What is Manga?

Manga - Literally "Whimsical Pictures" - The Japanese Comic Style.

Manga is essentially Japanese comics.

Manga stories are originally published chapter by chapter in magazines (Like Shonen Jump), before the chapters are compiled into larger books called Tankobon (Volumes), which usually contain around 10 chapters.

They are frequently themed around aliens (Alien Nine), robots (Mazinger Z), ghosts (Bleach), ninjas (Naruto), and the non-specifically paranormal (Midori no Hibi)

A lot of people over here seem to think that Hentai is the correct term for Manga. Hentai is Japanese for 'abnormal', or 'sexually perverted'; it is pornographic Manga. Don't be an idiot. Get it right.

Anime is simply animated Manga. Most Anime are based on the Manga version (Naruto, Bleach, Love Hina, for example).
My favourite Anime, by the way, is Martian Successor Nadesico (Of which I own DVDs 1,2 and 3, encompassing Episodes 1-12)

Manga art style vs. American comics.

Manga in its current form came up just after WW2, but has a long history in Japanese art. We'll cut that bit out, for your sake. (Or check it out on Wikipedia?)

Manga is not realistic in depicting people; the characters in some (most?) manga have over-exaggerated features, usually large eyes, and MAD hair.
Backgrounds are given more attention in manga than in Western styles, and are generally more architecturally accurate.
Manga frequently includes the surreal, including Aliens, Spirits, and/or Robots.

For example, Midori No Hibi (Literally 'Days of Midori' or 'Midori Days') is about a boy who wakes up to find that his secret admirer has become his right hand. Thus making it my favourite.

I think that's enough about manga for now.

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