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– What were the most important manga in history?
– How is the routine of a manga author?
The term manga appeared in 1814, in the hokusai manga, which bring caricatures and illustrations about Japanese culture. Modern manga takes influence from Western cartoons and classic Disney comics; and is basically a creation of Osamu Tezuka, with Shin Takarajima (“The New Treasure Island”), from 1947.
Tezuka’s work defined manga characteristics such as exaggerated facial expressions, metalinguistic elements (speed lines, big onomatopoeias, etc.) and cinematic framing to heighten emotional impact. The artist – who died in 1989 – was so influential that he is called the Manga God.
In animation, despite having previous cartoons produced in Japan, Tezuka is considered the founder of the industry, with works that marked the Japanese culture. Astroboy, in 1963, was the first Japanese animated TV series with an ongoing story and recurring characters. Other works by the author, such as Kimba, the White Lion and The Princess and the Knight, would help to define, in terms of narrative and animation techniques, what is now so recognized in anime.
It’s in Brazil?
The first manga released here was Lobo Solitário, in 1988, by Cedibra, but adapted for western reading. This reversed the original art and almost all characters became left-handed. Only when Conrad released Dragon Ball, in 2000, did manga come out in their original format, and read “backwards”. Anime arrived in the 60s and it’s hard to say which one was the first. In the initial wave came Man of Steel, Eighth Man, Ace of Space, Zoran and others.
What manga is the most successful anime in Brazil?
Anime has been shown in Brazil for over 40 years, and series such as Don Dracula, Space Pirates, Bionic Boy and Sawamu have collected fans. But the greatest phenomenon was Knights of the Zodiac, which, alone (and without this pretense), generated in 1994 the boom in Japanese cartoons that still echoes today.
The series became a reference, was repeated many times, generated a lot of merchandising and made other broadcasters, in addition to the late Manchete (which aired it), bet on anime.
In manga, Conrad’s Dragon Ball Z remains unsurpassed. Goku, who was already famous for games and anime, sold more than 100,000 copies every two weeks at his peak.
How big is this industry in Japan?
It is difficult to specify the production of manga, but it is known that comics represent about 40% of what is printed in Japan and in 2006 they moved more than 4 billion dollars – it is the largest market in the world, with around 750 million copies sold.
The biggest foreign markets for manga are the US (over $200 million in sales), France and Germany.
Anime production is also extraordinary: each year, the 400 Japanese animation studios produce more than 2,500 episodes, in an industry that moves more than 1 billion dollars.
How are manga published in Japan?
The stories are usually published chapter by chapter, in almanacs of up to 500 pages (generally on recycled paper), with around 20 different series and weekly or monthly periodicity.
These blocks are aimed at boys (like Shonen Jump), girls (like Nakayoshi, from Sailor Moon), children (like Koro-Koro, from Pokémon), or adults (like Weekly Morning, from Vagabond). After being read, the Japanese usually throw them in the trash.
The most popular series are highlighted on the cover and on the first pages. After several chapters are published, the story is republished in collectible editions known as tankohon – the format in which most manga come out in Brazil.
How is a manga produced?
First, editors of almanacs study the preferences of their readers. After all, the magazine needs variety. This return is measured through research coupons inserted in magazines.
So, editor and author define the course of history. Then, a preview of the script and a draft of the pages are made. Once approved, the rush begins.
Many artists create more than 20 pages a week and can only do so because they have several assistants, who do the artwork, insert grids (which give shadow and volume to the drawings), backdrops and balloons.
Who reads manga and watches anime?
One of the secrets of manga success is segmentation. There are stories for boys (with action, appreciation of teamwork and perseverance), girls (novels and plots full of feeling), adults and even housewives (the most spicy imaginable). And for each audience there are several genres: horror, suspense, erotic, adventure, etc. No market on the planet has so many ramifications. Thus, it is difficult to find people in Japan who do not read comics.
Anime is a little less popular, for several reasons. Production is more expensive – a 30-minute episode costs an average of $100,000. Television airtimes don’t always match Japanese busy schedules. And, because of the high cost, the subjects dealt with in the drawings are not as varied as in the manga. Generally, the series are aimed at young audiences.
The exception is Hayao Miyazaki, who produces feature films for theaters at his Studio Ghibli. Invariably, each of his films is the most profitable of the year it is released, and anime such as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle, for their universal appeal, are among the ten highest-grossing Japanese productions of all time. They are classics in every sense of the word.
Does everyone read manga in Japan?
