Anime and Manga

In Japanese, the word "anime" simply refers to all animation. Outside of Japan, the term "anime" refers specifically to Japanese animation. Anime comes in a wide variety of genres and encompasses both film and television animation. It can be aimed at children, teens, or adult audiences.  "Manga," on the other hand, refers to Japanese comics and graphic novels. Manga is read from right to left and is also typically (but not exclusively) published in black and white. Manga is usually published chapter-by-chapter, either in print magazines or digitally (or both!), and then collected in tankobon volumes, which you can find on our library shelves. There are a wide variety of manga genres, and manga can be aimed at audiences of all ages.  There is often an overlap in content and style between anime and manga. A popular manga series may be animated and turned into an anime; likewise, a popular anime may receive a manga adaptation. The Free Library of Philadelphia offers anime DVDs, manga (print and digital editions), and manga how-to-draw books. Some locations also offer anime watch parties and other similar programs. Talk to your local librarian about what’s new at your branch!

Anime and Manga

Links

  • Anime Lyrics

    Readily searchable database of lyrics to anime theme music, soundtracks, and broader J-Pop releases. Cross-references titles in both Japanese and English and by performing artist. Lyrics can be viewed and printed in English, Kanji, and Romaji.

  • Anime News Network

    Great site for news and reviews of current and upcoming features, including a full media profile for manga, soundtracks, DVDs, and theatrical releases. Also includes news from broader Japanese pop media, blogs, a convention report, links to e-zines, and an anime and manga encyclopedia.

  • Rumic World

    Rumiko Takahashi has been called "The Princess of Manga," and this site celebrates her life and works in both manga and anime. Includes news, history, series overviews, and character profiles from such popular works as Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, and InuYasha, among others.

  • The Otaku

    Updated daily with news, fandom features, and a blog; free manga, art and wallpaper, an interactive art gallery for registered users, and loads of fun quizzes from favorite anime like, "What character are you?"

Manga - LGBT by FLPTeens

Boys run the riot. 1 cover
Welcome back, Aureole cover
A tropical fish yearns for snow. 1 cover
Adachi and Shimamura. 1 cover
The bride was a boy cover
My brother's husband. Volume 1 cover

View the full list

Manga - Single Volumes and Short Series by FLPTeens

Manga series can stretch for dozens and dozens and volumes, but these ones are short and easy to finish quickly.

The bride was a boy cover
Black torch. Volume 1 cover
Box of light. Vol. 1 cover
Mermaid scales and the town of sand cover
Nameless asterism. Vol. 1 / cover
Orange : the complete collection. 1 cover

View the full list

One piece. romance dawn Vol. 1, East Blue. Part 1, Romance dawn : cover

Manga - All the Big Hits (15 items)

These classic manga series have been popular for decades. Try these titles if you want to find out what all the hype is about!

Haikyu!! 1, Hinata and Kageyama cover

Manga - New and Popular (37 items)

New hits and popular classics from a variety of genres.

Beyblade metal fusion. Volume 1 cover

Anime and Manga - Anime Mania (13 items)

The latest, greatest anime.

Anime essentials : every thing a fan needs to know cover

Anime and Manga - Anime Essentials (5 items)

Favorite anime and manga-related books and series.

Miyazaki's Spirited away. 1 of 5 cover

Anime and Manga - Anime Classics Everyone Should See (21 items)

Anime on DVD.

Upcoming Events

Blog Posts

Teen Reads for Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month! Did you know that Women’s History Month has its roots in the struggle for workers’ rights? In 1908, women garment workers protested the poor working conditions inside factories. This…

Related Tags

Manga 101: Manga and Beyond at the Free Library

In our Manga 101 series , we’ve covered a lot of manga-related topics. We looked at some commonly asked questions , explored demographic categories , reviewed several popular manga genres, and discussed related types of media . In…

Related Tags

Manga 101: Related Concepts

In our Manga 101 series, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions , defined some common manga terms , and looked at some of the most popular manga genres found at the Free Library. This time, we’ll take a look at other…

Related Tags

Manga 101: Horror

In our last Manga 101 installments, we touched on romance and LGBTQIA+ themes in manga. This time, we’ll take a look at a new genre:  horror . Though the roots of manga can be traced back through centuries of Japanese art,…

Related Tags

Manga 101: BL, GL, and Beyond

In our previous Manga 101 installment, we covered romance manga. This time, we’ll take a look at two subgenres of romance manga (BL and GL), as well as some non-romantic LGBTQ+ manga.  BL BL is an abbreviation for Boys’…

Related Tags

Manga 101: Romance

Previous Manga 101 installments took a look at isekai and sports manga; this time, we’ll explore another popular genre of manga: romance .  From poignant stories of high school love to doomed romances with supernatural…

Related Tags

Manga 101: Sports

In the previous Manga 101 installment, we took a look at the manga genre known as isekai . Now, we’ll continue with an exploration of another popular manga genre: sports! Sports manga as a genre is precisely what it sounds like…

Related Tags

Manga 101: Isekai

One way of classifying manga is by demographic categories like shonen and shojo (for more information, check out the previous Manga 101 blog post ). However, manga can also be divided into genres of similar subject matter. While…

Related Tags

Manga 101: Demographic Categories

Manga is often published chapter-by-chapter in anthology magazines which are marketed towards particular audiences. Some magazines focus on specific genres of manga (like fantasy, romance, etc.) while others publish stories in a variety…

Related Tags

Manga 101: Answering Common Questions

Some of the most popular titles at the Field Teen Center are manga, or Japanese graphic novels. Manga includes a wide range of genres and art styles with more than 100 titles in our collections. Navigating it all can be overwhelming,…

Related Tags

ComicsPlus is Here!

Like comics? You're going to love this! Our newest electronic resources from ComicsPlus   bring thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga from a variety of library-friendly publishers for kids,…

Related Tags

Explore Creative Careers with Field Teen Center!

Throughout the month of July, Field Teen Center recorded interviews with a voice actor, four game designers, and a comic book writer. If you’re interested in creative jobs or if you just want to learn more about how your favorite…

Related Tags

What's New with LEAP?

Now that the new school year is up and running, LEAP would like to welcome students back to school! LEAP provides a safe and supportive afterschool environment for school-age patrons grades K – 12, complete with homework help,…

Related Tags

Explore a Mighty Manga-verse of Japanese Comics and Graphic Novels!

Whether you’ve been a fan for decades or are only now encountering them, manga —Japanese graphic novels—are an exciting comic form, incredibly varied in both artistic style and content. The Free Library has extensive…

Related Tags