Are four heads better than one?? With roots in fan-made fiction, Clamp have lit up the world of manga with a universe of magic, tragedy and above all, love. But in an industry famous (or infamous) for grueling workloads, handled by a single creative mind, does a creative collective work? This week, I bow down to the undisputed Queens of Shōjo!
Name: Clamp (クランプ Kuranpu)
Founded: 1987
Current members: Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi, Satsuki Igarashi
Speciality: The Queens of Shōjo
ABOUT
Formed in the mid 80’s as “Clamp Cluster”, the group of 11 Osaka women formed a manga collective to create doujinshi (fan-made manga), honoring Captain Tsubasa and Saint Seiya, amongst others. By 1987, Clamp, including mainstays Mokona, the sole illustrator and lead writer Ohkawa decided to channel their efforts into an original piece, starting work on RG Veda soon after.
By the group’s professional debut in 1989, Clamp had downsized considerably. Their work caught the attention of Shinshokan’s Wings manga magazine, but the 60 page story sample they submitted failed to impress the editors. Undaunted and learning from their mistakes, the group dusted off RG Veda and secured themselves a series in Wings. It was during this time that the majority of the group left, leaving behind the core members who would steer Clamp to undreamed of success.
With RG Veda ever under the axe, should popularity waver, Clamp upped their creative output and kicked off several series, with several publishers. With an abundance of titles, including Man of Many Faces, Duklyon: Clamp School Defenders, X, Miyuki-chan in Wonderland and Magic Knight Rayearth, the 1990’s not only became a decade of prolific creativity for the group, it also established Clamp as manga voice to be reckoned with, not least with the arrival of the much loved Cardcaptor Sakura.
15 years into the group, the remaining members of Clamp decided to change their names. In true “rock star” fashion, Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona Apapa, Mick Nekoi, and Satsuki Igarashi were now known as Ageha Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi and Satsuki Igarashi, respectively. Indeed, Tsubaki ‘Mick’ Nekoi’s reason was to avoid any confusion with British Rolling Stone, Mick Jagger!
Identity crisis aside, Clamp were now a worldwide phenomenon. With requests for event appearances coming in from all over the world and 90 million copies sold, the ‘manga hobbyists’ from Osaka embarked on more daring story concepts. xxxHolic for Young Magazine and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, serialized in the Weekly Shōnen Magazine were two independent stories that made up a single, interconnecting story arch. With Tsubasa aimed at a young, male audience, the “Queens of Shōjo” were gambling with concepts, hitherto unknown in manga with ease.
More recently, Clamp have revisited these two defining titles. XXXHOLiC Rei and Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card are both sequels that seamlessly continue the stories, yet introduce new and exciting characters for the world’s Clamp hungry fandom. If Clamp have learned anything from the Rolling Stones, it’s to make sure their fans get “Satisfaction”!
MY THOUGHTS
Stepping into Clamp’s universe for the first time is daunting to say the least. It’s huge! From magic spells to inter-dimensional hopping, via cloning, the stories created by the group seem to be small parts of a much bigger picture. Birthing, growing and maintaining a universe as big as Clamp’s can be both immensely rewarding and a veritable nightmare (just ask R.R. Martin, J.R.R. Tolkien and George Lucas!), so how do the “Queens of Shōjo” manage to pull it off? Or do they??
Clamp are at their best when crafting characters. In fact, it’s the characters that seem to keep this burgeoning behemoth under control, particularly in how they utilize them. Taking a leaf from the great God of Manga himself, Osamu Tezuka, the group see their characters more like actors than a specific creation for a specific story. Take the mild mannered, ever kawaii Sakura Kinomoto, appearing in both Cardcaptor Sakura and Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE. Though she appears in slightly differing roles, this ‘recycling’ of a character not only allows a sense of familiarity to new stories, it helps to cement the stories in the universe as a whole.
But building such a huge universe is also fraught with many difficulties, not least keeping track of their characters! With so many ‘actors’ at their disposal, the group have taken to writing up ‘résumés’ to help them avoid making any glaring errors! Indeed, with a fanbase as big as Clamp’s, the smallest mistake in one of their beloved characters would be instantly picked up, potentially cracking the illusion of entertainment the group strives so hard to create.
