Manga and light novels(LNs) are two different and most popular literary genres in Japanese comics.
They are both perfect for anime lovers, as they come with unique art styles & narrative structures, cultural influences, captivating storytelling formats, stunning visuals, and engaging characters.
Regardless, many avid readers of both manga and light novels remain confused about their different genres.
While they both have a lot of similarities, they have distinct differences that set them apart. We’ll explore the key differences between manga and light novels(LNs).
Definitions Of Between Manga And Light Novels
The two major cultural exports of Japan are video games and anime, and they have successfully captured millions of international audiences.
Mangas and light novels(LNs) are distinct means with creative processes, reading experiences, and unique formats.
Let’s delve further as we provide insight into the differences between manga and light novels and how to choose between them.
Mangas.
They are Japanese comic books and graphic novels. Manga is known for its unique art style and storytelling that captivates any age group, especially teenagers and young adults.
This comic book appears in mystery, romance, sci-fi, adult, horror, etc. It is a storytelling medium via dialogues, text, and images; all the text in Mangas appears inside speech bubbles.
Many comic series from the Western world showcase superheroes doing their best, while manga follows a storyline that touches on social perspectives and cultural values.
There are five central genres of manga, which are Seinen, Shonen, Soho, Kodumomuke, and Josie. Each of these genres targets a different age group. Manga has existed since the 18th century and has a long history in Japan.
Manga is read from right to left, which follows the traditional reading order of Japan. Unlike Western comics, mangas are printed in black and white, which offers visually engaging narratives and intricate works of art.
The influence of manga goes far beyond Japan; it has inspired related styles of comics globally, such as Manhua from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Manhwa from South Korea, and DZ manga from Algeria.
These similar styles of comics emerged as offshoots, showcasing mangas’ impact and global reach.
Genres Of Manga
1. Shonen.
- Collectif (Author)
- French (Publication Language)
- 01/01/2004 (Publication Date) – Pika Editions (Publisher)
This manga is the most popular on this list. This genre of manga specifically targets adolescent boys. It mainly features a male protagonist on the journey to self-improvement.
Shonen’s books are filled with comedy, themes of friendship, and action-packed scenes. They are similar to Western comics as they both feature a hero’s journey to greatness.
Shonen mangas also incorporate various subgenres like romance, sports, comedy, and more. Shonen mangas are published in Japanese pulp magazines dedicated to this journey.
2. Seinen Manga.
- Ojiro, Makoto (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 176 Pages – 09/19/2023 (Publication Date) – VIZ Media LLC (Publisher)
This genre appeals to men from age 18 – 40 years old. It is not aimed at kids as it deals with more mature topics.
The art style in the Seinen manga is different from some Shonen manga as it features dramatic lighting, artistic treatment, and excellent details.
In this manga, violence, gore, nudity, smoking, and drinking are no rare sights in this genre of manga.
3. Shoujo Manga.
- Anashin (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 208 Pages – 12/12/2023 (Publication Date) – Kodansha Comics (Publisher)
This manga is the female-leaning counterpart of Shonen. It focuses mainly on themes young girls would love; its themes emphasize human relationships, coming-of-age, first love, friendship, and more.
This genre of manga features couples and female protagonists. Male artists established it around the 1950s. ‘Boys Over Flowers’ is one of the world’s best-selling shoujo manga.
4. Kodomo Manga
- 森下裕美 (Author)
- Japanese (Publication Language)
- Shogakukan (Publisher)
This manga genre is specifically for young readers because it comes with memorable and brilliant personalities; it also involves supernatural creatures and animals.
It has become among the most popular manga globally, for example, the Pokemon series.
Kodomo is designed to promote literacy among Japanese kids, and every Kodomo manga comes with moral lessons.
5. Josei Manga.
- Tarachine, John (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 160 Pages – 12/19/2023 (Publication Date) – Titan Manga (Publisher)
This manga mainly targets adult women and young females. It is more mature than shoujo because the topics are handled maturely, and they feature intimate and explicit scenes.
Light Novels(LNs).
Light novels are also called Japanese novellas, and they offer different reading experiences, unlike manga. They are short stories written in a conversational tone aimed at young adults.
