SMA's Italian Job
Italy, the BEL PAESE, the birthplace of world renowned dishes such as Pizza, Pasta and the versatile Panini; the land of great poets like Dante and Boccaccio and not forgetting pioneers of the art world like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and…Salvatore Nives from SMAC!!!
Friends, Manga Creators, Community, lend me your ears! Enrico here!
The organizers of one of the biggest Italian manga and anime event, ROMICS recently extended an invitation to our beloved Hojo Tsukasa sensei…an invitation Hojo sensei was honored to accept.
Nestled amongst the ancient monuments of antiquity, the event proved a huge success, with the organizers bestowing our legendary mangaka with the prestigious Romics d’Oro – Litt. Golden Romics Award in gratitude for a career that captured reader’s hearts the world over (especially Italian hearts!).
The event also proved an excellent opportunity to extend the message of the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®, and our mission to grow our Community of International Manga creators! From launching a special Italian language page on the SMAC! Web Magazine, containing all the news and information about the Audition, to enthusiastically talking to every passerby about what we do, we are confident the people Rome are now very familiar with SMAC! To help publicize the appearance of Hojo Tsukasa sensei, we designed a bespoke flyer featuring the temptresses from Cat’s Eyes, especially for the Romics event! These “Eye Cat-ching” flyers were also featured on the stand’s of our friends Jungle Entertainment Hobby Shop and Panini Comics. Both Jungle and Panini created some amazing event exclusive products to celebrate the life and work of Hojo sensei, paying particular attention to Cat’s Eye and CITY HUNTER!
Jungle X Tsukasa Hojo & SMAC!
Panini Comics X Tsukasa Hojo & SMAC!
We were delighted to meet many people interested in the competition, making sure they were fully up to speed on information regarding future round application, not to mention thrusting a flyer in their unsuspecting hands!
We also announced our event to eager audiences during two stage appearances, including Hojo sensei’s talk show session, and a talk with the Europe Design Institute (IED) during a Manga Master lecture delivered by Hojo sensei to a packed audience of Design, Animation, CG and Fashion students!
We received an outstanding response from the public during the entire event, offering the chance to support many Italian creators, old and new, over SNS in the future.
But what now…?
We fully intend to build on this success and offer the chance for Italian creators to message us with their queries, join in on live video support and give one-to-one support, all in Italian!! We will also continue to work with our Italian Masterclass Members in supporting them with One-shot creation (one particularly exciting One-shot is almost finished, stay tuned for its unveiling!) and also join Italian manga workshops to inform participants of professional manga editing procedures!
Scuola Internazionale di Comics X SMAC!
Salvatore Nives Workshop & SMAC! in manga school
If you’d like your Manga school to collaborate with us, or you’re wondering how to join the Masterclass, or even information on applying to the next SMA round, please do not hesitate to contact me at Enrico or via our FACEBOOK/TWITTER pages! So why not join our BELLISSIMA Community?! We cannot wait to meet you! CIAO! (All Hojo sensei pictures are taken with kind permission from ROMICS OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE) THE LEGEND OF “WASAMON” #3 : Furikake (Friend of Rice) In the center of Kyushu, in the far west of Japan, lies a land called Kumamoto. Surrounded by a bottle green sea and towering mountains, this place of outstanding beauty is known as the “Land of Fire”…and where there is beautiful nature, unique and intriguing cultures flourish. Naturally, the people of Kumamoto have imbued their own culture and language with these same, mystifying characteristics…
“LEGEND OF WASAMON”
— the article series that aims to introduce the “WASAMON” people of Kumamoto.(さらに…) Kakimoji S.O.S. 8 – Kakimoji DOC
Hello, my NOISY friends and welcome to the latest Kakimoji S.O.S. (Sound Of Silence) article!
Today, we will talk about the beloved work of our SMAC! judge Tsugihara sensei, YOROSHIKU MECHADOC, along with the differences between Human Kakimoji and mechanical Kakimoji! Are you ready? Yes?