The margin for error doesn’t stop at characters bios either. With such a big universe, inhabited by an even bigger cast, the potential for creating ‘loose plot threads’ is so high that they’ve become inevitable. From delayed satisfaction with dragging out mysteries to seemingly abandoning a story arc altogether, Clamp have garnered as much frustration as adoration. But with a loyal fanbase, ready to forgive almost anything, this particular idiosyncrasy of Clamp has become more endearing than annoying.
At its very core, Clamp are a group of fans making manga for fans. With roots firmly planted in doujinshi culture, the group prefer to shy away from the title ‘mangaka’, explaining that they are here by pure chance. It’s this element that has garnered a fanbase that spans continents and generations, simply because they are one of us. We easily forgive mistakes, and eagerly applaud success because they speak to us on a personal level from their own experience. Clamp are a movement that both gives the fans what they want, and leaves them wanting more. Surely, the mark of great entertainers.
MANGA
1989 – 1996 RG Veda
1990 – 1991 Man of Many Faces
1990 – 1993 Tokyo Babylon
1992 – 1993 Clamp School Detectives
1992 – 1993 Duklyon: Clamp School Defenders
1992 – 1992 Shirahime-Syo: Snow Goddess Tales
1992 – 2003 X/1999
1992 – 1994 Legend of Chun Hyang
1993 – 1995 Magic Knight Rayearth
1993 – 1995 Miyuki-chan in Wonderland
1995 – 1995 The One I Love
1995 – 1996 Magic Knight Rayearth
1996 – 2000 Cardcaptor Sakura
1996 – 1998 Wish Kadokawa
1997 – 1999 Clover
1999 – 2001 Angelic Layer
1999 – 2000 Suki: A Like Story
2000 – 2003 Legal Drug
2001 – 2002 Chobits
2002 – 2002 Murikuri
2003 – 2011 xxxHolic
2003 – 2009 Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
2005 – 2011 Kobato
2011 –Gate 7
2011 – Drug & Drop
2013 – xxxHolic: Rei
2014 – 2016 Tsubasa World Chronicle: Nirai Kanai-hen
2016 – Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card
NEXT WEEK: Tetsuo Hara
Chris Manga cracker #17 Attack on Titan Attack on Titan By Hajime IsayamaPublished by Kodansha 2009 ~
“A boy with a thirst for freedom and revenge, swears to prove himself by annihilating humanity’s worst foe…the mighty Titans!”
Have you ever wondered what the world is like? Ever had a yearning to travel the length and breadth of the land and experience all the world had to offer? Then you share the thought’s of protagonist, Eien Yeager, but in Attack on Titan, exploring the world can be fatal! Over a hundred years ago, the Titans appeared, virtually wiping out humanity in their wake. The last remnant humankind gathered to together, within a huge, walled city. This last attempt at holding onto civilization comes at a great cost, their virtual imprisonment from the outside world. Eien, tired of living behind huge walls, dreams of joining the elite Survey Corps, the city’s defecto military and last line of defense against the destructive Titans. The Survey Corps specialize in venturing out, into the world to gather information on their enemy. His resolve is strengthened when the city is attacked by the biggest Titan ever seen. At a staggering 50 meters tall, the Titan easily dismantles the protective wall and enters the city. In the confusion of the attack, Eien’s mother is badly injured, making her easy prey for the hungry Titan. 5 years on, Eien is combat ready and eager for revenge. Joined by his best friend Mikasa, they enlist in the Survey Corps with the dream of resurrecting the pride and dignity of the human race.
Nutcracking Time!
Attack on Titan immediately grabbed me by using a method, seldom used in manga, the time skip. Time skips can be tricky to use, and even trickier to pull off, though they can prove useful when setting up a backstory to allow for the action in the present. This manga is a great example of how to begin a story, slap bang in the middle of the action. But the real strength with Attack on Titan is the ability to erase shocking questions that will ensure the reader keeps turning the page. The protagonist starts out as a rebellious little boy, filled with frustration at being caged. Unafraid at what awaits humanity beyond the walls, he constantly clashes with his fearful, caring family. His wish for freedom, revenge and hatred is what drives Eien, making him a powerful character. With hard expressions and dramatic situations, this hero’s journeys promises to be filled with many hurdles, that will leave the readers speechless and wanting more.
“How you start a manga really decides if readers turn the page or not!”
