Manga Mondays: Spotlight #1 ~ Hayao Miyazaki

"OMG SHE'S BACK"
Yes. Yes I am. BUWAHAHAH!
Hey, is it bad to wear a scarf in 90+ degree weather, even if I'm cold?
It is? OH WELL!

 

 

Hey everyone! Welcome back to Manga Mondays at BNR! I'm so excited to be back and writing to you all. I hope everyone still loves me even though I left for a while...
HOWEVER, I will return to you all starting today. /LOVINGASIANHUGS

So, I'm gonna try out this new idea I came up with while I was laying on the beach in Florida:

Spotlights!

Yay!... Like a sir...

So, I thought I'd kick off the entire new mini-series (That will either be the first or last Monday of every month) within the feature to spotlight my all-time favorite Director and Animator:

Hayao Miyazaki!

For those of you who have NO IDEA who this is and call yourself an anime/manga-fan needs to be slapped! (jk)

Lemme just list the few movies he's done:

 

 And one more, an all-time favorite full of awesome adventure...

Okay, so by now you should know who Hayao Miyazaki is. Ha! If you don't, go watch ANY of these movies and see his genius at work. There are all beautifully created animated films. I recommend all of his films really...

Hayao Miyazaki is simply superb at what he does, both animating and directing. He crafts stories full of magic, wonder, and just life in general. Through his stories, I'm inspired to create more than I've ever wanted to.

Sosuke (Left) and Ponyo (Right)  in Ponyo

I wanted Miyazaki-san to be the first I spotlight because he has made such an enormous impact on my life in both art and in general. He isn't your average animator to create movies to just entertain; he creates stories to make an impression, to make you think, and to make use of your creativity. The characters created in the stories are always so unique and eventful. I can't help to cry when they cry and to laugh when they laugh. It really places you in the atmosphere, whether it is the playful world within Ponyo or the mystical world of contraptions and magics within Howl's Moving Castle. Miyazaki-san creates an imaginative world for one person to another and bases the movies on others, creating a sense of connection with the characters, such as with Chihiro in Spirited Away.

Haku (left) and Chihiro (Right) from Spirited Away...Confession: This is my iPhone wallpaper.
I REGRET NOTHING.

What makes Miyazaki-san great as well is his ability to capture the audience into his story.

Sophie (Left) & Howl (Right) from Howl's Moving Castle

When I first watched Howl's Moving Castle, my curiosity first drove me to watch it. I thought, "Hm. This looks interesting." Hearing the interactions between the characters, the personalities of each one, and the story progression led to me to fall in love with HMC. Watching Sophie (the main female protagonist in HMC) throughout the film, I had a real connection with her because she was so much like me: Insecure, lonely, caring, as well as short-tempered. I loved her throughout the film, and her interactions with Howl are interesting as well! I could never get enough of Howl.
But even through the laughs and excitement in HMC, there is also melancholy and loneliness in the characters, Howl especially. Watch the movie and you'll know what I mean.
Miyazaki was able to make me feel happy, sad, angry, and even more emotions through his film, and what made it better was that it fit with the story. There weren't just random cases of jokes or trouble; it was purposeful. It flowed. It worked. Stories can bring out many emotions, but Miyazaki really takes the cake when it comes to conveying emotions within his stories as well as just depth within the characters and plot.

But it just doesn't single out with HMC; it's nearly every Miyazaki film.

Throughout Ponyo, I felt distress for our two child main characters, Sosuke and Ponyo. Would they be able to play together? Will Ponyo be taken away by her father? Will Sosuke be with his family again?

Throughout Spirited Away, I wondered if Chihiro will ever see Haku if she rescues her parents. I wondered if Chihiro will ever recover her name back.

The list just goes on for his movies. 

All in all, Hayao Miyazaki's movies are an inspiration to any artist, writer, animator, and/or director. Simply put, he's pretty freaking awesome, and anyone who hasn't seen his movies should go watch any of them created by him. If you don't like one, try another; his film genres are vast and creative. There is always something by Miyazaki that you will love.

Look at this guy! Full of awesome!
Above: Hayao Miyazaki

So, I hope this mini-series will be successful, and I open people to new artists and writers!

Hope to see you all in the coming Mondays and as well as when I do a review!
 

Sayonara!

-Sara

Manga Mondays: Anime Adaptions

Well today's Manga Monday is asking about this:

Do certain anime adaptions give their original mangas justice?

We'll explore three different animes, all different in their own ways.

