Does anyone plan on becoming a Manga Artist?

Being optimistic is one thing; being disillusioned is another.

Oh

I missed that part

:x

and good

I'm being optimistic.

Here's a tip.

Don't limit yourself under the label of "manga." It puts a lot of stigmas into your art that will ultimately hurt you.

Take for example, it's notoriety. The internet is oversaturated with thousands if not millions of "manga artists." By putting the same tag on you, you end up dropping yourself in an ocean of other people fighting for the same spot.

"Manga" also limits your audience to the otakus. When I see a "manga" comic, or "manga" art in general, I can't help but have low expectations for whatever story it has to tell, as well as the general feel of the artwork. Why? Because so many of the other "manga artists" out there have given their fellow "manga artitst" a bad name. Suddenly you end up in the same boat as the millions of others who want to do the same thing professionally.

Furthermore, I know many comic artists who tried to use manga style as a springboard to get into art, but that spring board ends up being a beartrap. One artist in particular started out with manga, and she grew so accustomed to it that she could not break free of either the stigma or style itself. More than a decade has passed, and even though she's drastically toned down the manga influences in her work, it still shows, and it makes her artwork nearly unmarketable because to employers, it looks like "just another manga artist."

Tacking "manga" onto your artwork is a bad idea. By doing so you will limit your readers, your artwork, your creativity, your marketability, and your originality. It shouldn't be that way, but it is, and there's no avoiding it if you really do plan on becoming a "manga artist." That's just how it is in the professional world.

So if you're going to go into art, DO NOT lean on the "manga style." It will come back to bite you in the butt time and time again. I'm glad your optimistic, but because of the professional and general outlook on the particular art style you're going for, I'm sorry to say that what you are looking for is not in the "manga style."

This post has been edited by MarioMK1 on Jul 7 2009, 07:59 PM

I meant him. Believing you'll get into college is a realistic goal that can be easily achieved. Getting into a good college is realistic, but you better be prepared to put in some extra effort. For him to do what he wants to, you need to take the hard work of getting into a good college, and then multiply that by like a billion.

I haven't read the rest of the posts yet, but I wanted to quote this one first. I'm 16 now, I'll become 17 this year, and I understand what yall have been trying to tell me, but just telling me that wont change my mind, one because I'm hard-headed, and two because I'm hard-headed. And deviant art is great and all, but I really want to be know not just on the internet, but with my actual work in real life(books) if that makes sense. :/

The internet is the easiest way to get known by the big companies, hands down. If you get popular online (and your art is actually good) then you know you have a fair chance at proffessional work. asking for critiques online is also a great way to improve yourself, and these critiques can easily be given by top artists, especially on DeviantArt. I know for a fact that an artist for Flapjack has a Deviantart page and does occasionally give critiques, and he's just one of the many professionals you can find online.

Trying to get popular without the internet will be very hard unless you find some talent agencies to help you out, and those generally only go to the bigger cities. Even then, having a site online is a great way to show your art as a portfolio.

You don't have to use the internet, but it is a heck of a lot easier than going door to door asking for art critiques by nobodies.

Good luck man, I hope you succeed!

You technically don't need to move to Japan or anything, so it'll be easier than you think!

I'm sure you'll become a famous household name and make millions, I mean, after they make the anime and the games and the novels and the Hollywood live action movie that's nothing like your manga but gives you a paycheck.


I look forward to reading your manga!











*snicker*

Unoriginal? You've got to be kidding? I think people with large alien looking eyes with super spikey long hair and wierd expressions is pretty gosh darn original. :/

This is why it's good to be popular.

Somewhat.

You're terrible.

This post has been edited by Sparks on Jul 7 2009, 09:26 PM

the deal about originality is, if someone else is already doing it, it's not original.

Ha ha, oh wow.

see this is why i hate myself because as an asian i grew up with japanese comics and i can't shake the style off

From personal inquiry, this is a bad idea. You'll be better off looking into Shonen Jump from America (going to Japan will actually lessen your chances of them accepting your work), or just publishing on your own without Jump comics as your staple.

Also, as most have said, don't expect much money out of it. AT ALL.


If you really do want to continue, your best bet is to publish your own work, get your name out, and then do art and comics for other's stories. That'll get you a larger audience, and maximize sales. Then Jump comics will give you more of a look.

If you wanna get started now, look into publishing with Tokyopop, Darkhorse, or Viz. They accept a large amount of foreign manga artists. Jump hoowever, rarely does.

And like MarioMK1 said, DO NOT COIN A MANGA STYLE. That's mistake number one that a large amount of comic artists make.

It'll get you nowhere, and you'll get your ass whipped in the artist world. Figure out what differentiates your style from not just "manga artists", but artists of the world. Then capitalize on it. Make something of your own, that no one else can claim.

A lot of artists get by because of credentials, and produce generic anime crap. However, the more revered and well known artists (i.e. Production I.G.'s team, TOE Animation's team, Obata Takeshi) often do not follow stereotypical iconic styles.

That's not only true with comics or animation, but fine art as well when comparing artists like Cézanne to the likes of Délacroix.

This post has been edited by JetSetRaïn on Jul 7 2009, 10:14 PM

p sure you meant delusional

disillusioned would be if he were talking like mechabowser, what with the "dreams don't come true" bit

when I grow up im going to become a caterpillar.

That was like, the best analogy I've read EVER.

Terribly sexy.

And yet, as soon as you see it, you will know right away that it's Manga, not something different. If it was original, the style wouldn't be classified so easily, or would just be classified under the author's name or the title of the work or something.