Popular manga misconceptions

[JohtoBlaziken]

I looked, and couldn't find anything, so, nyah. Close this if there is a problem...

Anyway, this is a thread to talk about the misconceptions the average person has about manga. Let's face it: These people do NOT know what they're talking about when it comes to things like this. They just don't. I'd like to hear if you people have any stories about these things, or know of general misconceptions.

Well, as far as I know, no-one that lives around me seems to know a single thing about it. I was at school one day, and I hear these morons talking:

Bla 1: Hey dude. What's a manga?

Bla 2: Uhhh...It's like hardcore anime stuff. Hardcore man. It's like...hardcore anime stuff.....

Bla 1: Shyaaaa....

-_-;

I felt the need to butt in, and tell them what manga actually was, but then they just looked at me like I was some sort of a freak! SHEESH! Though, I have to admit it was funny the way he said hardcore, and how he kept repeating himself like a moron. But, the funniest part was, that he had no idea what he was talking about.

Yep.

Popular misconceptions? Well, for starters, I doubt most people know what it is, due to its obscurity where I live. In bookstores, you see more people going for comics, romance novels, and parenting crap, than you see people going for manga. They have a nice section at a bookstore near my house, but I've only seen one person look at it the times I went there. One. It was an adult, too.

Another thing I've noticed is that people seem to think the animes came first, when they obviously didn't.

Among kids, manga seems to be generally regarded as gay. It makes me sick to see all of the youth these days using gay as a derogatory term. Is the manga homosexual? I'm not gay, but the word gay seems to be another thing these kids don't know about...

Well, uh, as the big, green honcho says, discuss...and whatever...

 

[That Scary Clefairy]

so far I haven't encounter any but there was a story I heard from someone else though.

She said she went to the bookstore and ask about some manga title. The clerk(a ditz girl) was like "huh?" The customer(the girl) said,"It's [title], a manga."
"Oh! you want a mango! go to the food store for that!"

lol morons....

manga is more underated than anime is. People outside anime community know less about manga than they do on anime. Anime is more publicize. I believe this is one of the reason why some anime elites hate when anime series or their favorite one gets popular, Its because they know critisim will come to their face.

 

[Sachiko]

Well, a lot of people think that manga is homosexual, or occult- ish, or having mature sexual themes, I guess. Or they think that it's something that geeks obsess over needlessly. It's so sad...

 

[MegaRob]

That may have been true back in 1998, but now thanks to Tokyopop and Viz, that's changed rapidly since then. At most Borders and Waldenbooks stores, the manga section is larger than the comic book section! And manga titles are rocketing up the book-lists when it comes to sales(with our own Fruits Basket and Viz's Naruto being bestsellers). I always see lots of people in the bookstores reading manga; whether they be sitting in the aisles on the floor or wherever.

True you'll run into those that don't understand exactly what it is. But there are ALOT more people out there that very well do, more than you think. By the way, manga has also shown up on television. Need I remind you of Tokyopop's ad campaign a couple years ago that ran on MTV, Cartoon Network, among other channels.

There's no denying it. Manga is a huge part of the industry now.

 

[HK]

Another thing I've noticed is that people seem to think the animes came first, when they obviously didn't.

This isn't true for all cases. Traditionally popular manga will be adapted to become anime, but also popular anime will be adapted to become manga. You also might have a manga come out around the same time the anime does (before or after, depending on the exact release date), but the manga might be an adaption of the original concept by the studio that the anime is made by, or else an adaption from the original creator/director behind the anime.

I think that's a misconception that I just cleared up, no?

Among kids, manga seems to be generally regarded as gay. It makes me sick to see all of the youth these days using gay as a derogatory term. Is the manga homosexual? I'm not gay, but the word gay seems to be another thing these kids don't know about...

We live in the... what is it now... Generation X? Meh, the current society has a generation which gloriously follows supposed music that is rap and hip hop that actually glorifies prostitution, drugs, guns, gang violence, being lazy, materialism, conformity, etc. and the "thing" for teens to do is follow this, so what else would you expect?

manga is more underated than anime is. People outside anime community know less about manga than they do on anime. Anime is more publicize. I believe this is one of the reason why some anime elites hate when anime series or their favorite one gets popular, Its because they know critisim will come to their face.

