10th Thought: Linguistic Truth about Anime and Manga

You, my dear reader! Have you ever heard of anime and manga? How about cartoons and comics? Well I know for sure you do. How about anime? Manga? I know some of you answered a yes and for some, no. How about the popping up discussions and photos about the difference between anime vs. cartoons and manga vs. comics? I know I ask too many questions and maybe you're already curious about it. Don't worry because I will reveal to you the truth.



As one of the anime and manga (let's shorten this as AnM throughout this post) enthusiasts around the globe, I have encountered a lot of discussions about the difference between anime vs. cartoons and manga vs. comics. Most AnM enthusiasts believe that anime and manga are different from cartoons and comics (let's call them the con group). Some believe they are the same (this is now the pro group). But I tell you, my dear readers: YES, they are the same!

I do not intend to hurt the feelings of those who are in the con group nor do I intend to break on what you believe in. I myself believed the same concept way back when I was a little girl but I came to a realization after some time. This realization came to me when I was studying primary Nihongo, the Japanese language, using a game software in Nintendo DS entitled My Japanese Coach: Learn a New Language. It said that the term "anime" is the equivalent Japanese term for cartoons and the term "manga" for comics. All cartoons and comics, regardless of where it originated and what the art style is, are considered anime and manga in Japan respectively.

Despite that, I understand that the con group's opinion is that AnM are from Japan and cartoons and comics are from America or Europe or whatever country uses the terms (not that knowledgeable). Also, they claim that AnM are way cooler, more awesome and more impressive, and has better art style than cartoons and comics. I once believed in those too. I even had those stuff explained to anyone who badmouths AnM.

My motive in this post is that I hope this post would make people understand things. I want those discussions to lessen because they make people argue to the extent that the people involved make the discussion personal, and eventually, think negatively about the opposing side. We believe that there should be world peace and unity, but if we strongly argue on little matters like this and hate each other just because of things like this, how can we attain the peace and unity that we dream of?