This week's poll comes from StaticHD. Basically, do you just assume characters are Asian in manga, manhua, and manhwa? Fair enough assumption in my opinion...

You can submit poll ideas here (and try to keep them manga/anime-related):
http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=3903

Previous Poll Results:
Question: Your opinion on series that detour from the main plot line
Choices:
I want them to always stick to the main story! - votes: 1378 (12.5%)
The occasional one chapter side story is fine - votes: 6512 (59%)
An entire side arc is good every once in a while - votes: 2517 (22.8%)
Any amount is fine - votes: 625 (5.7%)
There were 11032 total votes.
The poll ended: October 6th 2012

Most of us don't mind the occasional side branch, but get on with the main plot!

A just ruler amongst tyrants

Most of the time, they don't look Asian, but yeah, definitely.
It's pretty hard to ignore with names like "Yamada".
Unless, of course, I'm given a reason to think otherwise...
Not that it matters to me one way or another.

Hrodulf and Bjornolfr, you will not be forgotten.
[img]http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp199/SyberAngelGabrielle/couplesig.jpg[/img]
[color=black]And if the world were black and white,
you would be my rainbow in shades of grey.[/color]

Click 'n Play!

If I had a fantasy self, it'd be a tentacle monster.

I miss the "Never thought about their race"-option. Since I honestly never think about it. I mean, their appearance mostly depends on the art style but with the society rules given most storys play in Asian countrys (obviously, since we talk about manga not comics) so its natural to consider them as Asians.
But then again there are even cases then you can't exactly tell if a character is meant to be black/brown/or simply strongly tanned because the art style doesn't give that. duh~

But does it matter? Can't manga be that one imaginary world where races don't matter?

Quote from deadhoney

I miss the "Never thought about their race"-option. Since I honestly never think about it.

I have exactly the same thoughts about it. lambchopsil, could you please add that option to the poll or is it too late to do it?

Quote from gundamgundam

I have exactly the same thoughts about it. lambchopsil, could you please add that option to the poll or is it too late to do it?

that option is too neutral and I think some of us are bored by that kind of response

third choice for moi

[img]http://oi44.tinypic.com/1z37xvk.jpg[/img]

Quote from deadhoney

I miss the "Never thought about their race"-option. Since I honestly never think about it. I mean, their appearance mostly depends on the art style but with the society rules given most storys play in Asian countrys (obviously, since we talk about manga not comics) so its natural to consider ...

+10000

I completely agree. 😛

Yeah I never really think about it, but I suppose the third choice would bring it to my attention, so I went for that instead.

If they look Asian? This depends greatly on the setting.

"I'll shut your mouth~~~~~ with mine~~~"

二息歩行

they all have the same bone structures cause their face is pretty much the same if u shave their heads...so meaning everyone in anime/manga are the same race n that race is up to everyone's individual opinion to decide

Yes because its obvious that is the intention regardless of how they look. The world of manga and anime doesnt have to make sense. Just look at Sailor moon. She is blonde with blue eyes, gets with a black haired blue eyed guy, and has a child with pink hair and red eyes. Logic has no place here. 😛 Plus their names. Usagi Tsukino. Most of the time when someone who isnt Japanese appears in a manga they mention it or make them act weirdly. Like this guy.

The way this poll is worded sounds like a round about way of bringing up the whole "anime/manga characters look Caucasian" thing that sends some people into spats. Why would I assume they are not Asian? If the story takes place in a Japanese High School with kids that have Japanese names, well duh I assume they are Japanese no matter what their hair or eye color is. However, there's plenty of manga that does not take place in an Asian setting with Asian characters though. Gunslinger Girl takes place in Italy and almost all the characters are Caucasian. Black Lagoon has a pretty international cast as does Full Metal Panic! Usually the story tells me the nationality of the characters, so I don't have to assume anything based on looks.

i think of them as Asian or Caucasian depending on what they are in the manga.
but before i know i always think of them as Asian

I don't really consider the race. Never found it of importance.
To me, if there is no specific setting or expression of culture, they'd be "blank" to me.

In anime/manga usually I find that the middle-aged and elderly appear more asian, but children, teenagers, and young adults look pretty caucasian or at least half caucasian. In some manga the difference in appearance between both age groups is so vast that it's difficult for me to imagine the maturation into the latter. And if I'm debuting a new manga/anime, it can be difficult to determine the setting until a character's name is said or another cultural clue comes in. And then other times an anime/manga in an asian setting will introduce a new character and it won't be obvious that the character is caucasian until their name is said ... because asian and caucasian characters typically look the same.

As for the specific question asked by the poll: yes, if I don't have any prior knowledge about the story, I typically assume the characters are asian simply because most anime/manga are in an asian setting. But I can't deny that it can be ambiguous sometimes--especially for the introduction of new characters.

I've seen a few manga and anime where the characters look distinctly more asian, but honestly I prefer the norm.

Things like FMA clearly have characters not meant to be asian... though I guess I considered Mustang asian despite his last name....

If a manga is set in Japan, I assume the characters are Japanese unless there's something obviously stated otherwise. For example, I have no trouble imagining everyone in HSDK as Japanese besides the foreign members of Yami & Yomi, despite how they look. But with stuff like Dragon Ball, I assume that maybe Son Gohan, Gokuu's "grandpa", was asian and therefore gave Gokuu an asian name, but otherwise, no.... (Bulma?)

I like it when a manga is drawn like Genshiken, which is interestingly all-around one of the most realistic manga I've ever read (right down to having known someone like Sue in high school =.="); in it, all the Japanese look Japanese, despite standard anime/manga ways of drawing eyes.