Manga, anime catching on
Local librarian helps form clubs
By Christine Wallgren, Globe Correspondent | May 25, 2006
Manga and anime , Japanese print comics and cartoon animation, have been around for more than 50 years , but it’s only in the last five that they have made it big time into the American mainstream, particularly among teenagers. They seem to be the rage south of Boston as well.
Librarians in Duxbury and Norwell have responded to public demand by establishing manga and anime clubs that meet regularly. Others in Weymouth , Whitman, and West Bridgewater are building up their graphics collections, including manga comics and anime DVDs, and looking into establishing clubs of their own.
The local interest is likely to peak when Anime Boston 2006 , the fourth annual anime convention in Boston, is held over the Memorial Day weekend.
For a long time, interest in manga and anime “was more of an underground movement,” said Lexington librarian Robin Brenner , who has made manga and anime her area of expertise. She has created a website called noflyingnotights.com and is writing a book. She frequently visits libraries to give presentations and help get new clubs off the ground.
