What Parents Should Know about Manga

As a parent, you have a right and a responsibility to be interested in what your child is interested in, but what happens when the comics that your child brings home are actually almost completely foreign? Many parents are thrown for a bit of a loop when their son or daughter starts bringing home Japanese comics, which are also known as manga. Rather than forbidding them to your child completely, make sure that you are aware of a few facts regarding manga and what they contain.

First, remember that manga itself is a genre, the way that films are. Like movies, manga are aimed at a variety of audiences; some are meant for children, others are made for young boys or girls, while still others are aimed primarily at adults. It is clear that just like with movies, there are some manga that are inappropriate for younger readers, but there are plenty more that are perfectly acceptable. Some manga that is aimed towards very young children is quite simply adorable, while manga for older girls, for example, will be closer to what you might find in a romance novel or young adult fiction.

As a parent, you should also understand that there is a different understanding of what is age-appropriate when it comes to nudity than what you might see in American comics. Most manga that is aimed at young adults will, for instance, show both boys and girls naked from the waist up, though the genitals are not shown. The popular manga Ranma ½, for instance, deals with a boy who changes into a girl when cold water is splashed on him, and there are several shots of the main character, both as a male and a female, bare-chested.

Violence is another thing that people will often bring up when it comes to manga, and it is true that some of the most popular manga that has come to America over the last few years has been quite action oriented. This is a gray area that a parent should think about and judge for themselves. Think about what an appropriate level of violence for your child to view is, and make sure it is consistent. What else does your child watch or read? While the violence in manga can get intense, it is oftentimes no different from what you might see on a prime time television program or a PG-13 movie.

It is important to remember, though, that there are really no hard and fast rules when it comes to manga, and as with so many things, it should be judged on a case by case basis. Take a look at what manga titles that your son or daughter is bringing home, and ask them about it. You can also go online and find plenty of plot synopses to help you understand their favorites a little better, and you’ll have an even better idea what is going on if you read a few chapters yourself.

Manga is an excellent way to tell a story, and many children and adults find that this is a medium that speaks very strongly and clearly to them. Take a look and see what manga your child is interested in, and who knows? You might find yourself as big a fan after a few pages!

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