I'ved always wanted to be a manga artist when I grow up… I even got my own series, but I don't know if you have to be japanese in order to actually publish a manga... What do you guys think?
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Manga=Comic. Anyone can make a comic…
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Haha… Like MY heritage is going to stop me? I didn't choose to be American, after all. And if I can just find a good artist... I'll be set.
Carly here knows which story I'm referring to when I say that, Lord knows I've pounded as much knowledge about it into her as I could, and there's still more comin'. XD
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_Originally posted by Right Click+Apr 25 2005, 02:05 PM–>QUOTE(Right Click @ Apr 25 2005, 02:05 PM)Manga=Comic. Anyone can make a comic...
[snapback]37332[/snapback]Signed.
I suppose if you were intending to specifically market in Japan that'd be a different story, but manga ARE comics. I mean, shit, I guarantee you stuff like Batman, Watchmen, Sin City, Tintin, Sandman? Those would kick the ass of 90% of the Japanese market and they're not from Japan. btw, Tintin rules, more people should know about it.
If you're a successful comic artist you'll make a shitload of money, so do it in the country that's right at your hands and make it even easier.
@Apr 25 2005, 02:36 PM
Haha… Like MY heritage is going to stop me? I didn't choose to be American, after all. And if I can just find a good artist... I'll be set.
[snapback]37357[/snapback]_Suna !! I thought I drilled that lesson into you already !! :lol:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Credo quia absurdum non credere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Originally posted by Carly+Apr 25 2005, 05:37 PM–>QUOTE(Carly @ Apr 25 2005, 05:37 PM)
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I'd DO that, but then I'd get those Star Trek geeks arguing whether or not Awari or Chris was more powerful… (Those two are from my story, PM for details)
But then again, I'd get that from multiple otaku as well... :blink:
Eh... Writing something like what my story in Japan will be more well-received than the same thing being written in America.... So I'll aim for the Japanese way. ^_^
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Suna !! I thought I drilled that lesson into you already !! :lol:
Hmm, which was that again? I got the no-Japanese rule and the no-gopher rule… XD
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I'm not entirely sure how to word this….
Yes, you can create manga. But why? Why not just go your own way, and concentrate on making a great graphic story rather than something that's just "manga"? You don't want to be a Fred Perry. Who? Exactly.
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Um… It's just... This may sound really strange, but the thought of having my story adapted into manga and possibly anime is more enthralling than the thought of an American comic, which will be butchered into a Saturday morning cartoon.
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Since, from a western perspective at least, "manga" generally refers to comics produced in Japan, hence, from that definition, yeah, it's pretty much required that you be Japanese if you want that term used to refer to your work. However, there are plenty of "comics" that are as good as your average "manga" or better, so unless that one little word matters immensely to you, there's no reason to worry anyway…
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Nah… I know of this one American dude who went on to produce three successful manga.... Or maybe my mind is just playing the game of 'delusions of grandeur.'
My lineage has nothing to do with what I want my creation to be. I will have sometihng serialized in Jump or Shounen Sunday... Or die trying.
Yes, I know I'm very obsessed. The thing is.... To see my characters, my creation as manga, or even better, anime.. That would fill my heart with such joy...
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What's this crap about Star Trek now ? xP I happen to LIKE Star Trek, thank you !
Chris, I'm not sure if what I'm saying is really, truly sticking in here. I mean - look at me, for instance. Yeah, I draw in the anime style. Yes, I've taken Japanese for years. Yes, I went through the phase where everything from my clothes to my soda to my goddamn shampoo was made in Japan. I lived and breathed manga and I always dreamed of storming into Japan, shy little gaijin, putting out my magnum opus on the market and stunning the masses with such wonders and provoking thought from the other side of the pond. I dreamed of being the queen gaijin (lol, that rhymes). The Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis of manga.
