Manga Artists create manga or Japanese cartoons that are a unique combination of insightful and complex storylines, captivating yet realistic characters and painstakingly detailed illustrations that capture readers’ attention worldwide. Continue Reading
USA 
UK 
Explore Career Manga Artists create manga or Japanese cartoons that are a unique combination of insightful and complex storylines, captivating yet realistic characters and painstakingly detailed illustrations that capture readers’ attention worldwide.
What are the typical responsibilities of a Manga Artist?
A Manga Artist would typically need to:
Manga Artists may work from their home, in a rented studio where they have access to all their tools or in the studio of the original author they assist. They may work alone or with a couple of assistants or as part of a larger team. Travel may be necessary to meet with publishers or editors and to attend comic conventions.
Typically, Manga Artists put in at least 14-15 hours every day on creating a plot that can sustain reader interest for the duration of the serialisation, drawing and colouring; this includes the time they spend with assistants and with their editor.
You are lucky if you manage to average more than five hours of sleep a day if you are one of those who keeps on drawing for 19 hours a day or go without sleep before a deadline. But crossing that hurdle does not mean it is time for a break; their editor will want to know all about the next project. This might be your schedule, too, for as long as you pursue this career.
Working for a monthly magazine is supposed to work better in terms of deadlines and days off. It is relatively easier on the artist except when they get stuck on the storyboard and are pressed for time when they come to the drawing.
Ideally, Manga Artists who work for a weekly magazine will most probably dedicate three days to story creation and one day each to writing, drawing and inking, leaving them with one day off in a week. In addition to producing 19 pages of actual work, they might also need to do front covers and promotional work.
Finding a new job might seem challenging. Manga Artists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.
Manga artists who work in various manga styles can be hired in-house, contracted through an agency, or hired independently as a freelancer.
Manga Artists are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organisations, such as Clip Studio, are crucial for Manga Artists interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.
Visual art is very exacting at a professional level and manga is no exception to this premise. Promising Manga Artists who can substantiate their application with visible proof of their creative skills in the setup, plot, character and drawings may become apprentices or assistants under renowned artists.
You will gain optimal benefit from your tasks outside of the classroom when they line up perfectly with your lessons inside it. You may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.
Although there are quite a few who have made a name for themselves in other countries, manga continues to be dominated by those who publish serialised novels in Japan which has a cultural preference for conducting business deals in person.
If you wish to try your luck in Japan where the competition among Manga Artists is so insane that some artists are becoming famous even before they complete high school, begin by learning enough Japanese that you can communicate well.
Hire a translator to write in Japanese and move to Japan to prove your commitment to the local companies. Then, imbibe as much of the Japanese culture and values as you can, to build a strong network and be acknowledged in the local manga industry which still prefers content within the Japanese experience.
Format your manga Japanese style and work on your art and storytelling skills so you stand a chance among the local artists as one who can bring a unique cultural twist to their Manga. Begin with short stories and establish yourself before attempting lengthier versions of manga.
Remember that good art is not all that it takes to make a popular manga. Your audience will appreciate one with story and substance. Learn about the devices and techniques that lend themselves to a fascinating narrative and go on to create your own to tell a story that will be your legacy.
A strong portfolio that showcases your manga skills and work to animation studios and comic publishers will help further pave the way. Be willing to take rejection in your stride and use constructive criticism as a springboard to refine your artistic handiwork.
There are diverse routes you can follow to establish yourself as a Manga Artist. Accept an entry-level production job in the field even if it does not meet your expectations in terms of salary and work so you can constantly refine your knowledge and skill base.
Submit your comics to a manga publisher who may slave-drive you in return for a meagre pay but the publicity gained is nothing to sneeze at. You can also team up with a writer if you excel at drawing or vice versa.
You can self-publish if you are capable of covering all the costs and marketing. You must be able to push your work at conventions like Comicon and work out how to get your work onto digital distribution platforms like Kindle and ComiXology.
If you can convince them that people will read your comics and see their commercials, you can sell advertising space in your comic to sponsors. Create a webcomic with links to a donation site that helps support the comic.
Publish your comics online, on social media and on personal blogs. You may catch the eye of publishers or editors who are always on the lookout for fresh talent. You may land a job as an assistant to an established artist - a common stepping stone for many a promising Manga Artist.
Enter comic-related competitions organised by publishers. They might also be a launchpad to a fruitful career in manga. And the icing on this particular cake - you will not need to fly to Japan to enter the contest.
Read manga comics, learn from manga drawing books, and interview or job shadow experts working in manga for better insight into the craft and career.
Most Manga artists learn the basics of the craft at a Manga institute or school in Japan which teaches anatomy along with techniques for drawing faces, facial expressions and proportions of bodies. The course includes the design of characters, weapons, vehicles and settings.
The students will also learn how to develop attractive portfolios and animate and maybe create sculptures and figurines for merchandising.
In addition, colleges and universities in Japan offer accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees in manga. Elsewhere, programs to study the craft of creating comics can lead to apprenticeships with leading houses in the industry. A double major or minor in literature or writing can help you enhance your storytelling and writing skills.
You can also take advantage of online courses and tutorials led by instructors with significant experience in the field who will teach you how to draw anime and manga characters, with special focus on hair and facial contours and expressions.
An ideal education provider would create a hub where interested individuals can go learn the craft from a young age so they can turn their inherent skills into a lucrative profession. Workshops and short courses would help students practice storyboarding, drawing and marketing their work.
You can also pursue fine art and graphic design at college and university. If your location does not offer a straightforward route to comics through education, choose courses that include the skills that will help you achieve your goal.
Focus on art, English, Japanese and history in high school.
