Manga's Content from an Adult Perspective

Jan 11, 2017 6:56 PM

Offline

Jul 2016

So, I got my son hooked to anime. He is now delving in to the world of manga and light novels. Just one problem: I don't have a clue on what content I would consider safe for him to be exposed to. Please bare with me while I explain it a little further as I feel that will help clarify what advice I'm seeking.

I've had a long-standing history with my love of anime. That said, I understand the differencee between, say, seinen and shounen, for example. Additionally, my son enjoys pretty much anything, as long as it's not too juvenile for his age of 11. (He'll even enjoy shoujo.) Lastly, as a parent, I tend to allow him to watch most PG-13 content, though will have him avoid content of heavy violence or sexual in nature. And, yes, I understand the major differences in parental rating systems of Japan and the US (I obviously subscribe to the former).

Thanks for baring with me. So, here's the thing. Most of top rated manga omits listing an age category within its genres (seinen, shounen, etc.). I've found that even when target audience is listed within the genres of a given manga, it rarely acts as a good indicator for me. Many shounen titles have a corresponding anime that's rated R; conversely, many seinen manga have their anime rated PG-13. It seems anime has always been easy to assess, as MAL has a pretty reliable system in place. That's not the case with its manga section. Moreover, there isn't a website that assesses texts (such as manga) like imdb does for visual content (such as anime or movies). The parental guide section that imdb offers is ideal.

Outside of reading every manga (or light novel) beforehand, does anyone have a suggestion for me? Is there a reliable website I can use to gauge what I feel is appropriate for my son to read? If not, what do you think I should do? What are my options here. Your advice and help would be invaluable.

Jan 11, 2017 7:20 PM

petalshreds

Offline

May 2010

1368

Manga generally has more dangerous content, things that are not even acceptable to be on TV. Have you tried this site? https://www.mangaupdates.com/genres.html

Jan 11, 2017 7:38 PM

JizzyHitler

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Sep 2011

33895

Manga is a big gamble in terms of content due to significantly less censorship, the only thing i can honestly say might help is either mangaupdates or the occasional warning on sites like bato.to about a manga being mature. The issue is they are rarely ever pointed out unless theres nudity or uber amounts of gore. you can still likley get a R rated tier violent series from something in shounen jump such as how gintama which hilariously airs on a kids network in japan is actually a pretty violent series when it comes to the action.

Immahnoob said:
Jizzy, I know you have no idea how to argue for shit,

tokiyashiro said:

Jizzy as you would call yourself because youre a dick The most butthurt award goes to you And clearly you havent watched that many shows thats why you cant determine if a show is unique or not Or maybe you're just a child who likes common stuffs where hero saves the day and guys gets all the girls. Sad taste you have there kid you came up to me in the first place making you look more like a kid who got slapped without me even knowing it and start crying about it to me

Jan 11, 2017 7:47 PM

removed-user

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Jul 2018

561872

It won't work for everything in the MAL db but most english manga releases come with an age rating on the back of each volume. If there's a manga you're curious about, check the clubs tag on its page, see if it's got the English Language Manga Club (part 1 or 2) listed, and Google the series name if it does. The publisher (Viz, Yen Press, etc.) should have the age ratings up on their site under either the series' page or for each volume if you want to check.

You'd probably be looking for series tagged as A (for all ages), Y (for young audiences), or T (for teen). Avoid anything tagged OT (older teen) or M (mature) (or you know anything with an explicit content warning) and maybe take a look at the reviews of some T rated series, and you should be good.

removed-userJan 11, 2017 8:00 PM

Jan 11, 2017 7:49 PM

Taroon

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Jul 2016

petalshreds said:
Manga generally has more dangerous content, things that are not even acceptable to be on TV. Have you tried this site? https://www.mangaupdates.com/genres.html

I checked it out. While it gives a lot more information about any given manga, it still is ineffective tool as a parental guide.

Here's an example of of an anime movie's parental guide on imdb <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203082/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg>. Note that is a lot more information to allow me to gauge what sort of content is within the movie, much more so than what's offered on MAL (which lists only it as "R - 17+ [violence & profanity] and excludes the mentioning of a sex scene). There isn't a direct manga to the movie--rather the source material is a small portion of a very long manga series--but I imagine you get the idea of what sort of scope sought from viewin the imdb link and from my original post.

Do you have any other websites you suggest?

Jan 14, 2017 8:58 AM

InfernoMerrick

Offline

Jul 2014

157

Taroon said:

petalshreds said:
Manga generally has more dangerous content, things that are not even acceptable to be on TV. Have you tried this site? https://www.mangaupdates.com/genres.html

Almost every manga entry in that site has different labels/categories (scroll down and you'll se it) so that you know a bit more about the contents of the manga. For example, this and this.

"No matter how miserable your life becomes, never let your heart become miserable as well."

