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Why should i read mangas?


dposse
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Now before you flame me, please understand that i know almost nothing about mangas. So please bare with me.

Why should i read mangas? The mangas i see at my local mall is Inuyasha and Gundam, Yu-gi-oh, and some others.

The magnas look exacty like the animes.

I know that animes are made out of Magnas.

So, why should i waste $9.00 to buy a comic that is the same as the anime?

Or am i missing something? Is it not the same? The Inuyasha magna looked the same.

Please help me out. Please teach me why i should be saving up my allowence to buy Magnas.

Thank you.
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There are lots of reasons to read manga but your post is trying to paint potential responses into a corner. So I will just ignore the issue of anime adaptations.

Manga is a very old pop-art form. There is lots of history and tradition behind it, even if you are reading something that just came out. The storytelling is different from that of American or European comics. So for people who have never read them, even fans of other comic styles, there is something new to discover.

For people who have taken an interest in Japan or Japanese culture or pop culture, manga is another medium to explore. It presents the common everyday concerns and daydreams of Japanese people and often provides a look at social institutions and customs.

There are manga for many age groups and interests. Topics include food, sports, acting and rock bands - even the topic of being a manga reader. These titles can be read for topical interest. They also give perspective on Japanese attitudes towards traditional pursuits and adaptations of other cultures.
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I'm just going to add to what densuke said.

There are some otherThings besides culture in mangas. Some mangas have new story that they don't put in the show or there are new facts about some of the people in the books that they don't use in the shows. So strat looking for some of the differences and then you'll see the reasons to read mangas.


See you around.
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[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][SIZE=1]I think that the reason for buying manga is the same for buying a book. Sometimes, the book/manga has been adapted into a movie/anime. This doesn't stop me from reading the book/manga.

I read It by Stephen King even though I had access to the movie. And I read the Saiyuki manga even though I have access to the anime.

Why would I do this? Why have I spent $20 on Saiyuki when I can watch it for free? I don't know. I just really like Saiyuki, and I really like Stephen King, so I'm going to spend money on both even when I don't have to.

Plus, I'm not the kind of person who goes, "why read and think when I can watch and not think. Thinking's for losers!"

Hate me if you will. I don't care. I shall laugh at any flames I get.

-ULX[/SIZE][/COLOR]
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[color=darkslategray][size=1]Why should you read mangas? That is a question. In my recent experiences, mangas capture more detail and a better storyline than an anime will give you. Sure, anime is awesome. Exquisite artwork and action. But it is hard to follow some anime, because the producers skip around in the story.

In the manga, you will find that it's much easier to grasp the idea of a story. And it also gives you more insight into the character's personality and feelings. The drawings are sometimes very detailed, showing drama. Then there are simple lines and not too great in detail, yet they express so much emotions. Pain, anger, happiness, love. The list goes on.

Plus, the books are much cheaper than anime DVD's or VHS tapes ^_^

I recommend manga to anyone.[/color][/size]
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Guest manga-ka x
I agree with everyone else, but what I tend to do, is not buy the ones with anime adaptations. but some with anime adaptations are completely different from the anime itself, for instance FLCL
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id read mangas, its the best story in there, some of the anime has ruined good mangas.. they are just to diferent and the story is lost. its not worth it, its not a real money risk unless you dont research what your buying, if you impulse buy, then you might be unsatisfied, and therefore feel like you wasted your money
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  • 2 weeks later...
Now,i'm not gonna flame you but there are 3 reasons that I can think of.

1.Some of the mangas may have a better story than it's Anime counterpart.Here are some examples,.hack//legend of the twighlight,FLCL,Trigun,and DBZ.


2.If you want to see an anime but it might not come to America you still can get the manga.


3.Some of the mangas don't have a anime counterpart.


That's pretty much it. :D
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Many excellent points have been brought up why it would be beneficial to read the manga even if you can see the anime. Using a few things Unborn Lord Xion mentioned I would like to elaborate.

Steven King has many movies made from his books. I think the books are far more interesting and entertaining than the movie. The reason for this is because my imagination is far more detailed than what can be put on the big (or small) screen. Because of this, as with many novels, the book is better than the movie.

