What is anime and manga?

When people think of Japan, they often think of anime, manga, and all games Nintendo. However, what is thing called anime? Why do people watch it? Is it good or bad? What should the Christian stand-point be? I will strive to talk about this topic, explain what it is, and how Christians should view it.

Anime

"Anime" is short for animation, but in North America usually refers only to Japanese animation. Anime is not a genre, but a type of media. Like TV shows with actors, there are many genres within anime. You can have a romance anime, or a sci-fi anime. Because of this, almost everyone can find something they enjoy. 

The Good

Anime comes in all different styles and genres, so everyone can find something they like. Anime also appeals to many different age ranges. Some are meant for ten-year-olds, while others are meant only for mature audiences. Some are fun and playful, while others are serious . Anime truly has something for everyone. 

One thing I personally like about anime is the "special effects" (ex. explosions) don't look out of place or low budget. If you can imagine it, and you can draw it, it can be in a show. Many shows have characters or settings that are just not possible to do with real actors or sets. One show takes place on a planet similar to the Wild West, but has three suns and seven moons. Another show has the characters use magic that is just not possible for Hollywood studios yet. Also, anime is cheaper to make than live action shows, so you often get more bang for your buck. 

The Bad

Because it is so diverse, there are many bad shows (often called "hentai" or dirty) that give anime a bad name. Like any other form of media, you have to preview what you watch before you watch it. Just like America TV, some shows are good, whereas others are not. Once Upon A Time is a good show to watch as a family, Game of Thrones is not. Viewer discretion is advised for anime and for life.
Another reason that I have heard not to watch anime is because of the lack of Christian anime makes. Well, Japan is less than 1% Christian, and many (as in most) American script writers are not Christian or do not write about Christianity. Saying you can't support something because the country it comes from is not predominately Christian is foolish. Last time I checked, China is not predominately Christian, but most stuff in America comes from China.
What I am trying to say is: Truth is truth no matter where it comes from. Good is good, no matter where it comes from.

Manga

"Manga" (Mon-gah) is the Japanese name for comics. Unlike American comics, manga is read from right to left because Japanese is read from right to left. Sometimes manga is flipped to be read "the American way," but is most often left in the original format. Many animes (like Naruto) are biased off of a manga/comic that came first.

The Good

Like anime, manga has something for everyone. One of my friends likes romance manga. I like action manga. If you like it, you can find it (almost, but more about that later). 

Manga is often easier to read than anime. Read anime? Why would you read a show? Many anime are "subbed" (subtitled in English, but the audio is Japanese) and are often hard to understand because of how fast the subtitles need to be read. Manga, on the other hand, allows you to take as much time with each page as you need. 

The Bad

The number one thing that disappoints me about manga is the fact that there are few super-hero mangas. Americans comics are almost exclusively super-hero, but mangas are rarely like that. 

Again, just like with anime, you have to be careful what you read.