Have you ever wondered why manga and anime characters have big eyes? This is a topic that is often searched, especially by parents who think that big eyes have some obscure and secret mystery. In this article, we will try to understand the whole story behind the big eyes in anime and manga.
There are several explanations behind big eyes in anime and manga characters, and practically all of them are correct. I personally believe that the main reason is fashion, the effect dictates, trends... Someone started it and it continued like that! Obviously there are reasons for using big eyes, and let's try to find out now.
The more childish the anime style, the bigger the eyes. Some examples are in comedy anime and キャラクター chibi.
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Who started manga and anime with big eyes?
Before the birth and fame of mangás and anime, Disney was already creating characters with big eyes like Mickey Mouse and Betty Boop. Apparently, Betty Boop was one of the favorite characters of Osamu Tezuka, known as the god of mangas for creating the first manga and the first animation that popularized the Industry.
Inspired by the character Betty Boop, Osamu Tezuka launched the famous Astro Boy manga in 1952, ushering in a new era. The next mangaka that emerged after Osamu were inspired by him and also created characters with big eyes and so this became something common.
In reality, the culture of big eyes may have emerged much earlier than that. Illustrations by Yumeji Takehisa and Katsuji Matsumoto already represented kawaii characters with round, big eyes since World War I. In their time, this was not well regarded and was even considered somewhat vulgar.
DO ALL JAPANESE CHARACTERS HAVE big eyes?
In reality, round and large eyes should not be seen as a predominant factor in Japanese works. Works like Gundam, and various other franchises from Jump Comics and Studio Ghibli use different types of eyes and facial shapes. Some characters may have small eyes and large noses, while others may not have noses at all.
Others claim that it all started with Disney's 1942 film Bambi. Deer and deer are popular in Japan and often live alongside the population in some cities like Nara. The film's popularity in the country must have encouraged Osamu Tezuka and other mangaka to choose this type of art.
In the 90's there were several anime that tried to get closer to realism, using small eyes, big noses and other aspects that made the characters more realistic following the western trend of superhero animations. The success did not achieve the unexpected, because the characters seemed lifeless.
Why is eye size important in animation?
It doesn't matter if the eye is big, medium or small, the main reason the Japanese use eyes that stand out in the characters' faces is because they are the windows to the soul. The eyes captivate viewers by representing emotional and sentimental expressions of the character. This perfectly explains Disney's success!
Larger eyes make it easier to depict emotion more accurately, making characters easier to relate to. The position of the eyes, the shapes, colors of the pupils and iris and their gradations allow animators and designers to share a character's entire personality and story with just the face.
The size of the eyes can even trap the viewer and prevent him from noticing any flaws in the animation or scenery. Note that sometimes a manga has a super detailed drawing of the character's face, but the rest is totally sketchy and incomplete.
Big eyes help you understand a character's emotional reactions without having to use dialogue.
Other reasons for big eyes in anime and manga
This trend has also been perpetuated because big eyes are aesthetically pleasing in Japanese culture, so much so that some Japanese try to enlarge their eyes and are jealous of Westerners. The Japanese are mysteriously attracted to different things, this also explains the characters' colored hair.
Another reason is that humans naturally like babies. Babies have large eyes, so humans tend to like people with large eyes. This is quite related to the cultura kawaii (cuteness) that has grown as a fundamental part of Japanese culture in this century.
Using big eyes on anime characters appeals to the viewer's inner child. It doesn't matter if he's an adult or if the manga or anime is aimed at an adult audience like seinen. Moving the work away from realism with big eyes makes it even easier to use violence and sex without pushing away and generating arguments.
The same anime can have different characters with different eye sizes. Sometimes one may even have a nose and another may not! The truth is that there is no specific reason other than being an artistic detail that helps to captivate readers. This is nothing more than a major cliché of anime, manga, and even games.
There is no conspiracy with demons as parents think. Unfortunately, several stereotypes have spread related to Japanese animations, which created ideas that have nothing to do with the artistic style. What do you think about the big eyes on anime characters? We appreciate the comments and shares!
