![]() ![]() Whereas shonen series often feature characters with an idealized, naive, or innocent view of the world, seinen series usually follow protagonists who must face a reality where the hero does not always save the day. If a series does not fit into any other category such as Shonen or Shojo, then it will be put under seinen. Just like shonen manga, seinen manga features action and violence, but with a more serious or darker tone, as well as adult content such as sexual situations, graphic violence, or foul language. Examples of shojo manga (click on any cover for the NYPL catalog link)Ĭommon themes: Action, Violence, Sex, Adult themes With her fellow Sailor Senshi (Sailor Scouts), she must defend the Earth from the forces of evil in the name of the Moon. It follows Usagi Tsukino, a normal 14-year-old girl who finds out she is the reincarnated form of the legendary Sailor Moon, a defender of love and justice from the now-destroyed Moon Kingdom. Sailor Moon,is probably the most famous example of a shojo series. Naoko Takeuchi's Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, a.k.a. This is completely different from, say, CLAMP's Cardcaptor Sakura, which follows a ten-year-old girl with magical powers who has to save her city from monsters. For instance, Ai Yazawa's Nanais technically classified as a shojo series because it was published in a shojo magazine, although the story follows two young women as they navigate their way through personal relationships, sexual relationships, and drug use on their way to fulfill their dreams. Their narratives vary as much as any other genre. This is not to say that shojo manga consists only of cute, fun stories. Like shonen manga, shojo manga usually feature the coming-of-age story of a young protagonist. You can usually identify shojo covers by their use of pretty pinks, flowers, or other cutesy images. The focus here is less on action and more on drama, emotion, and, almost always, idealized romance. If you are looking for more information on manga genres and subgenres, then check out: Beginner's Guide to Manga 3: Genres and Subgenres.ĭon't forget to check out our handy Manga for Middle-Schoolers guide for further recommendations!Ĭommon Themes: Romance, Drama, Coming of Age We would need an entirely different blog post to cover the gargantuan number of manga genres and sub-genres that exist so, for now, we will simply cover the types of audiences to which manga are marketed. ![]() That is simply how they are marketed. If you were looking for manga for a young boy who likes fantasy or mystery, you would search for "shonen (boy) fantasy" or "shonen mystery" manga. However, this does not mean a boy cannot enjoy the series. Manga is chiefly categorized by audience first, then genre. For example, CLAMP's Cardcaptor Sakura is a shojo (young girls) "magical girl" (sub-genre) manga. Whether you like high school romantic comedies or high-fantasy epics, there is a manga for you. The most important thing to remember about manga is there is something for everyone. This might be easier for small series, such as Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon, which only has about 12 volumes, versus longer-running series such as Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball, which has 42 volumes. This is something to keep in mind when starting a new series as it is imperative you read the volumes in the correct order. Most manga series are long-running and can span multiple volumes. If a series is popular enough, its chapters are then collected and published into volumes called tankōbon volumes, which usually feature a few chapters of the overall story. In Japan, manga are typically released on a monthly or a weekly chapter-by-chapter basis through manga magazines such as Weekly Shōnen Jump, (which has been in circulation since 1968). This can take some getting used to if you have only ever read English publications, but you will hardly notice once you’ve practiced enough. Japanese manga is read right-to-left rather than left-to-right, which is the norm for English language publications. Full-color prints are often only used for special releases. Unlike American comic books, which are usually printed in full color, Japanese manga are almost always published in black and white. Manga is an umbrella term for a wide variety of comic books and graphic novels originally produced and published in Japan.
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