While that's true, I find it more common to find anime-oriented fans to not be appreciative of manga, and vice-versa. I'm one of those rare breeds that actually have a liking for both mediums, since I've had a growing like for anime since last winter.

And about the anime elitists hating it when an anime series becomes popular... well, I think it is either the case of having this secret little thing that only you and a few others know about and appreciate being ruined (the selfish elitists), or else it is the knowledge that you are going to have younger kids get interested in it (... still selfish elists). Typically this is just found with shounen series, though.

Well, a lot of people think that manga is homosexual, or occult- ish, or having mature sexual themes, I guess. Or they think that it's something that geeks obsess over needlessly. It's so sad...

What's sad is that what you said is quite true. I mean, there is a lot of shounen-ai and yaoi out there (along with legions of fangirls who only appreciate them because "OMG 2 HAWT GUYS! SMEX!"). Manga (and anime, for that matter) still holds something of an occult-esque following for those that are seriously into it (this remains true even in other mediums, as in the case with sci-fi movies). There are plenty of manga out there with mature sexual themes that I wouldn't classify as hentai -- it's just a part of the story, in this case. And yes, there are plenty of "nerds" who obsess over it needlessly -- hell, I see one everyday whenever I look into the mirror. ;D

I suppose that that is the one thing that saddens me when manga and anime fans think that the mediums aren't devoid of faults, because that is the furthest thing from the truth. Hell, can you really think of any other popular medium that actually has an advocation of sorts for pedophilia, rape, molestation, beastality, etc. (by the depraved mind you)? Sure, that stuff is mostly found in hentai and doujinshi oriented towards hentai, but the idea that subjects like rape are treated so lightly and even as a pleasurable thing is one of the more disgusting aspects of anime and manga fandom.

There's no denying it. Manga is a huge part of the industry now.

Now then hopefully the common folk will realize that manga and anime has so much more to offer than Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, etc. I'm one of those people who believe that there are quite a few anime and manga out there that are just as comparitively good as any classic movies and literature.

 

[BattleFranky~40]

I'd just like to say not all rap is like that. For example, Daniel Dumile is an anime fan, and many times he has put anime-related stuff in his music, along with comic-related stuff (which has got him sued before).

And yes, people need to get off of Pokemon and DBZ's ****, even here on these forums, and get to reading stuff like 20th Century Boys.

 

[HK]

I'd just like to say not all rap is like that. For example, Daniel Dumile is an anime fan, and many times he has put anime-related stuff in his music, along with comic-related stuff (which has got him sued before).

The problem is that most people don't even know about that stuff. I don't have that blind misconception "ALL RAP SUXXORS!!" like so many seem to do. Hell, Tupac's "Changes" is one of my favorite songs, and one of the most inspiring songs that I've ever heard (even if his actions were contradictory, but we all have double standards here and there). But the majority of what you see out today is just meaningless, unrefined, repetitive drivel that I couldn't give a rat's a*s about.

And yes, people need to get off of Pokemon and DBZ's ****, even here on these forums, and get to reading stuff like 20th Century Boys.

Or even Monster. Hell, there isn't much of an excuse for that one since Viz finally is putting out the volumes. Sucks that 20th Century Boys won't be out until Monster is finished, but, eh, I guess I can deal with that. Still waiting for Pluto to possibly get licensed once its finished its (predictably) ten or so volume run.

Though, part of the problem is also with what is being brought over by anime and manga licensing companies over here.

For anime, Geneon seems to be the only one to take real risks nowadays, and I'm glad because we might not have gotten any of Yoshitoshi ABe's animated works otherwise. And, while I'm not the biggest fan of how they go about treating their fans, ADV and Manga Ent. have a lot of good titles as well. Central Park Media is currently going through financial issues, though hopefully they'll pick back up because I love what they did with the Black Jack OVAs, Grave of the Fireflies, and Now and Then, Here and There.

For manga Viz's Signature line (once their Editor's Choice and Pulp lines) of manga has a lot of great titles, and of course you can't go wrong with what Dark Horse puts out. Also, Del Rey finally gets my attention with types like Eternal Sabbath, Mushi-shi, and Kiseiju (known as Parasyte over here) being brought to the table.

