Non Western Art Analysis

 Exhibit of Japanese Modern Manga Art

Introduction to Manga

Manga is broadly defined as any cartoon, comic, or animation originating from Japan (Impact). Today, most commonly, manga refers to printed comic books, while anime is reserved for animated works (Impact). Manga is by no means a new art form. The oldest work depicting an illustrated sequential story is a series of scrolls known as Choju Jinbutsu Giga or Scrolls of Frolicking Animals from the 12^th and 13^th centuries (Jones). The first true manga, however, is accepted as being Hokusai Katsushika’s sketches of daily life from 1814, and the first modern manga by Kitazawa Rakuten was published in 1902 (Began). Manga has a wide variety of styles that have evolved throughout the decades. Additionally, manga covers an array of genres. 

 

Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Volume One by Naoko Takeuchi 1992

Naoko Takeuchi is both the author and illustrator of Sailor Moon, a manga series she created while living in Japan. Sailor Moon was the first manga to gain widespread popularity outside of Japan (Ramirez). Sailor Moon first achieved publication in 1992 in the girls’ magazine, Nakayoshi, published by Kodansha (Sailor Moon). However, it was not until 1998 that English versions of the series were released, at which time its popularity quickly skyrocketed (Bedside). Utilizing elements from both shounen (action-heavy plots) and shoujo (romance-heavy plots) immensely helped the series to appeal to a wide-ranging audience (Ramirez). Because Sailor Moon was so popular, it was the first manga many Westerners were introduced to. Unfortunately, because of the series' extremely feminine and “sparkly style” many people preemptively judged all manga as intended for children. Although Sailor Moon is appropriate for younger consumers, people of all ages can enjoy the story as it is action-packed and focuses on several intense and heartwarming themes. While the series did not start the magical girl genre, it redefined and elevated it to one of the most popular subgenres of manga today. 

I personally enjoy the genera, medium, and this image, Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Volume One, for many reasons. First, the girl's pose is slightly unusual and dynamic, which is aided by her hair flying around her in a gravity-defying way. Next, I find the slight pastel color scheme very pleasing as often people are reluctant to work with such color stories because they fear their work will appear childish. The lighting is gorgeous, being very soft, cool, and ethereal, casting a bright highlight onto the edges of her skirt, hair, gloves, and cape. Additionally, I vastly enjoy the large, vibrant, expressive eyes prominently displayed that are so closely associated with Japanese manga art. I find that such bright colors and cheerful invigorates me with joy and inspiration to create works that will elicit the same response in others. Finally, I greatly appreciate that the image does not shy away from its hyper-feminine style and makes it clear that just because the girl is pretty and feminine does not mean she is not powerful or capable of fighting. I feel this is especially important to represent because such works tend to be devalued as a result of their femininity.

 

 

Uzumaki Volume One by Junji Ito

Manga is not only intended for children. In fact, there are numerous series created specifically for adults.  One such work is the incredibly popular and well-known Japanese horror series, Uzumaki, by Junji Ito. First Published in 1998 by the Japanese magazine Big Comic Spirits, Uzumaki, or Spiral in English, quickly rose to popularity (Uzumaki). Still, it was not until 2001 that Uzumaki was published in English by Viz Media in their magazine Pulp, at which time the series gained international acclaim (Uzumaki). As both the author and illustrator of the series, Junji Ito has been dubbed a master of horror for his understanding of portrayals of phobias, existential anxieties, and the terror of the unknown (Heath). 

In general, I find enjoyment in and am fascinated by the horror genre. I particularly appreciate Ito’s cover art for Uzumaki because, at first glance, it reminds me of one of my favorite paintings Starry Night Over the Rhône. Not only do I adore the swirling pattern of the sky and hair, but it is further enhanced because the hair encapsulates several scenes from the story. The composition is also highly pleasing as the woman and her hair occupy most of the space, making it clear they are the main focus. Personally, I also find it visually appealing that the large eye in the top left corner, which acts as a type of sun and appears as a light source, is echoed in the composition by the small eye in the bottom right corner, which serves as a contrasting moon. The color and lighting of the image go beautifully together with the cool blue background and shadows contrasting against the warm yellows and oranges. I find this image both intriguing and eerie. The terrifying eyes and faces wrapped in hair create an odd picture when paired with the woman’s serene but somewhat troubled face. 

 

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Volume One by Hanokage

The Puella Magi Madoka Magica manga was first published in 2011 by the Japan-based Houbunsha publishing company (Madoka, Amazon). It was released in English the following year by Yen Press (Madoka, Amazon). The manga adaptions were created based on the preceding 2011 anime of the same name (Madoka, IMDB). Both the manga and anime were illustrated by the Japanese-based artist Hanokage, who also created promotional posters and cover art for the two types of media (Madoka, Amazon). Puella Magi Madoka Magica is an interesting a unique manga. By simply looking at the Kawaii (cute) style, pastel colors, and cheerful expression of the main character of the image, one could conclude the story is similar to that of Sailor Moon and suitable for all ages as they both fall under the magical girl genera. I chose to discuss Puella Magi Madoka Magica because I assert it is a perfect mix of both Sailor Moon and Uzumaki. Despite the feminine style, bright colors, and lighthearted air, Puella Magi Madoka Magica is, in fact, a dark psychological thriller that is made even more disturbing by the character's innocent designs.

