Summary
Roles of the mangaka
have ideas
Mangas are mostly available in series. It is the mangaka who:
- chooses the plot of the story;
- decides the outcome;
- and create original characters.
It also happens that clients (publishers, magazines, newspapers, etc.) place orders with the mangaka: it’s up to him to respond with an atypical proposal.
Propose your project
The mangaka’s first task is to submit his original idea to:
- a manager or agent;
- a publishing house;
- or a media company.
For this he sends a graphic draft (a storyboard). At this stage, there are 2 possibilities:
- the project is refused, and the mangaka must start over;
- the project is accepted. The mangaka may sometimes need to rework it.
Perform the “Genko wo kaku”
When the manuscript is accepted, the real drawing work begins: “Genko wo kaku”. It is a technique that combines pen and black ink. The texts, on the other hand, are written in pencil. Once the ink work is completed, the mangaka creates the frames.
Mangaka’s working conditions
Several statuses
A mangaka can be:
- the screenwriter of a series;
- cartoonist ;
- or most frequently both at the same time.
Alone
Generally, he is independent and works at home or in a studio with other designers. A particularly coveted mangaka can surround himself with assistants who relieve him of the most tedious parts of the creation of the comic strip.
Productive
This job is often long and difficult: the mangaka has to work a lot, and in a hurry when preparing a series. During this period, the mangaka only does:
How much does a manga artist earn?
In France, the mangaka is paid for each mission. His salary is therefore random depending on the work he provides, his pace and his reputation. If the beginnings are often difficult, a mangaka can also earn a lot of money if his stories are adapted for television or cinema.
Training to become a mangaka
In France
Many mangakas are self-taught. They are inspired by the world of manga, have read a lot and know how to draw. But to improve, the mangaka can follow art studies, in a school like Fine Arts or Decorative Arts.
A specialized private school exists in Paris: Eurasiam offers a Japanese art and Communication course. For more information, click here.
In Japan
There is a particularly well-known training, specialized in manga and animation: “Animation Schools in Japan”. The establishments, scattered all over the territory, offer 2-year training. The teachers are professional mangakas.
Qualities necessary to become a mangaka
Have technique
The mangaka masters the drawing and the ways of using the material. He must also:
- appropriate layout techniques specific to the genre of manga;
- link the dialogues correctly;
- put the bubbles in the right place…
To have imagination
The mangaka must above all be inventive in order to create good stories. When a series works, you can ask the mangaka to continue it even if he didn’t intend to.
To be efficient
The manga has become a product of everyday consumption: it is quickly read and quickly thrown away. The exercise of the profession requires the same constraint, the mangaka must organize himself and work quickly.
Content updated on 07/06/2012