So rev your engine, wait for the checked flag…
3, 2, 1, GO!!!
And the Kakimoji race begins!! This high-octane battle for speed covers 4 “laps” of interest!
1) Car Kakimoji2) Human Kakimoji
3) Variation of Kakimoji 4 EXTRA) Engine Kakimoji
Oh, wow Penmaru! Are you really ready to create your Kumamoto Round manga about cars?? Ok, let’s do this!
1) Car Kakimoji
Car Kakimoji frequently uses ‘sounds’ beginning with G and D, for example: “GOOO!” (ゴォォーーッ) “GWAAAAN” (グワアアアン) and “DOSHU!” (ドシュッ). These sounds are formed with a combination of Katakana (sharp letters) and jagged fonts. This is most likely as a result of Tsugihara sensei wanting emulate strong momentum and loud, mechanical sounds. The variant forms of Car Kakimoji greatly help to differentiate between high-speed race scenes and everyday moments in the manga, able to express speed and slow pace respectively.
DOSHU! (ドシュッ)
GWAAAAN(グワアアアン)
2) Human Kakimoji
On the other hand, Kakimoji used for human sounds are displayed in Hiragana (cursive letters), coupled with simple fonts. This creates a clear contrast between the cold, repetitive machine sounds and the unpredictable sounds of humans. Though we see a multitude of Kakimoji used in race scenes, these differing styles not only helps to build up tension in the story, but also offers the chance to add a level of comedy. For example, a human surrounded by the Kakimoji “WAA” (わー), written in Hiragana would be cause for hilarity by the very nature of the sound, whereas in Katakana, we can attribute to a machine.
WAA (わー, to scream) Hiragana
WAAAN (ワアアアン, to steer) Katakana
3) Variation of Kakimoji
A variation of Kakimoji usage is to contain the sound or feelings (in the case of using comical faces) in small balloons. This also helps to set the atmosphere of the racing scenes, from serious to comedic.
SU! (スッ, movement of the air)
NIHI (にひっ, to smile)
4) –EXTRA) Engine Kakimoji
To represent the sound of a car, drifting around the race track, we use the Kakimoji “PATAPATA”. The “P” sound, followed by a rhythmic beat represents a soft, “ticking over” sound which is perfect for showing the reader the car is coasting along at a low, comical speed.
PATAPATA (パタパタ, whap-whap)
WAAAAA! That means “To scream”, right Enrico?I loved this article and all the different variations of Kakimoji! Do you think it can be applied in every language around the world or this is a prerogative for Japanese manga only?Also…WHAT’S NEXT?!
Oh, come on, Penmaru! If there’s something that we at SMAC! want you and all our Community to learn, is that nothing is exclusive to Japanese manga! Anybody can use the tools in Japanese manga and make their own, using their own language, in true WASAMON style!
Next time, you say? The passing of time expressed by Kakimoji!
DO NOT MISS IT!
CIAO!
FOLLOW ME for more Kakimoji tips! TwitterFacebook We're off on the road to KUMAMOTO
On the southern tip of the “Land of the Rising Sun” resides the “Land of Fire”—Kumamoto Prefecture. It’s a land forged by a volcanic cauldron, the Mount Aso caldera and surrounding areas, and tempered by the people and culture. Kumamoto is a land of soaring peaks to deep valleys and of a culture old and refined. So, let’s travel there together and discover the beauty of a land nurtured by a warm flame. The volcanic fire that rages under the Mount Aso caldera has shaped Kumamoto. The rocks and ash that settled a millennia ago created the majestic peaks and valleys you see today. The caldera and surrounding areas are the rulers of the land and singlehandedly defined its essence. Few have subdued the caldera’s peaks and valleys and today the area stands as a force of nature and beauty to all. But, the volcanos searing power is kept at bay by the calming nature of water.
