9 Tips For When You Make A Longer Comic Or Manga Project
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- Опубликовано: 6 июл 2024
- Here's another tip video on making comics and manga! Please help me spread and link these videos so that other artists in need of the information can get it. And check out my other videos and subscribe for more tips on how to create comics, manga and animation.
Short about me: I'm a comic artist and a teacher at Serieskolan (the Comic Art School) in Malmö, Sweden. There I teach both about the comic making process and about the industry, things like how to get jobs and make a portfolio. Website for the school:
serieskolan.kvarnby.fhsk.se/
Since the classes are for the students only, I though I could do some videos about this so other artists out there could get some help too.
Follow me on Instagram to see more of my work:
@nataliasmanga
You can read some of my comics online here:
Sword Princess Amaltea: www.swordprincessamaltea.com/
A Song For Elise: asongforelise.smackjeeves.com/
My own blog (Swedish/English): natalia.batista.se/
I'm a member of Nosebleed Studio: nosebleed-studio.com/
Disclaimer: English is not my native language so bare with all the mistakes I do.
Oh, and sorry for the poor quality and the lights changing, we have lot's of cloudy days in Sweden this time of the year, and that is really bad for filming!
Oh, and some text ended up at the wrong moment, I know.... XD
Also, all this is based on my own experiences and gathered knowledge. Please comment if anything I say in the video don't make sense or if you want to share your own experiences! I'ld love to read about them!
Music:
"Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod
incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
Thanks for making great music and sharing it!
I think the worst thing you could ever do is not doing anything at all.
I know a lot of people gonna hesistate to make a comic because "their art sucks".
But you know what?
It's ok to suck.
Doing nothing make your skill even worse.
Ps. I suck at art myself. But just do it. Just do anything.
Tawan Nansin ,Well said and I couldn't agree more.
This is so true, also if I may add, don’t hesitate to learn “unrelated” art styles and methods thinking they’re “useless” I learned to draw real people in school, and it dramatically improved my art, specifically detail and proportion.
I’ve been drawing comics for years, I sucked forever until I learned in highschool to draw real people, and proportions, and details and such. Suddenly I can ACTUALLY draw a full comic and it LOOKS GOOD.
Yeah, I totally agree with you. I was afraid to make my own comic because I was bad at storytelling, but I made few smaller test projects instead. It helped me a lot giving me confidence.
I have a graphic novel idea/concept that originally began as a fairly simplistic fairy tale parody in art school and I was working hard at the time to have it ready to be read at some stage. But then life got in the way and it got put on hiatus while I pursued other goals. During that hiatus the story began to grow exponentially when a character that initially began as a myth/throwaway line started to become an important fully fleshed out character who would have a really big impact on the overall narrative. This is where the story became a lot more personal because the ideas that were forming at this stage were sub consciously drawing upon things that I was experiencing at the time. It was great that all these new ideas were flooding in but the scope of the story was expanding way beyond what I could conceivably finish on my own with the methods I had originally wanted to employ. I have sought feedback from people I trust and so far it's all been positive even though I feel that if I can go over all my notes and redraft it I can make it a lot better than the original draft (I've given up on pursuing perfection).
And art direction has been the other sticking point. Originally I wanted each frame to be digitally colored but that would just be way too time consuming unless I had a big team of assistants. So I've decided that I'd need to choose an art direction that works with the time restrictions that life would place on such a project while making minimal sacrifice to visual quality.
Very clear. Very organized. Thank you
Tip 1: Got it in my comic series 👍
Tip 2: Done that many times 👍
Tip 3: Eeeeeehhhh, maybe. I sorta planned the end, but, uuuuuhhh don't got that
Tip 4: Got some friends that help 👍
Tip 5: I do that all the time with my series 👍
Tip 6: I also always do that 👍
Tip 7: I don't do a list so I dont have that one
Tip 8: I finished 11 seasons of my comic series so yes 👍
Tip 9: I do that 👍
7 out of 9 is my score.
Also, my comic series started off self taught then I learned more from others and my series grew for 7 years! The motivation is strong! Also it's still going! ✊️☝️😀🎉🎊🎈🎁
Jetro Gaming i would love to check it out, what's it called an where can i find it?
What's it called?
Did anyone else cry at tip 9? I know I did. Thank you so much for your honesty and love
I swear to god if I hear any more royalty-free ukulele I'm going to die.
Hahahahaha!!!! Feels like a bunch of videos are made by the same person that created the sound.
