I don't get Manga...

[jotdess]

Manga appeals to me more than american comics because they have darker themes. American comics seem to appeal to younger audience (although there are many exceptions)

As for the harcore fans, my old high school was full of them. they used to wear naruto headbands, trenchcoats, or gloves. They only read mangas (Im not exaggerating, they didnt read books or magazines, I'm not lying!). They watched only anime (again, not an exaggeration. Okay, they might have watched a regular show here or there). They also tried to incorporate Japanese into their language and tried to play as many imported or anime themed video games as possible. But what was most annoying of all was the fact that they though they were great artists just because the can copy any drawing on their favorite manga. But leave it to them to draw from their imagination and their drawings were horrible.

I was friends with a couple of them; they got me into anime. But people like that are just crazy.

Wow, that's funny. I've seen pictures of some people dressing up, but that's going too far IMO. Oh well, whatever floats your boat.

I totally understand what you're saying. As a big anime fan, I do know that I am one of the few that don't take it too far. I download my anime instead of buying it because not only is it better (english dubs are horrible), but when the time comes, I can delete it without feeling any regrets, unlike a huge collection of anime DVDs or manga books. I like to consider myself more of a discreet fan, not buying figurines or posters or cosplaying like some others like to do. The hardcore fans scare me. They've recently started taking over my old high school's library with their weird manga.

While it's great to enjoy anime/manga, I don't think one should be so close minded to other forms of entertainment, such as movies, TV shows, etc.

I'm pretty much the same way.

 

[fleurya]

A roommate in college kinda got me into watching some anime at the time.

Tenchi Muyo was kinda funny but lame; who doesn't want to be surrounded by girls, but the Tenchi guy not hookin' up ticked me off.

Cowboy Bebop was probably my favorite; most "adult" anime I've seen.

Neongenesis Evengelion was ok, but ended really strangely!

Dragon Ball - You have to be high to sit around long enough to make it through a single fight scene of DBZ, let alone a whole series!

Some hard core fans do kind of freak me out, especially anyone the least bit into hentai. (yikes!)

 

[Bill_Gates]

I think most of the misunderstandings, lack of interest and hostilities(!) come pretty much from cultural differences. Not all forms of entertainment are universal or cross cultural. The style, tone and the humor of some manga/anime just does not translate easily to those unfamiliar. Some of it is just very niche.

I believe humor is especially cultural. Though... lots of physical comedy seems to translate everywhere.

I would consider myself a fan of anime like I am a fan of chicken. I like chicken. It's good and sometimes I just need me some chicken... but I don't have posters of chicken fingers on my wall and vintage unopened packets of honey mustard in mint condition inside glass containers in my room.

The point is (as with any medium of entertainment) some anime/manga is very accessible (films like Princess Mononoke or Grave of the Fireflies are wonderful movies I think anyone could love). Some of it is for kiddies (Pokemon). Some really doesn't make sense, at least not without watching hours of a series (End of Evangelion) And some of it is for adults (I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HENTAI!).

I think that manga/anime is just too broad to go out and stuff it all into one box and spit on it. They can be scary, funny, pornographic (yikes!), dramatic, heartbreaking, or yes, totally confusing. I am not trying to be condescending (in case anyone was thinking that... plus I already admitted to just being a casual fan)... I just think that there is a lot of research to do to truly get all forms of anime in it's native intentions!

 

[killedbyinterne]

I've been watching some anime on and off while working. Desync.com streams it 24/7 for free (use VLC). Initial-D is pretty cool. Hellsing is pretty cool too.

Hellsing is badass.

 

[hobs707]

Ok, so i finished my copy of .Hack Twilight something or other.

I couldn't tell what was going on most of the time, as the panels were quite small, and there didn't appear to be any variation in thickness of the outlines, making it difficult to determine depth.

I did however kind of enjoy the dialogue / story. By reading the words and then looking at the pictures I was able to get some idea of what was going on.

