One of the largest cultural exports of Japan is Japanese anime; it has been translated into many languages. Anime is an actual art form with a visual technique that includes characters with gigantic eyes and facial expressions that are quite exaggerated. When a character is embarrassed, they sweat a lot. If they have tender feelings for someone, they blush.
Another highly admired type of Japanese animation would be the magna. Magna is defined as a Japanese comic book that is read from back to front, opposite the western books. A lot of the magna series number over 20 volumes and have become television shows.
Manga and anime merchandise is considered to be very profitable. Many fans have invested billions into purchasing action figures, stickers, lunch boxes, trading cards, apparel and many more collectibles and memorabilia. The video game industry has been very successful and Japanese culture has increased in popularity in the United States.
A recent phenomenon has public libraries unable to keep up with the demand for Manga. Manga is a popular type of Japanese animations whose adoring fans have formed groups who trade the comics as well as meet to simply discuss them. The most extreme fans have become known as otaku.
Otaku is a Japanese term used in the United States to described obsessed anime fans, but is considered a negative term in Japanese. Some of these fans dress up as their favorite animated characters and call it cosplay. Cosplay is another term for costume play and fans usually dress up to attend comic conventions.
These conventions are commonly referred to as comic-cons and there are dozens held annually across the states. New comics are featured, authors meet and greet fans and merchandise can be purchased at these conventions. There are panels, workshops, seminars, costume awards and animation screenings as well. Toy collectors fly all over the country to attend comic-cons to buy rare collectibles.
anime is the latest buzzword all over the United States. This term is derived from the Japanese word used for depicting animation and the world outside Japan uses it to refer to any work of animation from Japan. It is a huge export of a cultural art form out of Japan and has been adapted into many languages. Rattling obsessed fans are described as otaku. It is a Japanese term, and interestingly, the word has negative connotations in Japanese. These dress in outfits to resemble their favorite animated characters. It is known as cosplay, another word for costume play.
by: Ben Pate
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