The hardest thing about making a manga is when your trying hard and you don't get noticed : /
I'm Swedish! But I will hit you with a comment in english because - Let's face it, who would ever translate it? Hi Natalia, I'm a huge fan of your work! To see that someone in this "god forsaken country" finally puts up a video about manga is an answer from a higher power! I myself is a poor, good for nothing, lazy artist that's been working on my own "Graphic novel/manga/comic" for 5 years now. Watching Nosebleed studios grow into what it is today gives me inspiration and hope and I wish you all (as always) the best of luck in ALL of your future projects. I sincerely thank you for all the inspiration you have given us! Also... damn it woman you deserve way more views!!!
+Demisthe Awww, you're just too nice!!
+Natalia Batista I will keep watching your videos and I am looking forward to the next one with all my heart! I am sure you will get the views you deserve sooner or later... if not "we" will make sure you do! After all the best way to reach sucess today is to show your face and your work and try not to hold yourself back!
+Demisthe Yaaaay! Thank you a bunsh for all the positive energy, really making me excited to do more vids! :D Thnak you!
Excellent points, especially the first one. I agree that it's really important to tell a story about something that you care about. Ideally, it should be something "amaranthine", such as an emotion or an essential part of the human experience. For example, ninja mangas were very popular in the early days of manga in japan. But then they nearly completely disappeared, because you can only create so many variations on that topic. Naruto brought it back with a modern twist, but more than that a focus on both darker and lighter human emotions. That's to say, even without ninjas it would be a pretty good manga.
I also like the tip about setting short-term goals. I tend to get demotivated when I think about how much work it is to finish a manga XD
The approach that worked for me was to try and draw every page as well as I can, so that I feel like every part of the manga is worthwhile, rather than having the feeling that it only amounts to something once it's complete.
+MangaDojo That is a good tip aswell, to draw as well as possible when making every page. Still, though, it's important not too lose track on the bigger goal. So keep the weekly goals for that.
I agree about the ninjas, even though I think that's another thing. I'll make a video about this as well: the difference between a theme and a story. Like, a ninja themed manga can still tell the story about a lost parental figure, or in the case of Naruto the classical Underdog storyline. With some lost-father-storyline as well, haha. Deeeeep.
+Natalia Batista Yeah, a balanced approach is probably the best. It's also important to think the story through, as you say, until the very end, because refined pages won't help if you notice that there's a problem in your story.
In fact, I think it's a good idea to first draw the whole story (or, if it's a series, at least a volume or chapter) as a rough storyboard before actually drawing the pages. A good story is worth reading despite bad art anyway (as ONE has demonstrated most recently for example XD), but good art won't make a boring story any more interesting.
One of my favorite Naruto chapters was actually the first one, because it could really work in any setting: A young orphan feels lonely and isolated from his peers, but tries to hide it behind a wall of pranks and jokes. He has two teachers, one of whom is very strict, while the other one tries to be consoling. But as it turns out, the nice teacher only used him for his personal goals, while the harsh one actually understood his feelings and was willing to risk his life for him.
People a thousand years ago and probably a thousand years into the future would be able to connect with such a plot, with or without ninjas :)
+MangaDojo So true. I'm planning a series of videos on storytelling and visual storytelling actually.
Yep, and one other vid about that. That will probably be my next; how to generate an idea and form it.
My initial thoughts as I began to watch the video:
"Some hipster mangaka-wannabe is gonna tell me how I can work through making a comic. Whatever."
Me thoughts by the middle of the video:
"OH MY GOD IT'S LIKE SHE KNOWS ME!!! *sobs*"
So yeah, subscribed.
My thoughts when I began to watch.. Yes its the joeysworldtour music wooWOOwooWOO muchacho
He's probably using the same sourse: Kevin McLeod.
Tip #1, GET GOOD'
Tip #2, The characters are the most important part of a series
Thanks Natalia. Should have placed a "Finish the project" tip at the top. That is the hardest part.
Thank you so much for this video! You are a good teacher :)
Around tip number 5 is where it started really fitting into my life in where i am with my comics... I needed that advice! Again thank you so much!
I just discovered this video and your channel. This was so sweet and inspiring! Thank you for the tips!!
thank you so much! This really helped me! Now I can do my story properly, and I feel it will come out great! Thank you very much!
Great tips! Love your videos and from now on I will be always watching! Thanks a lot!
