How To Write Anime In Japanese

Reasons Why Anime Is Popular In Japan

Out of numerous reasons, one reason that anime and manga have stood the test of time is their potential to influence viewers.

The storylines and characters are real, and so are their problems. And because of its visual freedom, producers can make these narratives seem larger than life.

In the words of a famous anime expert, Takamasa Sakurai: the unique genre is loved due to its unconventional nature. Hence, anime has killed the idea that only kids watch cartoons.

Anime is not just targeted at kids it is made for older viewers. And this is highlighted by the heady narratives, nudity , gore, violence, and distressing themes.

Most international viewers and fans love anime because of its hard to predict endings that come with captivating storylines.

Other than that, a few more reasons make anime so significantly important in Japanese Culture. But you will only understand them when you start watching.

How To Write Anime

Writing anime isnt that different from writing comics, so apart from the things that I have explained in the previous sections, there isnt anything thats extra special in the writing process.

Im not going to give you a blueprint straight out of Japan, but Im pretty sure that the steps Im about to illustrate will be quite helpful.

And I have made so many assumptions to give me a picture of who my audiences are.

One of them is that youve chosen the Manga route because you dont have the financial muscle to produce and market your own anime. But Im going to try my best to write the steps so relatable to using Manga for anime adaption or straight writing anime scripts ready for the screens.

Heres how you go about writing anime:

Drill Each Anime Episode Into Your Brain

I almost called this section Shadowing, because thats essentially what Im talking about here.

Shadowing refers to mimicking the sounds of native speakers in order to memorize vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and become an all-around more incredible person.

This is as easy as picking out a few bits of your chosen anime episodes audio, then listening to it over and over and over again, trying to copy the voices tone, pace, and intonation.

Just because you can understand something in Japanese does not mean that youre physically or mentally able to say it yourself. Shadowing is one way to bridge this divide.

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Why Should I Learn Japanese

First, its important to get motivated to learn Japanese, and what better way than to talk about some of the big benefits of learning the language.

On your journey to learn how to speak Japanese, motivation is your fuel, and youll need plenty of it!

1. Learning Japanese will improve your memory, concentration and self-discipline: If you can conquer the Japanese language, then you can learn just about any other language. The learning skills and habits that you pick up while studying Japanese equip you with everything you need to tackle other foreign languages as well.

It goes without saying that youll be learning one of the worlds most valuable languages but youll also be training your self-discipline, memory, and ability to think logically.

2. Japan has a rich culture and a thriving economy: Of course, learning Japanese also comes with more concrete benefits. Japan is one of the cultural centres of the world, with one of the largest economies as well. Its commonly considered one of the safest places in the world to live and the standard of living is very high.

If you wish to travel to Japan, a command of the language can enrich your experience and provide you access to cultural and historical knowledge that might not necessarily be available in English!

These are just a few of the major benefits of learning Japanese! Along the way, you are sure to find many more! Youll develop reasons that are more personal to you and these will come to be your strongest motivators.

Anime’s Influence On Japans Culture

In Japan, anime dominates pop culture. In contrast, the West only views it as a new form of entertainment.

For instance, Japan’s colossal pop culture includes music, video games, local Japanese cuisine, cinemas, and TV. And anime finds its way into all of this.

It goes side by side with all these entertainment categories and, this is something only seen in Japan and not the rest of the world.

Additionally, most of Japan’s pop culture segments can also trace their origins to Japanese art.

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When Should You Learn It

On day one.

Hiragana is the first Japanese alphabet that you should learn because it represents all of the Japanese syllables! And it should take you about a week or less to learn all 46 characters. At least, college classes spend up at a week on Hiragana

In schools, Japanese children will first learn hiragana so that they can put their words on paper and start reading books. Manga or books for children are often completely written in hiragana so that it can be read at a young age.

• Review:

Now, here are some Katakana examples.

• Coffee
• Business
• Ice cream
• Ramen
• Macaron
• Bread

When is Katakana used?

So, whats the deal with Katakana? Why is there Katakana if you have Hiragana with the same exact sounds?

Well, Hiragana is for Japanese words.

And Katakana is mainly used to express words from other languages. Words like ice cream and ramen. As you can see in the example words above, all of their word origins come from another language. So with katakana, its possible to incorporate foreign words into Japanese. New words in katakana are constantly added and created from other languages!

Also, if you were to translate your name into Japanese, youd have to write it in Katakana.

Katakana is also used to write onomatopeia, scientific terms, and you may also see it in advertising to catch attention.

Learning Japanese By Singing Anime Songs

Otaku culture has been a constant companion on my path to learning Japanese. I grew up in a provincial town where there werent any Japanese teachers, so took my first steps in learning the language on my own when I was about 13 or 14. The first kana syllabary I learned was not hiragana but katakana. That was the script the Pokémon characters names were written in. My knowledge of English helped me here, as a lot of the Japanese names were inspired by English words.

