Anime and Manga - Defined

     To some people the terms 'manga' and 'anime' are familiar. Other people may have heard about them, but are confused as to what they mean. It is possible that some of you have no idea what I am talking about. Well, if that is the case then I encourage you to read on!
     Anime is often thought of as 'Japanese cartoons.' That is correct, but not entirely accurate. Unlike American cartoons, which generally stick to a super-hero format, anime covers a wide variety of genres. Anime can be about anything from action to mystery to romance to sports. If you can think of it there is most likely an anime available on that subject! Also, anime is not restricted to Japan. There are Korean and Chinese anime too.
     Manga could be generalized as 'Japanese comics' but the same issue would arise. Not many manga's have the kind of superhero's that are so common in American comics. Manga can also be used to describe the drawing style that is most commonly associated with Japan. Most anime is based off an original manga -> the manga comes first! Manga is set up so the reader has to read it right to left. For people used to reading left to right this can take some getting used to. You will know you are a manga fan when you start picking up regular books and reading them like manga. I admit I have done it once or twice.

     I hope this helped you understand what manga and anime are. This was only a short definition so I would really encourage you to visit this blog article for a more in depth explanation. The author did a really good job explaining it. I would rather direct you there than plagiarize.
Some people might call manga and anime evil, but they are no more evil than the TV shows we watch or the books we read. Inappropriate manga and anime do exist, but keep in mind that there are also inappropriate movies and books. Just be careful as you explore new anime. Good anime does exist and it is easier to find than you think!