Not that we could expect anything different from such an epic survival story! Would love to hear your thoughts so follow me on Twitter – @SmacViVi Facebook – Vivi Fabbri Smac Don’t forget to use the #manganutcracker SMAC! MANGA DOJO #12 – "STEAL the ideas wisely!" <Characters>Penmaru Is a ninja dog who dreams of becoming the greatest manga creator in the animal world. To help achieve his dream, Mocchi gives him a mission… “Learn how to create manga at the Manga Dojo.” He’s a “Super Sentai” person. “Shihan” Manga Master The master of the dojo and Penmaru’s tutor in the ways of manga. An experienced editor who had worked in the manga industry for over 30 years. He’s a “Space Sheriff” person.<Previously in Manga Dojo>Over the past few episodes, Penmaru has learned many valuable tips on “Neta-dashi” (Coming up with ideas).Applying all the lessons he’s learned,he continues to develop his idea in earnest so that he can submit his entry to SMA!Today however, it would appear something bad has happened……?(さらに…) Weekend Yokai Hunter #1
Greetings! I’m Brendan and I’m from England. Nice to meet you!
My journey into manga began waaay back, during my High School days. Whilst wading through hefty textbooks, I chanced upon Otomo Katsuhiro’s ‘AKIRA’, blowing my mind in the process! Hungry for more, I sought out Hara Tetsuo’s ‘Fist of the North Star’ and Hiroshi Aramata’s ‘Doomed Megalopolis’, allowing me to fully appreciate mature themes from an early age.
Well hello there, Neko Musume!
Voraciously reading manga during an adolescence that played out to a soundtrack of thrash metal, it was only a matter of time until I discovered horror! Thanks to my Dad, my obsession with the scariest of genre’s began in 1985, when he took me to see ‘Ghostbusters’ (who can forget THAT library scene!?). Since that fateful day, my life was consumed with watching the grotesque adventures of Freddy Krueger, Jason Vorhees and Chucky! But my thirst for scares didn’t stop at the silver screen. A voracious reader, I whiled away many a cold, British winter, glued to books on British folklore. From the ‘Beast of Bodmin Moor’ and the ‘Penhill Giant’ to the downright creepy ‘Shug Monkey’, Britain had a wealth of beasties good to enough to satisfy my horror hungry thirst!
However, manga remained number one, and with that, a trip to Japan was inevitable. Japan was everything I’d hoped it would be, and as a young, nerdy 21 year old, I instantly fell in love with everything around me, not least a young lady who later became my wife. I had everything! Friends, experiences, as much manga as I could get my greedy hands on, everything in fact, but the horror induced scares I’d now become addicted to! That all changed, one fateful evening…
Those pesky Yanari!
My wife and I had just moved into an apartment in a newly constructed block. Exhausted after the move, we wearily crept into bed for some much needed sleep. But as tired as we were, sleep eluded us. Maybe it was the new surroundings, but we both felt uneasy…Suddenly, the air was filled with a cacophony of noise! Strange footsteps from the apartment above us, loud metallic noises from the one below filled the night till dawn. Doubly tired and a little cranky, we complained to the building manager, only to be told we were the only residents who had moved in. Terrified, I turned to my wife who smiled back at me…
“Maybe we were visited by a group of ‘Yanari’?” She said
“‘Yanari’?” I whimpered. “What the hell is that?”
“Oh? You’ve never heard of ‘Yokai’…?” She replied.
Yokai, I was delighted to hear, are supernatural entities that first started to appear in Japanese folklore around the 8th century. However, it wasn’t until the Edo period (1603 – 1863) that they really began to take root in Japanese culture, when Toriyama Sekien, a folklorist and ukiyo-e artist, chose Yokai as his subject for elaborate wall scrolls and books. Their appearance and traits range wildly. Where you may find a friendly river-dwelling Yokai that enjoys sumo and eating cucumbers, you’ll easily find another Yokai whose raison d’être is licking the grime off your ceiling while you sleep. Finally, my horror was secure!
There’s literally thousands of the creepy buggers, but it wasn’t until a certain manga creator by the name of Mizuki Shigeru came along, following his time in the second world war, that Yokai became a presence in manga. Mizuki penned a hugely successful manga called ‘Gegege no Kitaro’, and helped introduce Yokai to a new generation.
Gegege no Kitaro tells the story of a 350 year old, half human, half Yokai boy, who aims to bridge the two worlds he inhabits, often with disastrous consequences. I loved this manga from the first page. Not only was it a gripping adventure of comedic mishaps, it allowed me to discover a new Yokai with every book I picked up.