First, we'll start with one that I just recently started watching:

Kaichou Wa Maid-sama!

Left to Right: Misaki Ayuzawa & Takumi Usui ~
Protagonists of Kaichou Wa Maid-Sama

Kaichou Wa Maid-sama is basically about a strict, female student council president who ends up in a strange relationship with a slacker boy at school. This happens and bang-bing-bam-bom-woop! Kaichou Wa Maid-sama is adapted into an anime. So, I've read the manga long before I started watching the anime. I seriously love the manga to death, and all the characters are pretty freaking awesome. (Recommended read)

However, I was skeptical on watching the anime because I didn't know if I would like it. Some way, it might just put me off, kind of like Twilight... No offense (The last Twilight movie wasn't so bad. I liked it a bit. :D )... Yet, I was entirely wrong. The anime is actually just as amusing as the manga. I enjoyed watching it, and I was laughing at parts I laughed at in the manga. Additionally, the anime (so far) is very close to the manga's story line in details, which makes me very happy. As well as the art... Yay art continuity! :D

But of course, the anime does leave some details out (small details that don't really stray away from the main plot line but actions that lead to the resolution might differ). It's not all entirely bad or makes me want to throw the TV across the room, but obviously, they probably won't include every single detail into a 22-24 minute show. 

The Verdict:

Yes. The anime of Kaichou Wa Maid-Sama does give the manga justice. However, as any normal Manga/Anime lover, I would highly recommend the Manga first, then the Anime.

Misaki & Takumi

Our second look is at a considerably popular manga/anime:

One Piece

Background to Foreground & Left to Right:
Sanji, Usopp, Nami, Luffy & Zoro

To be completely honest, I made a whoopsy on this one... I watched the anime first and then the manga (that was a time where I wasn't really into reading mangas or even watching animes. It was mostly on adult swim and Luffy & Sanji made me laugh). From the episodes I have watched and manga chapters I have read, One Piece really sticks to their story considerably well and deserves a well-needed thumbs up. One Piece has also been extremely successful in the selling of manga and anime.

However, just like any other popular anime, it has fillers. If you have seen Bleach and gouged the insides of your bone marrow while watching that FREAKING BOUNT ARC *heaves*, you will understand that some fillers just shouldn't be aired and that some fillers just shouldn't be made. I am by no means saying that "Bleach is terrible. YAYAYAY One piece!" Bleach just has terrible and non-thought-out fillers. Yet, our friend, One Piece, has had profoundly positive feedback from its fillers, making it not seem like a totally hassle to even watch them. (You might even think it is canon!) And the first filler arc of One Piece actually doesn't appear until after the Logue Arc, which is the 5-6 arc, if you don't include the One Piece movie and include the Buggy Arc Special. (Warship Island Arc is the first filler.) 
As well, the art is pretty identical to the manga, which I love. *3*

Verdict:

Yes. The anime of One Piece does provide the manga justice. I saw the anime before I read the manga, and immediately, I fell in love with its story, characters, and art. Seriously, if you had to watch any super popular anime, I would definitely consider One Piece.

Left to Right: Zoro, Nami, Luffy, Usopp, & Sanji

Our last anime adaption will be:

Air Gear

Ikki ~ Protagonist of Air Gear

Let's be honest here: Air Gear is a pretty freaking awesome and kick arse manga. To be honest, it made me proud that I could roller blade and wish I took engineering and enjoyed it so I could make Air Treck skates.

But that, my friends, is a dream for another day. /sheds a single tear, looking at the dawning horizon

Air Gear is a very fun and fantastic manga, especially with its excelling panel transitions with its roller skating movements. For the artist, they get a thumbs up from me.

However, did the Anime give the manga justice?

Not really. Maybe I am a bit prejudice when I type this, however the more time Simca was on the screen, the more I wanted to punch my television with her face on it. She had WAYY more screen time than she SHOULD HAVE. However, that was not the only reason. They didn't really go into depth with the whole idea of Air Treck. It's so much more than people roller blading and winning badges for kisses. It's like a whole other world. That's the way the manga portrays it at least, and that's what I love about it. It's not a simple sport or some competition for anyone. It's for those people with the talent to soar. Also, the manga art is so much better.

