Animanga
| Synonyms: | anime/manga, manganime |
| See also: | anime, manga, otaku |
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Animanga is an umbrella term used by fans to refer to anime and manga at the same time, particularly in the context of a single, large, combined fandom.
Almost all anime series originate as manga, and many fans of one medium are also fans of the other. When a manga series is adapted into anime form, fans of the manga source and fans of the anime source are part of the fandom of the general series together. Due to this there is so much overlap between fans of anime and fans of manga that it is difficult in many circumstances to say where one fandom ends and the other begins.
Due to the large amount of overlap, this article addresses fandom characteristics shared by both the anime and manga fandoms.
"Animanga"
The word 'animanga' itself can be controversial in fandom. Many fans feel that, like Japanimation, it's a sign of an outsider who doesn't know the community. Others feel that "anime fandom" is sufficient to describe fandom of anime and manga and other stuff. On the other hand, some fans prefer the term because they prefer manga to anime or their favorite manga have no anime equivalents, so they don't feel like a part of "anime fandom".[1]
Japanese Word Usage
Animanga fans commonly use Japanese-language terms for fannish concepts. Some of these words correspond neatly with concepts, terms, and categories familiar to members of Western media fandom, while others are subtly different and even completely unfamiliar and unique. Fans may use Japanese terms instead of corresponding English ones to denote the unique aesthetics, tropes, cliches, and styles associated with anime and manga. It may also be to signify that the work is derived from an anime or manga source.
For instance, the term "yaoi" used by animanga fans may correspond roughly to the "slash" genre used by fans of Western media, but yaoi has unique connotations not found in slash. Though there is overlap between the genres, the differences are pronounced enough that fans may prefer one over the other exclusively.
Many other institutions of animanga fandom exist in the same separate-but-parallel fashion with regard to Western media fandom. It is uncommon to see animanga terms applied to Western media fandom, but terms from the latter are still occasionally applied to animanga fanworks.
Fandom
German
While there have been anime on German, Austrian and Swiss television for decades already, people usually didn't connect them to Japan. Series such as Heidi (Arupusu no shōjo Haiji) or Nils Holgerson (Nirusu no fushigi na tabi) were based on European literature and although they accompanied an entire generation of children and teenagers who still fondly remember them decades later, they were seen as Western comic series. Only with the airing of series such as Sailor Moon, Mila Superstar or Dragon Ball in the 90s, fans started to increasingly take note of their favourite series' origins. Comic publishers delved into this new market and began printing manga with big success, and within a few years the German speaking animanga fandom exploded.
Communities
- http://animexx.de/ (Germany, association for animanga)
- http://www.animanga.at/ (Austria, association for animanga)
- http://www.rising-sun-productions.org/ (Switzerland, association for fans of Japanese pop-culture and entertainment)
- ConimationWiki, a Wiki based Wiki about German animanga conventions, fan meet-ups and fannish show groups
Conventions
- http://www.animania.de/animagic.html (AnimagiC, Bonn - Germany)
- http://www.connichi.de/ (Connichi, Kassel - Germany)
- http://www.aninite.at/ (AniNite, Vienna - Austria)
- http://www.japanimanga-night.ch/ (JapAniManga Nite, Winterthur - Switzerland)
Some conventions were discontinued, such as the Bishounen Con (yaoi convention, Germany) or the Shuumatsu (Germany).
Zines
- Animangl (it's unclear if this was actually published)