Flipping manga

Sailorasteroid · Post by **Sailorasteroid** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:13 pm

Since I've started reading manga books more frequently, I've seen that about half of them read left-to-right like Roman-alphabet books, with the original pictures flipped horizontally, but the rest read right-to-left. Now, my opinion may change when I get used to reading right-to-left, but for now, I'm somewhat peeved at the practice. As much as I'm in favor of being faithful to the Japanese-ness of anime and manga, it's annoying to have to read so unnaturally. Although I do like it for reading in public, just for the funny-look factor. ^_^

So which style do you all prefer?

yamijounouchi · Post by **yamijounouchi** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:24 pm

right to left. most of the manga i read is in this format, when they flip the images i always read it backwards out of habit. also, i hate seeing the original images flipped especially when the sound effects are kept in japanese (more common on the internet) it just looks akward.

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:29 pm

The original way, right to left. I got used to reading it backwards very quickly (took me 5 seconds).

Also, flipped images tend to bug me. Like in Sailor Moon when Michiru plays the violin with the wrong hand, or when their's an image that can't be flipped, otherwise it looks stupid. Another example is in Cardcaptor Sakura when some of the cards are the wrong way (and sometimes the words are even backwards).

Post by **Tiff** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:46 pm

They've been reverting back to the original for a good while now. I prefer the original way. As peachvampiress said, I've gotten used to it, and it IS kind of irritating when you can tell they've flipped the image.

Cardcaptor Takato · Post by **Cardcaptor Takato** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:17 pm

I prefer my manga unflipped for all the same reasons everyone else has stated. The first time I read an unflipped manga, I knew that you read it from right-to-left, but I had a hard time figuring out which panel you were supposed to read next. Then, after I got through reading the manga I realized they had instructions on how to read unflipped manga in the back of it, so I re-read it and it was easier the second time. Now it's just natural for me to read my manga unflipped and I have no problems with it. I especially like seeing the cashier at the bookstores try to figure out which side of the unflipped manga is the front and which side is the back. ^^

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:32 pm

Cardcaptor Takato

Then, after I got through reading the manga I realized they had instructions on how to read unflipped manga in the back of it, so I re-read it and it was easier the second time.

I noticed that page at the end of the first book I read unflipped ^_^; I though it was weird because I can't picture anyone confusing the front cover with the back cover of an unflipped book, but you never know ~_^.

ParaKiss_Groupie · Post by **ParaKiss_Groupie** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:31 pm

I just enjoy reading manga, regardless of whether it's flipped or not. In fact, I usually don't even notice. I'm used to both, so I just read starting from the front cover. It's not until the end of the book, after the advertisements that I notice whether it's unflipped or not (cause of that page that says "Stop!").

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:30 pm

I'm with PKG...I read manga regardless of the direction it's in. For example, the early MixxZine/Tokyopop comics, as well as Viz' Animerica Extra, were flipped, and since I had zero knowledge of what the original art was like, I didn't mind it at all. Once they started printing the books in their original directions, it took me a bit of getting used to - and to this day, I find myself going left-to-right at times - but I enjoy them just as well. Again, for me, it doesn't really matter what direction it's in, as long as it's a good story and translated well. In fact - and this isn't meant to be insulting in any way - I always find it a neat "gimmick" to have my books printed "backwards" like that ^^

ParaKiss_Groupie · Post by **ParaKiss_Groupie** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:49 pm

Starscream wrote: In fact - and this isn't meant to be insulting in any way - I always find it a neat "gimmick" to have my books printed "backwards" like that ^^

*agrees* What better way to advertise something? I'm constantly asked about my "backwards books." I had to write an article for my school's newspaper on something new to the library, and I chose manga. The big point in the article was "Seen any of those 'backwards books' around lately?"

Hell, I even began flipping backwards through real books that I had, just to get confused glances from people. It's just nifty.

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:58 pm

ParaKiss_Groupie wrote:Hell, I even began flipping backwards through real books that I had, just to get confused glances from people. It's just nifty.

LMAO. I need to try that sometime.

Labmates: Erm...why are you reading those journals backwards, Gilberto (my first name)?

Me: They're a lot easier to read this way...that'll show Nature to print discipline-specific papers *shakes fist into the air*

Labmates and the rest of SMU: ....wtf?