The birth of Kitaro!
The fun doesn’t stop with Mizuki Shigeru either! Other Yokai based manga soon began to appear, including ‘Kappa no Sanpei’, ‘Jigoku sensei Nube’, ‘Yokai Hunter’ and ‘Ushio to Tora’, firmly dragging these ancient creatures of folklore into modern times. And I couldn’t get enough of those creepy beasties!
So, with my fascination with Yokai growing daily, I have taken it upon myself to search the length and breadth of Japan for the weirdest, most terrifying Yokai imaginable! As your “Weekend Yokai Hunter”, I aim to shine the spotlight on a different Yokai each week and examine their cultural impact on modern day Japan, both on and off the pages of manga. Armed with my camera, and protective amulet, I will venture forth and risk dangers beyond belief, for your reading pleasure. Hopefully I fare better than those three ghost busting scientists did in the library!
See you next week!
Kakimoji S.O.S. #16 – Kakimoji are not SFX!?
So you’re well on your way to completing your manga! You’ve paneled it to perfection, your art is on point and you’ve crafted an entertaining story, wrapped around an exciting protagonist… but it’s still missing something… Onomatopoeia, of course! We all know that Kakimoji can turn a static scene into a dynamic, atmospheric feast for the eyes. But how can we let the readers know that a door has been knocked? Or a plate has been smashed?? Or a window even?! Basically, are SOUND EFFECTS different from KAKIMOJI?! …or SFX for you movie buffs out there.
Ryan Dickey/Flickr
To answer that question, let’s go back in time to the Dawn of Cinema. During the silent film era, the action on the screen was always accompanied by a live musician or band of musicians to help tell the story. With fast paced scenes, fast paced music. With love scenes, romantic music, and so on. Still, something was missing… Where’s the fun in seeing silent film superstar, Buster Keaton fall through a plate glass window, without the sound of shattering glass? Or laughing along to face full of custard pie with the sound of the “squelch”? Yes, dear readers, the cinema hungry throngs were even hungrier for SOUND EFFECTS! It was back back in 1913 when the world first experienced “talkies”, or sound tracked films. Not only did the use of recorded sound enhance the viewers experience, it also gave the director an almost limitless scope for crafting entertainment.
Stefan Schubert, Laurel and Hardy (Flickr)
We take SFX pretty much for granted these days, but what would a Star Wars battle be without that PYU PYU sound? How could we FEEL the awesome power of a transforming Transformer without hearing TUTUTUTUTU? And lest we forget, how could we know of the awesome power generated by Dragon Ball’s Goku, without the powering sounds of FZZ FZZ?! These sounds have now entered the halls of pop culture, forever synonymous with the characters we associate them with. So, are SFX and Kakimoji the same thing? In a word…no. Kakimoji’s role in manga is to be completely integrated into the design on the page, enhancing the action to amazing effect. A misplaced Kakimoji could be devastating, not only in loosing the impact of your scene, but maybe even signaling the death knell of your tankobon! So unlike SFX, Kakimoji are actually characters within themselves. They are used as a final flourish to your manga to help bring color to the scene, or in some cases, if the Kakimoji is strong, they can actually inspire a scene! ***I would love the create a Slum Landlord characters, moving from apartment to apartment accompanied with the Kakimoji “ヤチン” “ヤチン” (“Yachin”, meaning rent in Japanese. But with the added, acute sound of “CHIN” we have a coin reference, so it really fits well with a “IT’S RENT DAY MY FRIEND, PAY UP!”onomatopoeia).
Just look at him! Let’s create a manga about this greedy guy!
(and yes, I did this all by myself, Penmaru)
Oh, I see… uhuh
But there is something both Kakimoji and SFX have in common: without either, the entertainment we love so much, from movies to manga, will loose a vital part of what makes them amazing.So yes, Kakimoji (onomatopoeia) and SFX might be two completely different elements, one for manga one for movies, but they both aim to achieve the same goal: enhancing the audience experience so you feel like you’re part of the action, rather than a mere spectator. See you next time for more Kakimoji magic! CIAO!! FOLLOW ME for more Kakimoji tips! TwitterFacebook …and remember to use the hashtag #kakimojisos 😉 Making a Mangaka: #5 Masamune Shirō
Masamune Shirō could well be labelled manga’s first international superstar. One of the first to find an eager audience outside of Japan, Shirō played a major part in introducing manga to the wider world. By tapping into the psyche of Sci-Fi fans everywhere, he asks the question that has plagued us since the dawn of humanity. This week, I transverse the circuitboard mind of Masamune Shirō!
