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Has The Internet Changed The Way You Think About Manga?
Here’s a scenario that I want everyone to imagine with me. Ready?
Think back to a time where computers didn’t exist yet. Think back to when it was very difficult to find information about anything you wanted. Think back to when sharing one’s interests over a huge communication channel was almost impossible without going to a big-name media outlet. Now, hold those thoughts and ask yourself if the Internet has the changed the way you think about manga. Regarding manga, the Internet has truly made it global, but with a price. I sometimes wonder if the Internet is both the creator and destroyer of manga fandom.
Before the Internet became popular, the only way I found out about manga news was through the defunct WIZARD Magazine. I remember the first manga I heard about from WIZARD was Masamune Shirow’s Ghost In The Shell. After reading about the controversy surrounding Ghost in the Shell (i.e. the cybersex scene), the whole idea of manga began to appeal to me. I was watching Chinese dubs of Dragon Ball Z at the time and my interest in Japanese media continued to grow. When I found out Dragon Ball was originally a manga, I browsed text summaries of the original manga series online back in 1999. You don’t know how obsessed I was with looking for information on DBZ at the time. Thankfully, VIZ Media released the Dragon Ball Z manga in America and I bought all the volumes. The same thing also happened when I followed Rurouni Kenshin in the early 2000s’. I was reading text summaries of chapters online, visiting fansites to satisfy my cravings, and later bought all the volumes because of my love for the samurai epic.
Fast forward to the proliferation of scanlations. I decided to follow BLEACH (during college around 2005) after hearing some of my friends watching the anime. I bought the first few volumes from VIZ and was hooked. What happened next was I began using the Internet to find out more information about the characters. I found out about what was currently going on in the BLEACH manga from a fansite at the time, which was Sosuke Aizen being revealed as the main villain. That just piqued my curiosity even more and I wanted to know what happens next. As a result, the world of scanlations entered my life. I was pretty ecstatic to know that I can keep up with what’s happening with BLEACH. I also discovered many other series through scanlations as well. I was still buying manga and didn’t really think about how scanlations affected the manga-publishing industry.
And now here we are with the manga industry in a huge state of flux. What does that tell me? The Internet (the power of the creator) is great for manga since it exposes everyone to a wide variety of series and creates passionate fan communities, but the Internet (the power of the destructor) gives off this illusion to certain people that manga easily grows on a tree and everything’s dandy, when things really aren’t fine.
I don’t know about you, but there is one thing that bugs me about scanlations. Scanlators and aggregator sites often put up a disclaimer message telling everyone to buy and support a manga series if it’s available in their region. But, what if the manga is not available in their region and possibly never will be? What if the reader is an 8-year old? Also, I know a few people who work full-time that read scanlations and are not even interested in buying physical copies of manga. Do scanlators even understand their intended audiences and their consequences as a whole?
The Internet has made me believe that manga will be an online-only interest globally and will stay that way (though it seems like it already is). Outside of Japan, manga is still very niche to a majority of people. Combine that with free scanlations and you have a recipe for “fun interest that appeals mostly to Internet folks”. Though part of me believes the Internet is perfect for manga because most people like to read things online these days and they LOVE images on the Internet.
Another thing was that before the Internet, I thought every manga title out there was godly. Since the increased popularity of the ‘Net, I realized that there’s a lot of “junk” to sort through before you even get to the good stuff. Sometimes, I wonder how certain titles became published in the first place. Such is the harshness of reality.
One question does plague me: should the manga community accept those that read scanlations of a certain series and don’t really buy any form of merchandise related to the series (yet are extremely passionate about it) as members of the community? Would someone care to enlighten me on how those fans should be viewed?
With these inner thoughts in mind, I continue to research the crazy world of manga online and offline (I still buy volumes of manga) as many series have worked their charm upon my visage. Oh Internet, you’re as tempting as a bishojo girl nagging her “big brother” to spend time with her and leaving him with a colorful array of conflicted feelings.
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Happy Lunar New Year from Kyubey!
Psst, he’s giving red envelopes as an incentive for signing his contracts.
Have a great Lunar New Year, everyone!
Source: Danny Choo’s Facebook Fan Page
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Total Request: Your Characters + Manga Therapy = WIN.
Hey guys, to thank everyone for reading my blog so far, I want to start doing some reader requests on what anime/manga characters you want me to take a look at psychologically.
Granted, there are a lot of series and characters that are very interesting. But, I know you guys have some REALLY great characters that you find fascinating. If you want me to take a look at a specific plot twist/climax/moment, I’m up for that as well.
You will definitely be credited for your suggestions as well. There might be a small chance that I might already working on an entry for a character that you request. For example, I am planning to write an entry on the lovable swordsman, Roronoa Zoro, of One Piece.