I found I actually sort of enjoyed it. I'm reading it through again to see if I understand it better. I figure I'll try some of you guy's suggestions and read a few more different series of Manga and see if I find any I really like.

 

[Sgt Beavis]

Read Deathnote. You won't be disappointed.

 

[giulio]

Anyone play Metal Gear Solid games? What killed them for me is the storyline. I'm sitting there watching the characters talk back and forth for like 20 minutes at a time. I'd rather watch goku (sp?) work out in a space capsule!

 

[Red Snapper]

I really enjoy the Ghost in the shell series, movies and manga. I also used to love Initial D but I don't really keep up with it anymore. More recently I've read the first 9 death note books which I was hooked on. I don't really keep up with any of it anymore but it's something to fall back on when I have time or get bored.

I love the metal gear solid games. The only two games that will convince me to buy a next gen console are Gran Turismo and the new metal gear. I really don't mind the long dialogue sequences, I think it's one of the better written game series out there(except for metal gear acid, blah).

 

[kuhliloach]

So I've never really read Manga or watched Anime much. I know people who do and they love them and are always telling me to read or watch some.

So at the library today I picked up a copy of .Hack and Full Metal Panic (I recognized the names) out of about 400000 different series of Manga. I don't know there were so many!

But I got home and read about 30 or so pages of .Hack, and I had no idea what was going on. All the characters looked like girls with crazy hats and large clothes, and there didn't seem to be any story. Maybe I'm just totally ignorant, but I was really lost. The panels were so crammed full of sound effects, wiggly lines, and crazy looking man-girls I didn't know what was going on!

Anybody care to explain maybe why I don't get these books? Is there something I missed, or something if I understood they would all make sense? Or does anyone have any suggestions for Manga that makes a little more sense?

i think the books must be backwards or something!

 

[jotdess]

Oh yeah ahhahha. Uh, just so you know, you have to read them a certain way. It's not left to right, it's opposite. I think in the books, it shows you how to read it properly.

 

[hobs707]

Oh yeah ahhahha. Uh, just so you know, you have to read them a certain way. It's not left to right, it's opposite. I think in the books, it shows you how to read it properly.

Ha ha, yeah I figured that out. That wold be really confusing reading it left to right.

 

[jotdess]

I did that the first time and I was confused. My friend forgot to mention that part and after he did, it made sense hahaha.

 

[hobs707]

Manga, or graphic novel, is just another format in which to tell a story. In Japan manga is huge and involves much more than just cartoonish stories for children. Many, very adult, stories are told using manga. Even outside Japan the use of the graphic novel style can be effective. You should check out a book called "Maus: A Survivor's Tale" in which the writer, Art Spiegelman, tells the story of his father's struggle to survive in Nazi prison camps during WWII and the he won a pulitzer prize for it.

I personally don't read graphic novels much, but really enjoyed reading Maus and can see how people can like it. It does take a little knowledge to understand how to read a graphic novel. They flow a certain way, you have to understand the symbolism and how to read the look of the characters, positions, and pretty much everything in the cell that can have meaning. It's much more than reading words, you have to be able to read the pictures too. It is a real art form to successfully communicate a story through this format.

Ah dude, I picked up Maus at Barnes and Noble the other day. I read about half way through the first one and I'm definitely going back to finish or buy it and the second book. You are right, it's really good. Thanks for the recommendation

 

[fleurya]

No problem. I haven't read it in a long time, so I might pick it up again too.

 

[Ryvyan]

I recently got into "Nodame Cantabile" because the Japanese live-action drama was based on the manga. It was awesome at first, mainly because I love the drama, but it's starting to lose a bit of direction.

I'm not too much into Japanese stuff, but I love lovelove their dramas and songs. Like someone mentioned, I'm also a casual fan. But Japanese culture was huge here a few years ago, until Korean culture started catching up (I don't get that),