A Brief Look at Manga
If you look back at American and Western culture, comic books have been around for a long time, but only started to become popular (even mainstream) around the 1950's. The same is true of Eastern Culture including Japan and China. In Japan comics and cartoons are loosely termed Manga, which literally translates as "whimsical pictures".
Manga is often mistaken for Anime, which is similar but different. Anime is short for Animation and is a sort of subset of Manga which relates more to film. Though certainly the two forms have influenced and fed off of each other.
Just as comic strips have many applications in Western culture, Manga has a variety of uses in Eastern culture and regularly touches on sports, romance, history, science fiction, the business world, horror and politics and can be found in just about any aspect of Japanese life.
In recent years Manga has become huge in America and online. In 2006, Wikipedia reports that the U.S. market for manga was taking in around $200 million. Whereas during the 70's Japan only had a small influence on American cartoons (Speed Racer, etc), now many of the mainstream cartoons show a direct influence (Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, etc).
As Manga expands and becomes more and more popular and cross-cultural hundreds of new styles and subsets come into existence. You may have heard of Chibis, which are stylized Manga characters, or Q-version, a Chinese style where real life images are rendered in cartoon charictures. As the popularity of these styles increases the influences become more diluted and the boundaries between Eastern and Western animation and art styles will fade further and further.
Check out http://www.howto-draw.com for more articles and examples of how to draw styles including Anime and Manga
Mangas:
Go Back to School with Shakespeare: The Manga Edition
This acclaimed series includes adaptations of Shakespeare's Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. All of these books combine the classic art form of Manga and Shakespeare's literature, and feature an introduction to set the stage so you're engrossed from the first page. With Shakespeare's unforgettable characters, outsized passions, ferocious action and supernatural visitations, his works are a perfect fit for the drama of Manga. The Shakespeare -- The Manga Edition series is sure to give any Shakespeare student a head start in class, and a visual aid not to be rivaled.
TOKYOPOP Teams with Planetwide Media to Launch 2007 TOKYOPOP ?I LUV HALLOWEEN? MANGA Creator Contest
Call for Entry: MANGA fans and aspiring artists can create, capture and tell their own Halloween experiences to win cash and prizes using TOKYOPOP MANGA Creator? software.
Where to Eat in La Manga Spain
Spain is well known for its many tasty contributions to the global cookbook. Among the traditional epicurean delights available to those enjoying luxury holidays in La Manga Spain are paella, chorizo, Manchego cheese, olives, empanadas, turron, paprika, patatas bravas, rioja wine and of course lots of seafood.
Sumo-Star Manga Drawing Competition Spotlights Sumo Wrestling and Tournament
First time collaborative effort for Sakura Color Products of America Inc. and TOKYOPOP® results in: The Sumo-Star Manga Drawing Competition. Sponsor and official writing instrument of the Grand Sumo Tournament in Los Angeles, Sakura provides the grand prize: two tickets to attend the June 8, 2008 Grand Sumo championship bout in Los Angeles, CA. Online entries accepted on TOKYOPOP website, now and stops at 11:59 p.m. PST on March 30, 2008. Ages 13 years old and up. TOKYOPOP announces winners at the New York Comic-Con on April 19, 2008.
Polaris World Releases Front Line Beach Villas at La Manga, Murcia, Spain
Polaris World has today announced the release of six exclusive beach front villas on the Mar Menor La Manga strip in Murcia, Spain. Based at the Polaris World Beach Club the villas are the first beach front properties from Polaris World. The 4 bedroom 4 bathroom villas complete with swimming pool and sea views start from 1,300,000 Euros.
New Sakura of America Pigma Sensei Manga Drawing Kit Sets Sights on Beginners and Artists
Reacting to the wave of interest in manga, Pigma® Sensei? Manga Drawing set is available now for retailers, distributors and wholesalers to order; the manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) is $12.98 U.S. The set contains four nib styles of Pigma black ink pens, a mechanical pencil and eraser, and is targeted to beginners and as a rough concept kit to artists. Pigma ink has been used by manga professionals for over 25 years. Manga artists and beginners can find retailers and product details at sakuraofamerica.com.
MANGA Goes Planetwide - Planetwide Media's TOKYOPOP MANGA Creator Software Leads the Fan Fiction and User Generated Content Revolution
TOKYOPOP MANGA "I LUV HALLOWEEN" Contest @ HyperComics.com (www.HyperComics.com) - MANGA fans and aspiring artists can create, capture and syndicate their own 2007 Halloween Experience MANGA style
Why Are the Children of La Manga Happy?
Just south of La Manga ("the sleeve") are the tony homes and the beachside resort of Paradise in San Carlos, Mexico, the latest of Club Med like vacation spots. Hardly the likeness of, are the remnant and makeshift housing, trailers and even tents that make up the homes the 53 families of Mexican Nationals who live simply alongside their fishing boats, among the sounds of playing children and a very welcoming and humble people.
Grapevine Star Entertainment Inc. Announces Demented Dragon LLC to Add Music concerts to its Current Manga Marketing and Promotion Efforts
Concerts to be featured at Anime and Comic festivals and in shopping malls across America. Grapevine Star Entertainment Inc., a licensing content and product development company, and Demented Dragon LLC, an Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-based Manga publisher, announced the launch of its marketing and promotion plan to support its Manga book titles and its promotion and licensing partners.
A Brief Look at Manga
If you look back at American and Western culture, comic books have been around for a long time, but only started to become popular (even mainstream) around the 1950's. The same is true of Eastern Culture including Japan and China. In Japan comics and cartoons are loosely termed Manga, which literally translates as "whimsical pictures".