Still, the biggest problem like I mentioned is that for every Vagabond and Berserk licensed, you get about ten of Naruto and Inu Yasha. Hopefully the quality will eventually gain the attention it deserves away from the quantity, but that sadly won't happen anytime in the near future.

 

[Cutiebunny]

I remember that, while in high school, I brought a Japanese "Pretty Samy" artbook with me to my art class. My art teacher picked it up, flipped through Sasami's henshin page and immediately proclaimmed that I was looking at the pr0n.

..it's a shoujo anime...

I still find the misconception that a lot of manga is porn whenever I purchase one. I remember that, while trying to purchase XXXholic vol. 5, the store clerk at Borders asked me if what I was purchasing was porn and carded me for the purchase(I look young...). I realize that it has 3 'x's in the name, so that's obviously taboo in the US...but seriously, there's no porn in XXXholic. CLAMP has far too much style than to release a doujinshii.

 

[JohtoBlaziken]

This isn't true for all cases. Traditionally popular manga will be adapted to become anime, but also popular anime will be adapted to become manga. You also might have a manga come out around the same time the anime does (before or after, depending on the exact release date), but the manga might be an adaption of the original concept by the studio that the anime is made by, or else an adaption from the original creator/director behind the anime.

I think that's a misconception that I just cleared up, no?

Well, that is true, but I was speaking in a general sense, so, uh, yeah...and such....

We live in the... what is it now... Generation X? Meh, the current society has a generation which gloriously follows supposed music that is rap and hip hop that actually glorifies prostitution, drugs, guns, gang violence, being lazy, materialism, conformity, etc. and the "thing" for teens to do is follow this, so what else would you expect?

True. ;D But, it tis very sad. I didn't expect anything much different though, as it's just fun ranting.

While that's true, I find it more common to find anime-oriented fans to not be appreciative of manga, and vice-versa. I'm one of those rare breeds that actually have a liking for both mediums, since I've had a growing like for anime since last winter.

And about the anime elitists hating it when an anime series becomes popular... well, I think it is either the case of having this secret little thing that only you and a few others know about and appreciate being ruined (the selfish elitists), or else it is the knowledge that you are going to have younger kids get interested in it (... still selfish elists). Typically this is just found with shounen series, though.

Hey. I like both too. Heh. That is pretty true. I actually find it funny when that happens most of the time, as fanbases go from being those selfish elitists to a bunch of yaoi fangirls. It happens...

What's sad is that what you said is quite true. I mean, there is a lot of shounen-ai and yaoi out there (along with legions of fangirls who only appreciate them because "OMG 2 HAWT GUYS! SMEX!"). Manga (and anime, for that matter) still holds something of an occult-esque following for those that are seriously into it (this remains true even in other mediums, as in the case with sci-fi movies). There are plenty of manga out there with mature sexual themes that I wouldn't classify as hentai -- it's just a part of the story, in this case. And yes, there are plenty of "nerds" who obsess over it needlessly -- hell, I see one everyday whenever I look into the mirror. ;D

I suppose that that is the one thing that saddens me when manga and anime fans think that the mediums aren't devoid of faults, because that is the furthest thing from the truth. Hell, can you really think of any other popular medium that actually has an advocation of sorts for pedophilia, rape, molestation, beastality, etc. (by the depraved mind you)? Sure, that stuff is mostly found in hentai and doujinshi oriented towards hentai, but the idea that subjects like rape are treated so lightly and even as a pleasurable thing is one of the more disgusting aspects of anime and manga fandom.

You bring up an interesting point...

Now then hopefully the common folk will realize that manga and anime has so much more to offer than Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, etc. I'm one of those people who believe that there are quite a few anime and manga out there that are just as comparitively good as any classic movies and literature.

SO freakin' true. It's pretty sad the some of the better mangas, mind you, are the ones that end up fading into obscurity. Those aren't all manga has to offer, and there are actually tons of better things out there. And, even this stuff has its classics. Yep.

Well, a lot of people think that manga is homosexual, or occult- ish, or having mature sexual themes, I guess. Or they think that it's something that geeks obsess over needlessly. It's so sad...

