How to Develop Your own Manga Style

The style of Japanese comics known as manga is one of the most unique forms of art in the world. It often focuses on very dramatic storylines and gregarious characters. If you want to create your own manga, you should find a mix of keeping with its traditional style while developing and adding your own creativity.

Instructions

1. Read as many books as possible. This includes commercial manga novels as well as books showing how to draw characters. Learn the basics of art, characters and stories so you can use them for your means.

2. Develop your own storyline. Try something different from the overused stories (like the magical girl superhero team story). Once you've read several other books, create a story arc never done before.

3. Decide the age group your manga will be for. You can aim manga and anime at a wide range of ages, from young kids to adults. This will be crucial in determining how graphic your art will be.

4. Design the characters to go with your story. Remember, the character's personality is what will drive the character above all else. The personality will reflect through to the character's appearance and expressions.

5. Practice drawing your characters and writing your story as often as possible. Don't be afraid to re-draw your first drafts, if you get more ideas. Your first experiments with drawing manga will definitely be a work in progress.

6. Create as many story arcs as you can. The best manga often has several episodes and stories, like a comic book soap opera. Let your imagination flow as freely as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• The characters carry the story more than anything else in manga. Often, developers will draw several panels with just character action and no scenery. So being extremely artistic with your scenery may not be necessary.

• Using your own creativity is good, but don't differentiate too much from basic manga style. Shy, reserved characters shouldn't have huge, pointy hair and villains shouldn't have big eyes, for example.