Me, Manga and Anime

“If you’ve never liked comic books, you’ve never been a kid.”

It’s only been a few months since I have fallen in love with the Marvel franchise. Spider Man, X Men and the Fantastic Four. But before that, I had no interest in the heroes of America (unless you count thinking how cool Hugh Jackman is as Wolverine).
No, before I picked up Marvel, I was introduced to Shonen Jump. Know what that is? It’s a Japanese company releasing mangas. A manga is a Japanese form of comic books, meant to be read right-to-left. Almost all of the mangas have been turned into Animes – animated to be broadcasted as cartoons, as we say in English.
I have to admit, I adored animes even before I knew what a manga was. When I was six, Cartoon Network started showing Dragon Ball Z. Oh my god, I loved it. I loved how Goku was the first Super Saiyan (or so I thought), how Vegeta was evil, yet good and how brave young Gohan was. So the series carried on, and after a month or so came the phenomena we all know as Pokemon. Oh yeah. The show, the trading card games and parents driven crazy.
These two were my first animes. When I went to the US at nine (2004), the kids there were all psyched about Yu-Gi-Oh!. We lived at my mom’s best friend’s place and the kids loved the anime. They would watch it, and later duel against one another. They actually gave me seventeen Pokemon cards for just one Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card. They also watched other animes – Shaman King, Yu Yu Hakusho and my favourite Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon.
Then came the historical year. 2005. A friend of mine was really into comics and games. It was at her place I found a right-to-left comic called “Dragon Ball” and learnt it was called a manga, and it was the pre to Dragon Ball Z. So I borrowed a few – the first three volumes of Yu-Gi-Oh, and eight volumes of Dragon Ball – and instantly got hooked.
It was all manga for a year…until in 2006, Cartoon Network brought along One Piece. But to tell the truth, I had already read the first four volumes (first 28 episodes) from my friend.
Whoever went to the US had to bring some manga or the other for me. I used to see catalogues at the back of other mangas and order. I also discovered Shonen Jump magazine, full of 2 chapters of selective manga, including Naruto, Yu-Gi-Oh, Hikaru No Go and Yu Yu Hakusho. The first manga I owned was the first volume of The Prince of Tennis – in 2007. It was awesome, I was CRAZY about it, but I couldn’t get my hands on a second volume.
It carried on like that. Shonen Jump magazines. Then in 08, I discovered a channel called Animax. That’s right – it was all anime. I LOVED the one callled Slam Dunk, an amateur’s journey to basketball. It was awesome. That anime was THE BOMB! But Slam Dunk ended after threee months, since it was a 1995 anime, that had only 45 episodes.
Right before summer in 2008, Cartoon Network brought along Naruto. Yep! I loved it. Sasuke was awesome. A month carried on and one fine day (it was the first day of summer, 08) I saw the ad for a long lost friend on Animax. The Prince of Tennis. Prodigy Ryoma Echizen’s Adventures. And now, sports animes rule my life.

You may have achieved nothing reading this. But that’s alright. You can say I’m preaching my passion. So, just go to the nearest bookstore and give mangas a try. It doesn’t have to be the ones bragged about above, but any genre. There are adventure manga, horror manga, action packed fighting manga, science fiction related manga and even romance ones.
And if you’re not the book flipping reading type, why not watch an anime. I promise you, the wide range of choosing will not leave you empty handed.
So here are a list of some of the best anime/manga series. See if they are your type from Google or Wikipedia. To watch the episodes, I say Youtube is the best, and to read the manga online go to www.mangavolume.com or www.onemanga.com.
• Beet the Vandel Buster
• Bleach
• Cardcaptor Sakura
• Death Note
• Dragon Ball/Z
• Fullmetal Alchemist
• Hikaru No Go
• Knights of the Zodiac
• Naruto
• One Piece
• Ruroni Kenshin
• Shaman King
• Slam Dunk
• The Prince of Tennis
• Whistle
• Yu-Gi-Oh!
• Whistle!

Naruto, Vegeta and Echizen may not be Peter Parker, Cyclops or The Human Torch, but they certainly are cool. If you like trying the new, Japanese art might just be you thing.

Hey there Whispers, and welcome to YWS. My name is Squall and I'm one of the instructors on YWS.

I personally have watched some anime before so I can see why people would like it and the impact that it has on our culture. The problem with this piece is that it doesn't really elaborate on why you love anime, why you didn't like the American Heroes before etc etc. It reads more like a list of your favourite animes and mangas rather than a piece dedicated in exploring the thrills and culture of anime/manga.