My biggest help in learning hiragana came from anime songs. As a digital native, my first step was to go online, where I found a chart showing the 50 sounds of the hiragana syllabary with their pronunciation given in alphabetical romanization. I downloaded the video for the Pokémon theme song and typed the Japanese lyrics into a Word file as they showed up on screen, looking them up on the chart and matching them against the rmaji pronunciations.

Whenever a kanji came up, I would type it in Chinese. Then I printed out my homemade lyrics sheet and started singing along. Before long, I had memorized most of the hiragana characters. I picked up the Japanese pronunciations for some of the kanji in the lyrics, learning words like kimi , suki , shnen and monogatari . I started to watch anime in the original version rather than dubbed into Chinese, and fell in love with the sounds of the Japanese words.

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Listen To Your Chosen Anime

Pick a couple of your favorite episodes, then use a free program like TAudioConverter to rip the audio off of anime video files.

Then you can put that anime onto your mobile device and listen to it 18,000 times per week.

Play it while you go for walks. Play it while you drive to work or school. Play it while youre in bed trying to fall asleep. Let that Japanese goodness soak deep into your brain.

Speaking of which

Japanese Society Promotes Being Lovable And Cute

What is Japanese anime, if not adorable? In Japan, the cultural phenomenon, Kawaii, is defined by the nation’s obsession with cuteness.

Pretty, cute, loveable, and adorable is the indefinite translation of Kawaii. It refers to things and people that are innocent, shy, childlike, vulnerable, and charming.

For instance, specific genres of manga and famous anime characters are known to be kawaii. This includes Hello Kitty, Pikachu, and Doraemon.

The Kawaii culture is closely related to Japan’s strong, unshakeable appreciation regarding specific genres of manga and anime.

An anime could show the bloodiest, goriest of scenes and then follow it up with a cute bunny-like creature making a tiny pot of tea. This hot and cold narrative is also what attracts viewers.

However, it does not just conclude with manga and anime. The Kawaii culture also rules over clothing, food, toys, and other items in Japan.

Besides, we can also see the Kawaii culture having an influence over etiquettes and even personal impressions.

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What Makes Anime So Special

Most anime fans can sum this up in two words: “It’s different.” Anime is as unlike most American cartoons like “Batman” and “Spider-Man” are different from the comics that run in daily papers. These differences show up in many ways including the artwork storytelling, breadth of material and even cultural nuances exhibited by the characters.

Anime art styles range from the flamboyant and outlandish in shows like “Samurai Champloo” and ” FLCL” to the simple and direct in shows like “Azumanga Daioh!.“ That said, even shows with more “basic” artwork can still be visually striking. Anime has this way of making everything look fresh and new.

It doesn’t shy away from epic storylines, either, which often run for dozens of episodes. The best anime, though, no matter what their length, all demand great emotional involvement from the viewer.

The sheer range of anime shows out there means a fan of most any other kind of TV or movie can find an anime series that mirrors its style. For fans of hard science fiction, the show “Planetes” would be perfect for you romantic comedy fans will love “Fruits Basket” while crimefighting lovers will enjoy “Ghost in the Shell.” There are even adaptations of classical literature like “The Count of Monte Cristo.”

Anime Of Anime And Anime

Period 1/4 History of AnimeManga and anime are a huge part in American and the Japanese culture. Anime and Manga were once used for war, propaganda, and recruitment, but is now used for entertainment and leisure. Anime was not just created by one man but by many working together. Anime has had a long line of history causing it to become more and more loved throughout the years. It not only caused Japan a great deal of money and working jobs but it also influenced more people

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Difference Between Hiragana And Katakana

Yes, both represent the same exact sounds. Theyre different versions of the same thing.

So, youre wondering why learn 2 different things if they mean the same? Well

The difference between Hiragana and Katakana is

• Usage. As you learned above, Katakana is used for words that were borrowed from foreign languages, for foreign names, for scientific terms and advertisements. To keep it simple, just remember that Katakana is ONLY used for words of foreign origin. This is the main difference and why you need to learn both.

Now, to help you tell the difference between Hiragana and Katakana they differ in terms of looks.

• Looks. Hiragana and Katakana look a bit different from each other. To keep it simple, remember that Katakana has a bit of a sharper appearance whereas Hiragana is more curvier.

So now, you know the difference between hiragana and katakana.

Anime And Manga Of Anime

Anime and Manga According to Stewart , “Japanese culture is becoming increasingly popular within Western society, particularly anime, cosplay and games. In the comic world of Japan, comic books are called manga, and anime means that animation cartoon. Manga is a visual narrative to gratify readers through the capability of its plot and characters, and many animation, movie and computer game stories are from manga. In the academic and art fields, fan culture, the majority of visual images

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Resources To Learn Japanese Online

There is a very wide variety of materials available for helping English speakers learn Japanese online. So, to close out this article, Im going to provide you with a nice list of resources to help you along the way.