Every kid has dreams like that. They want to be the next Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, the next Beatles or Nirvana. They dream of going to DigiPen and drawing cheesy shoujo-eyes. They want to be the next Miles Davis or be the next starlet on Broadway. I'm not saying it's not possible - but you have to recognize reality first before you make something like that your total life's work. The Babe Ruth kid only ends up in the JV team. The next Beatles never make it out of the nightclub. The Digipen guy can't cope with hours of programming code. The starlet can't get cast in her community playhouse.
Did I get crushed ? You bet your ass I got crushed. Maybe I still have a future in art, music, writing, whatever. But I couldn't take the criticism I got and I realized that if I wasn't going to make an impression on the country I lived in, how the hell would I do it in the other country who sucks up MTV feeds ?
You might have the tenacity to one-up Japan, I dunno. But no one has ever done it yet and - don't take me the wrong way here, but even on my eyes looking at what you want to put out, it needs a MAJOR overhaul before it'd get picked up. Trust me, my words are like sugar and honey compared to how many rejections comic artists get every day.
It wouldn't be impossible, but it's damn nigh impossible.
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I believe you can have manga styled, and manga influenced comics. But to me, manga is comics from Japan, that are written with a Japanese audience in mind, by a Japanese person who is completely emersed in Japanese culture. A manga written by an American, even one highly knowledgable about Japan, is not what I would call a true manga.
But this is just my definition, and I realize that the arguement exists that manga = all comics. Fair enough.
Just don't expect me to be as interested in reading manga not produced in Japan. I'm not saying it can't be good, but the primary reason I read and enjoy manga is that I love looking into another culture.
And…unfortunately, many of the "manga" produced by Americans that actually get published are...poor quality, to say the least. Does anyone here remember "Sushi Girl"? Hopefully, American manga-influenced writers and artists in the future will be able to come up with something better then that.
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@Carly: I DO realize I have a very small chance. I DO realize that my dream could be crushed before it takes off, and I DO realize that what I'm trying to do will take a lot of overhauling, and lord knows I'll change the plot of Heavenfall maybe five, six, even seven times… And I'm willing to change it. There are many bugs I need to work out: The Hoku-Rai Arc, the whole Time-travelling scheme with Hak, Argus, Letie, and Chris, so on. I understand this is a damn near impossible dream, but hell, I'm still going to shoot for it, no matter how little of a chance I have. I don't care who turns me down and spits at me, I will find some way to get the story out to the public... As a manga-ka. I do understand that you're just trying to be a realist here so I don't get screwed over later on, but... If I get turned down, I'll keep going until somebody finally says yes.
@Ginny: If I didn't write with a Japanese audience in mind, why would I be shooting to make this happen? I know I'm not Japanese, and I understand that, as much as I want to make this happen, I won't know the typical culture a real, Japan-born person would know. And trust me, I don't mean to toot my own horn, but... My story is pretty captivating, and a bit reflective on many current manga and anime today. I've been wanting to give you the whole summary of it for a while now, remember?
Again, I understand that even if I have a 2% chance of becoming a manga-ka, I will take that chance. This isn't just my dream... This is really my life... I focus a whole lot of my time on this story... And I really wish to succeed with it.
Former mod. Deadpan cynic. Blunt advisor. Badass.
If you need advice, either on here or otherwise, please feel free to PM me.
Definitely not Windrays's Facebook.And definitely not his Last.fm, either.
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in japan "manga" means comics. it doesn't matter if you're talking about dragon ball or batman. they would call it manga
in america "manga" refers to japanese comics. you don't call batman manga here in america.
if you made a comic series that got published and some copies were read in japan, they would call it "manga". however if that same series were to be read in america, people would call it comics.
basically what it boils down to is what's it called. why do you care so much? you should just create something just because you want to, not because it's gonna be called or be classified as manga.
ooshi78
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Thank you, ooshi.
I think that what should matter most is that the comic satisfies its creator and its readers, regardless of the nation.
