# Manga-Inspired Musical Boxes The Otowa Combines Music and Manga Together in a Tiny Box By Tiffany | Published 2013-12-17 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/otawa References: [fastcodesign](http://www.fastcodesign.com/3023441/a-magic-box-that-makes-music-out-of-manga) The Otowa is designed by a Japanese design firm Mieru Record, which consists of a group of artists who are inspired by the idea of combining music and manga together. Stemming from the original [music box](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anomalo), which was a 19th-century automatic musical instrument that produces music by hand, the Otowa is a standard [hand-cranked mechanical instrument](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-machine) that uses thin strips of punctured paper to play music instead of having a pre-determined song. The clever instrument allows you to read manga as well as have a soundtrack to accompany it. The device is a combination of the 19th-century mechanical organ and Japanese manga; the result is an incredibly cute and mini multimedia experience that you create yourself. To read the manga, you go from left to right as you rotate the lever to play the music. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.4/10 - Popularity: 5% | Activity: 30% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Multimedia Experiences:** The Otowa combines music and manga to create a mini multimedia experience. - **Interactive Music Boxes:** The Otowa uses thin strips of punctured paper to allow users to create their own soundtrack. - **Combining Traditional and Modern:** The Otowa merges the 19th-century mechanical organ with Japanese manga for a unique twist. ### Where This Applies - **Music and Entertainment:** Companies can explore combining music and visual storytelling for immersive multimedia experiences. - **Art and Design:** Design firms can innovate by combining traditional and modern elements in their creations. - **Personalized Consumer Products:** Manufacturers can develop interactive music boxes that allow users to customize their own soundtracks. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [DIY Music Boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/make-your-own-music.md) - [Coffee Ground-Made Music Boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snowie.md) - [Feline-Friendly Music Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cat-music-box.md) - [Coffee Ground Music Boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christmas-music-box.md) - [Charitable Music Boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-mushroom-fairy-music-box.md) - [Tactile Interactive Music Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yamaha.md) - [Inclusively Designed Music Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ovo-melody-toy.md) - [Otamatone Sheet Music Guides](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/otamatunes.md) - [Teatime-Inspired Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/musical-tea-set-toy.md)