Get Started With Japanese

• Already know some Japanese or want to get started? I recommend Japanese Uncovered which teaches you to speak Japanese through the power of story. This comprehensive beginner programme teaches you Japanese through a fun and natural method that makes learning a pleasure, and grammar a breeze! Get started now with a FREE 7-day trial!

Learn How To Speak Japanese

• italki This is my favourite website for finding teachers and affordable tutors to help practise my Japanese. I use italki literally every day to get that all-important speaking practice that helps me stay fluent.

Japanese Audio For Listening Practice

• Conversations Do you struggle to understand fast, spoken Japanese? Conversations helps you understand real Japanese & transform your listening skills in less than 90 days.

Learn & Practice The Japanese Writing System

My Jewelry Box Of Words

As my Japanese improved, I gradually came to feel that J-Pop and ordinary anime songs were no longer meeting my needs. The lyrics of J-Pop songs all seemed to consist of the same repeated words and phrases, as if they had been assembled by template from the same limited stock. The grammatical structures were limited too, mostly drawing on sentence patterns that a student would be expected to master before reaching level 3 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test . I wanted to enrich my vocabulary, and these songs with their meager lexicon started to lose their appeal. It was around this time that I encountered Sound Horizon.

The groups music exposed me for the first time to the full riches of Japanese vocabulary. Their lyrics contained many new kanji and terms, and regularly featured the sentence patterns I was studying at levels 2 and 1 of the JLPT. With every song I heard, I experienced the joy of immersing myself in a flood of new words, and my vocabulary soon became richer and far more nuanced.

I have my own little theory about writing. People often claim that the best writers are those who can express deep ideas in simple language that anyone can understand. I am not sure I agree. A writer is like a deep-sea fish, a dweller of the deep who swims freely across wide oceans of words if that fish is confined to a small, shallow pond, it will be stifled for air and quickly die. The more linguistic tools a writer has at her disposal, the better, as far as I am concerned.

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When Is Japanese Romaji Used

As you can see, romaji makes it easier to read the writing for those unfamiliar with Japanese characters. Although all Japanese people learn and know this system of writing in school, it is not used as a replacement for the traditional Japanese characters.

Who uses Romaji? Its commonly used so foreigners can read the train stops and signs. Its also used as a method for typing Japanese on the computer. In addition, most Japanese language textbooks use romaji to accompany the Japanese characters. This way, the learner doesnt have to question how the words and sentences sound.

Should you learn Romaji? Technically, you already know romaji, so no.

• Review
• Romaji is Japanese written in the Latin alphabet (these very same letters youre reading now.
• Romaji is mainly used for foreigners and learners to make reading easier. Japanese people have no need to write Japanese words in Romaji.

Now, lets move on to the rest of the Japanese writing systems.

Summary Of How To Write In Japanese

So youve made it to the end!

See I told you it wasnt that bad! Lets recap what weve covered.

Ordinary written Japanese employs a mixture of three scripts:

• Kanji, or Chinese characters, of which there are officially 2,136 in daily use
• 2 syllabic alphabets called hiragana and katakana, containing 42 symbols each

In special cases, such as childrens books or simplified materials for language learners, you might find everything written using only hiragana or katakana.

But apart from those materials, everything in Japanese is written by employing the three scripts together. And its the kanji which represent the cultural and linguistic challenge in the Japanese language.

If you want to become proficient in Japanese you have to learn all three!

Although it seems like a daunting task, remember that there are many people before you who have found themselves right at the beginning of their journey in learning Japanese.

And every journey begins with a single step.

So what are you waiting for?

The best place to start is to enrol in Japanese Uncovered. The course includes a series of lessons that teach you hiragana, katakana and kanji. It also includes an exciting Japanese story which comes in different formats so you can practice reading Japanese, no matter what level you’re at right now.

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Sort Out Your Plot And Start Writing

Once youre done with the main characters and have sorted all the important points in your story, create the storyline, and begin writing.

The best way to start an anime is with a scene that wins your audienceit doesnt matter whether you start writing this scene or not, just make sure you start with a juicy scene. Then quieten the story a bit, let your audience know the characters and their average life.

Afterward, you start to stir the story again, you throw in big or powerful enemies in there and let your main characters face challenges until the story reaches the climax.

Usually, the climax is a fight scene and the main characters, a scene or set of events during which the main characters defeat a monstrous foe.

Then theres the resolution, the part that cues in normality and life after the turmoil.

When writing Anime, write it the same way youd write a play. Put a colon after the characters name, then write down specific actions within asterisks, and their words in quotes

For example:

Naruto: I have to go there.

Shin: *nods in approval and starts following Naruto* Lets go together.

When writing a scene, Write about 5-10 lines describing what happens in that scene. In the end, when you read through, it should sound like a summary of the whole anime.

Make sure you make your writing as graphic as possible, add notes about the things the voice actor would have to take.