Question in lieu of a post

[larryhammer]

I'm trying to organize my thoughts on the omniscient narrators of Inda, The Viscount of Adrilankha, and Blood and Iron, but that requires, yanno, thinking -- and what brain I have is preoccupied with the novel currently code-named "That Werewolf and Fairy Romance Thingy,"* by way of taking care of the obvious things before tossing it at first readers. Concerning which, my current impression is it's not broken but there's work to be done: even aside from continuity problems, the second fifth needs tension, or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof, and the climax takes place in the Land of Talking Heads and Adjectives. Also, I've taken away the fairy's wand -- despite her grumbling that I'm such the meanie.

But I digress. Like I said, little brain. Though the brain problem may also be from reading my secret manga of shame a.k.a. Love Monster. I can feel neurons dying with each chapter. And yet, I keep reading. Maybe it's the bizarre shoujo BDSM subtext beneath the sparkly flowers and chibi bats. Or Hiyo's goodnatured idiocy. Or the --

Again with the digressioning. What I'm trying to ask is:

Why, in manga/anime, do only middle-school girls seem to become gods (or, occasionally, angels)? Is it too late by high school? Or am I just not meeting the right series?


* Did I mention I'm the suckness with titles? I can't even come up with a working title for this thing. Maybe I'll just call it Jase and Fi's Excellent Coming Out Adventure and be done with it.

---L.

Comments

[borntofr4g.livejournal.com]

"Why, in manga/anime, do only middle-school girls seem to become gods (or, occasionally, angels)? Is it too late by high school? Or am I just not meeting the right series?"

I wanna say that it's tied to the kids selected as pilots in Neon Genesis Evangelion being around 13-14, except I think that's the age of high school freshmen (or late middle-schoolers).

Then again, it's very late where I am now and my memory span is even shorter than normal at the moment, so methinks my judgement is a little spotty.

[randimason.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that this ugly yet beautiful world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Ugly_Yet_Beautiful_World) would fit, but the boys are too old.

It's probably because the 'trope' of shōnen manga would involve middle school aged boys fighting by the use of robots/mysterious dolls/their own hidden ninja skills.

The turning into gods and angels seems to be an extension of the 'magical girl' subgenre for slightly older girls.

[larryhammer]

It would seem to be an extension, except magic girls (and mecha kids) can also be in high school.

---L.

[randimason.livejournal.com]

But isn't the audience at that point is aspirational, in the same way that 'teen' programing in the US is actually aimed to have a core 'tween' audience?

[larryhammer]

And the core audience of most children's books are a year or two younger than the protagonists, sure. But that doesn't explain the middle school gods.

---L.

[randimason.livejournal.com]

*thinks*

Not really, no. I think you may have stumped the panel.

[randimason.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I forgot one -- 'Digimon Tamers' (4th season) had the kids (both boys and girls) turning into their 'spirit forms'.

But that was more a natural progression for the series -- kids had already started 'merging' with their Digimon in Season 3.

That said, I am not sure of the exact ages of the characters in the 4th season -- in the third, they acted like middle school kids, but apparently were in grade school.

Title

[http://users.livejournal.com/_twilight_/]

You can do what I do and randomly select words until they somehow fit the story. ;)

Re: Title

[larryhammer]

That gets me Wolf and Wing. Which isn't bad, exactly.

---L.

Re: Title

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

I like Wolf and Wing. It isn't inane; it has good buzzwords; it's balanced; it's memorable. And it has very appealing graphic-design possibilities. Consider keeping it.

Re: Title

[larryhammer]

It doesn't have much wrong with it. I'm not sure it has enough right, though.

---L.

Re: Title

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

You could keep it in reserve for a new high-concept series ("She's a werewolf. He's a fairy. Together, they fight crime").

Re: Title

[larryhammer]

"He's a werewolf. She's a fairy. Together, they fight crime survive high school. Maybe."

---L.

Re: Title

[http://users.livejournal.com/_twilight_/]

Neat. :)

[jennifer-j-s.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I can live for a long time in the Land of Talking Heads and Adjectives. Somehow editors notice this, and force me to revise.

Good luck, Larry. Sending verbs your way!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_twilight_/]

Hey! I think I met you. Sell any adventure books lately?

[(Anonymous)]

Now that you mention it, yes I did.

Okay, I have you figured out.

Small world, blogging.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_twilight_/]

You have me figured out? I think there's a medal or trophy for that! ;)