The water has seeped into every part of the Mount Aso caldera and has slowly been purified over eons. The water has bubbled up from deep crevices within the volcanic rock to form the streams, rives, and waterfalls of the land. Meandering all throughout the Mount Aso caldera and surrounding areas, the water formed splendors like the Nabegataki Falls. Witness its glory from downstream to behind its magnificent undercut.
Water is the driving force of life on the slopes around Mount Aso. It rejuvenates, cleans, and creates life. It is the embodiment of nature itself. And Kumamoto is full of natures glory. From the rolling hills berthed from the volcanic underbelly to the ancient trees that use the water to grow tall, nature surrounds the Mount Aso caldera. One tree, splintered in two by some long forgotten event, stands on these hills. Yet, undeterred it had a resilience like the people. Now, the trees roots lay deep in the ground and the branches have begun to carve their own destiny, just as the people have done for ages.
Nature and man leave their marks on each other in many ways. Some subtle and other in grand displays. The Mount Aso caldera inspired the people to greatness and the people left their mark on nature with Kumamoto Castle. Like the Castle, the people have stood in the face of adversity and conquered it. Today a new trial faces the Castle and people. But, together they will rise up to the challenge and overcome it as they have in the past. The long history of the Castle has etched itself into the people and they, in turn, wear the Castle as a coat of arms in their soul.
Throughout history people have traveled to Kumamoto. Some were visitors, others for business, and people like you, students, came here to master their craft. The lifelong student of the blade and philosophy, Miyamoto Musashi, refined his craft in the Reigando Cave west of Kumamoto Castle. His essence lingers around the Cave and guides visitors just like you to master your own art.
The path to the Reigando Cave is a pilgrimage in and of itself and the will of Musashi slowly descends upon you. Or perhaps it’s the weight of the Gohyaku Rakan, the five hundred disciples of Buddha. They watch over all who come to the Reigando Cave with the calm demure of one who has attained Buddhist enlightenment. Traversing the terrain to enlightenment is no simple feat, but you can start on your path from these hills. The Gohyaku Rakan are the guides to the Reigando Cave and they watch your every step to its base. As you climb the steps and enter, a sense of awe washes over you. It was here, nay, this rock where Miyamoto Musashi completed his master piece, “The Book of Five Rings.” Sitting on the rock and gazing out to the forest you can feel your mind empty and see with new found clarity. An ancient carving draws your attention as you look around the Cave once again. It reads: “REI-GAN-DO.”
With so many sites to take in around Kumamoto, you will need to let them soak into your soul. The many onsen (hot spring) spa resorts are the perfect place for this. It’s a daunting task trying to choose one from so many and they all look comforting. But, as you travel further into the Prefecture you come to one: Kurokawa Onsen. It draws you into a world of great history where the old mixes with new around every corner. It is the perfect place to bring your soul to ease after a long day of exploring Kumamoto.
What better way to end your travels in Kumamoto than an onsen spa. A sense of tradition prevails in each building. A tradition kept by the women who love their town and children. An inn calls out to you as you feel the warm embrace of a mothers love wrap around you. The rafters look weighed down by three centuries of use. Yet, the affection of the guests and Okami (proprietress) invites visitors to relax and forget their troubles. As you sit back and enjoy a sip of tea in your room, you receive a call—it’s time for dinner. A traditional meal is laid out before you in small portions with many courses. In your exhausted state it seems impossible to finish. But, one bite of the delectable meal instantly refreshes you.
The evenings in Kurokawa Onsen calls the sandman to every room. As he works his magic, he keeps just enough in each person to soothe themselves in the onsen baths. One dip in them and all your troubles melt away. The warm sensation soaks into every pore and penetrates the deepest part of the body—a truly relaxing time this is. The sandman and onsen carries everybody off to dreamland and the sounds of Kumamoto whisper to you, “Goodnight and sweet dreams.”