Virtually. After all, this is practical and inexpensive entertainment. And, in a society where people have little time for leisure and read a lot, it is common to find manga on trains in the hands of both executives and children.
In addition, characters like Doraemon, the blue robot cat from the future, are as popular and mainstream as Mickey Mouse, and appear in educational books, government campaigns and various products.
There are advertisements for the most famous stories of the moment on billboards, train stations and even inside the carriages. On newsstands, which, unlike in Brazil, only exist in train stations and convenience stores, manga appear more prominently than newspapers and other periodicals.
How long does it take for a manga to become an anime?
There is no standard. In the main magazines, as soon as the manga appears, it is bought by a TV channel. Then, it gets a weekly series in prime time (between 5 and 7 pm), which can have hundreds of episodes and generate a lot of merchandising.
Another way is when a studio transforms a more cult manga into a feature film or a series for DVD or TV (at less busy times, like late at night).
And the opposite still happens: a successful anime generates a manga, as happened with Gundam, the most famous giant robot in Japan.
What is cosplay?
Cosplay is one of the highlights of anime and manga conventions. It is the act of dressing up as a character and, if you have the courage, acting out some passage in the story of which he is a part.
Conventions are taken by hundreds of cosplayers. Some just want to have fun, not caring about the verisimilitude of the clothes. And there are those who faithfully reproduce their favorite heroes and villains.
Cosplay emerged in the USA, at Star Trek conventions, in the late 1970s. Today, in the manga and anime segment, Brazil stands out: in 2006, the brothers Mônica and Maurício Somenzari Leite Olivas “embodied” Rosiel and Alexiel, of Angel Sanctuary, and won the World Cosplay Summit, an important world tournament.
What does otaku mean?
Otaku is the Japanese version of the nerd, but a very specific type: that person dedicated to the extreme, fanatical even for a subject, be it miniature trains or planes, technology, or, what is more common, anime and manga.
In strict, traditional Japanese society, the expression has a negative connotation, and being called an otaku is usually taken with some degree of offense. But, in the West, the name simply serves to identify who enjoys this hobby a lot. One of the largest conventions in the US even assumes this in its name: Otakon.
What is the recipe for creating a successful manga?
It’s not enough just a good idea or a cool design, it takes much more
If there is currently a formula for success in manga, it is in Shonen Jump magazine, which, under the motto “perseverance, friendship, victory”, has been creating worldwide hits for almost 30 years. Follow the “recipe” developed by her (and followed by her competitors) in the genre of manga for boys.
1. The protagonist
When choosing the main character, remember: he usually has a “childish soul”, he is naive, pure in heart, brave and faithful to his friends. He never gives up and doesn’t fear any danger. Examples: Goku, Yuusuke Urameshi (YuYu Hakusho), Luffy, Naruto etc. And having an impactful look is key.
2. Objectives
In the best shonen manga, the hero is always driven by a great aspiration, which allows him to show his determination and value. Does he want to become the most powerful warrior in the Universe? The greatest pirate? The best basketball player? Or the best baker? (Believe me, it exists!)
3. The friends
A lesson present in all manga is the value of friendship. What would Goku be without Krillin? Friends complement the hero’s personality and enrich the story. They can even compete with each other, but it’s always when they work side by side that they overcome the biggest challenges.
4. The Rival
In the popularity polls of the main magazines, rivals always appear at the top. Two good examples are Vegeta and Sasuke, who make Goku and Naruto, respectively, do their best at all times. A great rival is almost as important as a charismatic protagonist.
5. The author’s touch
But no recipe, no matter how traditional or innovative it may be, guarantees the quality or success of the story. After all, each balloon is filled with the author’s ideas and, in the end, it is his talent, personal and non-transferable, that gives flavor to the plot and, if successful, creates the classics.
Are there any places in Japan dedicated to manga culture?
In the big Japanese cities, the difficult part is precisely to escape this culture. But the epicenter of the phenomenon is in the Akihabara neighborhood of Tokyo. There are dozens of manga stores (such as Tora no Ana), arcades built by Sega itself, toy kiosks, miniatures and the most diverse technological contraptions, as well as bars and themed cafes for all tastes and events practically every week to the launch of several products, with pocket shows by the fans’ favorite artists.
These stores are all huge and occupy entire buildings, with many different departments. In other words, they are true temples of otaku consumption.
Asobit City is a good example. Check out its subdivisions, by floor:
• Underground: PC games and adult manga.
• Ground floor: toys based on robots,…