For this piece to actually become a story rather than a list, it needs to have characters, setting, central theme and elaboration.

This is how I would of had written your piece:

I would of had the narrator and some of her friends at someone's else, preparing to go to some anime convention. One of the friends could be trying to get the narrator into American Hero type comics even though the narrator doesn't like them at first for whatever reason (elaborate here). When they are at the convention, you can focus on how excited they were and why, the people they met, the contests etc etc. This will allow you to show why anime and manga is so awesome. Simply stating that it's awesome doesn't cut the mustard, you have to show why that it is so.

For the conclusion (when they are leaving the convention), you can use it to evaluate their experience and to tie the story together.

Basically, you have to show why anime is so awesome, not provide us with a list of your favourite animes. Give the reader some insight into anime/manga culture. Give us insight on your experiences with anime/manga.

Personally, I like anime as it has that strangeness to it that you won't normally find in Western cartoons. Here is something that maybe you can elaborate and expand on when you edit this.

Good luck.

Andy.

Hey Andy, thank you for your review.
In my defence I would say, this is just an essay. I never meant for it to be a story with characters. But really, I understand what you are trying to say. So thanks again.
I'll keep on trying harder. And hopefully I'll get better.

and my favourite Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon.

The way this sentence is phrased, it would need to be "favourites". Otherwise, you'd have to rearrange the order and leave only one show at the end, making it the 'favourite'.

It was at her place I found a right-to-left comic called “Dragon Ball” and learnt it was called a manga, and it was the pre to Dragon Ball Z.

The last part of the sentence, starting with "and it was the pre", I believe would read better if made a separate sentence. I suggest ending the first sentence right after 'manga' and then starting a new sentence, "It was the prequel to Dragon Ball Z."

But to tell the truth, I had already read the first four volumes (first 28 episodes) from my friend.

While I do like being told how many episodes the four chapters of manga covered, the note in the parentheses just doesn't seem to flow right in that spot. I think this is mostly due to the fact that the word "first" appears twice in the same sentence. Might I suggest "But to tell the truth, I had already read the first four volumes, which covered episodes one through twenty eight."

Whoever went to the US had to bring some manga or the other for me.

It took me a moment to realize that "US" was United States. Yes, it's a common abbreviation, but as someone who lives in the 'States, I don't often think of going to it. You might want to mention in your essay that you live in another country. Also, "or the other for me" doesn't make sense to me. I think there's a word missing around "other" somewhere.

I used to see catalogues at the back of other mangas and order.

I would suggest compacting this sentence to "I would see catalogues at the back of mangas and [order more mangas]" Phrase how you like. I think 'other' can be taken out.

full of 2 chapters

I'd write out the word "two", and all numbers ten or less at the very least.

The first manga I owned was the first volume of The Prince of Tennis – in 2007.

There's "first" showing up twice again. Perhaps change it to "The first manga I [ever] owned was The Prince of Tennis, volume one, in 2007."

It was awesome, I was CRAZY about it, but I couldn’t get my hands on a second volume.

Suggesting: "It was awesome. I was CRAZY..." (change comma to period after awesome)

It carried on like that. Shonen Jump magazines.

I like the first sentence, but the second sentence leaves me hanging. The image of magazines is good, but what did you do with them? (besides the obvious. Perhaps pick an interesting verb or idea) Example: "Reading Shonen Jump, one after the other." (not a very good example, really, but I did want to get the idea across. I think it suffices.)

an amateur’s journey to basketball. It was awesome.

Yes, it was awesome. But can you tell me that in another way?

But Slam Dunk ended after threee months, since it was a 1995 anime, that had only 45 episodes.

Three has two Es. I would also remove the second comma after 'anime'. Just seems to be that "it was a 1995 anime that had only 45 episodes" doesn't need a pause. This also leads me to wonder if all 1995, or 1990's animes are "shorter".

(it was the first day of summer, 08)

Looks like '08 decided to rebel and become a Cool emote. Might want to fix that.

You may have achieved nothing reading this.

True, but I don't like to be told that as an essay reader. Might want to take that out, reword it. Not really sure how you'd change your transition, but I know as a reader I don't like the notion that "perhaps I am wasting my time."

You can say I’m preaching my passion

I just like this line here. It shows how strongly you feel. Please keep it.

So, just go to the nearest bookstore and give mangas a try.

I don't like the "So". If you're an essay writer you should tell us what to do, not suggest it! (er...sometimes. -sweatdrop-)

There are adventure manga, horror manga, action packed fighting manga, science fiction related manga and even romance ones.

Perhaps give examples?

And if you’re not the book flipping reading type, why not watch an anime.