*nods* Well, we just have to deal with it. Anything that isn't American where I live goes under the searchlight, and people think its weird. Hell, one of my friends at school got made fun of for wearing an anime shirt. Anything that isn't even Bugs Bunny gets killed even....Which is so sad...

That may have been true back in 1998, but now thanks to Tokyopop and Viz, that's changed rapidly since then. At most Borders and Waldenbooks stores, the manga section is larger than the comic book section! And manga titles are rocketing up the book-lists when it comes to sales(with our own Fruits Basket and Viz's Naruto being bestsellers). I always see lots of people in the bookstores reading manga; whether they be sitting in the aisles on the floor or wherever.

True you'll run into those that don't understand exactly what it is. But there are ALOT more people out there that very well do, more than you think. By the way, manga has also shown up on television. Need I remind you of Tokyopop's ad campaign a couple years ago that ran on MTV, Cartoon Network, among other channels.

There's no denying it. Manga is a huge part of the industry now.

I wouldn't neccessarily say that...Of course, the manga section in a Borders near me is greatly bigger than the comics section, but I never see anyone buy any of it. Nothing there is sold out, nothing there seems to even have a volume missing from the shelf. It's just like they're collecting dust. Comics too, but that's because they're a lot less popular than they were before.

I remember the ad thing, but it didn't really get into people's heads. Manga is not really a huge part of the idndustry, I believe, and I sure wish it was more mainstream. If there's so many people that don't know what it is, that might be a long way from today...

The problem is that most people don't even know about that stuff. I don't have that blind misconception "ALL RAP SUXXORS!!" like so many seem to do. Hell, Tupac's "Changes" is one of my favorite songs, and one of the most inspiring songs that I've ever heard (even if his actions were contradictory, but we all have double standards here and there). But the majority of what you see out today is just meaningless, unrefined, repetitive drivel that I couldn't give a rat's a*s about.

^ Quoted for the truth.

Still, the biggest problem like I mentioned is that for every Vagabond and Berserk licensed, you get about ten of Naruto and Inu Yasha. Hopefully the quality will eventually gain the attention it deserves away from the quantity, but that sadly won't happen anytime in the near future.

Sad, but true. We need to have less of the wannabes published, as only rabid yaoi fangirls come from them....

I remember that, while in high school, I brought a Japanese "Pretty Samy" artbook with me to my art class. My art teacher picked it up, flipped through Sasami's henshin page and immediately proclaimmed that I was looking at the pr0n.

..it's a shoujo anime...

I still find the misconception that a lot of manga is porn whenever I purchase one. I remember that, while trying to purchase XXXholic vol. 5, the store clerk at Borders asked me if what I was purchasing was porn and carded me for the purchase(I look young...). I realize that it has 3 'x's in the name, so that's obviously taboo in the US...but seriously, there's no porn in XXXholic. CLAMP has far too much style than to release a doujinshii.

I feel bad for ya. At lunch one time, because someone was reading some manga, people were like

"OKKKKAAAAAAYY...O_O;"

...and teachers were weirded out. The people around ehr were like all 'What is that? What happened again? I don't get it lawlz0rs'

Saaaaaddd

 

[HK]

Well, that is true, but I was speaking in a general sense, so, uh, yeah...and such....

The thing is that many people have that misconception, so I just wanted to address that for clarifiction.

You bring up an interesting point...

I think more fans need to realize how perverse and lacking in true artistic quality a lot of manga and anime are. The so called "quality" that they're getting really isn't, most of the time, impressive than a summer blockbuster that you'll catch in theaters, or the typical light novel.

SO freakin' true. It's pretty sad the some of the better mangas, mind you, are the ones that end up fading into obscurity. Those aren't all manga has to offer, and there are actually tons of better things out there. And, even this stuff has its classics. Yep.

I'm obviously not going to say that everyone should like what I recommend to them, and that anything I regard as lacking is lacking, but... Well, people need to expand their tastes altogether nowadays.

 

[JohtoBlaziken]

The thing is that many people have that misconception, so I just wanted to address that for clarifiction.

Ah. I see now.

I think more fans need to realize how perverse and lacking in true artistic quality a lot of manga and anime are. The so called "quality" that they're getting really isn't, most of the time, impressive than a summer blockbuster that you'll catch in theaters, or the typical light novel.