Visiting Kumamoto Prefecture is a dream in its own right and certainly excites the creative nature in all of us. And yet, this is only a fraction of what the Prefecture has to offer visitors. The SILENT MANGA AUDITION® EXRA-ROUND THREE (EX3) “KUMAMOTO ROUND 2018” is offering winners a chance to explore Kumamoto as well as have our professional manga creators guide you to a career in manga creation. So, channel that energy and enter today. Together, we will bring the best smile to Kumamoto Prefecture! Please choose “Silent Manga” or “Illustration (One-Panel, One-Page artwork)”, and start drawing TODAY! manga nutcracker#8
“A boy with an elastic body want to become the Pirate King!”
Set in an age of swashbuckling adventure, the world’s most famous pirate, Gol. D. Roger, disappears. In his wake he leaves behind some treasure, plus the promise of the biggest, and most sought-after treasure in the world…the “One Piece”. Whosoever discovers this magnificent treasure will be proclaimed the “Pirate King” and rule the oceans.The protagonist, Luffy D. Monkey, is a boy with a passion for piracey and a super elastic body to boot! The effects of inadvertently eating the Devil’s Fruit, this rubbery power comes at a price, for those who have eaten this forbidden fruit will be hated by the sea, including an inability to swim it’s bottle green depths.With a will of iron and an unquenchable taste for adventure, Luffy follows in the footsteps of his pirate hero Shanks, and sets forth on his quest for the “One Piece”. Along his journey, he will encounter many friends and foes, promising more and more exciting adventures to come!Nutcracking time!One Piece is a fantastic example of simple drama, deepest friendship and the magic of the unexpected all working together in harmony. At its very core, the story grows from a very simple storytelling seed: A boy who dreams of becoming a pirate.So, what is it that is important in crafting an entertaining story? In the case of One Piece, it’s the ability to view friendship, belief, trust and pride through an exaggerated lense. The manga effectively and hilariously recalls all these special little moments, moments we all experience in life and presents them in an engaging way that instantly wins our hearts. Simple storytelling, brimming with strong emotions and expressive characters make up this hilariously thrilling adventure on the high seas. So “batten down the hatches”, grab a bottle ‘o’ rum and settle down for a “yo, ho, yo ho” time with One Piece!!Where is Wasamon?VisualsThe life of an artist is to be recognised for their own style. Eiichiro Oda broke the mold of the manga drawing style with One Piece, establishing his place as a maverick in the manga world. A native of Kumamoto, this enigmatic mangaka cherrypicked the styles of many an established artist and crafted them all into a unique and engaging style, never before seen. Proof that there are no rules in manga!ProtagonistThe very essence of Luffy’s journey throughout the manga is one of discovery. Whether it’s an unknown island, or the first to seriously search for a much sought after treasure, or even discerning the hidden depths of his comrades, Luffy is driven by a need to open the book on previously unknown wonders. This need for consuming new experiences is what keeps One Piece fresh, and ensures the reader comes back for more, again and again. Truly the spirit of Wasamon!
” I can’t wait to see the Wasamon
spirit of all my SMAC! friends!”
Did you find another Wasamon trait in ONE PIECE? Would love to hear your thoughts so follow me on Twitter – @SmacViVi Facebook – Vivi Fabbri Smac Don’t forget to use the #manganutcracker SMAC! MANGA DOJO #6 – "Never TRY TO FIND for ideas!" <Characters>Penmaru Is a ninja dog who dreams of becoming the greatest manga creator in the animal world. To help achieve his dream, Mocchi gives him a mission… “Learn how to create manga at the Manga Dojo.” His favorite “idea spot” is the bath. “Shihan” Manga Master The master of the dojo and Penmaru’s tutor in the ways of manga. An experienced editor who had worked in the manga industry for over 30 years. His favorite “idea spot” is the dojo’s toilet. <Previously in Manga Dojo>Penmaru could not finish cleaning the Dojo, which he started with the best intentions, early that morning. In view of how unorganized Penmaru is, Shihan taught him the “5 Steps of Creating Manga”, explaining how important it is to “plan” the creation. The lesson aroused Penmaru to finish his task with enthusiasm! Can he really finish the task in hand and begin working on his manga creation!?
