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Manga Glossary
Manga portion of the Wotaku glossary!

Basic Terms

Adaptation

Not original content but based on an already existing work.

TitleSource
Neon Genesis EvangelionAnime
No Longer HumanNovel
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl SenpaiLight Novel
Steins;GateVisual Novel
Persona 3JRPG
Josee, the Tiger and the FishShort Story
Goodbye DeclarationSong
Love Live! School Idol DiaryFranchise

Mangaka

Mangaka means the artist of the manga. Mangaka can also be the story writer. Generally, mangaka does everything by himself, but sometimes he may employ assistants to speed up the work and cope with the weekly release schedule.

Origin

ComicsCountry
MangaJapan
ManhwaKorea
ManhuaChina
ManfraFrance
OELEnglish-speaking countries
KomikIndonesia

Sound Effects (SFX)

Sound effects in manga visualizes the character's physical or mental state, the environment of the scenario, motions or just sounds (obviously). Here is a collection of Japanese Sound effects.

365 Days To The Wedding; The sfx here is どよおーん” (“Doyoooon”) which means “depressed atmosphere”
365 Days To The Wedding; The sfx here is どよおーん” (“Doyoooon”) which means “depressed atmosphere”

Panel Terms

DirectionType
Right to Left (R2L)Manga
Manfra
Left to Right (L2R)Manhwa
Manhua
Komik

The usual reading direction for manga is right to left, whereas manhwa and manhua are read left to right (like standard comics). In the case of manga, the individual panels are read right to left and top to bottom, then top again upon reaching the next page.

Sousou no Frieren Vol. 3 (Left) & Jack Frost Vol. 1 (right)
Sousou no Frieren Vol. 3 (Left) & Jack Frost Vol. 1 (right)

For a spread, you can set an imaginary line based on the page number.

Black Clover ch. 361 (2 page)
Black Clover ch. 361 (2 page)

Release Terms

Backfilling

When the translation of a series starts with the latest chapters, with the publisher later working on the rest, starting from the beginning.

Doujinshi

Doujinshi refers to self-published works. It can be a standalone self-published work, but it can also be a derivative of an existing published franchise or work. Doujinshi need not be NSFW, anything self-published counts. Sometimes, mangaka publish their work as a doujin either before an official serialization or after the serialization has ended.

MangaType
Ganbare, Douki-chanPre-serialization
Mangaka-sensei and the Zashiki Warashi (post ch. 29)Post-serialization

Magazine

Magazines are the most common medium of manga serialization, with the most popular ones being owned by big publishers. Each magazine focuses on a certain demographic, though some are mixed too (generally shoujo and josei). Magazines can be multi-medium too, for example Dengeki G's Magazine (by ASCII Media Works). The release intervals vary, most common being weekly, monthly or bimonthly.

PublisherMagazineDemographyNotable Manga
Kadokawa ShotenShounen AceShounenNichijou
Flos ComicShoujoThe Saint's Magic Power Is Omnipotent
Young AceSeinenNeon Genesis Evangelion
KodanshaWeekly Shounen MagazineShounenAttack on Titan
NakayoshiShoujoSailor Moon
Weekly Young MagazineSeinenAkira
Be-LoveJoseiNina the Starry Bride
ShueishaWeekly Shounen JumpShounenOne Piece
RibonShoujoHoney Lemon Soda
Weekly Young JumpSeinenGantz
Cocohana (ex-Young You)JoseiHoney and Clover
ShogakukanCoroCoro ComicKodomoDoraemon
Weekly Shounen SundayShounenFrieren
CiaoShoujoKirarin Revolution
Big Comic SpiritsSeinen21st Century Boys
FlowersJosei7SEEDS
HakusenshaYoung AnimalSeinenBerserk
Hana to YumeShoujoFruits Basket
LaLaShoujoMaid-sama!
Square EnixMonthly Shounen GanganShounenFullmetal Alchemist
Young GanganSeinenMy Dress-Up Darling
ASCII Media WorksDengeki DaiohMixAzumanga Daioh
Dengeki G's MagazineMixAngel Beats!
Dengeki MaohMixSpice and Wolf
Akita ShotenWeekly Shounen ChampionShounenBaki
Young ChampionSeinenBattle Royale

Shueisha, Shogakukan and Hakusensha are owned by Hitotsubashi Group; Kadokawa Shoten and ASCII Media Works by Kadokawa Future Publishing.

OEL Comics

OEL, or Original English-language comics, originate in English-speaking countries. They prominently feature Asian cultural influences in their art styles, themes, and storytelling, while the creators, including artists and production, are primarily non-Asian. Prominent examples include Bizenghast, Attack on Titan Anthology, Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network and The Beginning After the End.

Omake

A bonus/extra chapter that doesn't really affect the main story. Generally it gives artworks, character backgrounds, mangaka notes or an extra story.

Omnibus

A release type characteristic of western publishers where multiple tankoubon volumes are contained in one book. It's most commonly seen as 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 editions. Example: Don’t Call it Mystery. They're usually larger format and can contain extras, especially if the series already had a tankoubon release previously. Sometime it can sometimes contain an entire series, like in the case of the Death Note All-in-One volume.

