Manga Anime
When people find out what I do, they say things that make no sense to me. They say they have nothing to say to young people, then claim they don’t know anything. Well I’m here to say they do know things, and sometimes know more than the people who are teaching them. As I found out a lot of my student have a love for Anime and Manga. It allowed me to reflect on my love the topic, and why in 2025 it lead to me returning to it, and me loving the whole thing. It was like been a teenager again.
My history with anime is properly the same for any millennial. We cut our teeth on Pokémon, it was a natural extension of the games and cards. This little cartoon was my opening and many others eyes to this medium called Anime. Then we got more. If we’re lucky to have Sky or cable (remember that?) we had Toonami which allowed us to watch various different Anime. While those without got all the same just later. Dragon Ball Z being a popular one, that everyone seem to know young and old. While there are others I still remember, that some don’t have any idea about, Gundam Wing, Techi Muyo and much forgotten Digimon - a person favorite of mine.
When I later found out a lot of these series were based on comics (Manga) it very much was in my wheel house. It was just another way to see these characters and entertain myself. While also noticing how their difference between the two different mediums. Such as, design, characters and story. Even find out that some video games had expanded their stories and words in manga, which were Japanese only, which sucked, but it never stopped my interest.
So what happened with my interest in anime and manga over the last 20 years or so? Well a lot really, I got into an anime my brother was watching called Bleach, I collected a few volumes, watched all the episodes, up till where the show was at the time (114 or something). There would always be a series that would catch my eye when I was walking in Forbidden Planet, or going down some random rabbit hole on YouTube. However, we all know what got me back into the whole thing as an adult, one my first STAN post, BL.
BL was the way I started to think about anime and manga again. As I found out a lot of the BL were based on a manga series, so naturally, I wanted to see what changes were made, and what changed. Then I started to think about all the other things I used to watch. While also just picking up random short series, and seeing that older series were being remade. When I saw that Sailor Moon was going to be remade, i was like, “I’m doing to watch that!” I didn’t as I couldn’t find the subs, but i said i would. I did watch the odd series here and there, when I could. it was only when I got into Education that I did decide to really commit, but it came at a price.
As much as I love walking into any book store, and I can see a graphic novel section, there is a lot. I mean a lot. Sometimes I just look at some the title, and think this looks cool. How many volumes of this are there? I can see volume 1, and volume 36. That’s too much. Okay, well has it been made into a anime yet? No, dam! Yes, it not got an official English sub. Okay, I’ve got to keep an eye out for that in the future. I didn’t. That was the cycle i found myself in when I was thinking about getting into newer stuff. However, i now know it is more simple.
After starting my Comic Book Manga Club with my students. It allowed them to be the manga part, and I allowed myself to be the comic book part. However, as time went on they would talk about all these series I’ve seen or heard off, and i would be completely lost in their conversations. I still have no idea who they are talking about half the time. It just means I’m listening to their conversations and learning. What series are good, what are weird, and what is just generally good. I would also like to say they are not only just watching the anime, they are reading the manga as well. As any English teacher this makes me happy reading is happen. However, most are watching the dub, so still reading. The main thing i learned is anime has changed. It is no longer one episode every week. Some shows have seasons. 12-14 episodes easy to digest. Which lead me to ease myself into some series that are i feel that’s pretty great.
One of the series my students recommend to me was DanDaDan. Which i had seen on Netflix but I had no idea what it was about, as it looked weird. When i was told it was about aliens and demons, I give it ago. Three volumes later I’m sold. Spy x Family was similar thing that was recommended, I like James Bond and other spy genre media. Can confirm that is a good series. While i have also picked up other things that are classic like Naturto, since we did the TMNT crossover. Now I have a nice little collection of a few series that do not have 20 volumes yet, so it will be easy for me to keep up with.
What I’m going to do is, keep up with reading Manga, and then watching the anime. If it is a series i can read, i will, but if the series is on like volume 100 and something, I think anime might be the way. Like the amount of times I’ve been told to watch One Piece. That too far gone for me to read and watch. What I’m going to do their is read the first 3 volumes, then stick to the live action adaption. Is the best way? Maybe not, but that’s my only solution as I don’t have enough time to sink into it.
Last year my goal was the read 12 graphic novels and I can I successful did so, mostly manga, but it was still good. For 2026 i am going to double that to 24. Simply because I want to see where these series are going, and i can say at time of writing, I have already 2 volumes and looking forward to expanding into other series. While also keep my ears open to the things my students talk about. So when that not new anime comes out I know what it is. While also going back and enjoying the series I liked over 25 years ago.