Ep.6 ”Never TRY TO FIND for ideas!”
Shihan: Penmaru, how are things…NOT DONE YET???!!! Why are you lazing around in front of the computer!? Penmaru: Oh, Shihan! Please take a look! It’s the newest, most cutting-edge cleaning machine! A robot Maid! The clean-up would be finished in a flash is we have this! It does cost around 10,000,000 Yen… but let’s buy it!! Shihan: Wait, wait wait! We already have brooms and dustpans, floorcloths and even a good vacuum cleaner! Why do we need this contraption!? Penmaru: Eeee, but those things are old…I think it’s better to have the newest tools – not just for cleaning, but also in creating Manga! Shihan: ……Hm, I see you are getting the wrong idea… Penmaru: W, wrong, you say? Shihan: Yes. With that in mind, I will teach you the “Secret of ‘Neta-Dashi’ ” today…That should teach you how to “clean up ” your ideas and how you don’t necessarily need something NEW to do it! Penmaru: Aha! “Neta-Dashi” is the very first step of the “5 Steps to Creating Manga”, right? Shihan: Correct! Well done. To be thorough, it is the process of finding the “Seeds of Ideas (=Neta)” that could make your manga entertaining to read. Penmaru, how do you usually find these “seeds of ideas”? Penmaru: ??? Is there anything else besides “think until you get it”, or “go find something new”, or “wait until it comes to you”? Shihan: I see… From my experience, I can say that it is very difficult to find a novel AND entertaining idea, in such a haphazard way. Penmaru: Really!? Is that true!? Shihan: Yes. Because ideas are not something you “think”, “make up”, or “wait until it comes”. To find a good idea, it’s best to search from a certain place you know very well. Penmaru: A place I know… Where is that? Is it in my house? At school? Don’t tell me it’s in the toilet! Shihan: It’s inside your brain… You must search INSIDE YOURSELF! Penmaru: M, my brain? What do you mean? Shihan: Shotaro Ishinomori sensei, the manga creator of numerous masterpieces such as ‘Kamen Rider (Masked Rider)’ and ‘Cyborg 009’, says…
“Fresh and interesting ideas are most likely born by tying two areas of ‘Knowledge’ that seemingly do not connect together.” ——Quote:”Ishinomori Shotaro No Mangaka Nyumon” (Akita Bunko, 1988)
That is, you’re more likely to find fresh and interesting ideas that grab people’s hearts by finding something fun you have seen, heard, or experienced. It’s much better than making up a whole new concept from zero! You cannot make, or even draw something you don’t know. But if you’re drawing something novel from something you DO know, that its what attracts people’s curiosity. We can say that “Neta-Dashi” is the process where you cook from your own knowledge, and discover something that “clicks” to the readers. Penmaru: I, I see… Shihan: Now Penmaru, I hope you can see. Before you go off buying some peculiar machine that you don’t know how to use, you must finish cleaning with the tools you know well. The tools right in your own hands! Penmaru: Uu… but… Shihan: But? Penmaru: BUT STILL I WANT THAT MAID-SAN ROBOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!! (Zooooooooooooom) Shihan: Huh!? Hey! Wait Penmaru!! Where are you going!?!? Shihan’s lessons gave Penmaru an inspiring new perspective! But with his heart, latched onto the maid robot, however, the regretful Penmaru finally runs away from the Dojo!Where will he go!? Will this clean-up ever end!? Wait until next week to see what happens! < NEXT EPISODE… April 16 MON > Did you enjoy reading this story? Did you find the hints and tips to improve your manga production? If YES, please share the article with your fellow creators! If NO, please let me know how we can improve Penmaru’s journey! We welcome any and all kinds of opinions and questions, requests and comments, day and night! Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for updates 😉 Script: Mayuna Mizutani – Follow me on Twitter and Facebook Illustration: Roberto F. – Support him on Instagram,Facebook & APOIA.se Tweet your questions / opinions / reviews at #SMACMangaDojo, and I will answer! 😉 Kakimoji S.O.S. 7 – Fist of Kakimoji
2018! SMA9 deadline has just passed and the SMAC! team is working around the clock to read all your marvelous manga entries! BUT, this editor is still writing about Kakimoji!!!
