Almost everyone who has gotten addicted to manga or a manga series has gotten to the point where they want to make their own manga but they don't know where to start >_< Here are some questions that are commonly asked...

*What are the first few steps I need to take in becoming a Mangaka?
*What are the supplies I need to get started?
*I don't live in Japan so how do i become a Mangaka?
*How can I get my manga Published?
*Where/How do I get my manga Copyrighted?
*Do I need to be a good artist to be a Mangaka?
*Do I need special software/materials to eventually go pro?
*Are there any manga contests(competitions) for rookies that are still active?
*Do I need a Lawyer/Agent to protect my work? if so why and how?
*Do I need to know Japanese to be a well-known Mangaka?
*Where can I find a Publisher that is still looking for new Mangaka?
*Do you need to be 18 to get your manga Published/Copyrighted?
*How/Where can I self-publish my manga?
*Is becoming a Mangaka that hard/time-consuming?(an obvious question)

...So if anyone out there has advice,comments,answers,or questions they want answered(that is related to this topic) please post it here for those who are asking these questions right now...

...P.S. if there is already a topic for this I'm sorry and feel free to redirect this to the original topic...

Please NO negative comments...if possible...

For example:
1)If you suck at drawing or storytelling you might as well give up now >_>
2)Who would pay for your crappy s#*t
etc...

...but if it's the cold-hard truth be my guest


***For those who have just commented thank you for commenting on this post this should help those who want to be a mangaka(including me) XD

***Please keep postng this will be a great reference to anyone who wants to be a mangaka ^_^






Last edited by gecko2 at 3:20 pm, Jul 24 2010

i think that as long as you have a strong story concept or plot with art that can support it, you can find some mainstream publisher out there or even search online for someone who could do it. i dont remember who, but a while back i was browsing thru some manga publisher's site and there was a section where you could email them your story concept and art portfolio to have your manga potentially published by them. there are plenty of american-made mangas, so you're bound to find someone who knows that to do.

i just like drawing anime style, but i think drawing manga is far off for me. ^_^;; right now im just doing chibi 4-komas, the closest thing to manga i can get. xD!!

erm, and im pretty sure you need to have special software and materials lol, and be at least 18.

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wow so many questions...well I can answer a few of them.
You don't have to live in Japan to be a mangaka. They're mangakas in the US remember OEL
I know that most mangakas use sakura micro-pens or ink nib pens (and prisim color markers for coloring). you need all types of rulers and screen tones, etc.
I know that you don't have to be a AWESOME artist to become a mangaka but a decent one
You can always send your work to tokyopop: rising stars contest. or scan them and put them on some online website for rookie mangaka's (there is always DA)
and yes (lol) being a mangaka takes a whole lot of work. I remember someone saying that drawing 13 pages took them over 30 hours. (I tried to draw one page and it took 3-4 hours...)
I'm not too sure about the copyright/lawyers/being 18 yrs old thing...

software umm- if you plan to draw online (you most likely would need to buy a tablet (wacom)) and SAI or gimp if you want a free software program

I would say try by getting your story/plot and laying out your characters. Then get paper and draft a few pages and slowly add detail in them. after that outline them in pen. after a few pages of drawing decide if you want to continue being a mangaka. (truthfully drawing one page wore me out I'm not going to try to become one)

oh theres always the webcomic format if the manga-style is to hard (well I found it hard)
read noblesse it's a webcomic and see the format, its a lot easier in my opinion .
if you have more questions PM me I'll try to answer the ones I can. oh-try entering tokyopop or some art contest in DA or some other place. uhh- I don't have anymore time. PM me, if you want to ask more, I'll try to help (sorry if this is so messy) bye!




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I hear you say "Why?" Always "Why?" You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?"

Well, I seriously suggest you read Bakuman. It's from the same people that brought you Death Note, and it deals with being a mangaka. They actually start off while in 9th grade, and the manga is incredible.

