From May 23rd to August 26th, The British Museum will be hosting the largest manga exhibit outside of Japan. The exhibit documents the history of manga: with pieces from the predecessors of what would become manga, to its humble beginnings in the early 20th century, to the now multi-billion dollar industry it has become. The exhibit even hosts a 17 meter (~56 foot) mural made by Kawanabe Kyōsai in 1880.
https://twitter.com/britishmuseum/status/1124584588897062912
The exhibit has been generally well received by the public so far, having something for everyone. From Astro Boy to One Piece, The Monkey’s Tale to Dragon Ball, the exhibit also covers a wide range of genres. There are even videos from some artists themselves talking about their works. The number of different works from different artists is astoundingly large and spans centuries.
On the other hand, people have criticized the exhibit. In his article Manga review – where has all the fun and filth gone? Jones says “the museum is not being entirely honest, in its desperation to create a mass culture blockbuster for all ages and attention spans”. He also states that the exhibit is “too fussy” for real manga fans.
We do implore you to make an informed decision. If you’re in the area we recommend you go check it out and decide for yourself.