Name: Masamune Shirow (士郎正宗 Shirō Masamune)
Born: November 23, 1961
Place of Birth: Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
Speciality: Adventures in Cyberpunk
ABOUT
Born in Kobe, the young Masamune Shirō (born Masanori Ota) began his creative journey at Osaka University of Art. While studying oil painting, Shirō started experimenting with manga, producing several dojinshi (fan made) creations, most notably ‘Black Magic – M66’. This cyberpunk “cat and mouse” thriller would set the tone for much of his future work, while also catching the eye of Harumichi Aoki, the president of the small, Osaka based publisher Seishinsha.
Adopting a pseudonym, inspired by either the legendary sword-smith ‘Masamune’ or the Masamune Sake Brewery in Kobe, the fledgling manga creator began work on his first, professional work. A first in manga, ‘Appleseed’ was published in 1985 as a stand-alone paperback, rather than an ongoing series. Not only did Shirō’s professional debut win him the 1986 Seiun Award for Best Manga, it also caught the attention of the wider world.
San Francisco based comic publisher, Studio Proteus, immediately saw the potential in Shirō’s work, eagerly publishing English language versions of everything the Kansai native produced. This interest was unique in the world of manga, where a creator finding success outside of Japan before being recognized at home, was a rare occurrence.
With global interest rising, Shirō began work on his next project. ‘Dominion Tank Police’ carried over many of the tropes of ‘Appleseed’, including strong female characters, law enforcement and Mecha elements, but it was the “battle of sexes” dynamics that really allowed this manga to shine. With the completion of ‘Dominion’, Shirō then turned his attention to his next work. Not only did this work establish Shirō as a master of manga, it made him an international phenomenon.
‘Ghost in the Shell’ was first serialized in Kodansha’s ‘Young Magazine’. Running from 1989 to 1990, the series quickly gathered fans in both the UK and USA, a feat unheard of at the time. With an international market hungry for more, US/UK company Manga Entertainment part funded the big screen, anime treatment of ‘Ghost in the Shell’ with anime giants Production I.G. in 1995. Building on this global interest, the anime was a fast paced riot of cyberpunk, and with exclusively commissioned music by U2 and Brian Eno, it was a film firmly aimed at an international audience.
Today, Masamune Shirō spends as much time devising concepts to be developed by other creators as he does working on his own ideas. A maverick, Shirō has shunned the traditional route of manga creation, staying firmly in the mountainous confines of Kobe to work solo on all his projects. From unconventional publishing debuts to trailblazing international success, this giant of Sci-Fi manga “dances to the beat of his drum”. A prerogative well and truly earned.
MY THOUGHTS
I countMasamune Shirō among the Big Three. Alongside the work of Katsuhio Otomo and Tetsuo Hara, Shirō’s ‘Appleseed’ was responsible for introducing me to the extraordinary world of manga. I remember being astounded by the sheer scale of this man’s art, from exquisitely rendered characters to breathtakingly drawn futuristic city-scapes, Masamune Shirō’s talent as an illustrator grabbed me instantly. But it was the central theme of ‘Appleseed’, a theme that can be seen throughout all of Shirō’s work, that really caught the attention of this obsessive “Blade Runner” fan from Yorkshire… “what is it to be human?”
Shirō’s debut work, “Black Magic – M66” established early on a fascination with strong female protagonists, “Cyberpunk”, robotics and cybernetics. These tropes will feature heavily in much of his future work, allowing Shirō to expertly question the future of humanity.
This question is perhaps best analyzed in his break-out hit ‘Appleseed’. Along with a military trained police operative, Deunan Knute and her ever faithful “point-man”, cyborg augmented Briaros Hecatonchires, we are plunged into an idealized utopia that has risen from the ashes of a devastating, global spanning war. Not long after joining this community, our heroes soon begin to feel uneasy, realizing that the happy society they inhabit is in fact a thin veneer, hiding a bubbling pot of political intrigue. The real question in ‘Appleseed’, however, is humanity. With genetically enhanced humans running the show, what exactly is the fate of humanity as we know it?