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Pokémon - Favorite anime and game series of all time!


The World God Only Knows -Favorite manga of all time

Thats great and all but your sortof getting off topic >_< even though I have read and loved that manga ...and know it has stuff to do with being a mangaka...But I want to make it clear that this topic isn't looking for manga rather it's for information/advice/answers/questions for/to anyone aspiring to become a Mangaka



Last edited by gecko2 at 3:13 pm, Jul 24 2010

Sorry about that! Anyhow, the best you can do to start out is by entering some of the US publisher's contests. Then, plan from there.

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Pokémon - Favorite anime and game series of all time!


The World God Only Knows -Favorite manga of all time

Well it's obvious that it is a time-consuming job...and you'll have to be dedicated to your work...if you ever want to get anything done...plus you have to have lots of patience with your artwork...

...PATIENCE IS A VIRTUA

****Please keep posting the more info the better >_<

Last edited by gecko2 at 2:39 am, Jul 24 2010

Before you read my advice; this is for all of you out there thinking of wanting to become mangaka. So nothing personal gecko2, but...


The first and most important thing to do is to get your head out of your arse and start saying cartoonist instead of mangaka. If you still want to be a cartoonist after that then go for it, but if you're just out for the title of being a "mangaka" then you are doomed from the start. You are in love with an imaginary job description which criteria you will never fill.

You can draw comics in a Japanese style, you could possibly even sell some if you're good, but really good original art is something exceptional.

Whatever you draw, it is only in Japan that people will seriously call you mangaka, because that is where the word for cartoonist is mangaka.

*What are the first few steps I need to take in becoming a cartoonist?
Learn to draw.

*What are the supplies I need to get started?
Drawing supplies

*I don't live in Japan so how do i become a cartoonist?
Same way you would anywhere.

I agree with havocc, unless you are Japanese or you are working as a cartoonist or artist in Japan, DO NOT call yourself a mangaka.

This isn't just being picky about semantics. How many people do you think will take you seriously if you come out and say that? You want to come across as professional and mature, and it will be hard enough getting people to take you seriously because of the conotations of the style.

A name isn't really important anyway and if that is what you are worried about you probably aren't cut out for it anyway.

As for the questions, I think I should be able to answer a few:

What are the first steps?

Being able to draw helps, unless you want to write and collaborate/hire an artist. You don't have to be an amazing artist, but the better you are the more options you have. You should at least know anatomy, perspective, structure, body language, emotions etc. You could be a bad artist, but you would have to have one hell of a story. Think of how many manga you have turned down because of the art.

Understand comics. I recommand Scott McCloud, he has two excellent books out that are full of great advice "Understanding Comics" and "Making Comics". You will not be able to make decent comics without understanding the basics like closure, pacing and variation in panels.

Have a story. Either write one or collaborate/hire a writer. You will need a plot and script.

Sketch everything. Maps, Characters, objects etc.

Thumbnails of comic pages. These will help you plan out your panels and pacing.

Actually draw the thing.

What supplies will I need?

This depends on how you want to work. Many mangakas still use traditional quills, the g-pen and another one I can't remember. So you will need to go art shopping for quills, ink, rulers, paper such as bristol boards etc.

Technically you can use anything you want. It could be 5c printer paper and a biro if you know what you are doing.

Many people now use their computers, in which case you will need something like Photoshop, a scanner (not mandatory), a computer (duh) and a tablet.

How do I get published?

A whole lot of questions get rolled into this one, and I have already covered I think you should all be in reality and stop the Japanese fascination thing.

Once you have a manuscript, eg around a volumes worth of art you have three choices. If you are really, really serious, get yourself an agent. They handle the publisher thing and try to get your stuff printed.

You can try approuching a publisher. A number of them print OELs. Be careful though. Tokyopop has a horrible reputation, so look over all contracts to make sure you are not going to be screwed over.

You can approuch a self-publishing agency that will help you get published. You have to pay them, but you get to make your own money.

