Overview of Anime and Manga

A few terms you should know when it comes to Japanese Animation are: Anime and Manga. Anime is also used as the main word for Japanese Animation. Manga is the first step in Japanese Animation. Almost all of the Japanese Animations that you have heard about (Pokemon, Card Captures, Gundum Wing, Out Law Star, Tenchi Muyo, and Sailor Moon) come from comics that are called Manga; in other words, Japanese Comics.

After the Manga is made (if it is a good Manga), they make it into a TV series. Sometimes they are not on TV in America, but you can rent them at a video store. These "TV series" are called Anime (Japanese cartoons).

Of course everything has it's own history, and Animation does too. The first Animation started out with an animator named Osamu Tezuka. He made the first cartoon in 1966; it was called "Astro Boy." After that, other animations came out. Animation for teens, by the most famous female animator in America, Ramiko Tekahashi, was called "Lum." From then on Japanese animation developed into what it is today.

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