The Wereldmuseum Rotterdam Newest Exhibition Showcases a World of Manga, June 27 – January 30, 2014
Ever pondered the origins and inspiration behind your favorite manga? Where did manga artists generate ideas and develop some of the most internationally recognizable faces of manga books and anime shows?
Attending the World of Manga Exhibit within The Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam helped me connect the dots to many of these questions.
I visited the gallery in late August and found it to be a fascinating exhibition. I was expecting the exhibit to just display a variety of anime collectible toys, sketch illustration posters, and magazines, in a way almost like a pop-up shop. I was wrong.
The World of Manga Exhibit unfolded like an ancient scroll, revealing the fascinating history that birthed iconic manga faces and how manga artists found their inspiration. From Japanese woodblock prints to Tajiri’s machines, the exhibit revealed many of the cultural artifacts and elements that inspired the modern era of manga. The exhibit also showcased some ancient historical artifacts of Asian gods and deities from different religions spread throughout Asia, many of which today’s manga characters have similarities to
Popular names such as Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Ghost In the Shell all had their own individual showrooms to showcase their manga story background. Many manga storylines really tried to connect with actual historical wars and retell the story from different viewpoints within the manga version.
If you are in the Rotterdam area, I would definitely take a moment to check this exhibit out. It really comes out more from an educational perspective in giving you another side of the manga story.
For more info check out the direct museum sight: The Wereldmuseum Rotterdam