"Why not watch anime?" (question mark!) Suggest: "If you're not the book reading type..." (flipping catches me off guard as awkward).

I promise you, the wide range of choosing will not leave you empty handed.

"Range of choosing" sounds a bit awkward here. Perhaps 'wide variety', 'vast selection' or 'numerous possibilities'.

--

Also, perhaps a better flow into the list. You set it up well, but then give us links, and then give us the list. Rearranging that section might make it all flow better into the list. I also suggest making the list take up less room so that the reader can see there is a finishing thought under the list. I almost missed it!

I like your conclusion, once again going back to American comics compared to Japanese manga.

Good luck writing! Thanks for the interesting read! One's life story of manga. Never seen one before. I...I got into it reading Death Note on OneManga. I own all the books now, and #13. So yes, I agree, it's one of the best stories out there to read!

Happy writing!

~Kaya

I thought it was pretty decent as a personal essay-- and actually I think it would make a good blog entry. It's not too long, it has a list that people can look up on google, the paragraphs are of even size... add some links to youtube or whatever and expect positive comments!

I haven't really got any criticisms on this because it's smoothly written and all the views expressed are your own so there's no plot holes, but if I were to tell you one thing is that you should be more specific. I would like to hear further detail on how it felt to be at your mom's friend's house watching Yu-Gi-Oh with her kids.

It's great to meet other anime fans! (that's the main reason I clicked on this, lol)
I started watching anime quite a few years ago with Tenchi Muyo and have been into harem manga all the way It's just because they're usually really funny and have cute art styles... and it seems like they respect the women better than on american tv shows, even if they still wear skimpy outfits. ^^; Like they still act stong and in control of their own destiny, and that's kind of inspiring.

FMA and Ruroni Kenshin are pretty great. Have you ever heard of Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, or FLCL? They also have a lot of action so you might be interested in them.

Jya mata, neh?
Saramander

Saramander that was really nice of you! Thanks! I will try out your recommendations

Hey, I was on the front page and this caught my attention, being an Anime fan myself. My username even came from an Anime: Magic Knights Rayearth. I liked the essay, as Anime and and Manga are something that some people know about, but some people don't. It's always interesting explaining it to someone who doesn't know what it is.

I think your essay is great, but it could use a bit of fleshing out. You hook us in with the mention of 'normal' superheroes, but that doesn't carry through with the rest of the essay. You might want to discuss near the conclusion how Marvel and DC compares to Anime and Manga, or relate back to it in the conclusion of the essay.

A previous reviewer has covered fleshing out your experiences with the varying Anime within the essay. I do agree that you could connect the reader to your experiences a bit more. How did you feel whenever you saw a new episode of an Anime? Did that long period of time when Namek was almost exploding, but took episodes to explode drive you crazy? (It certainly drove me nuts, ) Just a few more details to draw us in further.

I know you've explained how Anime and Manga are Japanese, but you might want to explain further about the differences between Anime and American cartoons. You're trying to persuade us to try Anime, but you haven't really told us what makes Dragonball Z any different than 6Teen or some other actual American cartoon. (Though, dubbed is sometimes as bad as American cartoons...) Though, I think this also lends back to what I said in my second paragraph about comparing Marvel to Manga.

Okay, and now the review is over so that I can ramble on about Anime. So, while you were watching DBZ on Cartoon Network, did you also see Gundam Wing? Of course, Gundam anything is just awesome. Gundam 0083 Stardust Memories was one of my favorites, though at 6 you probably weren't watching Adult Swim on Saturdays.

Anyway, I totally agree with you on Cardcaptor Sakura, as long as it's the subbed version. And Fullmetal Alchemist was awesome, and the new series is over at Youtube and it's awesome. I've just started watching Naruto subbed, which is totally better than the dubbed version. I've also watched Ruroni Kenshin on Cartoon Network. Bleach has too much filler for me to ever get into it, and I've still got to finish Death Note.

The Anime suggested by Saramander are great shows, Cowboy Bebop is a must. Also, Trigun and .Hack//Sign. Also, I fell in love with Ouran High School Host Club because it is just hilarious.

Anyway, it's a great essay. It could use bit more persuasion to it, but essays can always be improved. I really did like how original it was and how it was obvious that you really do enjoy Anime.

Feel free to pm me with any questions, or even just to ramble about Anime.

- Tatra

I agree with Tatra. It was a decent essay, but I was really expecting you to elaborate more on American comics compared to Japanese manga. The mention of them at the beginning doesn't seem to tie in well with the rest of the essay. I must say, I do enjoy your selection of anime listed :}