The Discovery of Anime and Manga

Gr 2-5–This entry in the series provides a lively overview of the history of Japanese animation and comic books. Dao, the time-traveling, teleporting red panda who serves as a guide throughout the series, takes young Ethan and Emma on a fanciful journey spanning the 12th through 21st centuries, showing them how contemporary anime and manga has roots in years of Japanese art history. Though the bilingual English and Japanese text is sometimes stilted, the narrative is well organized. It traces a clear path through art forms that paved the way for anime and manga, from ancient Buddhist scroll paintings to 19th-century woodblock prints. Once the time line enters the 20th century, Dao introduces some of the most influential creators in the field, from Osamu Tezuka to Rumiko Takahashi, as well as wildly popular titles such as Doraemon and Sailor Moon. The bold, colorful illustrations bring a sense of vibrancy and action to the pages, and fans will delight at seeing depictions of their favorite characters. In addition to history, this slim volume touches on artistic hallmarks of anime and manga (oversized eyes, sweat drops), and discusses the way these art forms span a variety of genres and appeal to a wide range of audiences. A glossary of common anime and manga terms is included.