Anime, Manga and Japan

Ten or eleven years ago anime was an underground trend known only to a few promiscuous nerds. I was one of them, because the powers that be willed my communion with the now-dubbed wiiaboo subculture.

I've read a few manga, watched countless anime, and while not being a fan of it, have a sizable reservoir of knowledge associated with the craft. I grew away from anime/manga purely as a cosmetic preference, and I have no objections to the wide-spread acceptance of the form. The world abroad loves it, and I would be foolish to denounce it simply because it may not appeal to me.

One being used to what we consider to be a conventional graphic format of reading left to right and top to bottom is entirely different from the way it works in Japan, and yet similar somehow. In some ways it's a little easier on the readers. I mentioned that our comics work from top to bottom, but the English language is a horizontal one. Japanese is vertical, and as such, the images are arranged vertically along with the vertical format of the printed books themselves. This is quite enjoyable, and makes for a punctual experience.

It often annoys me when a graphic novel or comic (though less often so) incorporates a massive wall of text. It's a visual narrative, so the text should be kept to a surmountable limit. Manga appears to be very good about keeping that balance.


- Cameron