History of Manga Art
The term Manga refers to whimsical pictures or sketches – the pictures full of fantasy – the images you have seen in one of your favourite cartoon series called Pokemon.
Roots of Manga were grown from Japan. Back at the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Japanese artist were creating images based on the “Floating world” of Yoshiwara (Tokyo). At that time, Yoshiwara was rich with teahouses, restaurants, traditional theatres, and high-class brothels. The city was perfect for any artist to create a breathtaking art by drawing a picture of real world. Japanese artists were creating illustrations describing Yoshiwara world. Their art was full of lines, vibrant colours, pattern, documented life style of Japanese people and their activities.
At the same time, an artist created the mind-blowing illustration of Japanese art. The Great Wave off Kanagawa – the most recognized work of Japanese art created by the famous Japanese artist: Hokusai Katsuhika. The way this art describes the whole view of threatening waves was really inspiring during seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Being inspired by his own art, Hokusai turned the name “Japanese art” into “Manga art”.
Manga art was previously used to describe the news in detailed manner. Japanese artists were creating the whole view of a scene to give the readers necessary information of event occurred. It was and it is also used in Japanese comics.
How Manga Art Characters Looks Like?
Manga is an art of “mukokuseki” (‘stateless people’). It doesn’t represent Japanese people. And the proof is: if we take a look on Japanese people, they don’t possess looks similar to manga. Japanese people don’t necessarily have bigger eyes and Spiky Hairdo. Manga world is not an animation version of any real Japan. In fact, it is the world created by the imagination of Mangaka (Manga Artist) – Neither Japanese nor Western. Manga has some glimpses of Japanese people, and few of western people, but it includes lots of features far away from the real world.
Manga world characters are full of details. Each of their features highlight eye-candy colours and comprehensive shapes. Each Manga character is designed depending on their roles. They have some clues which tell you the role of Manga Character.
- A Handsome Young Manga Boy (Probably a Hero)
Wide Eyes (one of the main characteristics of Manga Heroes)
Thick Eyebrows
Easy Smile
Spiky Hairdo
- A Beautiful Young Manga Girl (Probably a Heroine)
Large Bright Eyes
Giant Smile
Flowing Long Coloured Hair
A Tiny Waist
Shapely Thighs
- A Manga Villain
Usually Older
Leaner
Elaborately Dressed
Menacing Narrow Eyes
Wears Jewellery
Manga art is a home of Fantasy. The notion of Fantasy is important to trace the origin of Japanese Art. The way Mangaka (Manga artisit) draw characters are actually called a drawing of Fantasy. Their characters are not stereotypically Japanese.
Why Manga Art is not popular in other Countries?
If we draw comparisons to Japanese comics and Western comics, we will get answer of our question. Western people love to see, read, and hear things assembled with engagement. They like comics, movies, and games with full of mysteries, sense, and most important: realism. Western people demand realism, and they get it from their Western Artists real. But Japanese people never demand realism; they more like to be with entertainment which they enjoy fully with Fantasy art. Japanese artists tend to give their people what they want in a much entertaining way via their fantasy art. While western people like to spend their time with realism. This is the only reason, why Manga art is widely popular in Japan only.
Current Scenario of Manga Art
In Japan, Manga is a mass media. From Youngsters to Adults, everybody is reading Manga via books, comics, and magazines. In fact, Japanese has their channels depicting the virtual life of Manga art, the popular one is Animax channel – here you will see how the art is made and the emotions of characters in a fantasy manner. Manga is responsible for 40% revenue of all Japanese magazines and books. Every year one billion manga sold in Japan. This data is a proof that Manga is something worth for Japan.
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