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Lynn Okamoto is best known as the creator of manga "Elfen Lied," which later served as the basis for a 13-episode anime series. "Elfen Lied" stood out from other series by mixing cute, heartstring-pulling character designs with scenes of intense, graphic violence, and the end result is a unique blend of shocking science fiction, unsettling horror, and tender romance.
But while Okamoto is willing and able to work with an eclectic mix of storytelling elements, there’s one thing you’ll have a have time finding in his manga: cell phones. In a recent tweet, Okamoto explained his aversion to drawing the handy devices, which stems from his experience reading "Miyuki," a hit series from legendary manga artist Mitsuru Adachi which was serialized from 1980 to 1984.
“Back before I started drawing 'Elfen Lied,' I was reading Mitsuru Adachi’s Miyuki. Even though it’s now more than 30 years old, it still totally holds up, but when I saw someone in it using a 500-yen bill, it really hit home that it’s a manga from [a previous generation], and it took me out of the moment. Because of that, I decided that when I make manga, I’m going to draw them so that even if someone reads it a decade later, they won’t be able to tell when it was originally published.”
These days, the 1,000-yen bill is the smallest in circulation, and most people in their 30s or younger have only ever seen 500-yen coins. Wanting to avoid such dated distractions, Okamoto goes on to say:
“That’s why you hardly ever see cell phones in my manga. I can’t imagine what they’re going to look like in 10 years’ time. I don’t draw home electronics either, and if you see cars, they’re always classics. I do things like that to make it as hard as possible to tell when the manga was made.”
Anyone who’s watched an old film that’s set in the future and chuckled when the characters use physical media or a plot point hinges on quests for information that would take 10 seconds to find with an Internet search can appreciate the extra effort Okamoto goes to. Unfortunately, it’s not just technology that continues to evolve, but aesthetic trends as well, and "Elfen Lied’s" character artwork has a number of qualities that mark it as coming from the early to mid-2000s. Nonetheless, the amount of thought that Okamoto puts into keeping his works as timeless as he can is an inspiring example of his dedication to his craft.
Source: IT Media
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5 Comments
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RealityofFake
I think it's nearly impossible to create a manga or anime that a person can watch decades later and not tell that the series is dated. As is mentioned at the end of the article, art styles and animations change over time as well, not just technology. But I don't think this is a big deal, as a good story will remain a good story for hundreds of years.
nath
Agree, my J-Wife was turned down by a few studios because her style was dated.
Same reason why she lost her contract with Sony after 11yrs where she ran her own Manga, etc.
CrisGerSan
This is a rremarkably superficial article, not sure who wrote it but they sure dont understand much about anime or art or literature. It is silly to try to avoid our own time and our own tech whatever it is, it is part of our reality. Elfin Lied is a disgusting bizarre perversion of anime that shows graphic dismemberment, and other horrors when the viewers is not expecting it to shock and dismay and is nothing to do with what is good about anime in general. So it's artist and the series should not be viewed as having any impact at all other than something to avoid. Puling this marginal artist up for a comment and holding that somment up to be significant is shallow and meaningless.
there are a thousand and more fine anime series that are far far better and none of them worry about their tech or their reality being "outdated" they just get on being great entertainment and great visual literature.
mistie710
I take it that CrisGerSan doesn't like Elfin Lied. I must admit that I have to be in just the right mood to watch it but I'd stop short at making such an accusation as "disgusting bizarre perversion". Strong, maybe, and certainly not for everybody, but it has its moments.
What I do agree with, however, is the point being made about anime and manga being produced as a product of its time. I think there is room for both, to be honest. I can still watch shows that feature phone boxes and not be phased by it, and I don't mind watching high school kids mucking about with flip phones or smart phones as long as the story is good.
Goodness knows I'm not above watching shows like Monty Python's Flying Circus, even when they make reference to shillings, guineas and so forth! It's still funny. I've read Miyuki too (I like a bit of Adachi) and the same thing applies - the story is appealing so why worry about the appearance of a 500-yen bill?
In other words... meh!
zengohan
Lol chrisGerSan you better damn well say you don't like evangelion either