Verdict:

No, the anime did not give Air Gear its just rewards. Maybe I am a bit annoyed by the fact I saw Simca a lot more than I should have, but the matter of the fact is that the anime doesn't serve the manga at all. At moments, I asked myself "Did it happen this way?" It bothers me when things don't happen like they did the books (if I read it), however if the movie or the show put it in a creative way, then props to them. But I just felt the anime didn't serve the purpose of supporting the manga. AND I WANT MORE RINGO, NOT SIMCA. DIE IN A PIT OF FLAMES, SIMCA!!

YAY RINGO!

Well, besides my rant, I hoped you enjoyed this Monday's MM!

See you next time!!

Sara

Manga Mondays: Art & Story

Today's Topic: Art & Story ~ How does affect you?

To those avid Manga readers and Anime watchers, we stumble across a variety of styles in the art we see. We see our stereotypical to our old style of Manga/Anime. We like the stories for the stories, and we like the art for the art. I sound kind of redundant right? It probably doesn't make much sense to you, does it?

What I mean by those two statements is that we appreciate those Mangas for its art and story line. Those are essentially what draws people into it. However, we see those stories with just the terrible plot lines with the super amazing art and vis versa, like I had explained Here (Style ~ Make or Break a Manga/Anime?) Basically, it is the same principles applied here. However, in this post, I want to focus on the essential question of whether the art and story affect your manga experience.

Well, to be honest, it should and shouldn't affect you.

Why you ask? Well, here's my reasons why:

~~Should Affect You~~

Art: Art is basically the whole premise of any animations and comics, including Manga and Animes. Essentially, if something is pleasant to the eyes, whether it is the background, character designs, or movement, we will watch it, absorb it, and enjoy it. We are affected by the art because we enjoy it in some way, shape, or form. The art in a Manga or Anime (Gonna initial that as MoA) is important to keep us entertained.

Story: Okay, so you've got your art. All good, you can make a MoA. BUT HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! Obviously, you will bore the heck out of every single person if you just put pretty art up without a meaning. Story is important whether you are drawing a comic or just a regular picture. Every picture tells a story, and as artists, they need to convey that story to the audience through the picture. 

Ask yourself: Why is he mad about that? What caused the problem? What led them to become lost? How will they resolve the fighting and conflict? 

We answer these questions through the story that is conveyed in the picture: Oh, I see why he is upset. Now I understand why she is acting this way. That's why he looked so pissed off.

The story is a such a key part of any MoA that you basically can't even have anything of a book without one.

~~Shouldn't Affect You/Isn't Used Well/HOLYCRAPWHY!?~~

Art: Okay, so bad art will always be bad art. However, just because one art isn't as mainstream as another doesn't mean it is bad. There are a lot of art styles that are non-mainstream that are wonderful and amazing to look at. However, like I said, bad art will always be bad art. If the art is mixed with a super interesting plot line, I would definitely suggest giving the MoA a chance. Yet, keep in mind that if it has a bad story line and bad art, then... Well.. You know... >.> *looks at MoA dump pile*...

Story: THIS PART ISN'T ABOUT HOW THE STORY "DOESN'T AFFECT YOUR EXPERIENCE:" THIS IS Why Story Is So Important In MoAs!! Story matters. I DON'T GIVE A CRUDE IF YOU THINK THAT THERE IS A STORY BEHIND ALL THE STUPID SCENES, ESPECIALLY IN DRAGON BALL Z WHERE IT TAKES FREAKING SEASONS TO UNLEASH ONE ATTACK

THAT DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!

(Disclaimer: I love Dragon Ball Z. Please do not think that I hate it, but that statement is the truth.) I mean, Dragon Ball Z does have a plot line, but every episode or chapter is filled with talking, and then the next BAJILLION chapters are filled with convoluted insults or fighting that is so super-human and wayyy too god-like for a fantasy/fiction story. It makes me epicly /facepalm.

So, with that, I'd like to ask you for a favor:

For those who have read Manga or watched Anime with that art that you just hate or dislike with a fiery passion, please, please, not just for my sake but for the Mangaka's sake, to read the story or watch the episode. I know it will be difficult, especially if the art really sucks in your opinion, universally, or otherwise, but you never and may never know how much you will fall in love with that story and just keep reading it again and again.

Well, even if you don't complete my favor, I'm glad you could join me for this Monday's Feature. If you have any topics you want to discuss on this feature, feel free to leave a comment below and ask a question I can elaborate on (Or multiples if you wish)!

Inked with Brilliance and Love,

Sara

Manga Mondays: The End for Bleach

The End for Bleach?!!?

