William Shakespeare
Description
William Shakespeare is not a creator who worked directly in the mediums of anime or manga, as he was an English playwright and poet active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. However, he is the credited original author for a substantial number of manga and anime works that adapt his plays. In these contexts, he is recognized as the foundational source creator, with his name appearing on the works as the original author.
The Manga Shakespeare series, published by SelfMadeHero, is a prominent example of his influence. This series of graphic novel adaptations uses Shakespeare's original texts as adapted by Richard Appignanesi and illustrated by various manga artists. The Tempest is one of the volumes in this series; it was adapted by Appignanesi and illustrated by Paul Duffield, first published in 2007.
Other notable manga and anime projects based on Shakespeare's works include collections by Osamu Tezuka, often called the God of Manga. Tezuka created several Shakespeare-inspired stories throughout his career, including Robio and Robiet, a take on Romeo and Juliet featured within his Astro Boy series, as well as adaptations of Macbeth, Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew, Othello, and The Merchant of Venice. These works have been compiled in collections such as Shakespeare Manga Theater.
Shakespeare's plays have also been the basis for full manga series. Harold Sakuishi created Seven Shakespeares, a series that presents a fictionalized account of the playwright's life and the origins of his famous works. Additionally, the anime Romeo x Juliet, which debuted in 2007, is a reimagining of the classic tragedy, and it received a manga adaptation as well.
The recurring artistic identity across these works is their role as adaptations. They take Shakespeare's established narratives, characters, and thematic concerns—such as power, betrayal, love, and forgiveness—and reinterpret them through the visual language and storytelling conventions of manga and anime, often setting them in new or reimagined contexts to make them accessible to contemporary audiences.
In the industry, Shakespeare is significant as a foundational literary source whose works have been continually adapted, serving as a bridge between classic English literature and modern sequential art. His status as the original author provides a canonical foundation for educational and entertainment-focused manga, allowing the medium to engage with culturally revered texts.
The Manga Shakespeare series, published by SelfMadeHero, is a prominent example of his influence. This series of graphic novel adaptations uses Shakespeare's original texts as adapted by Richard Appignanesi and illustrated by various manga artists. The Tempest is one of the volumes in this series; it was adapted by Appignanesi and illustrated by Paul Duffield, first published in 2007.
Other notable manga and anime projects based on Shakespeare's works include collections by Osamu Tezuka, often called the God of Manga. Tezuka created several Shakespeare-inspired stories throughout his career, including Robio and Robiet, a take on Romeo and Juliet featured within his Astro Boy series, as well as adaptations of Macbeth, Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew, Othello, and The Merchant of Venice. These works have been compiled in collections such as Shakespeare Manga Theater.
Shakespeare's plays have also been the basis for full manga series. Harold Sakuishi created Seven Shakespeares, a series that presents a fictionalized account of the playwright's life and the origins of his famous works. Additionally, the anime Romeo x Juliet, which debuted in 2007, is a reimagining of the classic tragedy, and it received a manga adaptation as well.
The recurring artistic identity across these works is their role as adaptations. They take Shakespeare's established narratives, characters, and thematic concerns—such as power, betrayal, love, and forgiveness—and reinterpret them through the visual language and storytelling conventions of manga and anime, often setting them in new or reimagined contexts to make them accessible to contemporary audiences.
In the industry, Shakespeare is significant as a foundational literary source whose works have been continually adapted, serving as a bridge between classic English literature and modern sequential art. His status as the original author provides a canonical foundation for educational and entertainment-focused manga, allowing the medium to engage with culturally revered texts.
Works
- Topics: Manga overview