Open question...

[telophase]

Over on homemade_manga, scorpio1987 is asking the question What makes a manga instantly popular?.

We know that "instant" success really isn't that - it's the product of a lot of preparation and work - but there's interesting thoughts in there about what makes a particular manga more popular than another, and why something takes the public by storm. Thoughts, musings, arguments on the subject, anyone?



I'll go pimp this on manga_talk once there's gotten to be some actual discussion, but for now I'm going to lunch. Ta.

Comments

[hatchet-hands.livejournal.com]

I saw that discussion, but what with this head cold my brain just isn't working well enough to join in.

I agree with the person who said that, technically, there aren't really any 'unpopular' mangas in the west because they're tried and tested titles that have succeeded already in the east.

I guess that brings up the topic of the successes of OEL mangas. Untried, untested, big risk...most of them drawn by younger, less experienced folk. Is it me, or are the majority of OEL creators under 25? (not that there's anything WRONG with that...)

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Is it me, or are the majority of OEL creators under 25?

Yes. At this point in time, the pay is comparatively low and they're a lot of work. It requires someone who has the time to devote to it, and not much in the way of financial obligations like family, mortgage, health problems, etc. Which tends to select for younger creators. If the OEL movement takes off and more money gets put into it, the demographics should change a bit.