*nods to that* Yeah. A lot of the more popular manga and anime don't have the greatest art, or moralistic plot.

I'm obviously not going to say that everyone should like what I recommend to them, and that anything I regard as lacking is lacking, but... Well, people need to expand their tastes altogether nowadays.

Yeah. I know....It's not like I belive what you (or anyone else) says is true about certain manga or anime, but I agreed kinda that the more obscure ones seem to be better. People just usually don't have the chance to appreciate them. So, yeah. People should expand their tastes, instead of just sticking with Naruto, DBZ, and One Piece (or any other overrated manga).

 

[That Scary Clefairy]

Or even Monster. Hell, there isn't much of an excuse for that one since Viz finally is putting out the volumes. Sucks that 20th Century Boys won't be out until Monster is finished, but, eh, I guess I can deal with that. Still waiting for Pluto to possibly get licensed once its finished its (predictably) ten or so volume run.
.

Actually awhile ago it was annouce that it won't be like that and will come out earlier. forgot when but definetly not after Monster's run

 

[HK]

Actually awhile ago it was annouce that it won't be like that and will come out earlier. forgot when but definetly not after Monster's run

Well, if that's true, then that's another misconception dispelled, right? Hoping that I won't have to wait three years to get my hands on 20th Century Boys.

 

[BattleFranky~40]

Actually awhile ago it was annouce that it won't be like that and will come out earlier. forgot when but definetly not after Monster's run

The rumored release is sometime in 2007, of course, we have no idea when in 2007 this will be.

 

[Sheik]

That may have been true back in 1998, but now thanks to Tokyopop and Viz, that's changed rapidly since then. At most Borders and Waldenbooks stores, the manga section is larger than the comic book section! And manga titles are rocketing up the book-lists when it comes to sales(with our own Fruits Basket and Viz's Naruto being bestsellers). I always see lots of people in the bookstores reading manga; whether they be sitting in the aisles on the floor or wherever.

True you'll run into those that don't understand exactly what it is. But there are ALOT more people out there that very well do, more than you think. By the way, manga has also shown up on television. Need I remind you of Tokyopop's ad campaign a couple years ago that ran on MTV, Cartoon Network, among other channels.

There's no denying it. Manga is a huge part of the industry now.

I can agree with you on that viz, tokyopop, and other people who put manga on bookstore shelves helped tons the Waldensbookstore near me has a whole big sections for manga and a small section for the clamp no kiseki(sp?) and plush dolls Boarders is ver huge on manga it practically has a whole shelf and a half for manga and usually has nice posters and plushdolls.


One misconceptions I hear alot from some people is that they think manga is the same thing as a comicbook which it has some things that are similar, but manga is way different specially with art style, stories and most comics have all full color pages while manga doesn't or only the first pages which I really like that about manga.

 

[Rex Kamex]

I can agree with you on that viz, tokyopop, and other people who put manga on bookstore shelves helped tons the Waldensbookstore near me has a whole big sections for manga and a small section for the clamp no kiseki(sp?) and plush dolls Boarders is ver huge on manga it practically has a whole shelf and a half for manga and usually has nice posters and plushdolls.


One misconceptions I hear alot from some people is that they think manga is the same thing as a comicbook which it has some things that are similar, but manga is way different specially with art style, stories and most comics have all full color pages while manga doesn't or only the first pages which I really like that about manga.

It makes you appreciate color more. Still, yeah, the way manga graphic novels are organized are different from your average comic book.

 

[Ridley-X4]

Yeah, I see what you guys mean. I brought in Azumanga Daioh volume 1 into school, and someone saw Sakaki in a bathing suit. He was like, "OMG" and I asked him what was wrong. He said he "Wasn't used to seeing cartoons in bathing suits." Anime is not cartoons, lol.

 

[BattleFranky~40]

Anime is not cartoons, lol.

Anime is cartoons made in Japan.

How hard is that to understand? They are both animation.

 

[Ridley-X4]

Cartoons meaning, "Kiddy krap like Spongebob".

 

[BattleFranky~40]

Cartoons meaning, "Kiddy krap like Spongebob".

Many anime shows are focused towards young boys/girls as well, and there are also many anime shows that are utter crap.

Just like American Cartoons.