Thank you!! :D
Thanks for the tips!
I especially like the tip about making a story about personal experience in some way. Great vid! :)
+CataBata Thank you! Yes, I think most stories are deeply personal, but it gets more clear and focused if it's consiously personal.
Thanks for the tips. I'm getting there :D
Jag ser svenska kommentarer, så jag kör på det jag med.
Tack så mycket för genuina och värdefulla tips! Det här är första videon jag ser av dig och du verkar veta vad du snackar om. Är i uppstarten av min egen serie och känner mig både skrämd och inspirerad av dina ord. Men igen, tack!
Spännande! Starten av serien är en läskig period, det är bara att uthärda. När du kommit en bit in i den så kommer allt kännas mycket bättre och säkrare!
Tack för kommentaren! :D
really good.it helped a lot. thank you :)
I really enjoyed this video, thank you. You just got a new subscriber :)
Thank you for sharing! Will keep this in mind when I work on my comic, Saga Blott 💖
Thank you so much for this! you know, I was watching your video while I was working on a comic series of my own. I'm hoping to get it published soon...although when I found out you have to work or do the story until the end then I got kinda worried xDD it'll take me some time to get to the end of the story then.
Your english is soooo perfect! ♡ And Thank you for the tips. I'm trying to make my manga and the story is long and kinda complex, honestly saying. I've never taken drawing lesson and during the last 2 years I've been practising for it by my own. I started doing a couple of chapters but they were sooo terrible that I stoped and just returned doing them now. However, I'm feeling a bit down about it all. It's just complicated, I guess. My story is way too personal, my best friend at the time helped me with somethings at the time and then you had a series of arguements and our friendship just when down the river :(
Oh, sounds like a complicated situation. But it truly sounds liek a story you just have to make. Hopefully your friend can read it when it's done and understand your point of view... Also, don't mind the drawing ability, just produce! You'll get better by doing, so don't stop. You can always redraw later if you really want to, but I personally think a story that needs to be told and that is good enough doesn't need "pretty" or "awesome" artworks. Yes, some readers just look at the surface, and only read the story if they like the artwork, but I much more prefer a great story with "crappy" art, than a crappy story with "great" art. (Art is subjective so that's why I use "" when talking about it).
+Natalia Batista Oh, thank you ♡ Your advice came right in time ahhaha I had a few issues last night, thinking I would never be good enough to do it, that the story is not good and stuff ;=;
I'm also so scared of losing it, having no followers to try a publisher (I live in Brazil, this industry here is way too limited so yeah..), at the same time publishing by my own would be the same as never selling as I use a nickname (etfictor) . And girl.. everytime I see something related or with 0001% of similarity with my plot I just go down lower than zero.
I'll keep trying and not giving up. Your words made me wonder about what I already had forgotten: what makes something good is not looks. Thank you once more ♡ Keep your awesome work 'cause you are maybe helping people more than you could imagine haha thank you ♡
+Natalia Batista (btw, I'm really sorry for the mistakes on my first comment e.e')
How do edit your artwork and pages after scanning them? I have a drawing tablet but I prefer drawing on paper (I use Deleter type F B4-sized) but I don't know what to do to make pages look more "professional" when I comes the time to add screentones and stuff. Some marks in pen insists to appear .--.
6:15 so basically don't wash yourself until you reach your goals....gotcha!
great advice!!
Så himla bra video Natalia!
Den fyllde mig med lust att börja med min manga projekt igen.
Mitt problem är dock att jag inte tror jag kan balansera ett heltidsjobb plus universitetet samt ett projekt samtidigt >3<
Klarar knappt av universitetet samtidigt som jag jobbar D:
Men nån dag skulle jag vilja påbörja och faktiskt avsluta min manga som jag velat göra i 7-8 år nu ; u ;
Fortsätt göra videos, du inspirerar så mycket!
+KamiflorVlog Det förstår jag. Jag hoppas du får möjligheten att göra den någon gång! Jag tänkte faktiskt göra en video snart om hur man balanserar jobb och serieskapande. :)
Åh nej, det är ju riktigt läskigt att tänka på att man någon gång måste släppa taget om sina karaktärer och sin story! xP Men ingenting kan ju pågå för all framtid. Och dem försvinner ju inte helt för att man släpper taget om dem!
+Enya Dragon Nä, det är så sant. Man kan ju använda dem igen senare, men om man inte kan avsluta så blir det också svårt att låta karaktärerna vila. De behöver det...