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Originally posted by SuNa@Apr 25 2005, 08:22 PM
@Ginny: If I didn't write with a Japanese audience in mind, why would I be shooting to make this happen? I know I'm not Japanese, and I understand that, as much as I want to make this happen, I won't know the typical culture a real, Japan-born person would know. And trust me, I don't mean to toot my own horn, but… My story is pretty captivating, and a bit reflective on many current manga and anime today. I've been wanting to give you the whole summary of it for a while now, remember?[snapback]37427[/snapback]I think you answered this yourself. You're not Japanese. You were raised here. You can still write a story that reflects upon Japanese culture, and you can still write a captivating story, which I may still enjoy. (And feel free to send the summary via e-mail or PM, although I can't promise a critque until mid May.) I mean, hell, there are American manga I will read over Japanese manga. (I'll take Megatokyo over Love Hina any day.)
But it's still not the same as reading an actual manga.
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Hmm… You all hold very valid points... I will push for a Jump/Sunday serialization, but if it doesn't work, it can still make it over here, I guess. Either way, everyone will see it... My only real demand is that I find a REAL manga artist to illustrate, whether it's published here or there (I can't draw... Only good at writin' the plots, not drawin' 'em) XD) ^_^;;
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Thanks for your views people!
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Good luck. Japanese people are fickle enough with their own comics. If you can make something that keeps their attention for more than a year by delving into their mindset which you don't and cannot ever meld with, then more power to you.
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I once read this guy, an american, who worked in japan. He tried to mingle in with the crowd by talking in japanese and adapting to their customs. But guess what, they didn't like it, they prefered he stuck with he's language (english, in this case) and his ways. Once he even went for a eye check (company policy) and they machine couldn't recognise his eyes cause the machine had been done in such a way as to cater to only japanese (can't remeber the technical aspects).
The japanese mindset is very difficult to understand, that's true, but hell, if you're willing to go all the way to reach your dreams, even if there's only a chance of ony 0.02%, then go for it Suna!!.
And if this venture fails, which i hope would not, don't worry, you have us here at the forum, and i'am sure everyone would buy a copy
By the way, if you're looking for a manga artist, forget me, i suck at it, can't even draw my cat. Though at one time i did dream of being one
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I think you should go for it SuNa, never ever give up on your dream, almost anything is possible when you strive really hard for it. You say that your story is really good, that's exactly what people this age really need, so do your best i'll be rooting for you every step of the way. :lol:
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Originally posted by omae no kaasan v.2@Apr 25 2005, 09:30 PM
Good luck. Japanese people are fickle enough with their own comics. If you can make something that keeps their attention for more than a year by delving into their mindset which you don't and cannot ever meld with, then more power to you.
[snapback]37506[/snapback]Who says I can't? I will, provided they accept me, make a manga that will actually keep them captivated (hopefully, unless it really sucks), and by God, I'm not going to let anyone say anything to kill my dream. Yes, I know you've been to Japan, but… that doesn't mean you can automatically assume this won't work out. Come to me, say, 10, 15 years from now if it flops. Until then, please let me be. I understand you have doubts about this, Lord knows you're not the only one. And I honestly can't blame you for having said doubts about it. However, criticizing is not going to help my morale... Why don't you have just a small amount of faith in this instead, or not say anything at all, okay?
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who's the first mangaka again? wasn't his name hokusai, or something like that? i don't remember, they talk about him in dragonhead. i think learn more about him will make you learn what is a mangaka (i don't think it's necessary to be japanese).
in france, some people draw manga, and it's called manga. but maybe japaneses wouldn't agree with it
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Actually, earliest manga was about 1200 or so. Something about frogs and bunnies shooting each other with arrows.
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The first step would be to either become absolutely fluent in the language, or else find someone who is to translate - a native speaker who's talented at writing, and who can also help in the submission process. You'll also probably have to go to the offices in person - from what I've seen, people usually bring there work in themselves to be reviewed right there.