One-Shot

A manga that's been published at once. The length of the story depends on the mangaka. Also, it can be serialized later. Example: Kimi no Kaketeru Tokomo Suki

Raw

The term 'RAW' refers to manga (Japan), manhwa (Korea), or manhua (China) that has not been modified in any way from its original form. It can be both physical (scanned) or digital (ripped). Nowadays most of the raws are digital.

We are Magical Boys (left, physical) & Jujutsu Kaisen (right, digital)
We are Magical Boys (left, physical) & Jujutsu Kaisen (right, digital)

Simulpub

Simultaneous publication, meaning releasing and translating the latest chapters alongside their country of origin.

Tankoubon

Tankoubon means the volume release. Many manga are initially published in magazines. If a manga becomes very popular, it can receive a volume release a.k.a. Tankoubon. These volumes often include redrawn content, extra chapters, and notes from the mangaka. Sometimes, Tankoubon collections can feature various works by the mangaka, similar to an anthology.


Other volume types

TermLiteral MeaningMeaning
AizoubanLoving collection editionCollector's edition volumes, usually printed in limited runs. These volumes are generally more expensive and come with special features such as new covers, higher-quality paper, a special slipcase, etc.
BunkobanPaperback editionA volume printed in bunko format, or a typical Japanese novel-sized volume. Generally A6 size and thicker than tankoubon, usually with new covers. Bunkoban tends to contain considerably more pages than a tankoubon, meaning the bunko edition of a given manga will consist of fewer volumes.
GoukaaizoubanLuxury favorite editionAnother term occasionally used to designate a type of special release.
KanzenbanPerfect complete editionA special complete edition. Volumes are generally A5 size and will typically include individual chapter covers, color pages, and side-stories from its original magazine run, all of which are often omitted or converted to grayscale in standard tankoubon releases.
ShinsoubanNew decoration editionA new edition, usually with special covers, new color pages and other extras. They can even feature completely redrawn pages and rewritten dialogue.
SoushuuhenComplete collectionA format published by Shueisha beginning in 2008. Volumes are B5 size, larger than a kanzenban. They include chapter covers, color pages, and various bonus features such as posters and interviews. They're usually reserved for popular manga with ongoing serializations and contain far more pages than a standard tankoubon, thus feature more chapters in fewer volumes.
Wide-banA larger (A5 size) edition. Many manga, particularly seinen and josei, are published in wide-ban editions after magazine serialization, and are never released in the tankoubon format that is common in shounen and shoujo manga. When a series is originally published in tankoubon format and then re-released in wide-ban, each volume will contain more pages than the original edition, thus consisting of fewer volumes.

Webcomic / Webmanga

Webcomic means that the primary source of a manga is a web platform. It doesn't mean it won't get a volume release later on.

For doujinshi, it applies to those released on a platform not owned by a publisher, either for free (on twitter, pixiv etc) or paid (on Pixiv Fanbox, BOOTH etc). Example: Sometimes Even Reality Is a Lie!, Mangaka-sensei and the Zashiki Warashi (post ch. 29).

For serialized manga, it applies when they are uploaded exclusively to a publisher's online platform instead of a magazine, or if the publisher is online-only. Example: The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity, ReLife.

For doujinshi platforms, most are website-focused, with some having apps as well. Paid ones offer either artist-based subscriptions or the purchase of individual chapters/volumes. These platforms are generally open for all with a mix of genres.

For example pixiv provides all three types of solutions:

  • pixiv for showcasing manga for free
  • pixivFANBOX for artist-based monthly susbcriptions (like Patreon)
  • BOOTH for buying manga issues individually.

pixiv Comics licenses manga from other publishers and magazines. These titles can be either traditional print-format manga or vertical long-strip webtoons. The platform uses a coin-based system, with some chapters available for free. For certain series, only the first and last three chapters are free, while others may be entirely free to read.

For publisher platforms, some of the series are website-exclusive, while others are from their serialized manga magazines. Most offer a browser reader, while some make you use their app to access all features and chapters. They usually have a coin/point-based system for payment.

OwnerPlatformGenreFormatTypePayment
ShueishaShonen Jump+ ShounenPrintWeb + AppPoint
Manga PlusShounenPrintWeb + AppPoint
Jump TOON ShounenLong-StripWeb + AppPoint
Young Jump! SeinenPrintWeb + AppPoint + Sub
RimaComi+ Shoujo/JoseiPrintWebPoint
HakusenshaManga Park GeneralPrintWeb + AppPoint
KodanshaPocket Magazine GeneralPrintWeb + AppPoint
K MANGAGeneralPrintWeb + AppPoint
Young Magazine WEB SeinenPrintWebPoint
Comic Days GeneralPrintWeb + AppPoint
Square EnixManga UP! GeneralPrintWeb + AppPoint + Sub
Manga UP! GlobalGeneralPrintWeb + AppPoint + Sub
KadokawaKadokomi GeneralPrintWeb + AppFree
NaverNaver WEBTOON GeneralLong-StripApp FocusedPoint
WEBTOON
GeneralLong-StripApp FocusedPoint
LINE Manga GeneralLong-StripApp FocusedPoint
Dongman Manhua GeneralLong-StripApp FocusedPoint
WEBTOON China GeneralLong-StripApp FocusedPoint
Naver Series GeneralBothWeb + AppPoint
NHNComico GeneralLong-StripWeb + AppPoint
Comico Korea GeneralLong-StripWeb + AppPoint
Pocket ComicsGeneralLong-StripWeb + AppPoint
KakaoKakaoPage GeneralLong-StripWeb + AppPoint
KAKAO WEBTOON GeneralLong-StripWeb + AppPoint
TapasGeneralLong-StripWeb + AppPoint
Piccoma GeneralBothWeb + AppPoint