LadyFlameSniper · Post by **LadyFlameSniper** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:16 pm

I prefer left to right, like all of the Sailormoon Mixx manga. Right left still feels awkward. Oh well it's not as if I absolutely can't read them right to left, so it doesn't matter much.

Usagi04 · Post by **Usagi04** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:30 pm

I like my manga flipped and unflipped. Mainly because I'm use to reading it both ways.

RoastedTwinkies · Post by **RoastedTwinkies** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:05 am

If I had to make a choice, I would pick unflipped. It irritated me when the images were flipped. But it doesn't really apply to me anymore because I stopped buying english manga. I refuse to buy it because apparently, publishers never heard of spell check. I read manga strictly in Japanese. If there's a time when I come across a word or sentence I don't understand, then I look it up and it's just fine. Plus, I think it's funny when people give me weird looks or ask questions when they see me reading it on the bus ^_^

ParaKiss_Groupie · Post by **ParaKiss_Groupie** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:46 am

RoastedTwinkies wrote:If I had to make a choice, I would pick unflipped. It irritated me when the images were flipped. But it doesn't really apply to me anymore because I stopped buying english manga. I refuse to buy it because apparently, publishers never heard of spell check. I read manga strictly in Japanese. If there's a time when I come across a word or sentence I don't understand, then I look it up and it's just fine. Plus, I think it's funny when people give me weird looks or ask questions when they see me reading it on the bus ^_^

Um, is it really that much of a sin to mispell a few words? Lord knows, no one here has perfect spelling. That just seems like a stupid reason to stop buying English manga.

RoastedTwinkies · Post by **RoastedTwinkies** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:56 am

ParaKiss_Groupie wrote:Um, is it really that much of a sin to mispell a few words? Lord knows, no one here has perfect spelling. That just seems like a stupid reason to stop buying English manga.

I'm a perfectionist I guess. Typos on message boards like this is one thing, but I think it's another when you see it in a publication for sale. I would have thought that they would have put more time into it. But I guess it's just me. Typos irk me a lot. Perhaps I should join the Kill All Evil Typos Clique then. But anyhow, it's not just the typos that bother me. The overall quality of the english manga isn't as good as the original Japanese manga, and I don't see why they can't maintain the original quality that you see in the Japanese manga.

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 1:10 am

I'm the same way, Roasted Twinkies. If it's a book, it better have good grammar, me want read book with nice grammar (Peach no function beer well without). Worst line in Sailor Moon manga that the editor missed (although they fixed it later): "Lord Galaxia, Animal-meiz Tein Nynako is here." 0____o???

Although, as many have said, if it's translated well, of course I'd read it left to right (Hell, I'd read it inside out if it was good).

Parallax · Post by **Parallax** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 2:25 pm

I've adapted to reading them unflipped as well as flipped.

Now, if I can read them in the ORIGINAL Japanese, that would make my day.

crazydiamond · Post by **crazydiamond** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:22 pm

I don't really mind which direction my book goes. It *is* confusing as hell to have to try and remember which series goes what direction, tho. Example: all my Ragnarok books read left-to-right, and so do my MKR, and so does Rebirth...but all my Angelic Layers are unflopped, along with .hack and Shaman King. I can't just grab a manga and start reading anymore. ^_^ I have to check. But once I remember, it's no problem.

Umino · Post by **Umino** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:55 pm

Unflipped. It drives me nuts when it's flipped, mainly when that company HAS released unflipped manga. For example, my Big O manga. After writing all these little paragrahs about why they (Viz) hasn't flipped manga. Then all of a sudden, Big O is flipped, images are edited, etc.

Neo Dead Moon · Post by **Neo Dead Moon** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:01 am

Umino wrote:Unflipped. It drives me nuts when it's flipped, mainly when that company HAS released unflipped manga. For example, my Big O manga. After writing all these little paragrahs about why they (Viz) hasn't flipped manga. Then all of a sudden, Big O is flipped, images are edited, etc.

All Viz-released Pokemon manga, X, Ranma 1/2, and Inuyasha have been refused by Viz to be released unflipped, too of unknown reasons (in fact, ALL of Takahashi's works, aside from Maison Ikkoku, have yet to be released unflipped in America).

Why is Viz STILL struggling to release all of its manga unflipped after all this time, anyway?!