The main difference between light novel and manga is their formats. Light novels are like novellas with illustrations, while mangas are quite similar to western comic books. The stories in light novels are shorter and have a slower pace.
Both light novels and manga are stories with illustrations and have a Japanese origin. But they are not the same as they have different formats and audiences.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is a Light Novel
– Definition, Features
2. What is a Manga
– Definition, Features
3. Similarities Between Light Novel and Manga
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Light Novel and Manga
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Light Novel, Manga
What is a Light Novel
A light novel is a type of Japanese novel. These light novels target teenage and young adults in high schools and middle schools. Usually, light novels are shorter than regular novels, and there are around 300 pages per volume. Nevertheless, there are some exceptions too.
The origin of light novels began with pulp magazines in Japan. In order to attract an audience, most Japanese pulp magazines in Japan started to use illustrations, changing their designs from classical style to popular anime style. Therefore, one of the main characteristics of light novels is that they contain illustrations. Light novels are very popular in Japan. The Japanese term that is used for light novels in Japan is Raito noberu, or sometimes they use the abbreviations ranobe or rainobe. Light novels are simple and easy to read. Traditional light novels contain black and white illustrations. Nevertheless, today there are also light novels with colorful illustrations. Most of the time, illustrations appear on the first page or when a new character appears in the story. In the west, these light novels are referred to as Japanese novellas.
What is a Manga
Manga refers to Japanese comics or graphics novels. In the very beginning, they started manga as weekly or monthly chapters. Later, this format was changed into a book format, and they became very popular. Mangas usually come with black and white illustrations, but some also come with full-color illustrations.
Moreover, manga consists of panels, and the readers should read from left to right. It has to be started with the upper-right corner of the upper-right panel and read the panel from right to left. Most mangas consist of anime adaptions. When the manga gets translated, they seem to be read from back to front by non-Japanese readers. Even the panels are from back to front.
In Japan, people of all ages read the manga. There is no specific age range for manga. In addition, there are different genres of manga like comics, adventure, fantasy, romantic, business and commerce, horror, sports, drama, and history. There are translations of manga in many other different languages. There is a big audience for manga not only within Japan but also throughout the world. Generally, a manga artist works in a small studio. He may have few helpers and may have contacts with a creative editor from a commercial publishing company.
Similarities Between Light Novel and Manga
- Light novels and manga both originated in Japan, but today, they are very popular worldwide.
- Both light novels and manga have illustrations or anime within the story.
Difference Between Light Novel and Manga
Definition
Light novels are a type of Japanese novel that target teenage and young adults in high schools and middle schools, while manga refers to Japanese comics or graphics novels that target readers of all ages.
Nature
Light novels are similar to novellas with illustrations, while mangas are quite similar to western comic books.
Target Audience
Although light novels focus on teenage and young readers, manga focuses on readers of all ages.
Reading Style
Light novels are read left to right, whereas manga is read from right to left. The translations of light novels are also read from left to right, whereas the translations of mangas are also read from right to left.
Genre
There are many genres like comedy, horror, history, romance, and humor in the manga, whereas light novels come in genres suitable for young adults.
Conclusion
The main difference between light novels and manga is their formats. Light novels are like novellas with illustrations, while mangas are quite similar to western comic books. The stories in light novels are shorter and have a slower pace.
Reference:
1. “Light Novel.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “Manga.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Young boy reading manga” By Ragesoss – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Wikipe-tan manga page1” By Kasuga – (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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