Scanlation

Scanlation
Scanlation

A group that fan translate a manga/manhwa/manhua. The group takes the raw file and translates the whole manga (including dialogue, sfx & other forms of text). Also, sometimes the wordplays & cultural references provided in that chapter are explained in the credit section.

MemberDescription
Cleaner (CL)Cleaner takes the raw file, fixes any faults (such as artifacts due to scanning, color shifts, tilts, etc.), and cleans all of the original text including SFX, if necessary. But these days, it is usually only removing text since digital raws are widely available.
Redrawer (RD)Redrawer redraws all the erased parts by the cleaner and makes them as smooth as possible. They patch everything that was affected due to scanning or other issues. Nowadays, cleaning and redrawing are often done by a single person since these two tasks are closely related. Example: CL and RD by Raj of The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity ch.39 p16
Translator (TL)The translator translates all the text in the manga, including dialogues, sound effects, and other texts in the panels. They also provide explanations for all the jokes, cultural references, or wordplays
Typesetter (TS)Typesetter takes the translated script from the translator and typesets it on the panel with appropriate font, formatting & sfx drawing. Sometimes TS can do both translation and typesetting.
Proof reader (PR)PR reviews all translated text to correct any typos, awkward translations, or grammar issues. It is essential that PR is fluent in the translation language. The job of PR may become unnecessary if the TL is highly experienced, as QC could potentially take on the responsibilities.
Quality checker (QC)Quality checker oversees all processes, including checking the translated manga for typos, grammar errors, translation issues, and redrawing problems. However, whether or not this role exists depends on the project or group's working strategy.
TL script of Living, Eating, and Sleeping Together ch. 1 (Page 1-5)
TL script of Living, Eating, and Sleeping Together ch. 1 (Page 1-5)
Kilroy Was Here
Kilroy Was Here

Technical Terms

Halftone & Screentone

In general printing, halftones refer to the technique of using different sized dots to create the illusion of shades and tones. This is achieved by breaking down an image into tiny black and white dots of varying densities. Screentones are utilized by the artist to create different types of shades in art.

Moiré / Moire

Moiré is the creation of a new pattern by overlapping two patterns / halftone / screentone. It can occur due to several factors:

Artists often overlap two or more pattern to create a new pattern. Although it's technically moiré, it's an intended effect, thus when we talk about moiré, we focus more on the uneven or the unintentional ones. Moiré can also happen if the artist uses higher frequency of halftone during drawing since those can't be printed with 100% scale or published digitally.

Moiré vs Non-Moiré Pattern Comparison
Moiré vs Non-Moiré Pattern Comparison

Solution

If it's due to artist or publisher's side, it's not really fixable without redraw. If it's due to screen resolution/DPI,

  • The level of moiré can be lowered by using a better image scaling algorithm, such as Lanczos scaling. For example: CDisplayEx (Windows) and Perfect Viewer (Android). You can tweak the Lanczos level in the settings to get a better result. The level depends on the
    • image DPI of the comic
    • screen DPI of the user
    • comic reader
  • Reading a version downscaled by a third party (aggregators or nyaa uploads with "SD" tag) or manually downscaling them
  • Or using a higher resolution and/or bigger display

File Naming

Manga file name sections
Manga file name sections
PartDescription
PublisherThe publisher can be mainly two types. CaaS (Chapters as a Service) sites release chapters indvidually instead of volume. Examples: Manga Plus, Manga UP!, Comikey, Tapas etc. Volume websites sells the whole volume with better quality. Example: VIZ, Kodansha, Square Enix etc.
SourceNowadays the primary source is digital, since it is easier to rip and usually higher quality. In the case of scans, the most used tag is c2c - cover to cover.
UploaderThe ripper of the manga. Sometimes, it can be more than one person too. Also, if the manga is scanlated, the scanlation group is credited here.
preIt indicates that a digital release has issues the publisher has yet to fix (like missing/duplicated pages). PRE2 means the publisher has fixed some of those issues, but not all of them.
fIt indicated this is a fixed version after the initial upload. If there are further fixes, it will be put as f2, f3 etc.
Brackets() -> Manga, {} -> Manhwa and [] -> Light Novel
FormatCBZ is the most common file format for manga. CBZ is just a Zip container. There are also CBR(RAR), CB7(7zip), PDF, ePub etc. The image files inside are generally jpeg and png.