People often ask me for help with choosing topics for essays and thesis assignments. Anime gives us many, many topics to write about. Sometimes too many. So here is a list of ideas and links to articles I’ve written that have sources you may find useful.
1. Manga and American Comics
Contrast the different themes found in Manga and American Comics. Manga features heroes who overcome their challenges with help from friends. American comics have heroes who overcome challenges through their personal grit and ability. Discuss this difference.
You can also compare art styles: the muscles of American heroes and impossible poses against manga styled bodies. Compare the fixation of bust size in American female heroes and manga. Speaking of bust size this may help. Anime Breasts looks at the relationship of breast size and character personalities.
2. Goku vs. Superman
Look at the cultural differences between these two iconic heroes. Compare how each represents the ideals of their respective societies. This will let you write about Japanese Confucian ideals and American Judaeo-Christian ideals. For an idea, check out my article about this topic.
3. Anime and Homosexual/Transgender Concerns.
Look at how anime explores homosexuality and transgender concerns. Anime often features transgender and ambiguously gendered characters. Look into how these characters hurt and/or help homosexual and transgender identity.
These articles will help:
- The Evangelion of Shojo: Revolutionary Girl Utena
- Homosexuality in Japan
- Pots, Cats and Lilies, but Nothing Changes?
4. Manga as literature
I wrote a thesis on this in grad school where I argued how manga helps readers explore issues in their lives, develop literacy skills, and explore sexual identities. Literature does all this and more. You can write a similar argument. You may read the paper, What has Cat ears, homework and a love for bishie? to give you an idea of this topic and see my 21 sources.
5. The Influence of Disney on Anime
The work of Walt Disney impacted Astro Boy and other anime/manga. Explain this impact and compare and contrast the art styles. See:
6. The Influence of Anime on Disney
In recent years, Disney has begun producing works that resemble anime more than classic Disney. Examine this trend. Sorry, I don’t have any articles here on JP about this topic, yet.
7. Explain Anime’s Visual Language
Anime’s visual language works….when you understand it. Explain the symbols anime uses to express character emotions. Contrast the methods with how Disney characters express those same emotions. Argue for how anime is more effective (or not!). See my article about Anime’s Visual Language for ideas on emotions you can write about.
8. Objectifying Women in Anime
Kill la Kill was a great anime that caused a stir about objectification of women in media. The anime doesn’t. In fact, it satirizes fan service and other objectification. Kill la Kill provides a good case study of the problem. Look at how women are objectified in anime and use Kill la Kill to point these problems out. See these articles to help you:
- Kill la Kill: A Feminist Anime or a Fanservice Feast?
- Kill la Kill – Exploring our Relationships with Clothing?
- Objectification of Women in Anime
- Is Otaku Culture Sexist?
9. Explore the Folklore of Tanuki
Write about Japanese tanuki folklore and how relates to anime. Explain how Studio Ghibli’s movie Pom Poko is one more story in a long line of tanuki stories that show the conflict between change and tradition. I touch on this topic in my book Tanuki: The Folklore of Japan’s Trickster
.
10. Explore the Folklore of Kitsune
This isn’t exactly anime related, but you can relate the folklore of the Japanese fox back to Naruto and other popular anime. My eBook, Come and Sleep: The Folklore of the Japanese Fox
covers all there is to know about kitsune folklore, including her origins in Chinese stories and in Ainu stories. Yeah, this is a shameless plug for my book. But you can find some of the stories in Project Gutenberg and other online sources.
I hope these essay ideas help. The links I post should help you get started with your own research. Anime and manga are as legitimate a story telling medium as movies and literature. It is fine to write about them. Manga and anime draw from old Japanese traditions in literature and art. They are also international mediums that pull from Disney. So don’t worry about exploring these art forms. It is identical to writing about Beowulf and Toy Story.
My son would like to do a research paper about anime. He has been creating anime character for his friends and clients. But don’t know how to start the research paper and what would be the best topic to discuss. Maybe you can help.
Kindly share the link of your topics about anime.
Thank you!
What are the requirements for the research paper?
Hi! I’m thinking of doing an informative essay about the anime “Monster” about the theme and philosophy of the characters and why it is still a cult classic and a critically revered tale, even in today’s day. But I’m still struggling with the title for it. Do y’all have suggestions? 🙂
“Beyond Entertainment: the Philosophy of the Manga Monster”
“Manga for the Mature, Diving into the Philosophy of Monster”
I’m starting to do a research paper on “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood”. I will be analysising the theme and characters and why people love the anime and also one of the top anime for about a decade. But I am confused the title of my research. Any suggestions?
Hmm. How about “Beyond Equivalent Exchange: Why the Themes of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Appeal to Fans.”
or
“Alchemic Alacrity: How the Themes and Characters of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Inspire Fans.”
Which of these topic questions do you think has more depth to write about “To what extent has anime influenced western culture and does it reinforce or break down stereotypes about the Japanese” or “To what extent has anime impacted western culture and what can the west learn from it”. If possible can you suggest something else. Thank you.
They both have good depth to them. The first allows you to do more research, comparing and contrasting Japanese stereotypes and anime. The second strikes me as more interesting, however. And it is more difficult. You will have to pin exact aspects of Western culture anime has influenced and illustrate how. Pokemon springs to my mind as a good example.
You can look into how manga has influence American comic designs or examine how anime’s portrayal of men contrasts against Western portrayals.
Good luck with the essay!
Thanks. I’ll also talk about how anime has impacted western cinema like how cinemas are now screening anime. Also how the west can learn from anime by adding depth to their characters instead if using the same tropes.
Sounds like a fun topic! Anime has influenced many directors in the film industry, such as James Cameron admiration for Ghost in the Shell.
That sounds really intresting, I will start doing my important assignment in upper secondary school now, and I know that I want to write about Anime or Manga. But I have trouble finding sources!
Good luck with your assignment!
this helped me soooooo much when i was making an essay for school THANXXXXXX
I’m glad the ideas helped!
I’m going to use your first idea of manga vs American comics for my English 101 essay, thank you very much!
Good luck!
did you now there is titty day on the 22nd of april
Do you know what prefecture or city the festival appears? I can’t find any information about it, but I suspect it is linked to motherhood celebrations.
lol I’m gonna do manga is literature
Good luck!
This is the only list of anime essay ideas that has substance and makes sense on the whole interwebnet, I swear. Thanks!
I’m glad you found them helpful. I also wrote a recent version.
thanks for some Ideas
You’re welcome. You can also use many of my other articles for ideas too. Anime is a vast topic.