Anime is the Japanese word for animation and refers to all types of illustrated media. Outside of that country, the word alludes specifically to animation from Japan, or an illustration style that is disseminated therefrom frequently characterised by colourful graphics, outlandish themes, and vibrant characters.
Specifically, anime encompasses movies and television shows, and manga denotes comic books and graphic novels. Both share a unique visual style, however, and serve as inspiration for one another.
- The movement is said to have begun in 1917 by three Japanese artists, Jun’ichi Kouchi, Seitaro Kitayama, and Shimokawa Oten.
- The word Anime is not synonymous with Cartoon, despite what many people who don’t know much about it believe. Those who appreciate it consider it an independent art form, and one which targets a wide range of audiences via complicated, emotionally-intense, and in-depth storylines.
- In Japan, 40+ new animes appear on TV every week.
- More paper is used to print manga than toilet paper in Japan.
- In much the same way that people can easily play Roulette games online these days, you can watch high-quality 720p and 1080p anime on any number of browsers and smart devices.
- Japan has Manga Cafés, where readers can read their favourite cartoons and graphic novels while enjoying a cup of coffee.
- While all genres are well-represented, Sci-Fi is by far the most popular. Robots and post-apocalyptic settings are staples of this art form.
- Tezuka Osama is one of the rockstars of the manga world. He was born in Osaka Prefecture in 1928, and his innovative genre-redefinition, pioneering techniques, and prolific output earned him titles like the Father of Manga, the God of Manga, and the Godfather of Manga before he passed away in 1989.
- Manga has a huge female readership.
- The most famous anime music video was based on Ghost in the Shell, which went on to become a major film starring Scarlett Johanssen in 2017.
- All manga is hand-drawn.
- Manga means Whimsical Pictures in Japanese.
- The most popular manga in Japan is called One Piece and was initially supposed to run for a maximum of 5 years. However, Eiichiro Oda, the author, has kept it going for 18+ years now and it doesn’t look likely to end any time soon.
- Masashi Kishimoto, who authored the Naruto franchise and more, did not originally intend to create the Sasuke Uchiha character. But after talking to his editor about the future of the Naruto series, he was advised to come up with a rival for the series’ main character, and so Uchiha sprang into life.
- If you’re done with your manga volume in Japan, you don’t throw it out. It’s become customary to leave your book somewhere, like on a table or a bench, as a free surprise gift for a new reader.
- The manga series Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba, illustrated by Takeshi Obata, became so popular in China it was eventually banned. This is thanks to kids starting to purchase Death Note jotters and then writing the names of people they hoped would die in the exercise book!