Manga is a Japanese word meaning “comic” or “cartoon.” There are many different types of manga, including shonen manga, which is about action-packed battles and adventure. Shonen manga is popular in Japan and has been exported worldwide.
The manga genres explained is a blog post that explains the different types of manga. There are many different types of manga, but they all have something in common.
Anime and manga include a wide range of genres. Action, adventure, fantasy, sports, music, mystery, horror, thriller, psychological, and many more genres may be found here. The world of Japanese entertainment appeals to me the most because of its multi-colored dynamism, and this specific art form is no exception. Because there are so many various kinds of manga available nowadays, choosing what to read may be difficult.
You are inundated with so many manga categories and manga genres every time you open a manga reader app or browse through manga reading websites that you sit there for a good few minutes choosing what you are in the mood for today. These applications and websites provide you with an abundance of various manga genres from which to choose.
If you’re new to the world of manga, read our article on how to read manga for a detailed explanation of how manga panels operate and how to learn to read them.
What will this article teach you?
In this post, I’ll walk you through various manga categories, as well as the four manga demographics, and explain what they’re all about. I may not be able to include all of the many kinds of manga out there due to a word restriction, but this list should give you a good sense of the various manga variants that exist if you are just getting started in this field.
So take a seat and prepare to be transported through the different kinds of manga available to satisfy your inner geek!
Demographics and the Different Types of Manga
Manga Shonen
Shonen is more of a manga demographic than a genre. The term ‘Shonen’ or ‘Shounen’ literally means ‘few years’ and is used to describe a young guy, typically between the ages of elementary and high school. Shonen manga is mainly aimed towards this demographic and covers a variety of genres such as action, adventure, fantasy, and so on.
A typical Shonen manga has a young male protagonist with a specific purpose and desire, and he is battling against all obstacles to achieve that objective. Action and emotion-packed moments, a lot of fighting, flashback scenes, light humor, and fantastical elements are common in these comics.
One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball, Jujutsu Kaisen, and others are examples of Shonen manga.
It’s a Manga
This is likewise a manga demographic, with teenage and young adult males as the primary target audience. Although the term ‘Seinen’ means ‘youth,’ older males love these kinds of comics as well. Seinen manga tales include greater violence, gore, and psychological themes, which are often marketed to adult audiences. Although nudity and sexual material are common in these kinds of comics, they are not required in Seinen manga.
Seinen manga includes titles such as Berserk, Ghost in the Shell, Hellsing, Initial D, Mushishi, Tokyo Ghoul, and more.
Shojo Manga (Japanese Manga) is a
Shojo manga is mostly targeted towards young female readers. Shojo is a Japanese term that means “young girl.” Shojo manga, like Shonen manga, is aimed towards females aged ten to eighteen.
Love, romantic connections, and interpersonal interactions are all important topics in Shojo comics. However, just because these comics are focused on gentler topics doesn’t mean they don’t include action-packed scenes or exciting plots. The protagonist is typically a young girl who is relatable to the intended audience.
Boys’ Love manga, commonly known as shonen-ai, is a sub-genre of these kinds of manga that deals with love relationships between males. Maid Sama!, Fruits Basket, Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, Vampire Knight, Ouran Highschool Host Club, Kiss Him, Not Me!, Horimiya, My Little Monster, and others are some examples of manga in this genre.
Josei Manga is a Japanese manga artist.
Josei is Seinen’s female equivalent, and it is aimed towards young adult and older female viewers between the ages of 18 and 40. The primary themes of these comics include a more mature and less idealized depiction of love relationships and life in general.
Josei manga typically depicts adult women going about their daily lives, and the relationships shown in this genre are less idealized and more realistic, as opposed to Shojo comics, which are over-the-top and highly dramatic.
Darker topics such as violence and infidelity are sometimes addressed in Josei comics. These mangas often include sexually graphic scenes as well as romantic interactions between males. Josei manga has recently expanded to incorporate action and adventure-packed stories comparable to Shounen manga.
