I'm interested in discussing ART STYLES, for once, instead of stories.

Firstly, do you prefer realistic art or unrealistic (surreal/fantastic) art?

Secondly, what is the most realistic, lifelike art you have ever seen in a manga? What about the most surreal/mind-bending art?

I'd say that the most realistic art I've ever encountered, almost photographic in its realism, is in Me and the Devil Blues. I mean, seriously... 😲

The most acid-trippy and weird/surreal art was either in J no Subete (artist Nakamura Asumiko can be depended on for twirly-whirly gorgeousness), or, for a gentler fantabulism, in Witches and Children of the Sea (artist Igarashi Daisuke has a genius for "storybook charm").

What about you? What are your top nominations for most realistic or most surreal art?

surreal art
manga is not reality
therefore
i choose to view it as
something "different"

death note - when my sister saw the backgrounds she asked me if the author just takes photo and but them in his manga

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Well as for me I prefer surreal art since creative artwork is a plus and makes a story more interesting. Though for realistic arc, I think I can say Heads is very realistic as well.

I prefer realistic art... surreal art tends to be sloppy and I don't like it.

I think Eden has quite realistic art. It may not be photographic, but it's still quite detailed, especially the cover art in colour.

Surreal art any day of the week, realistic art is just boring.
Plus, manga with surreal art tend to have a better story than that with a realistic style.

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It doesn't matter which type of art is used. What matters is whether the art adequately conveys the sort of story the writer wants to tell.

Edit: Oh and i actually like both. 🙂

With practice, anyone can do realistic art. Surreal art demands a certain sense of creativity and design.
But at that, I like the both. Prefer more surreal styles though.

For realism, the best you'll get is probably Hoshino Yukinobu.
And my favourite surreal artist is without doubt Matsumoto Taiyo. His experimentation is incomparable, and he pulls of psychedelia better than anyone else.Tekkonkinkreet, for example, just emenates this sense of dreamlike topsy-turviness. The whole book is like one LSD-induced cacophony of surreality.

I prefer manga with more realistic than surreal art. I wouldn't want something too realistic, since that usually doesn't look/feel like manga anymore. And too surreal art would just be too crazy/loopy for me.

Lalala~

I like Fantasy, now that can be a mix between the two.
I really don't mind art if its realistic but im not inclind to like it so much, in my opinion it shows skill but shows no art. Now that may not make sense but it does to me.
I can't compare the "most" surreal to real, its just a contrast not worth comparison. Crisps or chocolate?

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Personally I care more about the story than the art. Some stories have horrible art, but great storytelling, and that art actually compliments the story to give it all an extra boost.

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Personally I care more about the story than the art. Some stories have horrible art, but great storytelling, and that art actually compliments the story to give it all an extra boost.

Completely agreed. 🙂 There's a lot of obscure series that're vastly overlooked/with poor ratings simply 'cos the art isn't good enough.

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Quote from loosecannon504

Personally I care more about the story than the art. Some stories have horrible art, but great storytelling, and that art actually compliments the story to give it all an extra boost.

Completely agreed. 🙂 There's a lot of obscure series that're vastly overlooked/with poor ratings simply 'cos the art isn't good enough.

Thats very true but apreatiation for good art is underated by some people. Good art + good story = 100% succes.
It should be a combination between the two in a manga or comic otherwise its better to read novels respectively saying.
Its not all about the art but i feel it deserves credit.

It's a 50/50 thing to me.

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I believe in letting people do as they wish, as do I myself. Sometimes, of course, what I wish to do is kill them and they do not wish to die. This gives life interest.
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Quote from loosecannon504

Personally I care more about the story than the art. Some stories have horrible art, but great storytelling, and that art actually compliments the story to give it all an extra boost.

Completely agreed. 🙂 There's a lot of obscure series that're vastly overlooked/with poor ratings simply 'cos the art isn't good enough.

Thats very true but apreatiation for good art is underated by some people. Good art + good story = 100% succes.
It should be a combination between the two in a manga or comic otherwise its better to read novels respectively saying.
Its not all about the art but i feel it deserves credit.

It's a 50/50 thing to me.

Hmmm... Though isn't "good art" relative to one's tastes and perceptions? I understand the above concept/viewpoint works for you though, so that's great. That said, I see... I do like stories with good writing + good art too. Though, I like to make exceptions since not everyone is gifted or a master at drawing. To me... it's true that art can tell a story but again, that depends on what one reads into it and whether the art "touches" your emotional spectrum and so on. So even if I can't partially/fully comprehend the art, I can at least try to appreciate the story as it is(provided I like it or provided it appeals to me).

Edit: But I do see where you're coming from. I guess if you're a person who works on the concept that "comics" = "art + text", where "art = minimum standard of artistic ability", then that works for you. 🙂

Edit again: To answer the main qns: well for really realistic art, you're talking about stuff like Vagabond, well-drawn noir-style sort of art like in Hyakka Teien no Higeki, Benkei in New York, etc.

As for surrealistic type of art: many of the 70s manga fall into slightl to medium surrealism. For modern type of art: then there's Coo's World, most of the manga by Furuya Usamaru, Majo and so on. Oh and ero-guro genre too.

But the weirdest surrealistic stuff I've seen: Human Clock, followed by Saint Muscle. Seriously trippy stuff that screws up your mind. 😛 Oh and, forgot to mention Journey to the end of the world

The last option for me, definitely.

The story is what is important. The fact that it's a manga doesn't mean you have to forget about the actual content and plot of the book and drool at a bunch of mannequin-like characters the entire time you're 'reading' it.

VampireBanana is right- I've heard lots of people say they gave up on a good manga because the art was terrible. And there are an overwhelming number of comments on this site that go "I love the story but hate the art, so I'll give it a [insert unnecessarily low rating here]" or "I hate the story but love the art, so I'll give it a [insert inappropriately high rating here]".

The art is there to make it easier for the mangaka to express his ideas, and to facilitate the readers' understanding of the story. So long as the art is clear enough for me to see what's happening (especially in action scenes and fast-paced parts), and I can tell the characters apart fairly well, I don't mind if it's surreal or realistic.

That being said;
I definitely agree that Igarashi Daisuke's style is stunning.
I also like the art in Genkaku Picasso and Mushishi. I'm pretty sure they look realistic; especially the former.