Japan: Cartoons for all ages.

Unlike American cartoons, Japanese cartoons are not just for school age or a niche group of collectors. It is a bona fide and celebrated industry in Japan.

There a two kinds of cartoons in Japan.

Manga are printed cartoons or comics. It is not uncommon to board a train in Japan and see children and businessmen, enjoying popular titles with story lines that vary in subject from silly adventures, romantic comedies or high-tech science fiction. Top popular series are often made available as bound editions or collections.

Anime are animated cartoons that are made available as film, tv shows and also released as OVA (Original Video Animation).

Similar to American comic books both manga and anime often have serious character and plot development. Whether printed or animated for tv or film, Japanese cartoons have the same visual characteristics. Characters have oval, pronounced eyes set in large heads that are sometimes disproportionate to their bodies. It is the art of manga and anime that is so different from Western comics that appeals to both collectors and children alike.

The industry of Japanese cartoons supports museums, festivals and competitions. These events showcase the prominent originators of Japanese cartooning and the emerging artists to watch.

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