WARNING: THERE ARE POSSIBLE SPOILERS OF BLEACH BELOW. YEAH, SPOILERS. SO IF YOU DON'T WANNA KNOW AND YOU HAVEN'T READ OR WATCHED BLEACH, GO WATCH THE CANON EPISODES AND READ THE MANGA TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT. SO YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED... SPOILERS BELOW!

I wish it was Monday last Wednesday when I saw the news and the new chapter on Mangahere.com. Seriously, I was in total shock.

I'm a huge Bleach fan. Surprisingly, my totally-closet-nerd brother introduced me to Bleach when he started watching the Anime when it first came out. For me, I decided to read the Manga, considering I had begun to get into Manga then too. I instantly fell in love with nearly all the characters and love the Manga Arcs (the Anime fillers can all burn in a ditch).

But speculation has come around to say:

Bleach is ending!!

Yep, the final arc has supposedly arrived.

However, is it really ending?

On most forums I've looked up on, considering I spent two hours trying to figure out if Bleach is really ending for sure, Kubo Tite has said that Bleach will go on for another 10 years. (Google Kubo Tite interview end, and you'll see a lot of the same information on Bleach forums, Bleach Tumblrs, etc.etc.allBleachetc.) Seriously, I was extremely relieved. However, I am still confused by the fact that the newest chapter is called "The Final Arc." Well, I guess we'll see when it ends.

However, what are we going to be expecting in this new and final arc!?

Many fans and myself have taken information from Kubo Tite's interviews at Jump Fiesta and know that the "mysterious" Royal Guard of Seireitei is supposed to appear! EEGAD!!! Not only the speculated Royal Guard but also more... QUINCIES!! Yep. More Ishidas. <3 And if you're a girl like me, you'll be glad if there are more Ishidas around... <3 Also, as seen near the end of the Substitute Shinigami (SS) Arc, our favorite Shinigami Captains and Vice-Captains have received many make-overs in character design. Even the opening pages of Chapter 480, the beginning of the Final Arc, we see Mayuri in his new design. As the reader flips through the chapter, we see two new faces, both Shinigami and investigating Karakura town. However, they are attacked by multiple giant Hollows, and thankfully, at the end, Ichigo dives right into the battle.

What can we really expect from Bleach though? Will this be the final arc for sure? Or is there really going to be another 10 years of Bleach for us fanatics to hold on to?

Honestly, I'd like more Bleach, but others might not think so. Some say it should have ended at the Arrancar Arc with the exile/death of Aizen, but with the flood of Japanese fans begging for more during the Arrancar Arc, Kubo Tite continued it and had continued it to the SS Arc. I feel that the SS Arc was fairly well written, however it also felt like it was completely rushed compared to all the other Arcs.(Basically, I took from it as a look at the whole SS BS that I thought was lame in the first place and felt that Ichigo should be looked at as an equal with the Shinigami. But you know, I'm not bitter....)

Kubo Tite had reassured that in the following years, Bleach will be more exciting and engaging for the audience. I'm super excited!

Bleach = Amazing.

Opening cover page of the Final Arc
We see Ichigo in his new Fullbring/Shinigami outfit as well as Zangetsu <3
In the background, there are the silhouettes of the Quincies. Can't wait for their appearance!

Read the first chapter of the Final Arc Here!

And let me know what you think:

Should Bleach really end here? Or continue for another 10 years? What's your opinion of Bleach in generally , the SS Arc, or your expectations for this new and "Final" Arc?

Inked with Brilliance and Love,

Sara

Manga Mondays: What's wrong with it?

So.. For today's question, which I probably should have addressed way back then, is:

Why don't people like Manga? What's wrong with it?

I can probably already answer the question for you: Basically, people are so wrapped up in mainstream manga and anime that they can't get it out of their FREAKING mindset that not every single one is like that.

This kind of goes back to my Manga style post. Style is so important in making an impact in our ideal of manga; it's crazy knowing how much it affects our standard. So lemme ask you, what is your standard of manga/anime? If you like it, why? If you don't, why not?

Don't gimme that crud that it's "lazy and they don't have the talent for realistic art, blahblahblah." Don't. Seriously, it's getting old. I hear it enough from people who haven't even seen amazingly well-drawn manga/anime. I hear it enough from the people in my art club. I'm not saying that I am the epitome of perfection of manga/anime; I'm just an artist who draws it. I can't say I am the best.