‘Dominion Tank Police’ takes an overly negative view of the future. Though this time, Shirō tackles planet wide pollution way before it became trendy. With a militarized police force trying to keep order on a poisoned Earth, we are presented with the choice of generically adapting to the hostile environment, or changing the environment to suit us.
But it’s perhaps Shirō’s most recognizable work, ‘Ghost in the Shell’, that really shines a light on humanity’s future. Set in a fictionalized version of his beloved Kobe, Major Motoko Kusanagi of the elite military unit Public Security Section 9 grapples with questions about her own, cybernetically enhanced identity when pitted against a mysterious antagonist, known only as “The Puppet Master”.
With his ability to correctly predict future innovations, not least the world wide web, Masamune Shirō can well be viewed upon as a giant of Science-Fiction. But beyond the trappings of shiny technology, inherently flawed Cyber-punk settings and military trained law enforcement units, Shirō allows us to instantly identify with his fantastical worlds by shining a light on what we know best, humanity. In the this modern age of political upheaval, mass poverty and ever looming war, Masamune Shirō reminds us to look within ourselves and never forget who we are.
MANGA
Black Magic (1983)
Appleseed (1985)
Dominion (1986)
Ghost in the Shell (1989; English translation 1995)
Orion (1991) Dominion
C1 Conflict (1995)
Ghost in the Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface (2001; English translation 2005)
Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor (2003; English translation 2007)
Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn (2012, concept)
Manga Nutcracker #16 – Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo GhoulBy Sui IshidaPublished by Shueisha in Weekly Young Jump Original run September 8, 2011 – September 18, 2014
“ A normal college student is accidentaly turned into a half-ghoul, condemned to surviving on human flesh, he must juggle his previous life with the new the new fate that he was thrown into”
Have you ever wonder what it would be like if you woke up with an incurable disease? A disease that you know would repel everyone you knew? Well, this is exactly what happened to Tokyo Ghoul’s protagonist, Ken Kaneki.What was supposed to be a romantic date, suddenly turns into a blood soaked survival story with the discovery that his crush is actually a Ghoul. And she’s hungry! In a world where humans are regularly used as a snack by the ever hungry Ghouls, Kaneki never expected to be the next meal! Rushed to the hospital in a critical condition, the doctors work furiously on Kaneki, resorting to an organ transplant in an effort to save his life. Little did they know, the organs they use to transplant were those of a Ghoul where the unknowingly transformed Kaneki in the first half-human/half-ghoul hybrid! Can this young college student ever return to his former life? How will he adapt to the new challenges of his condition? Will he ever be able to balance two very different worlds?
NUTCRACKING TIME
I want to be The Hokage! No, I want to be the Pirate King! No, I want to protect !…maybe Tokyo Ghoul immediately begins with an “everyday” type character, thrown into an extraordinary situation, with the resultant acceptance of his new fate. A huge departure from typical manga, where we are introduced to a protagonist and his/her goal, Kaneki’s story begins when he is struck by tragedy, followed his ability to adapt to the grotesque world he now finds himself in, while holding onto his last vestiges of humanity. Confused and revolted, Kaneki at first rejects his new reality and refuses to acknowledge his new fate. This state of confusion is finally resolved when he discovers that his friend is in danger, marking a huge a change in the character. Tokyo Ghoul is a wonderful example of tension building, ensuring you keep turning the page. The questions the story raises as it moves forward with Kaneki’s role in juggling both his human life and his new Ghoulish reality, is another driving force in this manga. Peppered with gruesome action, Tokyo Ghoul takes survival horror genres and brilliantly flips it on its head – gruesomely entertaining!
“Is so unfair! He didn’t wished for any of it! I would be scared and frustrated as well! “
Was this article helpful ? Do know of other characters like Kaneki ? Would love to hear your thoughts so follow me on Twitter – @SmacViVi Facebook – Vivi Fabbri Smac Don’t forget to use the #manganutcracker SMAC! MANGA DOJO #11 – "Think WILD, Explain CONVINCINGLY!" <Characters>Penmaru Is a ninja dog who dreams of becoming the greatest manga creator in the animal world. To help achieve his dream, Mocchi gives him a mission… “Learn how to create manga at the Manga Dojo.” His childhood dream was “a manga hero!” “Shihan” Manga Master The master of the dojo and Penmaru’s tutor in the ways of manga. An experienced editor who had worked in the manga industry for over 30 years. His childhood dream was “an Aiki-do champion!” <Previously in Manga Dojo>“Interesting = A story with the potential to grow”Penmaru has learned yet another complicated concept from Shihan.But, after learning so much from Shihan’s valuable lessons, Penmaru is totally exhausted…As such, the two have decided to take a break and grab some dinner!
