Identity crisis?
January 1st, 2006 by lady-nerwenI thought of something……
In Malaysia, manga-ka and anime are rapidly becoming more and more popular with kids and teens, even adults alike. Comic
magazine in the japanese style mushrooms all over the bookstore, mamak stalls, kopitiams, everywhere. It is ironic because
several years later, anime and manga is not a big time as it is now. Now Naruto, Bleach, Death Note are some of the popular
animes that hit worldwide fame. To me, it’s a good thing, because we are exposed to the cultures and various styles and
techniques of another country. I am a little sad though, that this phenomenon is incresingly taken hold of our younger
generation. I did not notice this until i went to the comic fiesta last year. The moment i stepped into the hall, i feel like
i’m in Japan, which is to say i’m actually in Malaysia. I see animes and manga-kas all over the place. Students and artists
having the same japanese strokes, anime styles. I could not find anything of a varient there. Means, there are no different
style than just anime. But i thought it was supposed to be a comic convention. What about the other artists who have a
different approach? That was when i realised, we have a serious problem with identity. We are too sucked into the phenomenon,
that we could not find out own identities anymore. I was sucked into it too once, but i managed to wake up in time. Just
imagine, from booth to booth, you have different doujinshis (fan comic) all with the same style. Isn’t it weird? Big eyes,
pointy chin, elaborate customes, everyone trying to talk japanese (ba… =_=). I’m not saying it’s bad for your healtt. And
then i went to this comic magazine launch, also manga-ka. They invited some big shots in the cartooning industry. Some of
them i met before. I remembereed the speech one of them said, something like… "Although the strokes are japanese, but they
are trying to retain the malaysian value in it, whihc is a good thing." Huuuumm……. I dunno… it just doesn’t sound rite.
You already know malaysians don’t wear skimpy dresses and short skirts to school. You already know they don’t eat sushi, they
drink teh tarik at a mamak stall. You already know they don’t talk japanese unless they are really a japanophile. So….
what’s the big deal? At this point, i am trying to rediscover my old roots, my strokes, my style that i had a few years back,
before i got caught in the anime kraze. I’m working as hard as i could to discover the fieza style. And i’m happy everyone is
supporting me. They said the same thing, they are getting sick and tired of people copying other people’s style. It’s weird
coz i do tell them that i don’t have a malaysian style. Then, they said it’s ok because at least i am doing it in my own
style and i have made some names in the US. Wow.. they’re awesome. Even one of my frien said, she is trying to break free
from the anime style. For a teen, she is very wise in her decision.
So what i’m trying to say to artists and would-be artists out there, try to discover your own style. It might take a few
years, but it’s worth a shot. Hey, Inoue Takehiko has his own style. When you see his drawings, even if he’s not drawing Slam
Dunk, you know it’s him. Coz his style speaks for him. And i want to do exactly that. And Jill Thompson? She’s versatile. She
can do it in an anime style, manga style, western style. She’s my hero. But hey i still like anime and manga, don’t get me
wrong….. :p Heck i’m downloading Slam Dunk episodes at this very moment neh! *bluek*
Gotta go! See ya! ^_^
<———– Donnie @ Ranger @ Caunardhon, wielder of the flame (cool eh? 
)
Neways i thought of getting a shower. Kui kui kui! (see how blank i am at this moment?) 