You are already designed!
Hello my NOISY friends and welcome to the 7th installment of Kakimoji S.O.S.! Seven? Seven like the seven stars of… of… Oh, darn, I’m sure I’ve forgotten something important, but I can’t quite put my finger on it… PenMaru, maybe you know? What are you talking about, Enrico?! Aren’t you the world’s expert on a CERTAIN series and a CERTAIN manga master? Do you really NOT remember what the number “Seven” is linked to? How could I forget?! Seven stars? It’s HOKUTO! Today’s 7th article will be all about the first chapter of Hokuto no Ken, a series that still keeps conquering readers’ heart the world over, even 35 years on from its debut!! How can a hero be established in his first appearance? How are the Kakimoji of mobs represented to effectively show their ferocity and power? Hero Kakimoji VS Mobs Kakimoji! Let’s join the action! Just like any super-hero, Kenshiro’s first appearance in the manga wasn’t that of a strong guy (to allow the reader to really feel the WOW moment when Kenshiro turns himself into a war-machine at the end of the episode!). The Kakimoji represented here shows a fragility to this mysterious character.
Fura Fura (フラフラ)
It represents the unsteady steps of feet on the ground, plus the shaking of the body (because of the emptiness of the stomach). Because of the numerous spasms in Kenshiro’s body and his slow way of walking, this Kakimoji is written very small, allowing us to immediately see the “weak appearance” of our hero. By contrast, this is how the very first enemy of Kenshiro appears. His is Kakimoji is shown in the following panel:
NUU~ (ぬう～, ROAR)
An enormous giant, with spiked clothes, tattoos and a Mohican is snarling and growling before us, squeezing his colossal fists of fury! Your instinct is to run away from him fast… that’s if you’re not Kenshiro! Even if though the Kakimoji NUU is powerful and intimidating, our hero doesn’t bat an eyelid, deciding to walk into this crazy mob full of punks.
ZA ZA (ザッザッ)
What was weak before is now full of energy, even in the very design itself! “ZA” is the sound made by walking steps and the shoes hitting the ground, foretelling the justice about to be delivered by Kenshiro. The walking sound is utilizes sharp, straight lines initially, which then give out to an explosion of power on this beautiful page. Now our hero is face to face with his enemy! Let’s look at how their strength is designed:
UNU~ (うぬ〜, GRR)
This Kakimoji isshown the same way as NUU before, making the enemy appear more animal-like than human. But it is very weak! In fact, now we see a more frightful tone before it is weakened by Kenshiro’s Kakimoji!
GAYA (ガヤッ, to be noisy, clamorous)
OOOOH! Kenshiro is ready to attack!!! The tight-lipped enemy’s growl is represented by a black colour and softer design VS the incredibly strong scream of our hero’s sharp design sharp! All this tension and action was expressed solely by Kakimoji! Aren’t they the strongest weapon of any manga creator?! PenMaru: YES, THEY ARE! I can’t wait to use them in my new Kumamoto EX3 round manga! I want to show my hero fighting a rival while he’s trying something new…maybe a car race could work? I think that’s a great idea, PenMaru! The innovation of cars are synonymous with human history, and with the theme WASAMON for Kumamoto ROUND 3, innovation is what we’re looking for! Don’t miss the next article, the manga that made a thousand petrol heads in Japan! See you next week with the YOROSHIKU MECHA-DOC Kakimoji article! CIAO! FOLLOW ME for more Kakimoji tips! TwitterFacebook The Accidental Gaijin #7: Anime Japan 2018 Report
Just over a week has passed since I braved the cartoon hungry throngs of Anime Japan 2018, so I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on my first Japanese “con” experience. Now, I don’t know much about Anime aside from my firm favorites of old, plus Studio Ghibli of course, so I was unsure of what to expect from the biggest event in the Anime world. Is Anime really that big outside of Miyazaki’s internationally recognized body of work? Well, I was about to find out.
