Author: Rumiko Takahashi
Published: 1997/2010
Genre: fiction - supernatural/fantasy manga (shonen)
started: Jul.23/11
finished: Jul.24/11
Yes, it's true. I read manga and comic books/graphic novels too. I gravitate toward supernatural or fantasy based stories more than anything else...so that means mostly Shonen, action based manga. Of course there are shoujo manga as well that are fantasy/supernatural based. I have a few that have been recommended to me from a friend that I mean to try out and maybe read my way through but we will see how I like them.
I like Inuyasha, though I admit to watching the anime first. I like the characters and the main plot as well as the romantic undercurrents that are not too in the reader's face but still there. I don't mind romance (after all, the journal before this one is about Pride and Prejudice) but I generally prefer stories that have more at stake and in some ways this is true of Inuyasha. True the characters are teenagers and thus sulky and at times whiny but what teenagers aren't? I prefer that too teenagers that are too mature considering their age. Really in the end Inuyasha is a guilty pleasure that I just enjoy reading.
((oddly random musings))
It always interests me to note what changes are made when adapting a manga to anime. It seems that it isn't unusual for scenes to be added rather than eliminated in many cases. There are times when scenes get the axe or are shortened but I have come across many more cases where scenes are added...or at least fleshed out, I suppose to explain plot points or just to fill an episode maybe. Still...I find that in the case of manga and anime the changes are less obvious compared to when books are adapted to movies and the like. Of course maybe I am just biased or have not read enough manga and also watched the anime. I know that entire arcs are added to anime to buy time as the manga are worked on so that the episodes do not catch up to the anime too quickly but I haven't come across too many occasions when entire pieces of the story are cut out. I'll have to read more manga and watch the corresponding anime to see if this is entirely true though.
((end random musings))
Not much else to add about the manga. The anime, which I have already watched, does seem to keep fairly close to the manga...with only minor changes to how scenes look or play out. I do enjoy the story. I enjoy adventures and don't mind the underlying currents of romance. It really is a story between teenagers and so one can expect them to act in that way even despite the mature circumstances that they find themselves in. Some might find that annoying since they have a tendency to bicker over things when they should be worrying about more dire concerns but when things get serious they are usually able to put that aside and get things done.
((I will probably not "review" ever volume of the manga unless I have something specific to that particular part to comment on. If I have musings or something to add I will comment. If not I will refer potential readers back to this journal and/or any others I have elaborated on.))
Would I recommend it? Yes.
Who would like this?
People who like adventure stories would probably enjoy it. Those who have read other shonen stories or like fantasy stories would probably enjoy this. It is a teen focused story (meaning the characters are teens, not that the reader necessarily needs to be a teen) and so that should be taken into account. If the reader doesn't mind then it might be enjoyed. if the reader enjoys stories not only based in another country but that are true to the culture (since this is written and published in Japan) then this would be enjoyable. I would recommend this to readers of shoujo manga as well since there are elements of romance to the story though the focus is not on them as much.((It is harder to pick out what a person would find enjoyable in a manga than with a book.. I have no idea why though.))
Who would not like this?
Anyone who tends to be impatient when it comesn to the foibles of teenagers. Anyone who isn't able to take into account that it is written, published and based in Japan and so the culture, personalities, humour etc are based in that. If the reader is looking for something of greater depth they might be disappointed. Though there is much to the story and has many layers it might not be as compelling to someone who is looking for something contemplative rather than an escape.
No comments:
Post a Comment