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Creating Manga: Storytelling Essentials

Creating Manga: Storytelling Essentials

An 8-week course focused on learning the Manga storytelling method
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The Art of Manga Storytelling

The Art of Manga Storytelling
This course will cover all the main fundamentals of creating pages using the manga storytelling method; from character building to story structure to developing layouts. By the end of this course, students will have learnt how to create Yonkoma, and have at least 8 completed, as well as learning the fundamentals of character creation, with a full character sheet of their own. They will have learnt the Manga storytelling method and created up to 4 pages of storyboards of their own story. This course is suitable for both writers and artists interested in creating comics/manga using the Manga storytelling method. Basic drawing skills preferred but not required as this course focuses on Manga style storytelling.
Registration Now Open
Registration Period
Jul 17, 2024 - Oct 07, 2024
Course Start
Oct 09, 2024

Course Format

Live Group Sessions

Skills Level

Beginner - Intermediate

Duration

8 weeks

Q&A

Once a week

Feedback

Individual recordings

Lecture Type

Live Group Sessions
Assignment
Due each week. Expect to spend 8-10 hrs/wk viewing lectures, Q&A, and time on assignments.
PREREQUISITES
Strong interest in manga and willingness to learn how the language of Manga works. Having read different manga before.
MATERIALS
Paper, pencils (and a scanner if so), or ideally Clip Studio Paint and/or Photoshop/other digital art program

The more you know, the better.

History of Manga | Examples – direct a Manga | Most Important thing: “The Manga Mantra”. | Involve reader emotionally, show emotions of protagonist | Manga is based on character (why?) | Different ways to come up with a character/ideas | Character sheet | Manga Making method – process of making Manga
Importance of faults | Motivation is the Key to character | 5w’s and 1 H | How to SHOW and incorporate your character’s personality (from the sheet) into their design
Start with the end in mind | What’s a logline? How to crystallise your story | Main elements of a logline | Analyzing a short Manga and devising a logline for it
Meaning of Kishōtenketsu| What is a Yonkoma? | Difference between Western storytelling and Japanese | The origin of Kishōtenketsu
Size of panels | Most important emotion has biggest panel | What thing do I want the reader to look at in page | What angle do I choose | How to simplify drawings to explore options
Pre-planning your Manga – break it into moments then join | (Serifudashi + Thumbnails) | Position of balloons | The importance of the full figure to present a character | Use of close-ups – when and why | Presenting a storyboard
Studying different methods of creating emphasis lines | Speed lines | Importance of Kakimoji ( sound effects) | Impact of first page
Unify/Consolidate all elements | Deepen knowledge

Bringing out the best in talent

LECTURES BY Elena Vitagliano
Course Start: Oct 09, 2024
Elena Vitagliano is an award winning Italian comic artist living in London. Her work is related to the analysis of human emotions and the meaning of life. She grew up in Italy during an era of predominantly Japanese anime. This had a massive impact on her, leading to her developing a keen interest in Japanese culture, culminating in a degree revolving around Oriental culture, art and language, and even spending a year living and studying in Tokyo. Eventually, her passion got the better of her and she began to pursue a graphic design and manga career. Her winning streak encompasses various National Italian illustration awards, being a finalist at Torino Comix 2011, winning in the 2011 Manga Jiman Competition (organized by the Japanese Embassy in UK) and in 2013 the European Competition "Comics for Equality”.

Her greatest award has been received in 2018 though. She has been the first European woman to win the Grand Prix Award (first prize) in the Silent Manga Audition (international Japanese competition) - 8th edition - with the short manga “The cruelest Rule” about fair play. Furthermore, she occasionally writes articles about manga, makes manga portraits, cooperates with museums, associations and manga events and used to host a daily radio show about anime and manga. She is currently cooperating with a Japanese editor to write and draw a full-length manga novel and has just published a harvest of her short stories in Italy, called “Silent Smiles”.

Elena is the first Italian mangaka to be published in Shonen Jump Plus. You can read about it here.


Instructor's Gallery

Concept Art
Concept Art
Concept Art

PRICING SCHEDULE

Even though our courses are the most affordable for the quality of education, these finance options allow you to focus on your goals instead of the barriers that keep you from reaching them.

3x Payments

$233

2x Payments

$349.50

Full payment

$699

Fall TERM REGISTRATION Now Open
Jul 17, 2024 - Oct 07, 2024
COURSE BEGINS on Oct 09, 2024
Creating Manga: Storytelling Essentials

What makes this learning experience unique?

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK

Receive personalized feedback on all assignments from the industry’s top professionals.

LIFETIME ACCESS

Enjoy lifetime access to the spectrum of course content, including lectures, live Q&As, and feedback sessions.

CERTIFICATION

Show off your Certification of Completion when you turn in 80% of course assignments.

FLEXIBLE LEARNING

Learn anywhere, anytime, and at your own pace with flexible, online course scheduling.

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