I'm doing one that at the moment I think will need about 6 or 7 volumes - I calculated based on how long my stories tend to be.
I really was making a comic with a non-personal story. Probably. Because I have two routes. One is a serious relatable story. The other is a funny light-hearted story that has some relatable things but the problems are minor. The tip that you give me about having a personal story, I don't really have a personal problem that I could relate to. I'm making a comedy based comic.
And I really have that story in mind. Would you give some tips about comedy comics? I'm stuck, help.
A personal story doesn't mean it has to relate to a problem or experience. It can contain places or objects which speak to you, characters based off of personality traits or people you know really well, themes you are familiar with (i.e. family/work/bereavement etc). It is as if you are an artistic sponge taking in from the world around you and incorporating it into your work. Think about when you watch a movie or read a book and discover you can relate to a situation or feeling a character is experiencing. It does not have to be the exact same problem as the story's plot, but you connect to it nonetheless. This is what makes a story powerful and memorable, no matter what it's actually about.
Heck This is an old post lol. I now don't have any motivation to make manga, but thanks? I'll probably use your tips in writing.
Sorry for the super late reply, but I agree with Heck, start by getting to know your characters, and the funny/absurd/stupid things they do. It helps a lot! When the characters are a part of you, you can put them into any situation and make it funny!
Rainycchi If I may offer a suggestion, find out what makes you laugh and see if you can figure out why. The type of humor you integrate can allow you to make it personal in using your type of humor. If you're worried no one will find it funny or understand, it's the internet, there's bound to be a group of people who share a very similar if not exact same idea of what is funny out there waiting for your work.
I've been wondering about how you get BETA readers for a comic format. Like, when do you get them in? The script stage? Pencils? etc. I'd really like to know.
That's a really good question. I would say as soon as you are ready is a good point to take them in, but in general as soon as possible. Like, usually I actually start talking to my best friends about an idea, and see how they react to it. If they like it and perhaps even help me solve some problems in the story, I let them also read the script. Usually the thumbnails, as I personally dislike reading text manuscripts if it's ment to be a comic/manga. The text doesn't do it right, because you need the pictures to feel the flow of the story. Also, it's always good to practice doing readadle but simple thumbnail sketches!
Nice tips, nice accent! I will be trying some of these, thanks.
Great video Natalia :) especially the creating a story you care about and making small goals. I'm creating a sci-fi manga that goes way into the future like another century and idk if there are many manga and/or anime are like that. And l really need to make small goals because l'm such a very detailed person and its taking me an eternity to finish. Its also a good idea to write your inspirations before you forget them.
Two question for you how and when you should action scenes because l want next chapter to have action thasn just talking and how many characters do you l should l have while making this manga because there's an onslaught of them?
+TheExertionist Great this video could help a little! Makes me glad!
Yes, the action scenes... I'm not an expert, but I think I can give some tips on that too.
+Natalia Batista and i'm glad that you're glad as well. Yes please make advice video of how to create action scenes in your next video.Keep up the amazing advice videos Natalia :)
this is very inspiring
åter igen tack så mycket! Det här är något jag kommer få användning av! Något jag är väldigt nyfiken på är hur ett manus för en manga ser ut. Historien jag planerar att teckna är atm nedskriven som en saga och jag vet inte riktigt hur jag ska gå från det till ett manus, eftersom jag inte har någon aning om hur ett ser ut! skulle vara jättesnällt om du kunde visa det i nån video ^^
+Hanna Pierrau Absolut! Jag tänkte göra flera videor om hur man skriver manus, men speciellt en som handlar om samarbete mellan manusförfattare och tecknare, och hur man som tecknare ska förhålla sig till någon annans text.
Oh you are awesome!
i think that instead of the first tip i would change it to have a reason for making that comic. say you want to make a comic, then you can get it published say, and thats your reason
I have a couple of months to make a comic about a toy robot and a rubber duck. How do i make that personnel?
This necklace tattoo of yours is intriguing.
i have a huge project i been working on,it is kinda personal, though i didn't research i do keep on it as much as i can
First video I’ve watched by you, I love your accent. I’m from America
I understand what you mean by making it personal, but to me, it's had the opposite affect. If I've made something based off others, it's been more difficult to complete it especially when that thing ends or if I don't hang out with those people anymore.
very nice, you are best .
