In order to effectively answer this question, we would need to define the term “art form” and build from there. Looking at dictionaries, there are multiple definitions of the term art, and in this case, I would like to define the art form as a creative expression that tangibly or intangibly gives us a means to understand/see/hear, one’s own or the greater societies, religious/cultural/personal beliefs and or values.

Based on this premise, I believe that manga/anime is an art form. An argument against this position might be that manga/anime lacks the creativity to be considered an art form. And still a majority of others would pass it off as mere cartoons.

Addressing the creativity issue, I believe that manga/anime is a highly creative art form, not only in some of the more intricate character designs and the range of the different styles of drawings, but more importantly the story lines are highly creative and make manga/anime what it is today. From the wild dream machines and the evil uses of them (Paprica) to the moral and psychological effects on a young man who has the power to kill anyone on the earth without getting caught (Death Note) and many more diverse stories that depict the stories of lore and love. This gives manga/anime a rich creative range.

Now, the second argument that I believed might be have been posed against the position was that manga/anime would be passed off as mere cartoons relating it to doodles on a page. But in arguing the difference between the manga/anime and cartoons, I wish not to dismiss the “eligibility” of cartoons (in this case, American) as an art form. I can think of one American cartoon that reveals, ever so subtly, so much truth about modern American culture and societal values. South Park, although rather vulgar, gives much insight into today’s American culture and the interaction of its people.

But returning to manga/anime, the range of works available show the rich history of the Japanese culture and the its current views. Be it the age of wandering samurai in the times of slow westernization of the country leading to the slow deterioration of the code of Busido (Ruroni Kenshin), the mythology and mysticism behind the ninja, the believes in gods that control life after death or its views on life after death, the future, the line between fiction and reality and the distinction between unjust peace and just war (Patlabor2), and the state of the current values of Japan. These stories tell the rich culture of the Japanese people and dismissing it as mere cartoons would be quite a insult to those who’ve worked countless hours to produce said items.

Manga/Anime might not have the stoic appeal of other more tangible works such as pottery and old drawings that have survived the ages, and it might not have the price tag of many of those items. But, it offers much of the same. Manga/anime is a visual interpretation of those ideas that are were passed down through the ages and the ideas that now stand today. For these reasons, I believe that manga/anime is real art form.