Meeting my very excited editor chum Vivi at Shinjuku Station, I saw my first taste of what to expect from Anime Japan. Clutching a long and detailed list of things “we must see, Chris”, Vivi literally bounced onto the train as we made our way to the hallowed, at least in the hearts and minds of manga/anime fans, Tokyo Big Sight.
This towering example of beautiful Brutalist architecture took my breath away. An unashamed modernist statement, the building is more UFO than exhibition centre, dominating the horizon with ease. As interesting as this bold departure into architecture is, my Anime obsessed companion has bigger fish to fry, namely, getting into the building!
With our Press Passes hanging proudly around our necks, we venture forth into the belly of Anime. My first thought is the sheer scope of this genre, with countless stands including production companies, distribution outlets, voice actor sessions and cosplay, I immediately realized just how big this industry is. I was also quietly astounded at the number of none Japanese attendees to this event, with approximately a third of visitors coming from every corner of the globe. Scope indeed!
After inspecting just about every stand with a fine tooth comb, Vivi ushered me to an area devoted to, what is perhaps Japan’s biggest export behind manga and anime…Cosplay! Ready to take snaps of the spectacularly decked out army of cosplayers, my erstwhile companion stayed my hand. Ever present to explain the seemingly unexplainable in Japanese pop culture, Vivi hammered home The Rules of this huge, world spanning phenomenon. First off, cosplayers not only dress the part, they PLAY the part. So a bumbling Brit such as myself, taking amateurish pics of unprepared ‘characters’ is NOT OK! Seeing the lines of photographers for each Cosplayer, I decide to abandon my mission and wait out the Cosplay Parade towards the end of the day.
With the closing wave of the cosplaying stragglers, I was ready to say goodbye myself, rest my weary feet and tick off Anime Japan from my long list of must-see events. But my intrepid comrade had other ideas! The day was to close in spectacular fashion with a micro music festival, featuring (I was later informed) some of the biggest names in anime music on the SACRA MUSIC LIVE STAGE.
Featuring the cream of the SACRA record label, namely GARNiDELiA, TrySail and LiSA, the audience quickly filled up the allocated viewing area. Not even our “La-Di-Dah” press passes could blag our way into the official standing area. As this was the very top of Vivi’s must-see list, I begrudgingly agreed to join the hopeful crowd at the back, just as the opening bars of a particularly ‘energetic’ musical number assaulted our ears. After 5 minutes, I’d had my fill and told a clearly disappointed Vivi that my old feet needed a rest.
A very happy editor met me soon after, and we joined the very long, yet delighted procession of tired attendees back to the station, thereby allowing me to reflect on the day. With Netflix and Warner Brothers eagerly getting in on the action, anime is becoming a serious industry. But it’s also more than profit margins, it’s a genre that is beloved by many. Anime, for most of the attendees at least, is a way of life; a safe haven from the trials and tribulations of reality and a place to bond with like-minded people the world over. With a behemoth of content scheduled for the coming years, anime isn’t going anywhere, ensuring a bright and creative future for a much loved genre and ever more spectacular events such as Anime Japan.