Certification in drawing and illustration, business management and time management from an objective and reputed organisation can help further your career as a successful Manga Artist. A combination of education, experience, and testing is generally required to gain certification, though requirements differ from region to region.
As they gain experience and deliver work of consistently high quality, Manga Artists may move from entry-level work inking completed pages to the more intricate tasks of manga art production.
A Senior Manga Artist may act as a Consultant to help companies manage and direct their art project. They may work directly with art directors and other cartoonists to create comic-book art.
As your reputation is being established, you may see a rise in your work and consequently your income from not just your mangas but also from royalties from a published volume of mangas, animes, live-action films and related merchandise.
Some Manga Artists may become publishers and editors of the magazines they work for. Others may choose to teach their craft to the next generation of Manga Artists.
Candidates with the ability to create painstakingly detailed artwork and work long hours under intense pressure and brutal criticism have the best job prospects.
Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Manga Artist build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity,
formal education, or self-directed learning.
You will need to maintain a strong portfolio throughout your active career, monitor events and trends and continue reading related art publications to stay abreast of the latest developments.
Practice your craft religiously day in and day out. Be on the constant lookout for fresh plots and characters.
What is Japanese Manga?
Manga is a form of Japanese art that includes cartoons, comics and graphic novels, but there ends any similarity with such storytelling mediums in other countries. Manga magazines read from right to left, back to front.
Typically printed in black ink on white or colour-tinted flimsy recycled paper, these magazines may comprise four hundred or more pages with a choice selection of serialised and one-off stories.
The Globalisation of Manga
Although Japan continues to be the chief patron of manga, quite a few noteworthy samples are produced elsewhere, sometimes stylised to the local style. However, if you do not follow all the rules that qualify your work as manga in Japan, you may not be considered as such.
Challenges Unique to a Manga Artist Outside Japan
The labour laws in most other nations will not support the brutal work schedules adopted by Manga Artists in Japan. Consequently, you cannot afford to practice the craft full-time.
There’s a stigma against non-Japanese Manga Artists in terms of their work style and quality, which roots in lack of commercial support. Even the few that have reached their full potential are not popular or worse, even known in the industry. Consequently many try their hand at video games.
What Sets Manga Apart?
Manga drawings may range from characters with huge, expressive eyes and weird hairdos to squiggly figures to highly detailed, realistic images. Boys are depicted in jagged straight lines, while girls are given a more flowing and flowery treatment.
Manga stories are slower in pace than Western-style comics and often feature multi-layered storytelling, lengthy plots and complex characters. Some series may stretch across a decade or more.
Manga & Anime
Animes are often confused with manga, but most are adaptations of already successful manga. Popular animes include Dragon Ball and Hello Kitty. Though anime is increasing in popularity worldwide, manga has been around in Japan for over two centuries and continues to dominate Japanese literature. No wonder both the mediums have been proclaimed as Japan’s pop-culture ambassadors.
Potential Sources of Income & Expenditure
As a rule, Manga Artists get paid for every manuscript page they develop. A typical story published in a weekly or monthly magazine comprises 20 pages. Direct income from the manga's serialisation may also include money off cover images, sketches that appear throughout the magazine, or other images to be used in advertising.
When a manga does well, it may be compiled as a volume; the royalties from the published books and related merchandise will form the lion’s share of the Manga Artist’s income. There is also the possibility of your series being turned into an anime or live-action remake that may be ultimately released on DVD. The numbers may vary, but you will receive payment for each medium.
Manga Artists on short deadlines such as those publishing weekly and the more successful ones usually hire one or more assistants to flesh out backgrounds and clean up the text. The artist must pay the assistants from their own pockets.
Manga - The Different Genres
Shôjo manga targets girls up to 18 and focuses on romance, friendship and comedy, while Josei manga, which includes more mature plots built on realistic romance, is for female readers between the ages of 18 and 40.
Shônen manga, aimed at boys between 10 and 18, is created from an ideological and action-oriented perspective of adventure, sports, friendship and overcoming adversity. It has the broadest global reach across all known parameters. Seinen manga features similar themes with more mature plotlines.
Gekiga manga features complex narratives and cinematographic effects that appeal to adults. Although Shônen-ai manga depicts romance between boys, its creators and patrons are primarily females who resonate with the deep emotions as love blossoms between young men.
Adventure manga is another mainstay of Japanese manga which finds a worldwide audience. And then there is sports manga where a particular sport is shown in detail while paying equal attention to the professional and personal challenges of the characters and how they overcome them.
Yet another top-selling genre is comedy manga which uses an engaging, humorous and occasionally dark narrative to make you laugh and then think.
Manga vs American Comics
When an extraordinary storyline, a wide range of genres and a mind-boggling display of emotions is accompanied by more attractive prices, manga such as One Piece and Naruto win hands-down in comparison to American comics. Manga Artists usually handle all creative aspects of a manga, except when tight deadlines require help from assistants, unlike their non-manga counterparts.
Tools of the Trade
Manga Artists use mechanical pencils, G/Maru pens, nib pen holder, sharpie pens, white and black ink, erasers, comic drawing paper, brush and brush pen, cutters or knives to cut pages and rulers to bring to life their imagination and creativity.
Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment
Freelancing Manga Artists have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.
On the other hand, a full-time Manga Artist has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.
When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.
Despite the intense pressure and the lack of proper food, sleep or income, Manga Artists continue to try their luck in an industry that is both wondrous and cruel to satisfy a passion for the craft that borders on obsession.
Practice your craft, make comics, share them and connect with other aspirants. Believe that you are better than anyone else! Talent and hard work will fetch you a debut - getting a prize at a competition and having your work published. Good luck with the rest!
Manga is cheaper than American comics because Japanese publishers use recycled paper to publish manga.
What do Manga Artists do?
A Manga Artist would typically need to:
Accredited
$89,288