Post your suggestions on the comments section below or you can e-mail me at tonyyao82 (at) gmail (dot) com. As of right now, I’m thinking of fulfilling a fan request once a week or every two weeks. Feel free to provide a vivid explanation on why your character should be covered.
Looking forward to reading your character requests!
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Do Girls Really Like Vegeta?
Yes, this is a man who oozes sexiness every time he walks into the room.
Like a fine wine that continues to age well, Dragon Ball is still continuing to be relevant in every anime/manga fan’s lives. Just recently, the ever-rageful Prince of the Saiyans, Vegeta, became a target both positively and negatively. Our anti-hero was voted #2 on a list of top 9 anime/manga boys that women wish were real. Gintama also made fun of his entire character in Episode 242 (Volume 42, Chapter 364 in the manga), where the girls of Gintama discuss Vegeta and question his appeal to women in front of a female Vegeta fan. As Gintama’s episode title proclaims, “Girls Like Vegeta”. Is the bad boy appeal of Vegeta extremely powerful for women to resist?
Here’s one girl’s thought about Vegeta:
“He’s always strong, but his loving tsundere-ness towards his family really gets me.” (A quote about Vegeta from the list conducted by Girl Sugoren)
After hearing that quote, it makes me wonder about Vegeta’s popularity after the Freeza arc. Most of us know that he cried during the arc and begged Goku to beat Freeza. Was that the moment made girls go “Awwww”? Vegeta’s character slowly changed afterwards, as he started to settle down a little with a family while still being the prideful Prince of Saiyans that he is. The guy was literally a complete a-hole who didn’t care about anything, except defeating Goku in battle. Vegeta did show some signs of love to his family, as he went berserk when his son, Trunks (whose future version was also VERY POPULAR among girls) was killed by Cell and risked his life to save everyone from Majin Buu. Of course, there’s that confident smirk, evil laugh, and arm fold he does that seems to draw a lot of attention.
With those characteristics that Vegeta has, why are girls drawn to them? Do we blame Hollywood? Do we blame the media? Or do we blame human nature? It could be girls’ inherent preference of “good genes”. “Good genes” in men tend to be a high level of masculinity and symmetry. Women at a younger age seem to enjoy seeing acts of bravery and risk-taking (which bad boys tend to do). There’s also the belief that girls secretly harbor the fantasy of turning the bad boy into a loving man who is committed to them.
Do Vegeta fangirls see hope that it’s possible for a bad boy to become a nice guy and still remain tough? Or do they appreciate the fact that Vegeta is a “bad boy” character that lives up to whatever perceived fantasies they have of him? It was interesting to see Bulma being attracted to Vegeta, but it somehow makes sense for her. Vegeta’s confidence in wanting to be stronger than Goku probably attracted her in the first place, since he was very determined to reach his goal at all costs. Also, as Trunks once stated, both his parents were lonely and that’s why they got together. A combination of strength and love can create interesting opportunities, don’t you think?
I do like to point out that the group of women who voted Vegeta on the Sugoren list were women in their 20s’. What happens when they get older? Will their opinions about “bad boys” change? Will they like Vegeta less? As women get older, their appreciation of certain types of men evolve.
Vegeta seems like the perfect guy to many girls. He is still a “bad boy” at heart, but he also fights with some sense of altruism. I think this is the secret to his popularity among women. The fact he’s an somewhat altruistic, tough guy. Both younger and older women can find him to be a character that satisfies their criteria for a great male character. Vegeta has been able to activate so many emotions in people’s (especially women’s) hearts, that you can’t help but react (and women tend to focus on emotions). Look at all the things he has said and done over his history in Dragon Ball.
Even though I’m not a girl, I love Vegeta. He’s played a big part in how my personality is shaped. I don’t know about this perceived notion that guys don’t like him, but like Piccolo (as Gintama hints). All I can say is that guys might feel a bit inspired to develop some sense of pride to keep themselves strong. To the female Vegeta fans out there, is his pride a strong factor in why you love the beloved Saiyan Prince and do you perhaps enjoy that quality in a man?
Power, brash confidence, and a good heart - when it comes to the ideal man, isn’t fiction just grand?
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This Is What’s Going To Happen To SOPA/PIPA
I think I said what I needed to say.
For more information about the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act, visit here. There will also be a Internet blackout on January 18, 2012. If you want to join, visit http://www.sopastrike.com.
Let’s exercise our right to Falcon Punch anyone who thinks we shouldn’t be heard.
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Smells Like School Spirit - Kyoya Hibari (Katekyo Hitman REBORN!)
“I’ll bite you to death!”
