Show, don鈥檛 tell : how anxiety and depression are portrayed in manga

Abstract

A study analysing how Manga panels communicate emotions, specifically anxiety and depression, to the readers, through Manga characteristics such as characters, panels, and dialogue. Panels from five chosen Manga; Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami, Demon Slayer by Koyoharu Gotouge, The Summer Hikaru Died by Mokumokuren, My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi, and A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Oima were analysed for this purpose using semiotic and visual technical analyses. The semiotic analysis highlights the main Manga techniques shown in the five chosen Manga and their meaning was interpreted and studied. These included facial expressions, background and face shading, panel layouts, and the way dialogue and speech balloons were presented to the readers. The visual technical analysis compared the five Manga and their most used techniques shown throughout the story, as well as how this affects how emotions are communicated. The discussion and results highlighted how the Manga techniques studied and interpreted communicate with the reader. Results concluded that various Mangakas make use of similar techniques, but modify them to match their own style of interpretation of the emotions that need communicating.