Fiveable
Fiveable
turn on cram mode
turn on cram mode

🇯🇵Intro to Modern Japanese Literature

🇯🇵intro to modern japanese literature review

10.2 Major genres, artists, and works in manga and anime

5 min read•Last Updated on August 6, 2024

Manga and anime have become global phenomena, with iconic series like "Dragon Ball," "Sailor Moon," and "One Piece" captivating audiences worldwide. These works showcase diverse genres, from action-packed adventures to psychological thrillers, and have shaped pop culture.

Influential artists like Hayao Miyazaki and Akira Toriyama have left an indelible mark on the industry. Their creations, along with groundbreaking films like "Spirited Away" and "Akira," have pushed the boundaries of storytelling and animation.

Influential Manga Artists

Hayao Miyazaki: Acclaimed Anime Director and Co-founder of Studio Ghibli

Top images from around the web for Hayao Miyazaki: Acclaimed Anime Director and Co-founder of Studio Ghibli

  • Connecting Characters to Place in Ghibli Films - Joseph Hallenbeck View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • hayao miyazaki fan poster by anthony-marvell on DeviantArt View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • Connecting Characters to Place in Ghibli Films - Joseph Hallenbeck View original

    Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Hayao Miyazaki: Acclaimed Anime Director and Co-founder of Studio Ghibli

  • Connecting Characters to Place in Ghibli Films - Joseph Hallenbeck View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • hayao miyazaki fan poster by anthony-marvell on DeviantArt View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • Connecting Characters to Place in Ghibli Films - Joseph Hallenbeck View original

    Is this image relevant?

1 of 3
  • Hayao Miyazaki is a renowned Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist
  • Co-founded Studio Ghibli, one of the most famous and respected animation studios in the world
  • Directed critically acclaimed anime films such as "My Neighbor Totoro" (1988), "Princess Mononoke" (1997), and "Spirited Away" (2001)
  • Known for his imaginative storytelling, strong female characters, and environmentalist themes
  • Received numerous awards including the Academy Honorary Award in 2014 for his contributions to animation and cinema

Naoko Takeuchi: Creator of the Iconic Magical Girl Series "Sailor Moon"

  • Naoko Takeuchi is a Japanese manga artist best known for creating the highly popular and influential magical girl series "Sailor Moon"
  • "Sailor Moon" was serialized in Nakayoshi magazine from 1991 to 1997 and became a global phenomenon
  • The series follows the adventures of Usagi Tsukino, a teenage girl who transforms into the titular character to fight evil alongside her fellow Sailor Guardians
  • "Sailor Moon" has been adapted into various media including anime, live-action series, musicals, and video games
  • Takeuchi's work has been credited with revitalizing the magical girl genre and empowering young female readers

Akira Toriyama: Creator of the Internationally Successful "Dragon Ball" Franchise

  • Akira Toriyama is a Japanese manga artist and character designer, best known for creating the "Dragon Ball" series
  • "Dragon Ball" was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995 and became one of the most popular and influential manga series of all time
  • The series follows the adventures of Goku, a young warrior with superhuman strength, as he searches for the legendary Dragon Balls
  • "Dragon Ball" has been adapted into various media including anime, films, and video games, and has a massive international fanbase
  • Toriyama's distinctive art style and creative character designs have inspired countless artists and influenced the shōnen genre

Action-Packed Adventures and Battles in "Dragon Ball," "One Piece," and "Naruto"

  • "Dragon Ball" by Akira Toriyama follows the adventures of Goku, a young warrior with superhuman strength, as he searches for the legendary Dragon Balls and battles powerful enemies
  • "One Piece" by Eiichiro Oda is a long-running series that follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate with the ability to stretch his body like rubber, as he searches for the ultimate treasure known as "One Piece" and assembles a diverse crew of pirates
  • "Naruto" by Masashi Kishimoto tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who dreams of becoming the Hokage, the strongest ninja and leader of his village, while navigating a world of ninja clans, powerful techniques, and complex political intrigue

Psychological Thrillers and Post-Apocalyptic Battles in "Death Note" and "Attack on Titan"

  • "Death Note" by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata is a psychological thriller that follows Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone whose name he writes in it, as he attempts to create a world free of crime while being pursued by a brilliant detective known as L
  • "Attack on Titan" by Hajime Isayama is a post-apocalyptic series set in a world where humanity lives in cities surrounded by enormous walls to protect them from gigantic humanoid creatures known as Titans, and follows Eren Yeager, a young man who joins the military to fight against the Titans after his hometown is destroyed and his mother is eaten

Notable Anime Films

Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award-Winning "Spirited Away"

  • "Spirited Away" is a 2001 anime film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli
  • The film tells the story of Chihiro, a young girl who enters a mysterious world of spirits and must work in a bathhouse to free herself and her parents, who have been transformed into pigs
  • "Spirited Away" is known for its imaginative storytelling, stunning visuals, and memorable characters, including the mysterious Haku and the greedy witch Yubaba
  • The film was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film in Japanese history and winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003

Katsuhiro Otomo's Groundbreaking Cyberpunk Classic "Akira"

  • "Akira" is a 1988 anime film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, based on his manga series of the same name
  • Set in a dystopian version of Tokyo in 2019, the film follows Shōtarō Kaneda, a biker gang leader whose childhood friend Tetsuo Shima develops powerful telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle accident
  • "Akira" is known for its groundbreaking animation, complex storytelling, and exploration of themes such as power, corruption, and the consequences of unchecked technological advancement
  • The film has become a landmark of the cyberpunk genre and has influenced numerous works in animation, comics, and science fiction

Major Manga Magazines

Weekly Shōnen Jump: The Most Successful Manga Magazine in Japan

  • Weekly Shōnen Jump is a weekly manga anthology published by Shueisha in Japan since 1968
  • The magazine primarily targets a young male demographic and features series in the shōnen genre, which typically focus on action, adventure, and coming-of-age stories
  • Many of the most popular and influential manga series of all time have been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump, including "Dragon Ball," "One Piece," "Naruto," "Bleach," and "My Hero Academia"
  • The magazine has a circulation of over 2 million copies per week, making it one of the most successful manga magazines in Japan
  • Weekly Shōnen Jump has also been published in various international editions, including North America, where it has helped popularize manga and anime among Western audiences