Manga Hit the Mainstream

To continue with the trend of eastern artwork, this blog will be focused on the centuries old art style of manga. Much like anime, manga has seen little exposure to the western world until recently. but regardless of it's standing in western culture, manga is incredibly popular in the east. In addition, much of eastern entertainment revolves around manga or it's animation (anime). Like anime, I first discovered manga in middle school and while reading from right to left took some getting used to, the art style remains as one of my favorite past times. 

One Piece, Eiichiro Oda

Tokyo, Japan

c. 2010

    The first manga panel comes from Eiichiro Oda's One Piece. When looking at this piece (and knowing the backstory between the two brother, Ace and Luffy) I am filled with immense sadness. We have the older brother Ace sacrificing himself in order to allow his younger brother to escape. The first element of art to not here would be the various lines that make up the bodies of the three figures in the panel. First in the background we have Akainu. His is a stance of power, flowing forward with force and leading with his fist. Next we have the midground that is Ace. His is a stance of fortitude, the lines that make up his body are straight and strong, he is acting as the last line of defense for his younger brother. Finally in the foreground we have Luffy. While straight like Ace, there are a lot of breaks in his lines, the bent arm, the bent legs, and bent torso. This gives off the impression that he was caught off balance and unaware.

    To further drive home that feeling of power from Akainu, protection from Ace and surprise from Luffy, we can look at the next element of art, space. Akainu towers over Ace and Luffy, looking down on them. Ace has less space between himself and Akainu and more between himself and Luffy, adding this to his stance and you are able to see how he has positioned himself to protect Luffy. Finally, we have Luffy, the noticeable gap between himself and the other two figures and how there is no space between his torso and the ground put him in a defensive position. 

    The third and final element of art used to portray this story of protection comes in the form of Akainu and Ace. Akainu leads with his fist, following through with his massive body makes his shape look like that of a triangle, angled to attack and penetrate. Ace is spread wide and straight. His body taking the form of a rectangle, a wall to protect his brother. 

    Knowing how much story and history is wrapped up in this piece, I would happily own a copy. 

Haikyu!!, Haruichi Furudate

Tokyo, Japan

c. 2020

    Next we have a scene from one of my favorite sport's mangas, Haikyu!!Getting right into it, we'll start with how lines work in the right two panels. Lines here help us to understand the motion and intensity of the game. One of the players has just spiked a ball with so much force and spin that even with what looks to be a perfect receive in the top panel, it shoots off to the left. The viewer is able to track the line of the ball and get a sense of the level of play that is this game. Next, we will talk about spacing. In the bottom right panel, spacing here is used to cement the idea that this is a real game. We have players realistically spaced apart with two of them being close and up to the net in order to block, three of them spaced out in the back ready to receive and the sixth player ready at the center in order to set the ball. This attention to detail in the spacing of the figures helps the viewer be invested in the action that is ongoing. Finally, I want to look at the use of color in the volleyball in the top right panel. Even though it is in black and white, Furudate uses a white strikes through what would be the black and solid design on the volleyball, this is used as a way to have the viewer understand the intense amount of spin that is placed on the ball. The ball is rotating so fast that the design is becoming blurred and hard to see. 

    When looking at this panel, I am filled with a sense of excitement. The players are mid match and the level of play is professional, each team being filled with outstanding players. I would love to own a blown up version of this panel.

Hikaru no Go, Yumi Hotta & Takeshi Obata

Tokyo, Japan

c. 2003

    Finally, I will talk about Hotta & Obata's Hikaru no Go. I grew up playing chess, a very common and strategic game. Hikaru no Go focuses on the eastern game of Go, an old and also very strategic game. When I look at these collection of panels, I can feel the seriousness and intensity of the game being played. 

    The first element will be space. In the top left panel, we have the two players facing each other with three officials in the background. Everything is spaced evenly, this helps bring forward the formality of the scene. Second, I want to look at the choice of color in the bottom left panel. Grandmaster Koyo Toya is seen responding to Hikaru's earlier move, placing a white pebble on the board. Ordinarily, the action of placing a pebble on the board wouldn't draw much attention, but the way Hotta & Obata have used a black background to accent the white go tile gives this move a sense of weight. The amount of plays that went through Toya's head before making this move is felt with that stark contrast in color. Finally, I would like to look at the lines that make up the characters and their movements as the third element of art. Hikaru is seen picking up a go tile and placing it on the board. His movement is fluid, here we see a young boy who brings an unconventional air to the centuries old game. Next we have Toya, who sits tall and proud on his side of the board and who's hand is held straight and firm when placing his go pebble. He embodies a perfect game, with no mistakes and backed by meticulous calculations.

    Although it portrays an intense scene, I wouldn't want to own this a copy of this as artwork as it feels too serious to me. 

Works Cited

"Did Manga Shape How the World Sees Japan?" Web. 23 Apr. 2021. <https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20190610-did-manga-shape-how-the-world-sees-japan>.

"History of Manga." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Apr. 2021. Web. 23 Apr. 2021. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_manga#:~:text=The%20history%20of%20manga%20is,in%20the%20late%2018th%20century.>.

"VIZ: Read Free Shonen Jump Manga - Official & Simul with Japan." VIZ Media: The World's Most Popular Anime, Manga and More! Web. 23 Apr. 2021. <https://www.viz.com/shonenjump>.