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Manga Anime: This generation’s D&D?

July 7th, 2006
Author Kevin Melrose

Ireland’s Belfast Telegraph discovers anime. Or maybe it’s manga. Whatever it is, the kids are crazy about it. Crazy, I tell you:

It used to be Kung-Fu. Then it was Dungeons and Dragons. The latest pop-culture craze to get young trainspotter types all hot and bothered in their anoraks is ‘anime’ (also known as ‘manga’) – the collective term for animated Japanese movies, TV series and comic books.

Yes, anime — “also known as manga.” Belfast Telegraph, meet Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.

After curiously laying part of the blame for this anime epidemic at the feet of the Brothers Wakowski (The Matrix), the Telegraph moves on to the true purpose of the article: previewing this weekend’s Tomo-Dachi anime convention in Londonderry.

 
9 Responses to “Manga Anime: This generation’s D&D?”
  1. Nimbus Says:

    It’s Londonderry (Or simply Derry). Not Londonberry. Sigh.

  2. Kevin Melrose Says:

    It’s just a typo; nothing to sigh over.

  3. Brinstar Says:

    I hate how the British mainstream (press) are uninformed about the differences between manga and anime.

  4. Kevin Melrose Says:

    Well, the American press can be just as bad or worse. Mainstream newspapers have gotten better in the past year or so, but you still see confusion like that.

    Worse, though, was in 2005, when an Edmonton man was arrested on charges of importing and possessing child porn. The newspaper reported that books were found in his home “containing thousands of pages of animated child pornography — commonly known as anime.”

    So, “anime = manga” is a step up or two from “anime = animated child porn.”

    (Always a bright side, see? ;) )

  5. Lucas Says:

    Yet you don’t hear anyone saying cartoons (also known as comic books). sigh. (now THAT was something to sigh over)

  6. Hugo Says:

    Actually, that’s something very common at least here in Portugal. People (including journalists) often refer to animation (desenhos animados) as comics (banda desenhada).

  7. AdamYJ Says:

    At least they didn’t call it “Japanimation”

  8. Naruto Anime Says:

    In both countries where I live in – HongKong and Singapore – the people especially mostly the guys, they are really passionate about their animes and manga.

  9. Judith Says:

    Wonderful explaanoitn of facts available here.

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