Josei Manga include Chihayafuru, Nodame Cantabile, 07-Ghost, Wotakoi, Honey and Clover, Nana, and Paradise Kiss, to name a few.
Manga Types by Genre
Manga about sports
In the realm of manga, this is a very popular genre. Soccer, volleyball, ice skating, basketball, swimming, and skateboarding are just a few examples of sports manga. Typically, the narrative is told through the eyes of a protagonist who aspires to be the best at the sport depicted in the manga. The plot focuses upon the protagonist’s backstory, character development, interpersonal connections, and psychology, as well as the introduction of many additional side characters and their tales later in the novel.
Captain Tsubasa, Haikyu!, Kuroko no Basuke, High Speed!, Sk8 the Infinity, Hajime no Ippo, Slam Dunk, The Prince of Tennis, and other sports comics are examples.
Manga with a witty tone
In general, comedy is a very popular genre in the world of fiction. This is also true in the case of manga. Comedy manga is entertaining, lighthearted, hilarious, and clever. Comedy manga may now represent the classic Japanese Manzai style (with a Tsukkomi, the straight guy, and Boke, the funny man), dark humor, adult humor, and so on. Wordplays, repeated puns, clever quips, and other elements are common in comedy manga.
Gintama, Yotsuba To!, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Kaguya Sama: Love Is War, Asobi Asobase, Sakamoto Desu Ga, The Way of the Househusband, and others are examples of this kind of manga.
Manga (music)
Music, you guessed it, is the primary subject of these kinds of comics. The majority of music comics revolves on individuals that are passionate about music and are attempting to accomplish their musical objectives. The primary plot may include character romance, drama, humor, and so on. I think that music manga would appeal to all music lovers and enthusiasts because they will be able to identify with the characters’ passion for music.
Given, Nodame Cantabile, K-On!, Nana, Your Lie in April, Forest of Piano, Kids on the Slope, Uta no Prince Sama, Mashiro no Oto, Solanin, Seishun Pop!, BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, and others are some of my favorite music comics.
Manga with a horror theme
Horror manga’s whole plotlines revolve on gloomy, morbid, and macabre themes. These are the kinds of comics that will give you chills and make you jump out of your skin! As a horror fan, I’ve always loved this subgenre of manga. And a select mangakas, like as Junji Ito and Kazuo Umezu, take this genre to new heights with their work.
Uzumaki, Gyo, Parasyte, Gantz, Tomie, Homunculus, Elfen Lied, Another, Dorohedoro, The Drifting Classroom, Cat-Eyed Boy, God’s Left Hand Devil’s Right Hand, Manhole, Ajin, Heads, Attack on Titan, Goth, and others are some of the finest manga in this genre.
It may be tough to decide which kind of manga to read. I hope that this guide has provided you with some insight into the many kinds of manga available so that you can choose what to read depending on your own tastes. If you like sports, every manga reading site or app will include a sports category where you may discover a manga with a narrative that interests you. You may do the same whether you like comedies or action movies. There are a slew of new manga download sites popping up all the time. These sites allow you to not only read but also download all of your favorite manga! You only need to install manga downloader software on your PC, smartphone, or tablet to get started.
I should also point out that in addition to the manga genres I’ve listed, there are many more. Manga may be found in genres such as mystery, psychological thriller, rom-com, and so on. Genres may even cross across at times. A manga that has been classified as one genre (for example, sports) may have elements of other genres (comedy, romance) woven within the plot. This adds to the manga’s intrigue and enjoyment of reading. When you begin reading a manga, regardless of genre, you will undoubtedly get engrossed in it and will not be able to put it down until you have completed it. So go to any site or app and choose a manga that suits your tastes and start reading right away!
Manga are a popular form of Japanese comic books. The popular anime genres are shounen, seinen, and shojo manga.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there different types of manga?
What are the four genres of manga?
Shonen, Seinen, Josei, and Shojo.
What is shonen and shojo?
Shonen and shojo are Japanese genres of manga.
Related Tags
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