificial intelligence with his roommate Hiroshi
Ochanomizu. Later in his career he becomes the Minister Of Science
and creates Astro, a robotic boy with human emotions and the first robot using the Kokoro
AI after the sudden death of his son Tobio Tenma in a car accident.
Uran is Astro 's younger sister and a major recurring protagonist in
the Astro Boy franchise. She was created by Professor Ochanomizu, based
off Astro's own blueprints, and presented to Astro as a birthday gift, or New
Year's gift, depending on which series. Uran often finds herself getting into
trouble and causing trouble for Astro. She possesses a part of Astro's
strength but none of his combat powers, and her most common power is
the ability to talk with animals. Uran is very rarely a player in the Osamu
Tezuka Star System, and mainly appears in the numerous Astro Boy series
Pluto ( プ ル ー ト ウ Purūtō) (also known as Bruton in the 1980's
version) is a giant metal fighting muscular robot with horns and red
stripes on his face. He was built to destroy the strongest robots in
the world, including Astro. At first, he wants nothing more than to
fulfill his duty but soon he realized that programming isn't
everything and befriended Astro. He has Kokoro. He once
captured Uran and she was mad but then they got along
Atlas is a robot who appears in all of the Astro Boy series. He is a
robot with the ability to defy the rules of robotics present in the Astro
Boy universe and has the ability to hurt humans. While he only
appeared in one episode in the original 1960s series, he plays a major
role in the 1980s and 2003 series.
The Peacekeeper is a robot powered by
the mysterious "Red Core Energy" built by President Stone in 2009
film. It also has "Prototype Adaptive Technology" that allows it to
take in other things and objects. Originally built to help Stone get
re-electe d, it began destroying Metro City due to the Red Core's
influence twice, where the last time it forced Astro to destroy
it.
Cobalt is Astro Boy’s cybernetic brother. "he doesn't have all of Astro's
powers" but doesn't explain which of these Cobalt does and does not
have. Because he and Astro are made from the same design, Cobalt is
sent to track Astro and finds him in the ocean searching for the bomb.
Cobalt is shown to have the ability to fly like Astro does.
SETTING
In Japan, of the year 2000.
THEME
ASTRO BOY is very exciting and action packed. The colorful, vivid animation is visually appealing
and impressive. There is no mention of God, but the movie has a very strong Christian, redemptive
allegorical worldview with symbolic, metaphorical references to sacrifice, giving up one’s life,
resurrection, repentance, and reconciliation.
CONFLICT
Astro Boy fights against Guernica to save the people.
POINT OF VIEW
The point is that like any good robot, Astro Boy simply could not die.
THIRD PERSON OMNICIENT
The narrative technique needed to deliver the facts as expediently as possible.
MORAL LESSON AND REAL IMPLICATION
ASTRO BOY also has strong, pro-family moral themes celebrating good over evil and deep family
ties
