And one minor difference between Japanese manga and general superhero comics
like D.C. Comics or Marvel Comics (aside from the black and white nature of
manga), is that manga are usually the vision of a single writer (at most 2,
generally). Unlike the general superhero type, where many writers tend to do
different plots and stories, manga are more like novels, complete and
detailed worlds that are the vision of a single author. The characters
remain consistent, and they are allowed to grow and develop. On a related
topic, manga also tend to be drawn for a weekly or biweekly publication
containing numerous other comics by other authors --- and the editors expect
cliffhangers/you-really-want-to-read-the-next-issue endings each time. So
the plot HAS to develop and HAS to be interesting at a fairly rapid clip.
(There are, after all, crowds of hopeful would-be manga-ka waiting in the
wings).

(One last difference is the onomatopoetic characteristic of the Japanese
language; sound effects fit in much better, and look less stupid, than in
English comics. This is just a facet of the language; translated manga sound
effects also don't work as well.)

Perhaps it is the mix of harsh reality with the tantalizing world of fantasy
that makes Japanese manga and anime so appealing. Many popular series, such
as Doraemon, Ranma 1/2 and Kimagure Orange Road, follow the lives of
seemingly ordinary people --- they go to school, do homework, get
reprimanded by parents --- who have a shadow life that makes them somehow
special, whether by psionic talent or friends who are rather different
(robots from the future, or aliens from other worlds). I suppose all this
serves to allow the reader to sympathize with the characters, and yet escape
from bland, normal daily life to a fantasy world that is far different.

Even in worlds that exist in the far future, or long ago, the reader is
drawn into a 3-dimensional character, one who is far from perfect, one who
has stupid little habits or major character flaws --- and who has hopes and
dreams that the reader can sympathize with. Unlike some American super
heroes, who often seem to just go around defeating Evil (as wonderfully
spoofed in American comic "The Tick"), Japanese characters usually have
other goals in life that play large themes within their lives. I heard
recently the characterization that manga and anime are "character oriented."
The more I think about, the more I think this is the right description.
Characters aren't forced into plots, like a foot into a too-tight shoe;
instead, stories grow out of the characters. The heart of manga and anime is
in the hearts of the characters.

That brings us to three other aspects of manga and anime that I really like:
the reality of the world, the spirituality, and the fact that things end.

With comics, the merging of art and words creates a unique medium. The art
pulls in the mind, and the words make the reality. A picture may be worth a
thousand words, while words may convey what art cannot, but the two types
together are truly powerful. As for Anime, animation can do inexpensively
what special effects crews can't even touch. Art is a limited form of
virtual reality. Art, however, requires plot to make a story come to life.

As I've said, even children's Japanese comics and animation deal with things
like death. They also show that one's enemies aren't Just Evil. In series
like Gundam, you can see that the enemies have hopes and dreams of their
own, and do, in fact, have reasons for what they do. They aren't just crazy,
or just plain evil. They're real.

Actions have consequences. If the protagonist screws up, he or she has to
deal with those results ... and, if the person is smart, he or she will
remember not to make that mistake again! The characters grow and change,
learn new skills, get better at old skills, mature and gain wisdom (unless,
of course, it's a comical series like Doraemon :)

Another trait of manga and anime that I have always liked (though perhaps I
hadn't realized it until recently) is their tendency to contain a sense of
spiritual optimism ... and not just simplistic good-over-evil stuff. Bad
people can improve and find redemption. Unhappy heroes can find themselves,
through personal crisis, and in doing so find happiness. Life does have
meaning and purpose, though it must be fought for. Hard work will pay off
... but maybe only in the long run. Difficulties occur, but they can be
overcome. Strength is found from helping others, even to the point of
self-sacrifice.... Not all stories have these messages, but many do. And
when these simple but universal themes are woven more or less convincingly
into the fabric of good plots and characters, magic happens.

And finally, like all good stories and all real stories, manga and anime
have a tendency to end. Heroes and heroines die, or get married, or
disappear. The anime series are especially good about this. They tend to
have one of three endings: the hero wins (the throne, the person of the
opposite sex, whatever), the hero dies (usually after winning), the hero
sort of wins (but at a great loss). Of course, the anime or manga is often
carefully crafted to either jerk tears out of your eyes, or make you stare
in wide-eyed absorption to the very very last line of the credits. I can't
describe it here, but think of the ending to any truly good movie, and you
probably have it.

I guess I've wandered quite a bit over this topic. I also probably displayed
a bias for semi-serious manga/anime (which I prefer), and I also probably
didn't quite describe the nature of certain genres (such as pure business
manga, or sex manga, or the purely political humor comics). And, of course,
I'm sort of glossing over the fact that there is LOTS of trash out there.
Like any field, manga and anime have their lemons, the ones with no plot,
2-D characters, truly tasteless jokes, and artwork from hell. However, the
best manga and anime are true gems that should not be missed --- little
portals into other worlds that will entertain, educate, and delight.