Another point that people could make is the convoluted plot lines in every single manga. LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING, BUSTER! NOT EVERY MANGA HAS A STUPID SHOUNEN PLOT LINE OF "FRIENDSHIP IS THE BEST AND THE KEY TO WINNNING" OR "I WILL GET STRONGER TO DEFEAT YOU, RAWRRRRR!!" OR THAT STUPID AND FLOWERY SHOUJO PLOT LINE OF "AMG, IT IZ LUV @ FURST SIGHT, BLEHHH!" OR "I WILL MAKE THIS BOY MY HUSBAND AND I WILL LOVE HIM EVEN THOUGH I LOOK LIKE I'M 12 YEARS OLD AND HE LOOKS 20!!"... *heaves*...

Anyways, my point is that most (not saying all) critics of Manga/Anime only see the mainstream plot lines and designs that make it seem "standard" and if you are not in the standard, then you are not a Mangaka.

I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IS A BIG, FAT, ENORMOUS, ELEPHANT-SIZED LIE!

I've seen excellent and extravagant artists all around, especially on DeviantArt to tell YOU, my friend, that drawing manga and anime doesn't force you to be in the standard or the main stream. What's fantastic, and I've said this before, is the uniqueness of Manga. It is a beautiful and wonderful medium, and nearly, some pictures just take my breath away. An artist's details and designs make the characters and scenery come to life. My love and adoration of all things Manga and Anime has given me a new respect for the Mangakas and artists that arise in our society. They are criticized for their style and medium, however, they do not back down and continue to draw their passions.

So to the readers reading this ranting of mine that is completely subjective, I ask you:

Can you accept this style? Can you embrace it with the love that you have shown other pieces of work?

We all start somewhere. For us Manga and Anime artists, this is our start.

Inked with Brilliance and Love,

Sara.

P.S. I'm sorry this is just a huge rant. I had to get it off my chest. And I also apologize that this isn't really a feature. I'll do a better feature next Monday. Today was just a crazy day. ;_;

Manga Mondays: Style ~ Make or Break?

So today's question might get a little confusing just by reading the title. Basically, what I'm asking is this:

Does a Mangaka's [A Manga artist] style make or break a good manga?

Now let's think about this: I'd have to say yes and no. To be honest, a lot of mainstream otakus hate the old style. However, would our ideal of manga be alive today if it were not for the old style of manga? No, our contemporary manga style wouldn't exist without the influence of old manga. Manga evolves from manga. Other mangas are created from influence by other mangas. Every mangaka and wanna-be mangaka study each other. We grow from each other, and that's what makes this style so unique.

So back to the topic. Here's why I am on the fence for this.

Let's look at Basara, which you can read [Here]. For anyone who wants to be a Mangaka or just anyone who wants to read a fantastic action-packed and romantic story, read Basara. Written by Yumi Tamura, the original serialization of this manga in Betsucomi magazine was from September of 1990 to June of 1998. As you can probably tell and/or if you clicked the link, this is an old-styled manga. I was completely turned off by the drawings. I am so used to mangas like One Piece (which is awesome, MONKEY D LUFFY<3), Fairy Tail (NATSU DRAGONEELLLLLL FOR THE WINNNN!), and Bleach (FUGG YEAH, GETTIN' IT IN, ICHIGO KUROSAKI!) that the style just didn't fit my eyes.

However, Basara is a single reason why I do not discriminate style within a manga anymore. This story was so exceptionally written and executed that I literally cried for hours during and after I finished this story. The dramatic irony of the reader and character development and uniqueness between them can create such a flood of emotions within the reader that they just don't care what style is used; WE JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! I seriously left my computer, sat on my bed, and contemplated the story and the characters as I drew my own characters. There is so many things to think about within this story. There are constant themes that are evident within every chapter, and seriously, I didn't do homework for the next week except for at school. I would hop onto my computer and immediately start reading this story. I can understand why people would be put off at first (I even said I experienced that), yet this story is simply the epitome of completely planned and well thought-out story telling. The mangaka leaves you wanting more after every chapter. Seriously, if you are reading this, go read Basara. You will fall in love with every character, every story, and every line. I absolutely love it, and it is one of my favorites. (BTW, if I was reviewing it, I'd give it 4/4 polishes.)

Okay, there is also why I said no.

This time, let's look at the style and how it affects the story with...

L-DK.... You can read it here...

Okay, once you click it, it isn't such a bad style, right? Well, yeah it's not bad. It's pretty mainstream as seen with the pretty and sparkling eyes on a girl and the boy looks a little girlie and the whole shee-bang.

