I’m surprised quite a few readers in the UK, Europe and the US thought that in Japanese comics, characters with light-coloured hair were fair-haired or blonds. But it’s usually just a visual code for dyed light brown hair.
Actually, I think I’ll lay out a list of visual codes of Japanese comics. I’m on a work break, so why not?
| Visual codes | Blah blah |
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Although many readers in non-Asian countries tend to perceive these non-black hair colours as blond or fair-haired, it’s actually a visual code for light brown hair (usually dyed). The first image shows the male character’s hair colour is non-black, e.g. a shade of brown. The second image shows what the male character’s actual hair colour is. The third image shows typical hair colours Japanese youths have these days. The male character’s hair colour is similar to the girl’s hair colour in top right corner. When a character is a natural blond, her/his hair colour is usually mentioned in dialogue within the first page s/he appears. |
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When a character’s fringe covers their eyes, it usually means the character’s emotions are too intense to show in public.
Sometimes, it can be decoded as a moment of a character feeling intensely affected or touched. In this image, the female character accepts the male character’s reluctant admission that he has feelings for her. (Both are long-time rivals in their profession.) |
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Pointing a finger at a person is considered impolite or rude, because it’s a gesture of extreme arrogance.
A swirl on this character’s finger is a visual acknowledgement that she knows she’s being extremely blunt/rude. (Similar to a surly person saying, after giving someone a shove: “Yeah, and what you’re going to do about it?”) However, since the character is in form of chibi (in English usage, child form of a person), it intends to be ‘cute’ and non-threatening. Similar to a Yorkshire Terrier puppy yapping, spoiling for a fight, at a Great Dane adult. |
My work break is over. Boo! I’ll do some more later. Actually, I think I’ll do three visual codes per day. It’d be fun. At least for me, it would be.
Please do more of these!
I completely forgot about that. I still have a couple of drafts somewhere. Will post them this week. =] Thanks.
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