Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Hayao Miyazaki has created many films which have been adapted into Japanese graphic novels called manga. Book 1 of Spirited Away is one such example. What are the characteristics of the manga form? How does it differ from traditional Western comics, and how is it similar?

Teaching Suggestion: Some students may be familiar with Miyazaki’s films or with manga, while others may not. Consider having a pre-response discussion, asking students if they have seen any of his films or read any other manga. Students can be reminded that this is an open-ended question with no wrong answer, and that if they do not know anything about either the artist or manga itself, they can guess what the word “manga” might suggest with images or the book cover art to serve as visual inspiration

• “The Life of Hayao Miyazaki” - This 7-minute video details the life of the artist and how he came to be one of the most prolific children’s filmmakers of all time.
• “An Introduction to Manga” - This resource explains what manga is, what makes it a distinct artform, and what genres exist.