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AdamsArtExpose’
THE ART OF MANGA AND ANIME
Manga is the Japanese word for comics. Manga
started in Japan during the 1930’s. However, it
has roots back to the 1870’s where it was a form
of children’s literature. It evolved into manga- anime
during World War II. Anime is the Japanese
word for animation. Japan in the late 1930’s into
the 1940’s was a militaristic nation. Citizens who
did not conform to government restrictions were
socially ostracized or put into government camps.
Artist who had spent much of their careers criticizing
the government either reversed to support
the government, or found themselves in serious
trouble. Those who capitulated were required to
create cartoon strips that supported the militaristic
propaganda and criticize the enemies of the
nation.
Manga has become a significant aspect of Japanese
publishing since the 1950’s. Manga includes
topics from action-adventure, historical drama,
horror, mystery, romance, sexuality, and sports.
Gay topics and sexuality have also become a
major topics. The dollar value of Magna reached
$4.5 million in 2010. Manga is translated and
sold throughout the world, France, Canada and
the United States making up the more significant
markets.
Following World War II, in Japan, a young
cartoon artist named Osamu Tezuka, who as a
youngster was a fan of Walt Disney’s early animation,
developed his own original style. He created
the animated character, “Tetsuwan Atomu” in
English “Astro Boy”,produced by his own production
company, Mushi Production in 1962. His
success at animation and character creation gave
him the title of the “Father of Manga and Anime”.
Astro Boy came to the United States by 1963 and
was shown as a cartoon series by NBC.
Sailor Moon arrived in the early 1990’s Japanese
anime. This is a popular series popular with
children and adults, about a young school girl
who evolves as a fantasy character fighting evil in
a variety of ways with her cat, Luna. Her character
and series of episodes became very popular
in the U.S. and world wide. She also became an
advocate icon for safe sex and the use of condoms
in Japan and wherever the series was aired. There
have been 3 films and at least 39 video games
made around the adventures of Sailor Moon.
Next week more discussion of Anime and it’s
advent into gay sexuality.
Questions, comments, suggestions, contact at:
adamsartexpose@gmail.com
Back to the World War II years, during this time
Walt Disney was struggling to create his own
cartoon versions of manga and anime. Mickey
Mouse and Oswald the Rabbit were two of his
cartoon characters that became popular. Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in 1937
as a feature length cartoon. The war slowed the
progress of Disney but he continued to make two
films during the 1940’s, “Dumbo”, and “Bambi”.
28 Your weekly LGBT Gay Desert Guide. View our Free Digital Version on-line.