Do you remember a time back in your school days when you met someone who showed complete loyalty to your school to a huge degree? I don’t know about you guys, but reading about Kyoya Hibari, of Akira Amano’s Katekyo Hitman REBORN!, makes me wonder about young teenagers who are exuberant about the schools they attend. Hibari is a character who loves his school so much that he uses his love to achieve a position of power at his school and to justify his actions upon others with that power.
Hibari is a student of Namimori Middle School, where he is the leader of the Namimori Middle Disciplinary Committee. Anyone he deems to be a rule-breaker at Namimori is subject to his wrath. Hibari loves his school to the point where he has his school’s anthem as his cellphone ringtone. His pet bird, Hibird, sings the ringtone to Hibari’s delight. He has an infamous catchphrase where he proclaims “I’ll bite you to death!” to anyone he feels is disrespecting his school. Hibari is also an individual who prefers to be alone and will beat up anyone that bothers him. He is one of the most popular male characters in anime/manga today and is loved by Japanese female anime/manga fans, as they have voted him #1 as the anime/manga husband they wish to have back in a 2009 “top anime husbands” poll. Women have also voted Hibari #5 in a 2011 poll focusing on anime characters women wanted to marry.
What drives students to be deeply loyal to their schools? One factor could be the uniforms that schools require their students to wear. When you wear a uniform, you might feel a sense of loyalty because everyone else will be wearing the same uniform as you. Also, wearing a uniform can teach students discipline, as they are usually required to wear one to school. They have to make sure that they follow the rules. (For more pros (and cons) of school uniforms, you can read this article on school uniforms here.) Other factors are the school’s facilities, its history, the mission of the school, and the vision that the school has.
Not much is known about Namimori Middle School, except for its anthem. Usually, a school’s anthem resonates with its core values. One has to wonder if Hibari loves his school because its matches his personal view of “discipline”. Does Hibari see himself as “vigorous and gallant” as the anthem states in its lyrics? Another thing to note is that Hibari is somewhat of a juvenile delinquent. Perhaps he owes the school his life. Teenagers tend to be juvenile delinquents mostly due to a lack of parental supervision and discipline. They try to make sense of the world and struggle to build an identity for themselves.
Perhaps Hibari’s character is a good example of how schools can cure juvenile delinquency. Develop an extracurricular activity that benefits the individual, allows him/her to be themselves, and also implicitly teaches them a variety of positive traits. If Hibari never became the leader of the Disciplinary Committee, he would have never met Tsunayoshi Sawada, Reborn, and the rest of the main characters. He also would have never taken on the huge responsibility of being the Cloud Guardian of the Vongola Family. Hibari learns to be a bit more friendly from being around the Vongola. In a sense, he has a positive way to channel whatever violent urges he may have with those he considers to be his rivals (Mukuro Rokudo, Dino, Reborn, and Tsuna). While Hibari is still a bit wacky when it comes to enforcing school rules (he does this outside of Namimori Middle School), the character does become a better person as fans can see with regards to his future self in the Future Arc.
Reborn fans, what do you think of Hibari as a character? Some have argued that he’s too perfect (the main cast considers him the Vongola’s strongest Guardian) and has little character development. His past hasn’t been focused on, but it will be interesting to see how Hibari has become the person he is today. The only thing I can say for certain is that school still serves a purpose in saving delinquents to a certain degree and Hibari is a good example of that.
With regards to Hibari’s motif as the Cloud Guardian, even clouds need to be guided properly with the aid of the vast sky.
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Kim Jong-Un Is Secretly Android No.19
“Do not try to escape. Yes, it is useless. Until I have your energy, I will never let you go!” - Android No. 19
I hope the energy that Mr. Jong-Un wants isn’t carbohydrates. How much more does this man need to lead his somewhat-warped country to prosperity? Then again, judging from the U.S. deciding to resume food aid to North Korea, that might be the case.
Courtesy of Alafista, this lovely picture showcases the new North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, as the infamous Android No.19 from Dragon Ball Z. For what it’s worth, you gotta give props to Android No.19. I mean, he defeated Goku in Super Saiyan form (albeit Goku already being weakened by a heart defect).
What’s more interesting is that Kim Jong-Un is supposedly a huge manga fan. Maybe he will be looking for “energy” of the ecchi kind. If Jong-Un tries to go after Japan’s mangakas (his father, Kim Jong-Il, kidnapped a movie director once), will Japan pulverize him while making him look like a pansy in the process (a la Super Saiyan Vegeta)?
Though I obviously doubt our young hero has time to deal with manga. He has to deal with a country of citizens who were quite enamored with his tyrannical father.
Jong-Il was probably similar to Android No.20 (Dr. Gero). One wonders if Jong-Un will be similar to someone like Androids No.16, 17, or 18 instead, contrary to his No.19 appearance. What are your takes on this, fellow anime/manga and current event followers?