Saiyuki is an excellent manga and the anime is also very good. If you read and watch Saiyuki you will see there are difference in the story. The manga is much more graphic. One example of this [spoiler] is when the youkai are killed. You can see this in the very first volume when Gojyo kills a youkai. In the anime they just vaporize into millions of little pieces where in the manga the crushes it's skull.[/spoiler]

Kare Kano, Hellsing, Gravitation, Chobits and a few other animes don't complete the storyline or follow the storyline that is in the manga. Which when watching the anime makes you feel like the story just drops you or is incomplete. Reading the manga is the only way you can find out what happened to the characters.

There are many reasons to read the manga even though you can watch the anime. One thing I love is that I can take a manga with me on an airplane, waiting for appointments and on car rides much easier than packing up a bunch of dvd's and something to watch them on. ;)
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[quote name='Panda']...Kare Kano, Hellsing, Gravitation, Chobits and a few other animes don't complete the storyline or follow the storyline that is in the manga. Which when watching the anime makes you feel like the story just drops you or is incomplete. Reading the manga is the only way you can find out what happened to the characters...[/quote]I think this is unfair in that it makes it sound like some anime adaptations are poorly done ripoffs. I think most of them are quite skillfully done. Regardless of how much they edit out or where they leave off, they are worthwhile in their own right, even if the viewer never takes up reading the manga the anime was based on.

A few OAV series (like Tokyo Babylon) provide only a brief introduction to or slice of a story told in a manga, but you didn't mention any of them. And plenty of manga endings are no less open-ended (after 20+ volumes in some cases!) than their anime adaptations.
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[QUOTE=densuke]I think this is unfair in that it makes it sound like some anime adaptations are poorly done ripoffs. I think most of them are quite skillfully done. Regardless of how much they edit out or where they leave off, they are worthwhile in their own right, even if the viewer never takes up reading the manga the anime was based on.

A few OAV series (like Tokyo Babylon) provide only a brief introduction to or slice of a story told in a manga, but you didn't mention any of them. And plenty of manga endings are no less open-ended (after 20+ volumes in some cases!) than their anime adaptations.[/QUOTE]

My intention for that statement was not to imply that they are "poorly done ripoffs". I never said that. I just said that the anime did not follow or complete the storyline that is in the manga. The question brought forward in this thread was why manga should be read, not why you shouldn't watch the anime. My point was that you can get more story, in some cases, in the manga than in the anime.

I also said "a few other animes" after the animes I listed. I don't think any of us want to sit here all day and list every single anime that could fall into this description. Thus the reason why I "didn't mention any of them."

I agree with your statement that there are also many manga that are just as open-ended. But going back to the topic of this thread, I was just giving my personal reasons for why someone should read the manga even when the anime is available.

I am sorry if you misunderstood my statement densuke, I did not intend for that statement to be taken the way you did. I never said they were "poorly done ripoffs", they just aren't the same as the manga. Thus, a reason to read the manga in addition to the watching the anime.
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[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]There are a ton more mangas than animes. Like Psychic Academy or AI Love You. Since not all mangas be come an anime, there a much wider variety. Plus you can actually take a manga with you, not have to have a TV everywhere you go. But yes $9 is alot. Where I live they cotst $10 - $11 so be thankful. I could always go to Canada and buy them though!

I think thats my only point..... I think...[/COLOR]
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[color=darkviolet]I read manga to get a different perspective on the story. Simply put the manga is how the author of an anime intended the story to be.

Sometimes the manga is much darker and less lighthearted than the anime and more directly to the point. For example the SailorMoon manga was like a good Russian comedy meaning that everyone died. Infact they died quite a bit.

And sometimes you just read manga because nobody has turned it into anime and that's the only way you'll find it.

Well, there's my $.02 into this topic take it or leave it.[/color]
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[quote name='Panda']I am sorry if you misunderstood my statement densuke...[/quote]It's more that saying something like "the anime makes you feel like the story just drops you or is incomplete" makes the anime sound awful. I didn't think you meant to go quite that far. And there's been way too much wailing and gnashing of teeth over adaptations like Berserk etc.