However, this is one of those stories that, just because the art is great, doesn't mean the story is equally great. Yeah, I know that Basara  and L-DK  are two different genres. But you know what they both have and execute? Love. Yeah, the fugging theme of romance. However, I'm not comparing the genres in this case; I'm comparing the execution of the story and art. You can't have a manga without a good story, and you can't have a manga without good art.

Anyways, L-DK has good art for being mainstream. It's proportions are intact, and facial expressions are well expressed. However, this manga lacks what a manga should have: A good and solid plot-line. It takes 30 fugging chapters just to reach an actual and legit romance between these two idiots. I swear, I wanted to slam my monitor at the wall. The progression was slow, and about half way through, I ask myself, "WHY AM I READING THIS!?" Well, I actually just wanted to know what happened and what the heck was bothering the main male protagonist. Okay, so yes Basara had a bit of a slow romance, however in between all the romance, there was legit events happening that seriously affected the entire story. It had serious implications when something would happen within the story, whether it is about the main plot or a character's story. That is why Basara's art doesn't break the entire manga. You weren't just left in some random way-lay of a story, and then suddenly, the story goes, "Whoops! Let's go back to the main story and quickly end this little arc [if you can even call it that!] in 3 fugging pages!" (I'm not bitter...) But that's what it felt like in L-DK. Don't get me wrong; the story isn't entirely bad, but the reasoning behind this story is so convoluted; I am still wondering how I even remotely liked it or somewhat finished it til the latest chapter. 

So to conclude my ranting, I'd just like to say that the story and art make up a manga; obviously, you can't have one without the other. However, the quality of the art does not entirely ruin a manga. Most people who recommend manga do not really judge on the art but rather the story. The intricacy, development, and characters within a manga's story really keeps the reader wanting to buy the volumes and enjoy the manga.

If you don't believe me, go read Basara and L-DK. You will see how convoluted and cliche L-DK's story is that you might gouge your eyes out and see that Basara is everything that you could really want in an action/adventure and romance manga. Or it might be vis versa.

Inked with Brilliance and Love,

Sara

Manga Mondays - Is Anime/Manga style lazy?

Hey everyone. Sorry for last week and not doing a MM feature. Today's feature is a very controversial topic among art students, art critics, and art schools. The big question is:

Click and look at the
details in both the background
and character design.
Notice different elements of
art [I list that later in the
blog post]

Is the Anime/Manga style lazy?

So let's take a moment to really know what Anime and Manga is. In a nutshell, it is basically a simplified version of realism. You can disagree with me on this by stating that "Anime and Manga is for people who can't draw realistic people, objects, etc." However, I stand firmly in my belief that it is not lazy; the styles just differ. I understand why it can be frowned upon. We'll look at both why it isn't a lazy style and why it is a lazy style at the same time.

Although people claim that shounen
has less design than shoujo,
click this picture and feel WRONG.

Let's take for example two different artists. We've got Nakamura Yoshiki's Skip Beat! and Kishimoto Masashi's Naruto, two very popular mangas, both expressed in different anime shows. (one is more mainstream, aka Naruto, while one is low-key popular, aka Skip Beat!)

Simplistic design. However
look at  the background
and proportions of
our friend, Naruto.

Styles are very different from realistic art. However, if you look at both artist's work, the use of correct anatomy (Can be seen in Naruto's action sequences and lack of character "stiffness"), realism in the backgrounds or even in the hair (I.E. SB!), or in the details of the characters (in both). I believe these are two good mangas to seriously look at because their styles differ so much. Yet, both mangas are not lazy at all. Try to draw any of those characters, backgrounds, and designs without looking at them within the book. It's difficult, and I have/am enduring the difficulties of drawing manga. While the designs may be more simplified or exaggerated to a certain extent (I will be referring to this later on...), both artists achieve a semi-realistic feel in their stories. Thus, this proves that manga is not lazy.

LOOK AT THAT SEXY MAN THUR!

However, we always have those who give manga a bad name. Now, I am not trying to be mean or rude to the artist. They have their own style, that's good. Yet, this is why people give manga a bad name:

Nothing may seem wrong with this picture... At first. Notice the features: The barely-there nose, too small mouth, large EXAGGERATED eyes which are disproportional to a girl that looks the age of 14-15, and too big of hair.

So I may seem mean but it's only the truth. Artists and critics alike all see manga as that! But that's not how every manga artist is. I am criticized in my art club because I draw manga. "Manga isn't a real style." Yes. It. Is. I cannot tell you how peeved I get when people say that. They only see that (the picture above) and automatically assume that all manga/anime artists draw like that, which isn't true. 

