I don't think this topic has been done before, but sorry if it has.
Anyways, there are a lot of manga out there where characters don't look their age. I usually hate it. Especially in romances, when a character looks younger than their actual age. It makes their boyfriend or girlfriend look like a pedophile for dating them. What do you think?
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Do you hate it when a character doesn't look their age?
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Yes, why can't they just look their age?
No, I love these types of characters
Depends on story
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Member
10:54 am, Mar 3 2012
Posts: 566
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11:01 am, Mar 3 2012
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11:01 am, Mar 3 2012
Posts: 85
I don't dislike when the character has younger appearance than his/her age. It will gives more spice to the story when his/her character development was revealed. This also exists in real-life, but it's rare to find a individual who doesn't look like his/her age because of his/her appearance. Most of younger-than-his/her age characters often have tragic pasts and explain why they doesn't look like their age.
Member
11:41 am, Mar 3 2012
Posts: 10
11:41 am, Mar 3 2012
Posts: 10
I dislike it when all the characters don't look their age.
Like a bunch of elementary school kids that look like high school kids.
... or a bunch of high school kids that look like they're elementary school kids.
Like a bunch of elementary school kids that look like high school kids.
... or a bunch of high school kids that look like they're elementary school kids.
Member
12:17 pm, Mar 3 2012
Posts: 636
Hate when the 'ancient sage/mystic/teacher' shows up and looks to be about 5 years old. They usually half-ass an explanation in, but it's really just because the artists wanted to draw a little kid instead of an old person.
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Post #527148
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12:27 pm, Mar 3 2012
Posts: 357
Lolis <3
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12:29 pm, Mar 3 2012
Posts: 53
I'm usually pretty lenient with age, but it continues to annoy me to no end when the girls of manga who are "high schoolers" or even "middle schoolers" have massive breasts. It actually turns me off from reading a manga.
As for men, I don't like how every male is fit (unless they're the designated fat dude), but that may have to do with me personally haha
As for men, I don't like how every male is fit (unless they're the designated fat dude), but that may have to do with me personally haha
Quote from mattai
Hate when the 'ancient sage/mystic/teacher' shows up and looks to be about 5 years old. They usually half-ass an explanation in, but it's really just because the artists wanted to draw a little kid instead of an old person.
lol, you reminded me of Rappi Rangai; he even looked like a little girl. Why? Beause he always stays away from the sun . . . Creepy, but Himura Kenshin's Shishou is all right. ^_^ (He looks like a guy, btw.)
In general, though, I don't like it when characters don't look their age. It gives those who say, 'It's just fictional!' an excuse. Plus, it just seems like a cop-out when drawing Loli characters. If you want to add a little girl to the story, then make one. If you are not brave enough, then stay away; don't fake it. While manga with questionable content tend to refrain from mentioning the age of underage persons, at least frequently (which is better than falsifying it), I found it interesting that an ecchi title I've been reading recently, called Cherry x Cherry, repeatedly revealed exactly how old its seemingly-prepubescent individuals were in the very first chapter, even during the risque scenes.
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Post #527165
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2:12 pm, Mar 3 2012
Posts: 582
Sometimes.
I think this is particularly annoying in shojo and yaoi. It bothers me when the guy (in shojo, seme in yaoi) is supposed to be a teenager, or the same age as the other half of the equation, yet since they are "mature" they are drawn looking older.
It goes the other way too, just because the girl/uke is supposed to be inocent and cute, and whatnot, they shouldn't be drawn to not look good with the other person.
It bothers me when the characters don't match each other, and it's usually when they are supposed to be the same age, yet one looks way older.
I think this is particularly annoying in shojo and yaoi. It bothers me when the guy (in shojo, seme in yaoi) is supposed to be a teenager, or the same age as the other half of the equation, yet since they are "mature" they are drawn looking older.
It goes the other way too, just because the girl/uke is supposed to be inocent and cute, and whatnot, they shouldn't be drawn to not look good with the other person.
It bothers me when the characters don't match each other, and it's usually when they are supposed to be the same age, yet one looks way older.
Quote from penguin71
I'm usually pretty lenient with age, but it continues to annoy me to no end when the girls of manga who are "high schoolers" or even "middle schoolers" have massive breasts. It actually turns me off from reading a manga.
This. I cringe whenever I see those, especially when the manga is full of them. Maybe because I'm a girl...