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The Great Power of the Fujoshi
“Out of the otaku population, female otaku have the most spending power, which is one of the reasons why you see an increase of boy love publications and anime featuring good looking guys.” - Danny Choo on CNN GeekOut
Over the past couple of years, I have noticed that things were changing in the anime/manga world. There were more and more titles that seem to have attractive male characters. Even though “moe” series targeted towards males are still running rampant, the anime/manga world has been filled with titles (such as Blue Exorcist, Naruto, BLEACH, Gintama, Black Butler, Katekyo Hitman Reborn, Bakuman, Axis Powers Hetalia, and Tiger & Bunny) that have a variety of male characters for female fans to swoon over. Especially females who are into yaoi and boys’ love. This has led to the rise of the fujoshi, a community of fangirls that has the power to shift the gender balance for the better. Some male otaku have felt threatened and intimidated by the fujoshi, but this is just another example of how strong the purchasing power of women is despite the state of the global economy.
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Creepy Con-Goer To Watch Out For: William “WT” Hatch
It disgusts me to see dirty men continue to take advantage of anime convention perks to prey on attractive women that attend them. An male individual who some of you may have heard of, named Estevan Olivas, has such a history. He lies to people that he is a notable voice-acting talent to gain access. It seems that these days, Estevan is going by another alias: William “WT” Hatch”.
Here is a statement about “WT” found at the AnimeCons Forums.
Hi Patrick (AnimeCons Senior Editor),
I have recently been made aware of an upsetting situation in the world of anime cons, and I felt it necessary to bring this to your attention. It’s in regards to a person who was once a friend of mine: Estevan Olivas. He has assumed the identity of WT “Will” Hatch, and has even begun attending cons as a guest under that name. I am sure there was once a person known as WT Hatch (though that may have been an assumed name), but WT is not the person who is currently using this name. On IMDb, Estevan has actually entered his own birthdate for WT Hatch. This is pretty funny because it makes it look like he did most of his roles as a child or before he was born.
You might not be aware of this, but I was once very close friends with Estevan from 1997-2002. That was when I came to the shocking realization that he is a pathological liar. He would tell people that he had worked on various anime but tailor to whomever he was speaking. In other words, if he was talking to someone from LA, he’d claim to have worked at Coastal Carolina, but if it was someone from NY, he’d say he’d worked in LA. The truth is that he has never worked in the anime industry at all.
Sadly, I have learned that he is using his supposed “position” to prey on girls and young women. Please spread the word as much as you can to let people know not to invite him as a guest or exhibitor. In fact, it would be best if he did not attend any conventions at all, but I don’t know if that is possible. I have even more information I can share with you, if you like.
As of right now, the man is on high alert. However, Estevan can slip by the cracks. If you’ve heard of him or know him, tell anime convention organizers about him to let him know that he’s not wanted. Seriously. In fact, this should be done every time Estevan tries to make his presence felt.
Stay safe in 2012, anime convention-goers.
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Pinterest - The Next Great Social Network For Anime/Manga Fans?
Recently, I got an invite to join Pinterest, a new image-sharing social network that allows users to showcase pictures of what inspires or interests them. The neat feature about Pinterest is that you can create “Boards” of images. Boards are basically categories/folders that you can put images that you find in. You can create a “Board” for any topic you can think of from the top of your head. I created an “Anime/Manga Goodies” folder to showcase anime/manga pictures that I like from the site.
This is what Pinterest looks like when I search “anime”.
The images posted to Pinterest are known as “Pins”. There’s even a “Pin It” button you can drag to your browser toolbar, so you can share any image you find on the Web to Pinterest.
What makes Pinterest stand out is the organization factor. Having “Boards” of certain types of photos showcases one’s varied interests and users can separate images into whatever they like. Aspiring animators/artists can use the site to find worthy pictures and put them in a Board that can go by the name of “Inspirational Pictures” or something similar.
If you’re an anime/manga blogger, this is another source of promotion. You can promote images from your blog onto Pinterest to drive traffic and network with other users. Your profile can be customized to include a link to your blog. Pinterest is another way to get readers to know you better as well. If you want readers to know about your other passions (food, music, etc.) in vivid detail, this is a great site to showcase them.
As of right now, Pinterest is still in beta and it can only be accessed by invite-only. You can go to the website and click the “Request an Invite” button.
I think the site can really take off for fans of anime and manga to share a variety of images and what they love with other fans in a clean, user-friendly format. So, get out there and start pinning your love of moe, ecchi, or whatever floats your boat!
Though it seems like mostly women will enjoy Pinterest more given the dominant topics for the site, so shall we assume that Pinterest will be a site that fujoshi will go crazy over? Suggestive male coupling pictures, here we come!
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