Asia in Comics 2004 - The World of Comics by Asian Women

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NOTE: The translations were typed as they appeared in the program, though the English is awkward at times. Asia In Comics 2004 - Comics by Asian Women February 21, 2004 (Sat.) 14:00-17:00 February 22, 2004 (Sun.) 14:00-17:00 The Japan Foundation Forum Organized by The Japan Foundation Asia Center [page 6] (Japanese-language version of presentation) [page 7] Session 1/Presentation No. 1 Recent Developments in the Works by Women Comic Artists in Indonesia by Ratna Sari, Editor of Comics, Elex Media Komputindo/Indonesia Born in 1967. Graduated from Yapari School of Foreign Languages. Entered Elex Media Komputindo in 1992, and worked as editing staff of comics. Editor in Chief since 2000. Japanese comics that flooded into Indonesia's comics market from 1990 onwards undeniably have influenced how works by the country's women comic artists have developed recently. Such influx of Japanese comics has stirred children's thirst for reading, given rise to children whose hobby is to read Japanese comics, and led to a bourgeoning of budding comic artists in this country. Comics by women artists therefore have begun appearing in Indonesia that have illustrations, main characters, story, etc. that manifest influence from Japanese style comics. Comic artist aspirants are inclined toward Japanese style comics because they were fervent fans of Japanese comics. Characters appearing in Japanese comics mesmerized them, so they began illustrating story comics with main characters appearing similar to those in Japanese comics. In 1999, the publisher Mizan in Bandung had published the "nomik" (a new style of comics combining novel and comics) by a young woman comic artist called Dyotami. Up to now, this publisher has published 4 titles by Dyotami, 4 titles by another women comic artist Sinta Sari, and another 1 by a different artist, totaling 9 works that have met with public approval. Then in 2001, Elex Media Komputindo of Jakarta published Past Promise by a woman comic artist Calista, which imitated Japanese style of comics. This work that depicted romance enthralled readers and was highly well received by the country's comics market. Shortly after, numerous women comic artists with similar style appeared. Their works are for instance, Fate and Magic Michiru by Shinju Arisa, Magic of Love, His Other Personality, and Dear Miss Lourin by Anzu Hizawa, Time Slip and Ring Love by Cynara, Triple Knock by Nunik, Baby from Heaven by Vania, Angel Project by Ishii Yumi, Fatamorgana by Lily, Meet the Boy by Veronica and White Feather by Archie the Red Cat, and others. Although the country's comics market is inclined toward to Japanese comics as usual, the works Indonesia's women comic artists have also begun to thrive. Large portions of the stories supplied by women comic artists are ones depicting love and the daily life of youth, and a few mystery works are also available. Most women comic artists illustrate in a comic book style. This is due to the large majority of Indonesia's readers are young girls and they adore this kind of comics. Many of their works based on the theme of young love, for example, Fate by Shinju Arisa, Past Promise by Calista, and Magic of Love by Anzu Hizawa, have sales comparable to average sales of Japanese comics in Indonesia. These 3 titles meeting public approval are all in comic book form, and these 3 comic artists are extremely famous among comics aficionados. Such developments have given publishers and comic artists new hope of comics making a comeback. Although a big portion of women comic artists are in high school or in university, and illustrating comics is for them a hobby, their tour de forces assure that the profession of comic artists has a promising future. Whether male or female, if people illustrating comics increases, they will receive cooperation from all sorts of people of the field, and it is certain that the country's comic culture will smoothly develop. On the other hand, if they do not receive cooperation, the imported comics will become the mainstream, and the country's comics will always remain as a by-product. I am sure that in the near future, comic artists full of promise will appear and that they will illustrate works that please readers. Some day too their comics will go overseas and be enjoyed by comics readers abroad.

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