Nor have you grown a giant drop of sweat on the back or side of
your head (I would imagine), nor do you pull out giant mallets from thin
air, nor do tic-tac-toe shaped veins pop out on your forehead, nor do
you become super-deformed or grow cat-ears or grow fangs or have a
volcano
erupt from the top of your head or .... These are visual conventions
used in manga and anime, much as speed lines and light bulbs in
thought
ballons may be used in American comic strips and cartoons,
True, true. These are practically impossible(not getting into quantum
physics or debate about the nature of reality) things. Well, except
for face-faulting(toppling over because of surprise). Anyway, this kind
of(small) Anime, specifically, comedic mannerism *can* be learned, though
it's not exactly spontaneous... Getting back to the topic now...
and I'm
personally opposed to any use of them in a non-visual medium like
fanfiction. Instead, express the feelings or reactions that these
conventions symbolize the way you would in any story. If you're going to
pick out one or two, like sweatdropping or facefaulting, why not use
all the conventions? Aside from the fact that it would make a serious
story pretty silly, which is my objection.
True, but when not using these, a silly story becomes a whole lot
serious. Sweat-dropping, for an example, is often used as a reaction
to someone else doing something strange or embarrassing, but not
necessarily unexpected. A more "real-world" reaction might be,
covering your face with your hands while mumbling "I don't know this guy"
or something like that.
Notably though, Anime characters tend to be more emotional and
physically expressive than Real-world ones, and I do not wish this
element to be lost, even when put into written form.
I am not, in general, in the favor of using short-cuts like "sweat-dropped"
or "face-faulted". However, I don't think they should be shunned just
because people consider them to be 'unrealistic'. All four series, Slayers,
Ranma 1/2, Tenchi Muyo and Sailor Moon *do*, after all, have their
comical elements.
There IS a problem there, though. In the anime and manga, all these
visual elements make sense, and are, in general, quite amusing, so
instead of using the "sight-gags" as shortcuts, perhaps a bit of descriptive
prosa might bring their original effect back to the story.
I think "An Awakening of Demons" is a good example of relatively serious
fiction, which still manages to express some of the visual comedy of it's
original series. Maybe I should re-read that one, myself, to see how it's
done.
*Sigh*
People these days,
all they want is serious drama, dark things and depression.
Well, I think I'll manage, somehow.
________________________________________________________________
Ilmainen Internet @ http://www.nic.fi/