In Japan, they are a novella story printed with few illustrations. Just like its name, the story is rarely not more than 50,000 words and is divided by distinct illustrations.
Many readers often confuse light novels with manga because of their look-alike pictures.
Each volume of Japanese light novels has a story told in narrative prose. They are known for making the isekai genre popular through major hits like konosuba, overlord, and many others.
Main Differences Between Manga And Light Novels
1. Length.
Manga magazine chapters span around 17 – 20 pages, which applies to webcomics and print publications.
Also, monthly magazines contain much larger chapters with 30 – 50 pages, and the number of illustrations, lines of dialogue, and panels differ.
On the other hand, light novels(LNs) can have a word count of 20,000 words. Light novels in a series have about 4,000 – 15000 words and 1,500 – 5,000 words per chapter.
2. Illustrations.
Illustrations play the most vital role in Manga. Through the drawings, you can know the feelings of each character.
For example, you can capture a character’s emotions by looking at their facial expressions, like a downcast face or a close-up view of the character’s eyes.
Manga Illustrations communicate the character’s feelings to you. Furthermore, the illustrations of the action scenes in Manga are more graphic than the ones in light novels.
Illustrations on light novels are seen once every few pages; this serves as tags of crucial events, while some light novels do not come with images.
Drawings in many light novels are just embellishments because readers can still capture the emotions and the storyline without any illustration.
3. Pacing.
Light novels are more context-dense and text-driven to efficiently explain the appearance of every character surrounding them, the actions they take, and more.
Meanwhile, mangas are visual media without text to read; you don’t need to read a few paragraphs to know the settings and characters in the story.
The size of the text in Manga is smaller than in a light novel; this helps you to read faster. A single manga chapter can cover a story more than a light novel can.
4. Content.
Everyone knows mangas have vast content with stories that span multiple volumes and arcs.
The first thing avid readers of manga notice is the artwork, as it is a vital aspect of the story. Illustrations are considered necessities in Manga.
In contrast, light novels focus on developing significant characters, thoughts, cycles, and inner monologues.
The characters in light novels are more complicated, and the storyline is more important than the few illustrations.
5. Difference In Continuity.
Light novels(LNs) have a limited number; hence, they cannot be continued; they can only continue if the author intends to make a series for the main narrative. Thus, it’s unlikely for light novels to go off for a long duration.
As for mangas, every reader knows that mangas can go on as long as the manga artist wishes.
The longest manga ever to be published is called ‘Dokaben’ – it has 205 volumes. It was released in April 1972 and stopped in September 2018.
6. Reading Style.
Manga, as a general Japanese comic series, is read from right to left, whereas you read light novels from left to right.
7. Publication Schedule.
For light novels, only one new book gets published every six months. In contrast, mangas publishes new chapters every two weeks.
Choosing Between Manga And Light Novels
1. Preference For Manga.
If expressive artwork captivates you or you enjoy speed reading, then manga is the best format. Mangas’ character-driven descriptions and visual storytelling provide a fast-paced and exciting reading experience.
2. Choice of Reading Both.
Experiencing the manga and light novel versions of a sequel can help you get a detailed understanding of the characters and the story.
This splendid approach allows readers to appreciate the narrative of the light novels and the visual storytelling of the manga.
3. Preference For Light Novels.
If you prefer comprehensive explanations and well-written narratives, you must focus solely on light novels.
Light novels offer an in-depth understanding of all the characters, allow you to explore the story’s complexity, and offer an enjoyable reading experience.
4. Series Order.
Considering the pattern of reading is vital if a series has both light novel and manga adaptations.
If the light novel comes before the manga, starting with the light novel and further exploring the manga will provide you with a new view of the characters and story.
Contrarily, if a Manga series is released first, beginning with the manga and continuing with the light novel will give you a smooth progression.
On A Final Note;
Light novels and manga hold a special place in the hearts of their fans. While manga draws in readers with immersive artwork, light novels offer in-depth storytelling.
Now that you know their differences and how to choose which to read, go on now and purchase any that best suits you.