I don't want to tell you to give up on your dream, but be aware of what a long shot it is. It's really hard even for people in Japan to get a manga published, because there's so much competition. -
Who says I can't? I will, provided they accept me, make a manga that will actually keep them captivated (hopefully, unless it really sucks), and by God, I'm not going to let anyone say anything to kill my dream. Yes, I know you've been to Japan, but… that doesn't mean you can automatically assume this won't work out. Come to me, say, 10, 15 years from now if it flops. Until then, please let me be. I understand you have doubts about this, Lord knows you're not the only one. And I honestly can't blame you for having said doubts about it. However, criticizing is not going to help my morale... Why don't you have just a small amount of faith in this instead, or not say anything at all, okay?
WOAH THERE DOGGY!
I said, 'good luck' and 'more power to you' and I meant it! What I am saying you cannot and will not do is fully understand the Japanese mind or society. I say this because no one has ever done it outside of Japan, it is something that can never be described or 'learned' by anyone raised outside of Japan their entire life, and it is what psychologists and anthropologists the world 'round agree on. You will never understand (fully) all aspects of any society you are not born into. And I'm not talking facts, pop-culture, etc. That's cake.
You don't have to get all excited over accepting that fact.
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I actually completely understand and agree with Omae's point (it's actually one I was trying to make in my original response on the topic, which wasn't even pertaining to SuNa's situation). But unfortunately, Omae's reputation for being harsh proceeds him, which made his good luck points look sarcastic, especially when followed with words like "You'll never…" and "impossible". And SuNa, I don't blame you for being sensative about it, I would be too. I know what it's like to be sensative about your personal dreams.
Get your hands on a book called "Samurai From Outer Space: Understanding Japanese Animation" by Antonia Levi. Besides being an interesting and informative read, it really gets to the heart of why American entertainment is so different from Japanese entertainment. Reading the book won't make you Japanese, but it will make you aware of some of the issues involved in this cross cultural exchange that for many people, started by simply watching some cartoons.
You know that I of course support you and wish you all the luck in the world with your story, and I am by no means trying to discourage you. By all means, you should fight for your dreams.
However, I also think you need to prepare yourself for the fact that if you shoot for the moon, you may miss. It's all very well and good to go on that .1% percent chance, and we're all rooting for you...But what if the result falls into the 99.9% category? For someone who has poured their life into something. and has the wrong kind of mindset about it, those sorts of results can be devastating to a dangerous level. It's good to shoot high, but I would also recommend being willing to shoot low as well. Getting a story published in any country is a great accomplishment! Even if your story doesn't make it to Japan. This isn't a win all, lose all situation.
You may already have this mindset, but I'm just reminding you in case you don't ^_~ It's good to have big dreams, but also to have little back up ones, just in case, because nothing on this earth is guaranteed except death and taxes.
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Oh, Omae, sorry about jumping the gun, it's just sometimes I take things a BIT too harshly… XD
Everyone, you forget about Courtney Love and Princess Ai... That got pretty damn popular, if I remember... Though, she was already America's Sweetheart, and thus, she'd be much more well known than some crackpot kid from the backwater city of Erie, Pennsylvania...
And I had a long, personal verbal dispute with myself today... I decided that even if it fails in Japan, I could get an illustrator, and submit it to an American company, like Tokyopop... Who knows? It may just pick up...
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Originally posted by SuNa@Apr 26 2005, 07:56 PM
**Oh, Omae, sorry about jumping the gun, it's just sometimes I take things a BIT too harshly… XDEveryone, you forget about Courtney Love and Princess Ai... That got pretty damn popular, if I remember... Though, she was already America's Sweetheart, and thus, she'd be much more well known than some crackpot kid from the backwater city of Erie, Pennsylvania...
And I had a long, personal verbal dispute with myself today... I decided that even if it fails in Japan, I could get an illustrator, and submit it to an American company, like Tokyopop... Who knows? It may just pick up...