Lmao
Tip two... I have been doing that even before wanting to make my own comic XD
Hej! Jag vill gärna skriva en enkel serie(,min första, bara för att testa). Hur ska jag starta? Jag försöker inte komma på någon superorginell story, men jag vill inte kopiera någon annan helt och hållet heller
you reminded me the most important part, that it will end and our characters will come to a last event but your right, it's all about what we learn from the story not the ending itself. guess that's why I can never seem to finish my story, I forget that it's OK to end it and not keep writing it
Your speak is gold ^^
Can you make a comic book and i want to,see you sell it
I wonder if tattooing on a necklace is actually cheaper than buying a necklace.. can't be more comfortable, at least initially. But then I know as a lineartist I prefer drawing something to making it in 3d.. maybe that's the same principle.
Make the story personal 💕
can you make a comic . because l want to make comic. l am making it first time
#NataliaBatista did you have to learn japanese or already know japanese to make your manga ?
ps awesome video
Thanks!! :D
I studied Japanese in University.
maybe consider creating a story for example. completely through the process?
That's a good idea! I can try make a video later with all my tips, like a recap!
+Natalia Batista awesome! yeah, just make one from scratch and show the process and what your thinking about. and maybe plot and timeline structure, character. . could possibly make it a video series. have a good day. c:
That would be fun! :D I'll try it out!
Wow so beautiful
I'd love to make a comic but I'm afraid I won't have time
I would love to make a comic but I can't draw that good 😂
Natalia
Oh yeah! Sweden, the paradise of Death and Black metal! ;)
You mention the word 'motivation' repeatedly...
Can an artist looses (and why does it..?) inspiration...?
Inspiration and motivation is two different things though. Inspiration comes whrn you get inspired by something and want to create. Motivation is what you need to finish that creation. Inspiration sometimes isn't enough, because it is like a little butterly, that can flutter away and come back later. Motivation is like a tortoise, it can keep you steady on your track. Motivation is to know why you are creating; for your fans, your readers, you family, your living... or for the passion to see the creation completed.
I don't believe that an artist can lose inspiration forever, it usually comes back, but you can lose motivation if you don't think about why you create.
I'll make a longer video about this, I think. Thank's for the inspiration! :D
Natalia; thank you for the response..
I think you are very talented and I truly enjoy watching you draw and sketch,
(because I love to sketch as well...)
Inspiration and Motivation, as you explained it was very clearly explained, indeed...
Question is why (?)do some artist loose interest in a creation..?
Sounds like this would also apply to a religious belief (faith?) or a loving relationship (love?)
Faith must be kept alive, but so is love....Both require maintenance to keep it alive and burning...
I understand the initial desire to create something (conception) and also understand, that to
complete such creation, sometimes the initial fire 'disappears' and the project gets 'shelved'...
and the initial LOVE is lost (or forgotten) specially if said project is long, complicated and not
being paid for; then other 'new loves' (new ideas and inspirations)walk in and we forget about
the 'old ones'.... =(
( I'm listening to "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits for inspiration to write this...)
One day, you walk into your studio, and there; sadly hangs a wonderful project that took
(at one point) all your aptitudes and attention and now is forgotten, but you have already started
14 more projects since then..!!! (It happened to me before) I stopped 'daydreaming' and becoming
poetically involved with my creations and decided to finish what I started and to promise myself
not to start another one until I gave all and completed the one that I started..! It has taken
a little bit of self-control to do it, and now I can really concentrate on what I work at the moment.
Sometimes, it requires reviewing reference photos, videos or simply inviting friends for coffee
and casually boarding the subject on your project to incite a critique and re-start the passion
that once was initially so strong, that made me create my would be ''masterpiece'...
...sorry; I almost wrote a book out of a simple question....Take care... =)
El Diablo If I may share my thoughts, it can be because an artist can get bored of or burned out when they work on a large project for too long of intervals. It would be like eating the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day for a long time--you'll eventually grow sick of it because of a lack of variety. To cure this, an artist can have multiple projects to work on when they want to take a break to keep from getting bored or sick of a project.
*passes by* Malmö... Not such a great place to live I hear.
but...but i'm not from Japan, Europe or America but instead just some third world country, what do i do now? ... nice vid btw
Student 43013 webcomic
Hey, I am too. I'm complaining about my country and proposing ways to fix it via my webcomic
Webcomic or you're fucked.
:D ♡ bra!!
+CollieChan Yaaaay! Tack, Alice!! :D
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Nose bling is so distracting...
cancer