Manga are often more enjoyable than their anime adaptations, but it seems to me that editing etc. is usually the least of it.[quote name='bishonenNEKO']There are a ton more mangas than animes. Like Psychic Academy or AI Love You.[/quote]Psychic Academy Aura Banshou is a poor example, as it already has been adapted to anime.
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Manga has it's advantages and disadvantages, but in general I prefer manga for the fuller plot, anime tends to cut scene and downsize to prevent an overflow due to their set episodic nature. Manga has this porblem too but to a lesser extend. (Then again this also invite a show to drag on till forever like Inu Yasha). I also like manga because more often than not, their ending are superior to any anime adaptation. (Again this is not always the case, simply a matter of observation through my own expirience.)

In terms of Manga that do not have an anime counterpart, then you have a point of exclusiveness, though this is minor.

One thing I tend to notice is that I prefer romance/drama and plot centric manga more to their action counterpart while I enjoy action/adventure more as anime. This is pure aesthetic as I simply can't enjoy a welled choreographed move in a manga as much as in the anime where it is in motion.

Finally there are some unique features that manga contain that simply can't be translated to an anime, little idiosyncrasy such as facial expression, author's comment and more.

In a manga you can establish the pacing, in an anime the pacing is established for you.

finally densuke: while you have point in that there are manga with just as poorly executed ending as anime, you must admit that their a quite a few cases where the animated series literally cuts off without a critical resolution to make the conclusion satisfactory. This habit I would dearly like to see anime forgo, I hate series that attempts this, better to deviate from the manga completely than to cut itself off like that.

eg: Legend of Basara, Kare Kano and HxH (though I admit that last redeemed itself through the endless series of OVA that just seems a tag on to the series.)
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[QUOTE=Okita]densuke: while you have point in that there are manga with just as poorly executed ending as anime, you must admit that their a quite a few cases where the animated series literally cuts off without a critical resolution to make the conclusion satisfactory. This habit I would dearly like to see anime forgo, I hate series that attempts this, better to deviate from the manga completely than to cut itself off like that.

eg: Legend of Basara, Kare Kano and HxH (though I admit that last redeemed itself through the endless series of OVA that just seems a tag on to the series.)[/QUOTE]My point is not that reading the manga wouldn't be preferable, just that the anime is worth watching [i]on its own[/i] even if it doesn't get to the end of the manga's run.

Sometimes it has to happen, which is the case with Berserk and Kare Kano. I have never had a big problem with the way either of these adaptations ended. And most people whine if the studios change the endings from the manga's ending anyway, so that won't save the day.

The only adaptations I don't like are too short to even tell you who the characters are, like Tokyo Babylon OAV, X: The Movie and RG Veda (funny how the ones I remember are all based on CLAMP works).
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[quote name='Okita']eg: Legend of Basara, Kare Kano and HxH (though I admit that last redeemed itself through the endless series of OVA that just seems a tag on to the series.)[/quote]

Hunter x Hunter simply does not fall into the same category as Legend of Basara or Kare Kano. The entirety of the manga will eventually be animated; so far the OVAs have followed Togashi's original storyline almost as closely as the television series. There aren't any truly serious deviations. The first OVA picks up right where episode 62 left off, with no discernable differences in character design or animation.

If you don't want to get into Greed Island (which can't really be called a "tag on," as it only follows the sequence of events presented in the manga), the end of OVA 1 still provides a pretty satisfactory conclusion to the York Shin arc... if not the entire show. The creators switched to OVA format so that the TV series wouldn't catch up with the manga, and then be forced to buy time with filler.

I don't think it's really a question of preferring anime to manga; I usually like the animated versions of specific series better. The fact is, there are a lot of high-quality, innovative manga which have not been and may never be made into anime. In other words, dposse, you shouldn't avoid manga in general just because you don't want to double-dip.

~Dagger~
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Mangas usually show extra parts. The Gundam mangas show teh past of the gundam pilots and extra scenes.

They usually explain things that you don't understand in teh series better and in more detail (eg. the Card Captors one is a real good example). As they're mangas, they're usually less time consuming to get through. Rather then watch 10 episodes, you can read 1 manga book (okay, depending on what series it's based on.)