“lazy boy, gifted with the ability to see ghosts dreams of becoming the next Shaman King”
Shaman King is the story of Yoh Asakura, a laid back 14 year old shaman, told from the perspective of his genius classmate, Manta Oyamada.While running very late, Manta takes a shortcut through a cemetery in the hope of catching his train. There he meets Yoh, who is gazing nonchalantly at the stars for a ghost.To his surprise, Yoh invites Manta to join him “and everybody else” in watching the stars. The “everybody else” being the cemetery’s actual ghostly inhabitants! Causing a terrified Manta to run away… Here we discover that Yoh is a shaman, newly arrived in Tokyo to train for the big “Shaman Fight”, a competition held every 500 years. The winner will be crowned the Shaman King and be granted the incredible power to control the “Great Spirit”, thereby deciding the course of the world for the next 500 years!Manta, although human, has the ability to see ghosts too. This shared gift forges a strong bond between the two boys, with Yoh believing that anyone who has spiritual powers is a good guy.Throughout his journey, Yoh encounters many friends and foes, who either help or impede his goals, with the most help coming from the ghost of a dead samurai, Amidamaru!NUTCRACKING TIME! With my love of nostalgic, 90’s manga, I have to say the Shaman King was a hit to me! With stylized strong line art, shadow blocking, coupled with expertly delivered comedy, Shaman King visually stands-out with lots of personality in its graphics. Yoh’s starts strong with power, knowledge and ability to fight back and defend himself, compared to other main protagonist in the shounen genre that start weak and grow stronger through their trials. A departure from the standard form of manga storytelling, Hiroyuki Takei took the bold decision to narrate the story from the point of view of the secondary character, Manta. A rare special event in shounen manga, we are offered the chance share the thoughts of Manta and his opinion of the extraordinary Yoh. The story is set in a human world, revolving around the story of special people, very powerful Shamans. We can surmise the presence of Manta, in his function as narrator. Being the only human, Manta’s role is the reflection of the readers and their bridge to this fantastical world. A regular odd couple, Yoh’s carefree attitude is in stark contract to Manta’s serious outlook, providing much of the comedy in this hilarious manga. Also in contrast to the regular rules of shounen manga is Yoh’s “hero journey”. Where we are used to watching our protagonists grow in both strength and understanding, we are introduced to an already great and powerful shaman balanced by a funny and normal secondary character. This daring ability to bend the rules not only makes Shaman King the incredible page turner it is, it shows us that manga is indeed, a fertile ground of endless possibilities.
“So Manta is like a Ninja! He is taking the place of the readers! Just like me!”
What do you like about Shaman King? Do you think Manta’s role is necessary or not for this manga? Would love to hear your thoughts so follow me on Twitter – @SmacViVi Facebook – Vivi Fabbri Smac Don’t forget to use the #manganutcracker!!! THE LEGEND OF “WASAMON” #2 : Police Station In the center of Kyushu, in the far west of Japan, lies a land called Kumamoto. Surrounded by a bottle green sea and towering mountains, this place of outstanding beauty is known as the “Land of Fire”…and where there is beautiful nature, unique and intriguing cultures flourish. Naturally, the people of Kumamoto have imbued their own culture and language with these same, mystifying characteristics…
“LEGEND OF WASAMON”
— the article series that aims to introduce the “WASAMON” people of Kumamoto.(さらに…)
What are you talking about, Enrico?! Aren’t you the world’s expert on a CERTAIN series and a CERTAIN manga master? Do you really NOT remember what the number “Seven” is linked to? How could I forget?! Seven stars? It’s HOKUTO! Today’s 7th article will be all about the first chapter of Hokuto no Ken, a series that still keeps conquering readers’ heart the world over, even 35 years on from its debut!! How can a hero be established in his first appearance? How are the Kakimoji of mobs represented to effectively show their ferocity and power? Hero Kakimoji VS Mobs Kakimoji! Let’s join the action! Just like any super-hero, Kenshiro’s first appearance in the manga wasn’t that of a strong guy (to allow the reader to really feel the WOW moment when Kenshiro turns himself into a war-machine at the end of the episode!). The Kakimoji represented here shows a fragility to this mysterious character. 