I'm not trying to point out that we can't be cartoonish; this is a cartoon-derived style. However, there is a fine line between cartoonish and too exaggerated.

Getting the correct proportions (both people and objects/backgrounds), understanding anatomy and movement, and basic artistic knowledge (such as shading, light-direction, and color balance) is the foundation of any artist. Manga artists are exactly the same. If you Google, "how to draw better manga," or any help on how to draw anything "manga," most people, even myself, will say to study real life. Manga comes right from realism, but it is a simplified and unique style created by the artist. No one can take that creativity or uniqueness that the artist creates, whether you are a painter, photographer, or graphic designer.

God, I freaking love this Manga and Anime..
Sengoku Basara... YEAH MASAMUNE DATE AND
YUKIMURA SANADA!! <3

To put it simply, I do not agree that manga is a lazy style. It is the matter of the artist and their style that either proves or disregards that misconception of Manga/Anime art. So slap open a manga book or flip on the anime channel and get to reading/watching!

Inked with Brilliance and Love,

Sara

Manga Mondays - 10 of my favorite Anime/Manga ladies

Hey y'all! As you can see by the title, this week:

10 of my favorite Anime/Manga ladies!

Yep, this week it's gonna be all about the characters and why I love them all! Fair warning, they are not in any certain order; just who comes to mind immediately.

First off....

Number 10: Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail

Erza is simply the iconic figure of all female strength in Anime/Manga in today's mainstream pop culture of A&M. She's got the badarse gear, and her fight scenes are excellently drawn. Her character's personality and background are well created and tie together with the main plot line. Not only is she tough and awesome, Erza also contains a side-story love life within Fairy Tail, only making her an even more interesting character!

Keiji: I APPROVE! BIG BOSOMS!! MORE MO-

*SLLLLLLLLLLLLLAP*

Excuse the idiot... Anyways...

Number 9: Orihime Inoue of Bleach

Yes.. I like Orihime-chan... She's is awesome! Her character is fun to watch on the screen of the Anime and read in the Manga. She's somewhat of a typical shounen-esque girl (for example her-BIG BOSOMS! ... *Irritation... Gun shots...* ), however, Orihime is a quick necessity within the story and shows a soft side of many characters, especially Bleach's hero, Ichigo Kurosaki. I also love all her humorous parts because she is seriously the air-head comedic relief.

Number 8: Idachi Hana of Yankee-kun to Megane-chan

Hana-san... *elation* She's a boss. Simply put. She is a tough fighter but also I like her stupidity as well. Yet, her determination makes her a strong female lead in YKtMC manga series. Her constantly changing mood is fun to see in every chapter, and her antics keeps me quite entertained.

Glasses girl >:D *creepy thoughts*...

You're an idiot.... >.>

Number 7: Kanae Kotonami of Skip Beat!

Nicknamed "Moko-san" (literally meaning Ms. Tiger) by Kyoko, Moko-san is an intense character. Her nickname is giving credit where credit is due. Her headstrong personality as well as her mood swings give Kanae-san her unique character. She totally seems like a meanie and a jerk at the beginning (aka a tsundere character at its very core), her advice and very existence allows the main heroine of SB! to grow as a mature and fun person.

WHY CAN'T SHE BE MY GIRLFRIEND!?

BECAUSE YOU'RE 20, YOU OJOU-SAN!

Number 6: Chiwa Takanasi of Hapi Mari

Want me to be honest? At first, I hated Takanasi-san. She annoyed the crapola outta me at first. After a while, though, I stared to feel for her. I get why she is the way she is, and she isn't a basic character. The things she does and the things she says, she does it for a reason. She isn't one of those angsty adults that can't find love. She has it in front of her, and it felt nice to be able to watch Chiwa-san grow into an amazing character. Even if I didn't like her too much, she did make me laugh at the beginning. 

She's a hot oku-chan...

....Please ignore the dimwit...

Number 7: Sawa Konishi of Rockin' Heaven

Honestly, this is probably one of the first typical shoujos I've ever read, and that is probably how it really got me into shoujos (evil vile things that speak of fairy tale loves!! DARN YOU SHOUJOS!!) Well, Sawa Konishi seemed like a typical shoujo girl: Big eyes, girlie looking, she thinks the top guy at the school is the hottest of them all, blah blah blah, etc. etc. However, I realized, by finishing RH that Sawa was an exception. She sticks to her beliefs, from beginning to end. She stands up for what's right, even if she is bullied for it. Even through all the shoujo sparkly crud, I still like Sawa a lot.

