We all have various opinions on manga and anime, from the manga with the best art style to how we like to watch anime. Some opinions are shared by most others, and some are less popular, though no less valid. Today, I’ll share with you some of my opinions on both, some of which you may or may not agree with.
Anime
Pretty Animation is Meaningless if the Content Sucks
It’s true that animation can make or break a series. Take Demon Slayer, for example: it’s a great series, and the manga art was gorgeous, but the anime is amazing thanks to the jaw-dropping animation and beautiful art style. The story is good, but imagine if it were just mediocre, or if it was just…bad. Animation and art style are heavily influential in an animated series, but if the story isn’t up to snuff, it’s just something pretty to look at for 30–60 minutes.
The English Dub vs. Sub Fight is Stupid
Watch anime in English, Japanese, or any other language that the series is in; it really doesn’t matter. We’re all watching the same series, so it’s only the language that’s different. Some don’t like reading subtitles while watching anime, whether it’s because they don’t read fast enough, or they do other things in the meantime, or whatever their reasoning is. It’s perfectly fine to have a preference, but one isn’t superior to the other.
Filler Episodes (Sometimes) Suck
Filler episodes are okay, and they’re often used when the anime has caught up to the source material. It’s interesting to see the characters in different situations, which is where these episodes shine. But the problem is when fillers make up a good percentage of the series — looking at you, One Piece, with over 100 episodes of filler — that it becomes a problem. It’s honestly more annoying than it’s worth, and it makes the series drag on.
Fan Service is Fine in Moderation
Fan service has a bad rap, and it’s often warranted. The female characters are usually subjected to it, and panty shots and “accidental” inappropriate touching are annoying and definitely an issue. However, not all fan service is bad; think shirtless characters and ones wearing swimsuits — though hopefully not ones that are two sizes too small, as many female characters are drawn in. As long as it’s not constant, and it doesn’t target one specific character or only the female characters, it’s fine.
Manga
Manga is Better than American Comics
There, it’s been said. American comics are great, and there are so many more diverse ones now than there were a few decades ago, but they still leave much to be desired. A lot of the popular ones are about superheroes, which is fine, but it gets old after a while. Manga also has a rich history that dates back centuries, and it’s woven into Japanese culture, meaning it’s an important medium in the country. There are so many manga of all different varieties, from horror to fantasy to isekai, and they feel more compelling than American comics.
Boys and Men Can Read Shōjo Too
This one may not be as unpopular as it used to be, but there’s still some stigma toward boys and men reading shōjo, since it’s traditionally targeted toward girls and women. It doesn’t make them “girly” — and even if it did, so what? Everyone should be allowed to read the stories they enjoy, regardless of how it seems to others. Romance, slice of life, and other common shōjo themes are good for everyone to read, regardless of who they are. Just let people enjoy what they want to.
Hating on a Series Because it’s Popular is Ridiculous
There’s nothing wrong with hating a popular series if that’s how you feel, but hating it just because it’s popular is foolish. It doesn’t make anyone cool or edgy, but rather shallow and, for lack of better phrasing, a loser. Every series, no matter how popular or overhyped, deserves a decent chance.
Physical Copies are Better than Reading Online
Nothing beats reading a physical copy of a book when possible. (Sorry e-readers!) Reading on a screen is all right if that’s the best option, but being able to hold the book, turn the pages yourself, and, yes, smell the ink, can’t be topped. Plus, it reads differently in physical form than when reading it on a screen. For those unused to reading manga, having the actual books might help them read it.
Long Titles are Annoying
There’s been an uptick in long-ass manga titles: 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!, That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime, I’ve Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years And Maxed Out My Level, and many more. Long titles aren’t terrible, but they’re becoming annoyingly common, especially in the isekai genre. Not to mention that some of them give away the entire plot before you can even read the synopsis.
Regardless of differing opinions, we should all just enjoy reading manga and watching anime how we like it.
Click here for an article on common manga and anime terms.
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