Manga has a long and illustrous history steeped in its home country and its unique culture. Japan has gone through imperialism and democracy and myths that cannot be paralleled by any other modern states. Throughout its different rulers, art and culture flourished and developed, and today Japan has a distinctive culture and art movements that are characteristically Japanese. Manga is one of those art forms that developed and flourished in Japan, but is revered around the world.
Manga has its roots in Kibyoshi, Japanese picture books popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, and were considered the first purely adult picture books for adults. Some people assume and suggest that Manga was first inspired by scrolls in the 12th centure that were drawn on, but Isao Takahata, and others like him maintain that there is no real connection between the scrolls and modern Manga. Others still think that Manga was inspired by American films and cartoons.
In the middle of the 20th century, as Japan was dealing with a political transformation, two Manga series were introduced, Machiko Hasegawa’s Sazae-san and Osamo Tezuka’s Astro Boy (originally named Mighty Atom), a fan favourite that endured through the decades and influenced many of the later series.
These Mangas were revolutionary not only because of their stylistic excellence, but also because they reflected a changed society, free of dictatorship and military regime. The characters were bold, and represented a new age in the country.
Today, Manga has become a global force and is read in many countries. Its popularity is owed to its unique style of drawing, as well as stories that break the barriers of language. Many American films and TV shows are adapted from Mangas.
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