Personally, I find the contrast between the unassuming, adorable imagery and the horror story intriguing in their discrepancy. I like the diamond hierarchy in which the characters are arranged as it reminds me of Renaissance compositions and feels very stable. The solid layout is aided by the symmetry of the sword and rifle and the main character, Madoka’s, equally even pose. This firm composition is only broken by the uppermost character’s hair, flowing out in a rather dramatic spin. I admire the use of the drop shadow cast by the figures as it helps distinguish them from the background. Additionally, I appreciate the yellow circles floating around the image as the subtle layering in front of and behind the girls creates added depth. Madoka’s pastel pink, girly outfit and design are probably the aspect of the illustration I enjoy the most. Finally, I find it visually pleasing how the two bright pastel blue and pink figures both have a person whose pallets are dominated by warm and cool muted colors behind them and to their left. The characters' aesthetics and the cheerful appearance of the illustration make me feel comfort accompanied by anticipation, knowing what lurks behind the image's unassuming exterior. 

Conclusion

Manga has a long and rich history. The medium prevailed through two world wars and multiple economic and political shifts in power. Manga is an important part of Japanese culture as it introduces their way of life to people in other countries. While the majority are fictional works, slice-of-life manga or those set in modern settings offer the world a non-intrusive look into life in Japan.  Due to contemporary manga’s characteristically disproportionate human designs, many critics do not consider the style to be real or credible art (Nayak). Others disregard the medium by saying it is meant for children and therefore has less value (Nayak). This is misguided in both aspects, as shown by this discussion— many manga are explicitly created for adults. Additionally, even when the manga is geared towards younger audiences’ adults can still enjoy them and the works are still of value to the art community. Book covers are meant to be eye-catching, their purpose being to draw people in simply with their designs. I believe this is why the cover art of these manga are ones that I find so fascinating. I chose to discuss Sailor Moon because it is one of the most popular manga ever and has influenced numerous Western and Eastern pop culture elements (Milwood). Sailor Moon represents what most people think of when the word manga is mentioned. I included Uzumaki because it represents the darker, more mature side of manga that people do not typically realize exists. Finally, I included Puella Magi Madoka Magica because it blends Sailor Moon in style and Uzumaki in content, making it a rare combination of horror and beauty that makes manga unique. 

 

Work Cited

“Drawn to Inspire | The Impact of Manga and Anime,” Japan House, Los Angeles, https://www.japanhousela.com/articles/the-impact-of-manga-and-anime/. Accessed April 25, 2023.

Heath, Will. “Junji Ito: 10 Best Stories from Japan’s Master of Horror,” Japan Objects, January 17, 2020. https://japanobjects.com/features/junji-ito#:~:text=Junji%
20Ito%20is%20a%20mangaka,every%20other%20horror%20writer%20around. Accessed 25, April 2023.

“How Manga Began,” Canson, https://en.canson.com/expert-advice/how-manga-began#:~:text=Manga%20is%20said%20to%20have,per%20page%20and%20typed%20texts. Accessed 25, April 2023.

Jones, Will. “Studio Ghibli Have Adapted ‘The World’s Oldest Manga’ into an Animated Short,” Complex UK, https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2016/03/studio-ghibli-world-oldest-manga#:~:text=The%2012th%20and%2013th%20century,the%20world's%20first%20ever%20manga. Accessed 25, April 2023.

“Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Vol. 1,” Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Puella-Magi-Madoka-Magica-Vol/dp/031621387X.  Accessed 26, April 2023.

“Puella Magi Madoka Magica,” IMDB, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1773185/. Accessed 27, April 2023.

Milwood, Kayan. “How the Western world has adapted Japanese culture through Anime,” DayTranslationBlogs, January 20, 2022. https://www.daytranslations.com/blog/how-the-western-world-has-adapted-japanese-culture-through-anime/. Accessed 27, April 2023.

More Bedside Books “Some Publishing History of Sailor Moon in English,” Tumbler, 2020. https://morebedsidebooks.tumblr.com/post/185954809442/some-publishing-history-of-sailor-moon-in-english. Accessed 25, April 2023.

Nayak, Vaishnavi. “Why isn’t anime considered art, “The Wild Cat Voice, January 15, 2018. https://wildcatvoice.org/2398/opinion/why-isnt-anime-considered-art/#:~:text=Anime%20is%
20type%20of%20a,do%20not%20consider%20it%20art. Accessed 27, April 2023.

Ramirez, Kaelani. “Why ‘Sailor Moon’ Remains One Of The Most Influential Anime Of All Time,” Study Breaks, March 12, 2020. https://studybreaks.com/tvfilm/sailor-moon-most-influential-anime-all-time/#:~:text=Something%20striking%20about%20%E2%80%
9CSailor%20Moon,also%20incorporating%20action%20and%20adventure. Accessed 25, April 2023.

“Sailor Moon: first US Edition Series,” GoodReads, https://www.goodreads.com/series/53771-sailor-moon-first-us-edition.  Accessed 25, April 2023.

“Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror,” SuperSummary, https://www.supersummary.com/uzumaki/summary/.  Accessed 26, April 2023.