Manga is a popular form of comic art that originated in Japan and has spread all over the world. Manga fans love the expressive characters, dynamic stories, and diverse genres that manga offers. But how do you create your own manga that stands out from the rest? How do you make your manga mangastic?
In this article, we will share some tips and tricks for aspiring manga artists who want to improve their skills and create mangas that are captivating, original, and mangastic.
What is Mangastic?
Mangastic is a term that we coined to describe a manga that is fantastic in every aspect. A mangastic manga is not only well-drawn, but also has a compelling plot, engaging characters, and a unique style. A mangastic manga is one that makes the readers want to read more and more, and leaves them with a lasting impression.
But how do you achieve this level of mangasticness? Here are some factors that you should consider when creating your own manga.
Choose Your Genre and Theme
One of the first steps in creating a manga is to decide what genre and theme you want to explore. Manga has a wide range of genres, such as action, romance, comedy, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, slice of life, and more. You can also mix and match different genres to create your own subgenre or hybrid genre.
The genre you choose will influence the tone, setting, and style of your manga. For example, if you choose a horror genre, you might want to use dark colors, creepy backgrounds, and suspenseful scenes. If you choose a comedy genre, you might want to use bright colors, funny expressions, and humorous dialogue.
The theme of your manga is the main idea or message that you want to convey to your readers. It can be something simple or complex, abstract or concrete, personal or universal. For example, some common themes in manga are friendship, love, courage, justice, revenge, identity, etc.
The theme of your manga will influence the plot, characters, and conflicts of your manga. For example, if your theme is friendship, you might want to show how your characters bond with each other, overcome challenges together, and support each other. If your theme is revenge, you might want to show how your characters seek vengeance for a wrong done to them or someone they care about.
Choosing your genre and theme will help you narrow down your focus and create a coherent and consistent manga.
Create Your Characters
The characters are the heart and soul of your manga. They are the ones who drive the story forward and make the readers care about what happens next. Therefore, you should spend some time developing your characters and making them interesting and relatable.
Here are some tips for creating your characters:
- Give them names that suit their personalities and backgrounds. You can use online name generators or dictionaries to find suitable names for your characters.
- Give them physical appearances that reflect their traits and roles. You can use online character creators or reference images to design your characters’ looks.
- Give them personalities that make them stand out from each other. You can use online personality tests or quizzes to determine your characters’ traits.
- Give them motivations that explain why they do what they do. You can use online goal-setting tools or worksheets to define your characters’ goals.
- Give them flaws that make them realistic and human. You can use online flaw lists or generators to find suitable flaws for your characters.
- Give them relationships that affect their actions and emotions. You can use online relationship charts or diagrams to map out your characters’ connections.
Creating your characters will help you bring them to life and make them memorable.
Plan Your Plot
The plot is the sequence of events that happen in your manga. It is what keeps the readers hooked and curious about what will happen next. Therefore, you should plan your plot carefully and make sure it is logical, coherent, and exciting.
Here are some tips for planning your plot:
- Use the three-act structure to organize your plot into a beginning (introduction), a middle (development), and an end (resolution). You can use online plot templates or outlines to guide you through this process.
- Use the five Ws (who, what, when, where, why) and one H (how) to answer the basic questions about your plot. You can use online questionnaires or worksheets to help you with this task.
- Use subplots to add depth and complexity to your main plot. Subplots are smaller stories that run parallel or intersect with the main plot. They can involve secondary characters or themes that enrich your manga.
- Use twists to surprise and shock your readers. Twists are unexpected changes or revelations that alter the course of the plot. They can be used to create suspense, drama, or humor in your manga.
- Use cliffhangers to end your chapters or volumes on a high note. Cliffhangers are moments that leave the readers in suspense or anticipation for what will happen next. They can be used to create tension, excitement, or curiosity in your manga.
Planning your plot will help you create a captivating and satisfying manga.
Develop Your Style
The style is the way you draw and present your manga. It is what makes your manga unique and recognizable. Therefore, you should develop your style and make sure it matches your genre, theme, and vision.
Here are some tips for developing your style:
- Study the works of other manga artists that inspire you. You can learn from their techniques, expressions, perspectives, layouts, etc. You can also find online tutorials or courses that teach you how to draw manga.
- Experiment with different tools and materials that suit your preferences and needs. You can use traditional tools such as pencils, pens, markers, brushes, etc., or digital tools such as tablets, software, apps, etc. You can also use online tools or resources that help you with drawing manga.
- Practice your skills and improve your weaknesses. You can use online exercises or challenges that help you with various aspects of drawing manga, such as anatomy, proportions, shading, coloring, etc. You can also ask for feedback or critique from other manga artists or readers.
- Find your voice and express yourself. You can use your style to convey your emotions, opinions, messages, etc. You can also use your style to show your personality, humor, creativity, etc.
Developing your style will help you create a distinctive and original manga.
Conclusion
Creating a manga is a rewarding and enjoyable process that allows you to unleash your imagination and share your stories with the world. However, it is also a challenging and demanding process that requires a lot of time, effort, and dedication.
To create a manga that is mangastic, you need to consider various factors such as genre, theme, characters, plot, and style. You also need to use various tools and resources that help you with drawing and writing manga.
We hope that this article has given you some useful tips and tricks for creating your own manga that is mangastic. Remember to have fun and enjoy the journey of becoming a mangaka!👍