Not my thing... Weirdo mangaka, Sa-

STFU KEIJI! *punch*

Number 6: Meirin of Kuroshitsuji

Anyways, our number 6 is personally one of my FAVORITE FAVORITES, Meirin! She has such a cool background, and seriously, my mind was BLOWN when I saw her real identity (won't reveal too much here!). Meirin is very amusing to watch in the Anime as well as read in the Manga. Her infatuation with Sebastian is pretty cute, and her glasses get me to laugh every time.

If Sebastian is gonna pass on her, I'll take her! She's my age, right?...*silence*... RIGHT!?!? :'( *sigh*

Anyways...

Number 5: Lenalee Lee of D. Gray-man

Very cool character. For a while, I had a huge obsession (LEMME TELL YOU IT WAS BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA- *ROUNDHOUSE KICK*...) with female characters of games, anime, books, mangas, etc. etc. However, I lost the little femininity I had when I got into shounens and playing Assassin's Creed (ALTAIR AND EZIO FOREVER!). Lenalee partially restored my girlie fandomism. She is awesome and tough. She doesn't take crud from anyone, and seriously, I wanna be like her. She's so amazing and fun to watch on the screen. Her values in life remind me of myself (family and friends above all; friends always are family). Lenalee is awesome. Period. End of Statement. P.S. SHE MAKES PIGTAILS LOOK MORE BADARSE THAN SAILOR MOON EVER WILL!!

Connecting into Number 4: Rei Hino (Sailor Mars) of Sailor Moon

You know who I wanted to grow up to be when I was little? (A vet- *SUPERASIANPUNCH* SHADDUP!) Sailor Mars. Yep. SAILOR MARS. Not Sailor Moon. Not Sailor Venus (even though she was cool). Not Sailor Pluto. SAILOR MARS. She was my idol when I grew up watching Sailor Moon. She had the wicked and long black hair, the color RED (!!), and she controlled fire and a fire bow. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MY MIND WAS FREAKING BLOWN BY HER!?... Obviously a lot.

Number 3: Teru Kurebayashi of Dengeki Daisy

I like Teru. She's very mellow, and she defends people. I think people who are willing to defend the weak are always amazing. They personally put themselves in the front lines to defend others, and that's why I've always liked the "typical" hero/heroine who tries to save or defend, not only the people they love, but everyone around them, especially the weak. Teru does this right off the bat in chapter one of the manga, even though she inside is weak. She still protects people although people do not bother with her. Her humor also is fun to have around in the book. *elation*

There you go again! Hitting the big-eyed little gir- NO ONE ASKED YOU! *Hits with a metal bat*

Number 2: Feng Lan of 1/2 Prince

Her alternative persona,
Prince

Feng Lan out of Second Life

She reminds me of when I used to play MMORPGs. I would never want to play girls because people always treat you all nicely and kindly. No. Don't discriminate my gender fools! I can beat you all without being a girl!! Feng Lan does just this within 1/2 Prince. Seriously, Feng Lan is merciless within fights, especially during the tournament's first battle (gosh, I love when she just STABBED her enemy while smiling all coldly. Amazing. Astonishing...). Feng Lan is a very interesting character, and her personality really creates a fun story. I enjoy every moment herself/Prince is on the screen. *silence...* Oh my... Is he gone?... Did I hurt him too much last time?... Well.. Anyways...

And finally...

Number 1: Haruhi Fujioka of Ouran High School Host Club

Lemme tell you... After I read Rockin' Heaven, I read Ouran High School Host Club. I fell in love with Haruhi's character. Simply amazing character design and creation by Bisco Hatori-san. Haruhi's lack of the clique heroine within a shoujo manga is the best. Her laziness and unenthusiastic effort within the host club's activities never cease to amuse me. Her many expressions and actions create a diverse character, differing from the typical. This non-typical character has made me purchase the anime series on DVD for Christmas. I also plan on buying all the mangas... Thank you Haruhi for creating a worse addiction than should have existed within me. I don't think you need her help for that, Sara-san.

Why, thanks Keiji!... WAIT A SECOND! WHAT WAS THAT!!?

PAHAHAHA!!

Well anyways, Inked with Brilliance and Love,

Sara.

I gotta go catch that jerk...