[snapback]38005[/snapback]**I remember Tokyopop having their annual Rising Stars of Manga competition… You could try entering it :lol:
If you want more information regarding becoming a manga-ka in Japan, I recommend you read this article first...
http://www.animenation.net/news/askjohn.php?id=1016
But, hey, if you're really determined, who's gonna stop you?
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Like Sakurai said… I could bring my work to a native, most likely my artist and partner-in-crime, who would change it to suit the mood of a typical Japanese mindframe, and help me mold the story into something great... And hey, if it flops.. That Rising Stars of Manga competition or something like it should be around 15 years from now. ^_^;;
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I have issues with the Rising Stars of Manga contest…since they lost an entire box of entries in their second competition, which Monty and I entered, as well as an EXTREMELY talented friend of mine. >.<* But that's another story. And they're still well worth entering for the experience of it. Monty also mentioned Antartic Press...he sent a couple manga pages there a few years ago, and they actually gave him a short critque, which was nice. They do publish some manga style stuff from what I've heard, but they're not very main stream yet.
I really wish Viz would do something comprobable, and possibly have a Japanese guest judge. That would kick ass, and also give American manga writers another option besides Tokyopop. As crappy as Viz is sometimes, I'm inclined to trust them more in this circumstance.
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OUCH. That kinda sucks… And shows a bit of irresponsibility on Tokyopop's part... >_<
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Tokyopop has been irresponsible since they were still known as Mixxzine…so it doesn't surprise me too much.
Some friends told me the last contests have been better, although I heard complaints that in the recent one, the online poll to decide the winners resulted in the manga at the top of the list being chosen over ones at the bottom x_x
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"Samurai From Outer Space: Understanding Japanese Animation" by Antonia Levi
This book followed by readings of MANGA! MANGA! and Dreamland Japan are an incredible set of tools in beginning to learn about manga culture.
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Well I plan to be mangaka when I'm older (don't worry I know how to draw manga well). Even though I don't look/am japanese. I think if I were there people would actually recognize me more in public.
So I don't think you'd need to necessarily be a japanese mangaka, it would be good though to know how to draw manga and speak/write japanese.
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well, if you want to be a manga artist, you're gonna have to do what every other person has to do to be a manga artist. basically you need to grab the attention of a editor. you can send in your comics when they have contests and such. i think most people start off by being assistants to manga artists. there's only one gaijin friendly manga artist that i can name off the top of my head… fujisawa toru of GTO fame. either way, you probably need to learn how to draw, at least well enough so your story gets looked at. please don't use courtney love as a example... money will get anything done. kind of like how bill gates said "i wanna break into the video game market even though i don't know anything about it" it's possible because of $$$.
ooshi78
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Originally posted by Buc
Yes, you can create manga. But why? Why not just go your own way, and concentrate on making a great graphic story rather than something that's just "manga"? You don't want to be a Fred Perry. Who? Exactly.Hmmm… I think Buccaneer said exactly what I would had said. And SuNa, in all respect, I think you would achieve the best result by exploit your own strengths and background. For some reason this whole discussion reminds me about this guy.
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Damn he must speak it well. Like, incredibly disgustingly, ridiculously and obnoxiously so. A politician? yee
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I intend to put in a bit of cartoonish stuff within it (though it still looks manga-ish). So its partly a style and shows a bit of westernness (too many ness and ish).
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Suna, live today and worry tomorrow.
Sure there will be those who will critisize your move, but that's not important, it's whether you gave your all to achieve those dreams and passion that drive you.
As long as you are satisfied that you have done your best, you are the real winner here.
So forget about the pros and cons of doing Manga and do it, you have my vote of confidence.
Oh, and don't forget to give me a copy
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I don't think so but you have to have an anime/manga art style to do so. People who make manga american art style suck (So far all the Risisng Stars of Manga winners except for the guy who did Atomic King Daidogon and the girl who did Peach Fuzz.)
