Discovering how to create a manga publication is an exciting opportunity to blend storytelling, visual art, and a dash of entrepreneurial spirit. Whether you’re an avid manga reader or an artist looking to dive into Japanese comics, developing your own manga can be a fulfilling experience. From conceptualising your story and designing characters to mastering drawing techniques and finally printing your work for readers worldwide, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and inspiration to make that vision a reality.
Developing Your Manga Concept
Choosing a Genre and Theme
Choosing a genre isn’t just about following trends—you need to find a niche that excites you and aligns with the story you want to tell. Consider what drives your creative passion. Are you drawn to epic battles and heroic quests? Or perhaps you prefer exploring the intricacies of human relationships in a more grounded setting?
While genre sets the stage, a theme provides the underlying message or central idea that your manga will convey. The theme can be as broad as good vs. evil or as specific as the power of friendship. It’s the thread that ties your narrative together and gives it meaning.
When deciding on a theme, consider the message you want to impart to your readers. What do you want them to take away from your story? A strong theme will give your manga depth and make it resonate more with your audience.
Exploring Manga Genres:
- Shonen: Targeted at young males, shonen manga typically focuses on action, adventure, and personal growth. Characters often embark on epic quests centered around themes of friendship, perseverance, and self-discovery.
- Shojo: This manga emphasises romance, relationships, and emotional depth, catering mainly to young females.
- Seinen: This manga often delves into more complex and darker themes, appealing to a predominantly older male demographic. Works offer gritty realism, moral ambiguity, and psychological depth.
- Josei: Like seinen, josei manga is for an adult female audience. Stories often focus on realistic relationships, career struggles, and personal growth.
- Isekai: A sub-genre that has gained immense popularity, Isekai characters are usually transported to different worlds, often a fantasy or game-like setting.
Creating Interesting and Relatable Characters
Characters are the soul of your manga. They are the ones who evoke emotions and keep readers invested from the first page to the last.
Start by fleshing out your characters’ backgrounds, motivations, and personalities to make your characters interesting and relatable. What drives them? What are their fears, desires, and weaknesses? Well-rounded characters often have a mix of strengths and flaws. Try creating a character sheet for each major character, detailing their physical appearance, personality traits, history, and interactions to maintain consistency throughout your story.
Similarly, consider your character’s arc—how will they change throughout the story? A static character can quickly become dull, while a dynamic character who grows and evolves keeps readers engaged. For example, a character who starts as a selfish loner might gradually learn the value of friendship and teamwork.
Furthermore, visual design is just as important as personality. Your characters should be visually distinct, with individual features that make them recognisable. These features could be anything from hairstyles to clothing or a symbolic accessory. Think about how their appearance reflects their personality or role in the story. A tough, battle-hardened warrior might have scars and a rugged look, while a gentle healer could have soft features and a calm expression. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles and designs until you find something that feels right. Sometimes, a character’s appearance can inspire new story ideas or personality traits.
Mastering Manga Drawing Techniques
Essential Elements of Manga Art
- Character Design: Expressive features and stylised proportions often define manga characters. Large, detailed eyes are a hallmark of manga, allowing for a wide range of emotional expressions. However, proportions can vary depending on the tone of your manga—more realistic stories might use more grounded proportions, while fantastical tales might exaggerate features for dramatic effect.
- Panel Layout: Arranging panels on a page is crucial for the reader’s experience. Panels dictate the flow of the story, pacing, and focus. For example, you might use dynamic, irregularly shaped panels in action scenes to create a sense of motion and urgency. In contrast, quiet, reflective moments might benefit from larger, more uniform panels that let the reader linger on the details.
- Speech Bubbles and Effects: Speech bubbles in manga are more than just a place for dialogue—they can convey emotion, tone, and even the pace of speech. Experiment with different shapes and sizes to match the mood of the scene. For example, jagged bubbles can indicate shouting or anger, while rounded, soft bubbles might represent a whisper or calm conversation. Sound effects are another vital part of manga art. In Japanese manga, onomatopoeia represents sounds, emotions, and even actions. If you’re creating a manga for an English-speaking audience, decide whether to translate these effects or create new ones that fit your style.
Practising Different Styles and Techniques
Exploring Styles
- Realistic vs. Stylised: Realistic styles focus on accurate anatomy, proportions, and detail. On the other hand, stylised approaches may exaggerate features for effect, simplify forms, or focus on a more abstract representation. Both have advantages; the choice depends on your manga’s tone and genre.
- Traditional vs. Digital: The tools you use can also influence your style. Traditional pen and ink drawing has a distinctive texture and line quality that can give your manga a classic, timeless feel. Digital drawing, using software like Clip Studio Paint or an Adobe design program, offers flexibility and ease of editing, allowing for a wide range of effects and finishes.
Writing and Planning Your Manga Story
Developing a Strong Storyline
A well-crafted storyline is the backbone of any manga. It keeps readers turning the pages, eager to see what happens next. Developing a strong, engaging plot is essential for success.
- Starting with the Basics: Outline the main events of your story—this is your plot. A classic narrative structure involves a beginning (where you introduce your characters and world), a middle (where the conflict develops), and an end (where the conflict resolves).
