Children's anime and manga facts for kids
Children's manga (子供向け漫画, kodomo-muke manga) and children's anime (子供向けアニメ, kodomo-muke anime) are types of manga (Japanese comics) and anime (Japanese animation) made especially for kids. These stories often teach important lessons about being good and making the right choices in life. Each part of the story, like a chapter or episode, usually tells a complete tale on its own.
Contents
The Story of Children's Anime and Manga
Children's manga, also called Kodomo manga, first appeared in the late 1800s. These were short comics, about 15 pages long, found in magazines. They were created during Japan's Meiji period to help young people learn to read. A very important moment for anime was when Astro Boy was created by Osamu Tezuka. Many people call him the "father of anime" because of his big influence.
Kodomo anime and manga can be put into four main groups:
Stories from Around the World
The first group includes anime and manga that are based on stories from Western countries. A good example is World Masterpiece Theater. Most of these are TV shows. Even though they were popular, they look more like older American or Soviet cartoons than typical Japanese anime.
Japanese Stories and Originals
The second group includes anime and manga that come from Japanese stories or are completely new. These often have funny wordplay and references to Japanese society. This can sometimes make them a bit harder for people who are not Japanese to understand. Doraemon is a famous example from this group.
Anime and Manga for Girls
The third group is called joji-muke (女児向け). These are manga and anime made just for young girls. A well-known example is Hello Kitty.
Connecting to Games and Toys
The fourth group is very popular and makes a lot of money. These anime and manga are often linked to popular video games and toy lines. They are quite similar to shōnen manga, which is for older boys.
Magazines like CoroCoro Comic and Comic BomBom are mostly for young boys, especially those in elementary school. But there are also magazines like Pucchigumi that are for young girls. When a kodomo manga becomes very popular, it often gets turned into an anime show. Then, lots of toys and other products are made based on the characters.
Awards for Children's Manga
Each year, special awards are given to the best children's manga. The Shogakukan Manga Award and the Kodansha Manga Award both have categories just for children's manga. The Shogakukan Manga Award first started giving an award for children's manga in 1981.
See also
In Spanish: Kodomo para niños
- Shōnen manga (for older boys)
- Shōjo manga (for older girls)
- Seinen manga (for adult men)
- Josei manga (for adult women)
- Myungrang manhwa (Korean comics for children)