Or you could print yourself at a local printer and sell over the internet for instance, which probably has a lot going for it when you are starting out. In this case I would suggest getting yourself aquaited with a printer and printing terms. You will need to know DPI, bleed, size, binding etc. Of course you could go super small scale and photocopy the thing to sell locally.

Is it time consuming?

Hell yeah!

Final advice is get your butts onto deviantart or soemthing and expose yourself. It will help you learn, gather fans, display work and such until you can create your own website.

And that is my two cents worth. If anyone actually cares, I could critque work. I'm familar with comics and drawing. I'm not awesome or anything, but I do know my way around them.



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My deviantart: http://auro-cyanide.deviantart.com/

What are the first few steps I need to take in becoming a Mangaka?
Basics. Learn them. You'll be glad you didn't skip the baby stage.

What are the supplies I need to get started?
Pencil, pen, ruler? Y'know, whatever you need to draw with.

I don't live in Japan so how do i become a Mangaka?
You don't have to live in Japan to be a ... comic artist. Just practice. Improve. Show off your work somewhere. Get noticed/go to the companies in your country and they may be interested in publishing your comic as an Original work.

How can I get my manga Published?
Go to the publishers.

Do I need to be a good artist to be a Mangaka?
You bet you do. Well, atleast above average. There have been cases where someone has this amazing story but the art is a put-off, or it's the other way around. In my opinion, I'd want to read a comic that has nice art as well. But that's just me. Having exceptional art is a PLUS, but you don't have to be the best artist in the world to have a really good comic.

Do I need special software/materials to eventually go pro?
Eh well, if you start off releasing your material digitally, you can use the famous Manga Studios. It really just depends..

Do I need a Lawyer/Agent to protect my work? if so why and how?
What? from being stolen digitally? Well, pirates will never go down so well.. you can try paying for an expensive lawyer and etc.

Do I need to know Japanese to be a well-known Mangaka?
If you want to be a comic artist in Japan.. well, yeah you do. You gotta be fluent too. You also have to be damn good at drawing as well. You also have to have a knack for telling stories that will appeal to the Japanese people.

I think you'll get a better chance being a comic artist in your own country, than in Japan. Just Sayin'. I'm not trying to insult you in any way.

How/Where can I self-publish my manga?
Online.

Is becoming a Mangaka that hard/time-consuming?
You bet it is.

It's okay I don't mind and I already know that it's impossible to call yourself a mangaka unless you publish your books in Japan I did my research before posting this...and if your asking then why did you post this in the first place it's because many people recognize wanting to become a mangaka not a cartoonist...because when I think of cartoonist I think of well...cartoon style art...and I think a handful of people would feel that way >_< well you could also call yourself a comic book artist/author 0_0 any-who this post is meant for me to gather info and to answer other peoples questions that are asking the same thing ^_^

***For those that answered above thank you for adding more info and answering more questions XD

***And if anyone has questions on becoming a Mangaka/Cartoonist/Comic Book Artist-Author you can post it here X]

Last edited by gecko2 at 9:31 pm, Jul 24 2010

Havocc put it bluntly but to-the-point, and Auro-Cyanide gave you the meaty specifics. I think both of them have pretty much covered it perfectly, there's not much else that can be said.

Very few non-Japanese get their works printed as a serial in a magazine anyway. Its mostly already-established comic artists that do, like Paul Pope, or Frederic Boilet, and even those only published standalone works there.

Hmmm I guess all there is to say is good luck to everyone wanting to be a Cartoonist/Mangaka depending where you get published XP Hope this helps >_<

Why don't you start off as an assistant to some cartoonists? You can learn about all the procedures like that, gather some experience and then get on with your own business.

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its cold down here fam ~

Quick question...if you make a comic manuscript and just scan and upload it to a blog/webcite does it count as a web comic? and does it matter if it is colored? <(^~^)> (Sorry if its a stupid question T~T)