- Creating Conflict and Tension: Conflict is the engine that drives your story forward. It could be external, such as a hero battling a villain, or internal, such as a character struggling with self-doubt. The key is to create stakes that matter to your characters and, by extension, your readers.
- Subplots and Character Arcs: Besides the main plot, consider developing subplots and character arcs. These secondary stories or personal journeys add depth and complexity to your manga. For example, while your main plot might focus on a battle against an evil empire, a subplot could explore a secondary character’s struggle with loyalty and betrayal.
- World-Building: World-building is central to storytelling for genres like fantasy, sci-fi, or dystopia. It involves creating an immersive and richly detailed setting with its own history, culture, and rules.
Creating a Storyboard and Script
With your plot and characters in place, storyboarding is crucial to help you visualise how your story will unfold panel by panel. Storyboarding serves as a blueprint for your manga. It allows you to plan the pacing, panel layout and transitions between scenes. A well-done storyboard ensures that your narrative flows smoothly and that each panel effectively conveys the intended emotion or action.
Step-by-Step Guide to Storyboarding:
- Outline Your Scenes: Break down your story into individual scenes and decide what happens in each to give you a clear idea of the sequence of events and how they connect.
- Thumbnail Sketches: Create rough sketches of each page, focusing on the composition of panels. Don’t worry about details at this stage—this is about planning the overall layout.
- Panel Layout: Decide how many panels each page will have and their arrangement. Consider the pacing of your story—fewer panels can slow the pace and give emphasis, while more panels can create a sense of urgency or action.
- Add Dialogue and Narration: Directly write the dialogue and any necessary narration onto your storyboard. Ensure that the text complements the visuals and drives the story forward.
- Review and Revise: Once your storyboard is complete, review it carefully. Check for pacing issues, awkward transitions, or panels that don’t effectively communicate the story. Make revisions as needed.
- Writing the Script: Create a detailed script including the final dialogue, narration, and specific instructions for each panel (e.g., 'Close-up of character’s face, showing shock'). A script can be handy when working with a team and will provide clear drawing guidance.
Printing and Publishing Your Manga
Choosing the Right Printing Method
- Digital Printing: This method provides flexibility for small print runs in manga printing. It offers quick turnaround times and is cost-effective for limited copies, making it perfect for indie creators or those testing the market.
- Litho Printing: If you’re planning a larger print run, litho printing is the way to go. This traditional method involves transferring ink from a plate to a rubber sheet onto the printing surface, producing consistent, outstanding results. While the initial setup costs are higher, the per-unit cost decreases with the number of copies, making it economical for mass production.
- Print-on-Demand: Print-on-demand (POD) is perfect for creators who want to avoid upfront costs and storage issues. With POD, a print company only prints when customers place an order, reducing the need for large print runs. This method offers convenience, but the cost per book may be higher than traditional printing methods. Visit Mixam’s print-on-demand page for more information.
Selecting a Reliable Printing Service
- Quality Printing: At Mixam, we prioritise print quality at affordable prices. We offer high-resolution printing, consistent colour reproduction, and durable binding options to ensure your manga looks professional and leaves a lasting impression on readers.
- Customisation Options: We provide a variety of customisation options to make your manga stand out. Choose from different paper types, finishes like matte or gloss, and binding methods such as perfect binding or saddle stitching, all tailored to give your manga the ideal look and feel.
- Exceptional Customer Support: Our responsive and knowledgeable team of print experts will guide you through every step of the printing process, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.
Marketing and Promoting Your Manga
- Leveraging Social Media: Social media platforms are powerful tools for promoting your manga. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok allow you to showcase your art, share behind-the-scenes content, and instantly connect with fans. Consider creating a dedicated account for your manga, where you can post regular updates and teasers and interact with your audience.
- Building an Online Presence: Besides social media, having a website or blog dedicated to your manga can be highly beneficial. This platform can serve as a central hub where fans can learn more about your work, purchase copies, and stay updated on your latest projects.
- Participating in In-Person Events: Conventions, art fairs, and book signings offer fantastic opportunities to connect with readers face-to-face. These events allow you to build a personal connection with your audience, and having physical copies of your manga to sell and sign can create a lasting impression. Look for events in your area that cater to manga and comics.
- Collaborations and Cross-Promotions: Collaborating with other artists, writers, or influencers in the manga and comic community can help you reach new audiences. Consider teaming up for joint projects, guest art, or cross-promotions. Building relationships within the community can lead to valuable opportunities and increased visibility for your work.
Conclusion
Creating a manga combines creativity, technical skill, and perseverance. Now, you’ll be well-equipped to develop a manga that resonates with readers across the globe. From choosing the right genre and theme to mastering drawing techniques and navigating the printing process, every stage of manga creation offers an opportunity to showcase your story.
For more information on manga printing, visit our manga product page. You can also check out the array of posts on Mixam's Blog and visit our Support section for helpful guidance and advice on all things print.
Main Image Credit: Christian Pomponio (@pomps_art)