Jan 14, 2017 11:30 AM

Taroon

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Jul 2016

Thank you, everyone. I think I've found a process that will help. (I plan on posting such as a new thread in hopes it helps other adults/people locate age-appropriate content for children.)

Jan 14, 2017 12:31 PM

Wannabiteme

Offline

Feb 2010

1038

@Taroon in my opinion your approach is wrong.
I mean, look, you are good with internet/pc stuffs, right? Or you at least know how to google things?
Then you should know that kid will find what he or she wants.
And internet is everywhere:
- pc/laptop at home
- smartphones
- friends' with internet
- school
- library
- internet café
If the kid is "smart enough" he will delete all the evidences (eg. an internet history)

Jan 14, 2017 1:18 PM

Taroon

Offline

Jul 2016

Wannabiteme said:
@Taroon in my opinion your approach is wrong.
I mean, look, you are good with internet/pc stuffs, right? Or you at least know how to google things?
Then you should know that kid will find what he or she wants.
And internet is everywhere:
- pc/laptop at home
- smartphones
- friends' with internet
- school
- library
- internet café
If the kid is "smart enough" he will delete all the evidences (eg. an internet history)

I'm not necessarily looking for what he wants (I have a son) but rather what he wants that is also age appropriate. It's about empowerment through information. Some parents--usually the good ones--will assess whether content is acceptable for their child to watch or read (it may be so as "this movie is rated PG-13 so my teenage child can watch it", for example). Many parents use imdb to help them with new or unfamiliar media. I wanted something similar to that but for manga.

I found my answer and am in the process of writing up my results--a guide--for other parents and adults. I think you misunderstood my post but I appreciate your response, nevertheless. Also, while I agree with you about "if there's a will, there's a way", a computer-savvy parent (or one that simply cares enough to devote a little bit of time) will be able to guard against any unwanted content. I'm not going to delve in to the ethics or the degree in which a child should be protected. My point is threefold: 1) there's ways and tools to still protect a curious, smart, and computer-savvy child from age-inappropriate content, 2) I think you misunderstood the purpose of my original post, and 3) I have found my answer.

Oh, completely off-topic but I feel obligated to mention: While I don't know your age or location, It's against the law in the US to view inappropriate content in most internet cafes and any/all public library. I could cite the law if you're curious enough (I simply need which state law you want me to cite). Similarly, it's against the law to do the same on school-grounds. Thankfully, schools, libraries, and internet cafes tend to be fairly lax with these laws and will generally penalize the person without involving the law. I'm mentioning this because, if you are school-age or know someone who is school-age that is viewing age-inappropriate content in such areas, do have such activity cease. I don't want to see you or any one else get kicked out of school or in trouble because of one's recreational (or sexual) interests. This is me having a platonic love and caring about another's future.

(Edit: Deleting history does not prevent the history to be completely deleted. There are apps for phones and programs for computers that will store that history elsewhere. Additionally, the search engine stores the searches and the identity of the searcher in case they are issued a subpoena. Internet cafes, libraries, and/or schools (and a person's workplace) will sometimes even store all internet and computer activity in their network--something that can't be deleted within the user's local computer--and will even use key-loggers sometimes.)

(Edit #2: I got to thinking, the Internet fails at expressing tone. I want to clarify my tone. I'm literally pleading with since you wouldn't have said what you said in your post unless you have some sort of experience of doing such in some form or another. I'm not trying to tell you what to do or not do but, rather, pleading with you that if you are or you know someone who is viewing questionable content in libraries, Internet cafes, or school[s] to cease doing such. It can open up a can of worms once such activity is undertaken in the pubic domain. I'm not advocating for or against you (or someone you know) viewing any specific content. I am saying if it's inappropriate (or rated M, R, or 18+) it would be the lesser evil to do so in private or at home, regardless age, because it can have serious and permanent consequences if done in the public domain. Again, I'm pleading to you or any reader, if it's applicable please, please heed my words.)

TaroonJan 14, 2017 2:12 PM

Jan 14, 2017 2:45 PM

#10

Wannabiteme

Offline

Feb 2010

1038

@Taroon let's offtop

1) there's ways and tools to still protect a curious, smart, and computer-savvy child from age-inappropriate content,

Well, yeah, keep him in his room 24h/day without tv/pc/smartphones/internet connection.
ps. it's not a joke.

Jan 14, 2017 2:53 PM

#11

Taroon

Offline

Jul 2016

Wannabiteme said:
@Taroon let's offtop

1) there's ways and tools to still protect a curious, smart, and computer-savvy child from age-inappropriate content,

Well, yeah, keep him in his room 24h/day without tv/pc/smartphones/internet connection.
ps. it's not a joke.

I appreciate your candid opinions. I wish you the very best and extend those best wishes onto your future child when you become a parent (if such is in your future).

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Manga's Content from an Adult Perspective

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