My ignorance, let me show you it

The other day I was looking for the manga Dororo in various libraries, because I loved the movie and I am determined that this be the summer I learn to appreciate manga and graphic novels. I found the Publishers Weekly review of the American publication of Vol. 2, and then I had to go look up what else PW had said about Tezuka Osamu. Turns out, though manga is relatively neglected, Tezuka gets a pretty good share of attention. Here's the review in full:

Dororo, Volume 2
Osamu Tezuka. Vertical (www.vertical-inc.com), $13.95 paper (288p) ISBN 978-1-934287-17-0

The late master manga storyteller Tezuka (Astro Boy; Phoenix) returns with the next volume of his 1967–1968 horror/samurai epic, and the dire doings escalate to horrifying levels as young swordsman Hyakkimaru continues his quest to reclaim his stolen body parts from a gaggle of demons, accompanied by the self-described “world's greatest thief,” the diminutive Dororo. This time their wanderings bring them into carnage-laden conflict with fearful villagers, carnivorous fox spirits, opposing actions in a border war, a face-stealing evil Buddha statue, unrestful child ghosts and a nobleman whose loving marriage to a moth demon brings about shocking tragedy. Along this journey of despair, vengeance and the darkest of magic, Hyakkimaru encounters long-lost members of his family—with devastating results—while secrets from Dororo's past are revealed in the presence of a monk who persuades Hyakkimaru that an aspect of his thieving companion may offer a hint to his mission in life once he completes his odyssey of righteous killing. As per the previous volume, this is compelling stuff and notable among Tezuka's works for being almost relentlessly downbeat, gruesome and genuinely creepy, all elements somehow enhanced by the artist's appealing animation-influenced visual style. (June) (in the 7/7/08 PW)

The last clause cracked me up at first, and then it made me cry a little inside, and now I'm just confused. Does the reviewer, despite praising Tezuka as a "master manga storyteller"and mentioning Astro Boy and apparently being familiar with his other work, not connect Tezuka with early Japanese animation? Or did Tezuka's style (as well as content) change by the 1960s? The origins of anime in manga are fairly well acknowledged, as I understand it, but has the influence run both ways? Or is the reviewer saying, "Oh look, gore and creepitude made even more creepy by the use of kiddy-appropriate-style art!"? *headscratch*

Possibly I am thinking far too hard about this and should be stopped. But if anybody knows more than I do about the manga/anime relationship (not hard to accomplish, as I am fairly ignorant), or remembers anything from that first week of anime class (I don't), or happens to have a copy of Akira to Princess Mononoke handy, feel free to jump in. Or tell me to stop over-analyzing. Whichever.

My ignorance, let me show you it

The other day I was looking for the manga Dororo in various libraries, because I loved the movie and I am determined that this be the summer I learn to appreciate manga and graphic novels. I found the Publishers Weekly review of the American publication of Vol. 2, and then I had to go look up what else PW had said about Tezuka Osamu. Turns out, though manga is relatively neglected, Tezuka gets a pretty good share of attention. Here's the review in full:

Dororo, Volume 2
Osamu Tezuka. Vertical (www.vertical-inc.com), $13.95 paper (288p) ISBN 978-1-934287-17-0

The late master manga storyteller Tezuka (Astro Boy; Phoenix) returns with the next volume of his 1967–1968 horror/samurai epic, and the dire doings escalate to horrifying levels as young swordsman Hyakkimaru continues his quest to reclaim his stolen body parts from a gaggle of demons, accompanied by the self-described “world's greatest thief,” the diminutive Dororo. This time their wanderings bring them into carnage-laden conflict with fearful villagers, carnivorous fox spirits, opposing actions in a border war, a face-stealing evil Buddha statue, unrestful child ghosts and a nobleman whose loving marriage to a moth demon brings about shocking tragedy. Along this journey of despair, vengeance and the darkest of magic, Hyakkimaru encounters long-lost members of his family—with devastating results—while secrets from Dororo's past are revealed in the presence of a monk who persuades Hyakkimaru that an aspect of his thieving companion may offer a hint to his mission in life once he completes his odyssey of righteous killing. As per the previous volume, this is compelling stuff and notable among Tezuka's works for being almost relentlessly downbeat, gruesome and genuinely creepy, all elements somehow enhanced by the artist's appealing animation-influenced visual style. (June) (in the 7/7/08 PW)

The last clause cracked me up at first, and then it made me cry a little inside, and now I'm just confused. Does the reviewer, despite praising Tezuka as a "master manga storyteller"and mentioning Astro Boy and apparently being familiar with his other work, not connect Tezuka with early Japanese animation? Or did Tezuka's style (as well as content) change by the 1960s? The origins of anime in manga are fairly well acknowledged, as I understand it, but has the influence run both ways? Or is the reviewer saying, "Oh look, gore and creepitude made even more creepy by the use of kiddy-appropriate-style art!"? *headscratch*

Possibly I am thinking far too hard about this and should be stopped. But if anybody knows more than I do about the manga/anime relationship (not hard to accomplish, as I am fairly ignorant), or remembers anything from that first week of anime class (I don't), or happens to have a copy of Akira to Princess Mononoke handy, feel free to jump in. Or tell me to stop over-analyzing. Whichever.