By Rebecca Gilbert, Onondaga County Public Library. (Rebecca Gilbert is a children's and young adult librarian at the Central Library.)
Many kids love all things Japanese.
They especially love "anime," or animated movies from Japan, and "manga," comic-style books that read right to left.
This list is for parents whose children already love anime, for parents who are looking for something to interest reluctant readers, and for anyone who wants to read or watch some of the best stories out there. All can be found in the OCPL online catalog at www.onlib.org.
"Rurouni Kenshin," by Nobuhiro Watsuki. This is a popular series set in the Meiji period of Japanese history, about a wandering samurai who used to be an assassin. He now regrets the lives he took and roams Japan trying to atone.
"Full Metal Alchemist," by Hiromu Arakawa. This story is about two young boys who are trying to bring their mother back to life using alchemy. It could just as easily be a fable about any scientific advancement that has led to devastation.
"Naruto," by Masashi Kishimoto. Uzumaki Naruto is a boy with an eventful past who is training to be a ninja. Shonen manga is written especially for boys and contains big fights and humorous plots.
"Dragonball" and "Dragonball Z," by Akira Toriyama. These related series are prime examples of shonen manga. Goku is the main character throughout the series, although his son Gohan shares the spotlight in "Dragonball Z." A recurring theme is the redemption of evil through friendship.
"Sailor Moon," by Naoko Takeuchi. "Shojo," the Japanese word for girl, also refers to a type of manga/anime written specifically for young girls, of which "Sailor Moon" may be the most popular. Junior high student Usagi Tsukino discovers she is actually a princess, and she uses her newfound powers to battle with her friends against the forces of evil.