Plus you can read on the anime series you don't get to see on the TV

I think you've got enough reasons already though.
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I once went on a spree and read 5 shonen jums in a row. When I thought back, I really had to tell myself hard that I didn't watch it. It's that engrossing. Also, Yu-Gi-Oh's anime sucks but the manga rocks, It has a better story, Mokuba and Seto are bloodthirsty, they never play cards(laugh), etc. also, you never say that you missed something.
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okay....now i don't wanna sound perverted or anything when i say this....but mangas keep in the stuff you normally can't see in animes,like in AI LOVE YOU and Love Hina and such. Sometimes the art of manga can inspire people.....like me and many others. You hardly see anyone walk around drawing Western style art anymore. Mangas just keep in the unwanted details that are left out in animes. So to wrap things up.....Animes are the ...uh ..edited version of mangas. ^-^
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Guest krutiebabie
uh....mangas...hmm..they have MORE DETAIL...u don't ALWAYS have to buy them in order to read =T....wut my friends and i do is just sit down at a store...uh for an example..Boarders...we sit down and start reading them lol..or go download some free mangas...(yes i'm cheap that way)...or like free online mangas lol...mangas...welll i like them cause of the drawings...hehe..but that's just me...yup i like mangas better than anime =P
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[quote name='krutiebabie']uh....mangas...hmm..they have MORE DETAIL...u don't ALWAYS have to buy them in order to read =T....wut my friends and i do is just sit down at a store...uh for an example..Boarders...we sit down and start reading them lol..or go download some free mangas...(yes i'm cheap that way)...or like free online mangas lol...mangas...welll i like them cause of the drawings...hehe..but that's just me...yup i like mangas better than anime =P[/quote]

[color=darkblue]Number one, work on your grammar. Single periods are just as much fun as elipses. Trust me on this one.

Number two, your statement is both true and untrue.

As has been said before, manga may fill in some gaps where the anime has holes, but there are some animes that have original stories that weren't featured in the anime (I believe Ranma 1/2 may be an example, but I could have it backwards).

Number three, while camping may be a way to read what you want for free, you pretty much end up pissing off people who actually want to buy the manga or whatever in the process, but whatever floats your boat. *shrugs*[/color]
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  • 6 months later...
I must say after reading this tread I will seriousley consider starting to buy the Manga instead of just being an anime junkie.

Can someone please suggest a few Manga Titles to get me started with? I really enjoy anime with original plots like Neon Gen Evangellion, Lain and Ghost in the Shell. Unfortunateley I dont know if these animes were mangas before they were animes or visa versa.

Would appreciate some pointers. =)
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Guest Vicious 2
Mangas suck. They are just highly detailed comic books. I used to draw DBZ out of them. I only say if you are interested in them, just read it. If not, say screw it and move on, but Manga's are nothing but a picture book of the episodes. I was going to do my own manga until i realized how pointless they were. But they do make good gifts to give to my girlfriend, she loves them. Thats about the only thing I like about Mangas, they make my girlfriend happy
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[QUOTE=Immelman] Can someone please suggest a few Manga Titles to get me started with? I really enjoy anime with original plots like Neon Gen Evangellion, Lain and Ghost in the Shell. Unfortunateley I dont know if these animes were mangas before they were animes or visa versa.

Would appreciate some pointers. =)[/QUOTE]

[color=darkviolet]Well, I started out reading manga that were already anime (ie Sailor Moon, InuYasha, and Ranma 1/2) then moved on to manga that haven't been turned into anime (Peach Girl, Mars, and Aria) And now I'm reading some Manwa or Korean Manga.

Right now I'm sending my husband Model (by oh, I forget his name, but the last name is Soo-Young,) which is Manwa. It's pretty good if you like Vampires and stuff.

There's also Hands off, which I thik is manga, Priest, which someone I know didn't like too much. Revolutionary Girl Utena (also know as Le Femme Revolution Utena) also Manga and has been turned into anime.

I could go on, Saiyuki, Video Girl Ai, AI love you, Boys Over Flowers, Kare Kano.... The list literally goes on.

I hope that helped a bit. Don't listen to that dude that posted after you.[/color]
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