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Post #527172
I don't mind it, but I don't like when in some shoujos, all the girls including the mc are complete washboards in highschool. Also, when only the guys look mature and the girls look like a 10 year old.
Also, I don't know if anyone notice, but I don't like it when their parents look like highschoolers when in actuality, they are in their late 40's.... That freakin annoys me!!
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Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it. I guess every superhero need her theme music...
Also, I don't know if anyone notice, but I don't like it when their parents look like highschoolers when in actuality, they are in their late 40's.... That freakin annoys me!!
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Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it. I guess every superhero need her theme music...
I.... honestly... do not care. s:
Le,
Pika.
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Member
3:11 pm, Mar 3 2012
Posts: 39
I don't really mind that much, but everyone in my family looks younger than our actual age ^^;;
Once, when we were on a family vacation, the woman at the counter asked if my mom was my brother's wife lol. My real mom and dad have also been told frequently that they look like newlyweds when in fact they've been married for over 20 years xD.
Me too... when people have to assume my age they always knock it down 3-5 years.
I guess I would be bothered though if everyone looked like babies in the series when they're actually like 30 or something >.>
Once, when we were on a family vacation, the woman at the counter asked if my mom was my brother's wife lol. My real mom and dad have also been told frequently that they look like newlyweds when in fact they've been married for over 20 years xD.
Me too... when people have to assume my age they always knock it down 3-5 years.
I guess I would be bothered though if everyone looked like babies in the series when they're actually like 30 or something >.>
Member
5:53 pm, Mar 3 2012
Posts: 470
I've never thought about it until you mentioned it, but yeah, I do.
It's not so bad in an action series, but it bugs me in a romance series since the immature-looking one is always the weak link in the relationship. Really mature-looking girls lead shounen romance male leads around by the nose (making the lead look weak and stupid in comparison), and the exact same thing happens in shoujo, but in reverse with ultra-mature male leads and weak looking (and acting) female leads.
To use an extreme example: I recently tried reading Orange Chocolate but couldn't get very far with it because I was so creeped out by the main couple's discrepancy in appearance. The main female, meant to appear "cute," just looked like a five year-old gnome, while the main male looked far more mature and elegant than any teenager could ever hope to manage. (That's him on the cover of volume 8--he's a famous female impersonator.) The main female, like her appearance suggested, was clumsy and inept while the main male was just too accomplished.
Teenage girls with the curves of a 30 year-old woman is also similarly off-putting.
It's not so bad in an action series, but it bugs me in a romance series since the immature-looking one is always the weak link in the relationship. Really mature-looking girls lead shounen romance male leads around by the nose (making the lead look weak and stupid in comparison), and the exact same thing happens in shoujo, but in reverse with ultra-mature male leads and weak looking (and acting) female leads.
To use an extreme example: I recently tried reading Orange Chocolate but couldn't get very far with it because I was so creeped out by the main couple's discrepancy in appearance. The main female, meant to appear "cute," just looked like a five year-old gnome, while the main male looked far more mature and elegant than any teenager could ever hope to manage. (That's him on the cover of volume 8--he's a famous female impersonator.) The main female, like her appearance suggested, was clumsy and inept while the main male was just too accomplished.
Teenage girls with the curves of a 30 year-old woman is also similarly off-putting.
Post #527208
Member
6:41 pm, Mar 3 2012
Posts: 830
In romance series, when at least one of the characters in under 20, then I want them to look their age, especially if their love interest is older. In action series, it doesn't bother me so much.
For adults, 20+, I don't care, because Japanese people look youthful, especially the women. Loads of times I've assumed a Japanese woman is in her 20s, and it turns out she's in her late 30s or 40s. They seem to look about 10 years younger than they are. So I can understand why 40 year old women look young in manga. Men can be either, mostly depending on how much grey is in their hair. Sometimes a guy has a youthful face, but is given away by his greying hair. They still tend to look younger than their age though.
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For adults, 20+, I don't care, because Japanese people look youthful, especially the women. Loads of times I've assumed a Japanese woman is in her 20s, and it turns out she's in her late 30s or 40s. They seem to look about 10 years younger than they are. So I can understand why 40 year old women look young in manga. Men can be either, mostly depending on how much grey is in their hair. Sometimes a guy has a youthful face, but is given away by his greying hair. They still tend to look younger than their age though.
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It only really bothers me when adults look like babies and vice versa. Unless you're a Benjamin Button, it shouldn't be like that.
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