SUMMARY

Japanese animation and comic books have exploded in popularity in the United States over the last few years. From floats in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to a win at this year's Oscars, the genre has seen an increasing amount of visibility in American culture. Ali Rogin reports.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who is Ale Guevara?
2. What was the peak of manga sales in the U.S.?
3. Where did the film "Everything Everywhere All at Once" win best picture?
4. When did manga sales in the U.S. quadruple?
5. Why did Guevara's cousins recommend One Piece?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

Think about the media and entertainment you consume.

• Is most of it produced in the United States or in other countries?
• Are you a fan of any shows, movies, books, comics or art from other countries? If so, what?
• What do you think is the impact on U.S. culture from artistic imports such as maga and anime?

Media literacy: What do you think manga and anime creators might think about their international popularity when making their art, or do you think they focus primarily on Japanese audiences?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

FOR MORE

What students can do: Watch the following video about American comics creator Stan Lee. How do you think Lee's values are reflected in Marvel comics and movies? Do you think comics and superheroes can influence broader cultural trends?

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