Japanese Manga Characters

[Jack]

Indeed, if the majority of manga characters are of the Japanese nationality then why does the way that they are drawn make them appear to be Caucasian? It's something that has plagued my mind for months on and off.

This guy talks about the subject in some aspects:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060517194357sh_re_/www.matt-thorn.com/mangagaku/faceoftheother.html

He makes some good points but I think that in the end he's over analyzing and just needs to get down to the bear bones of things and realize that most styles do indeed make the characters appear to be Caucasian.

-Jack

[psychosk8r]

maybe its becuase they are trying to draw a larger auddience since america is the larger continent

[1,000,000]

I've thought about this too. But if you ever come across a manga that has an obviously American character you can tell the difference. Usually the American has perfectly round eyes, and weird looking lips

[nejih94]

i think its wrong that theres not alot of black people in manga and anime,let alone asians

[1,000,000]

Wrong? Are you black?

Sorry, I have a hard time understanding that if you aren't black

[nejih94]

no but im not raceist:(,but think about how many are in bleach,how many are in naruto----i mean there are a couple out there afro samari,eureka,ect.

[1,000,000]

I'd like to speak my mind on that, but i'm not going to take this off subject. Maybe i'll make another thread

[nejih94]

you do that i havnt debated in a while anyway

[Crubion]

i think it may be that it is easer to convey emotions or just easier to draw who knows. if you notice when they do draw a asian character they over do it and make it a joke seems to me idk.

[Jsj222]

Indeed, if the majority of manga characters are of the Japanese nationality then why does the way that they are drawn make them appear to be Caucasian? It's something that has plagued my mind for months on and off.

-Jack

I think its a Japanese government conspiracy to take over the world!

Actually isnt there an anime that touches on what i have just said.
Hmmmm i believe so.:rolleyes:

[draconus86]

i think u just need to look at the numbers america is a huge nation and lots of inports come from japan so just to make anime more apealing to us they and just a bit more Caucasian than japanese

[Felix42]

I've thought about it too, but i think they are actually supposed to be Japanese. Most of the anime takes place in Japan, or in Japan like country's. There's often references to Asia even in the imaginary worlds.

Take Naruto as an example, with things like ninjas, chakra, ramen, Japanese names. And Naruto is even one of the more "americanized" animes.

Even so i too think they look Caucasian, but maybe thats because i live in europe and thats what i subconsciously expect.

I don't believe it is to get a larger audience either. Asians watch far more anime than Americans and Europeans, which is why a lot of anime/manga never get translated (except by fans). If the audience was nearly as big, we would see more officially translated anime, and more foreign/international sponsors.

I also believe that the above is the reason that there are so few black people in anime. After all there aren't that many black people in Japan, compared with the states.

[1ninja1]

I've wondered about that as well. Watching Naruto as a ninja with blonde hair and blue eyes. Maybe it is to appeal to other cultures, and gain a larger fan base.

[animex09]

i guess its just the natural way to draw.

[suune]

Haven't really thought about that but you're right!

[Unknown]

Seriously?

How in the hell do you think they "look" Caucasian.
Ever seen them cosplays..
Who makes it work out more.. the Asians or the Caucasians.

Asians.

I rest my case. [lol]

[hanahime16]

It just comes out looking that way. Seriously I dont think its on purpose, but artists are creative, especially manga artists. I mean you dont actually expect them to draw every one of their characters with brown hair and brown eyes do you? (not that every asian nesessarily has brown hair and brown eyes, thats not what im saying) All im saying is that if you were an artist, you would draw your characters however you wanted, whatever looks cool to you. Why would you make race a player in your fantasy world? And big eyes are important to that style of art. They show emotions and add color. Two very important components of manga/anime.
In other words, it boils down to the fact that... they're manga artists.
...THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT. XD
<33 <33 <33

[Rincewind]

Well, jack got a point , In japan there is 130million ppl, and not everyone is manga/anime fans , the us 250million ppl and the rest of the world about 6 billion so yeah the fans are most likely to be non japaneese , and thats why they can draw non japaneese ppl , but i have seen japaneese, chineese , american, black ppl etc etc in manga /anime so its multi cultured :D