Ep.11 Think WILD, Explain CONVINCINGLY!
Maid-san Robot: OMU-RICE READY! OMU-RICE READY!! Shihan: Ah, it seems the Maid-san is done preparing our dinner! Penmaru: Yay! Omu-rice after all that hard work! Just what I needed!! Penmaru: Got my tomato ketchup ready! Lemme see, what shall I draw……? *Draw Draw…* Shihan: Hahaha, not even dinner can stem your passion for drawing, huh Penmaru? Penmaru: Of course! To be a pro manga creator, I gotta think about drawing all the time! Shihan: That’s the spirit! Say, what’s that creature you just drew on your omelet? A gorilla? Penmaru: Oh, Shihan! This isn’t a gorilla! It’s my original Kaiju, inspired by GODZILLA!! Shihan: (Go……?) Ah, I see! Beg your pardon, hahahaha…… And, what kind of Kaiju is it? Penmaru: This Kaiju is just awesome! You know Godzilla in the movies scatters radiation, right? Well, this is a Kaiju of justice, so it’s super eco-friendly! It even uses photosynthesis! Shihan: Aha, that does indeed sound wonderful! Tell me, why and how does it do that exactly? Penmaru: Why? How? Well…… because that’s the setting I imagined……? Shihan: Hmm……I feel I must teach you another very important skill as a creator. Shihan: Listen, Penmaru. For manga creators, there are some skills that are equally as important as your drawing skills. Penmaru: ?? You mean, imagination? Or creativity?? Shihan: Yes, but there’s something more important. That is, the skill of “MAKING EXCUSES”!! Penmaru: EXCUSES? Penmaru:…… Oh Shihan!! Don’t be so negative! You can’t make excuses!! That’s not ethical! Shihan: The word “excuse” may sound be a bit misleading, indeed. The thing is, you need the ability to “CREATE a logic that convinces the reader”. Shihan: I told you the story about “the Wonderful Lie” and “the Seed of Ideas”, didn’t I? Penmaru: Yes! You said, “A story needs an engaging idea, that makes the readers want to dig deeper, and ask ‘Why?'”! Shihan: Correct. But, a seed of ideas is still merely a SEED at that point. To let the seed bud and blossom into a “Wonderful Lie”, you need a “plausible, convincing excuse”, and make the readers want to read more! Penmaru: Is that so……? Shihan: Penmaru, what was the criteria of an “Interesting” story, again? Penmaru: “Interesting” is, “A story that can UNFOLD/EXPAND”, or “make someone ask ‘WHY?’ in a positive way” ! Shihan: Correct. Now, the keyword here is “WHY”. The readers are looking for an answer and, as their entertainer, it’s your job to SHOW them the answer. It’s as simple as that. Penmaru: !!! I see!! Shihan: For example, you may ask “What if you could make a person explode from the inside?” – The readers will naturally think, “How is that possible/ What made that happen!?”. However, if you can’t provide a satisfying answer to their questions, the readers won’t be interested in learning more, will they? Penmaru: You’re right! Shihan: So, you provide them with a “plausible, convincing excuse” – such as “When you press certain pressure points on a human’s body, it affects the ‘Qi’ flowing through him/her, which makes him/her explode”. Now, if THAT excuse can convince the readers, and make them feel entertained, then the idea has blossomed into a “Wonderful Lie”. Penmaru: Ah, that’s the “understandable surprise” which Mocchi and Taiyo mentioned in the videos! Shihan: Absolutely! You might get a better idea by looking at some other examples:
Why does Superman have supernatural powers? – Because he’s an alien! Why does Doraemon have lots of handy gadgets? – Because he’s a robot from the 22nd century! Why can the “Death Note” kill people? – Because it comes from the Shinigami (death god) world! Many dinosaurs living in a zoo…? How were they revived? – Because scientists cloned them from blood extracted from mosquitoes trapped in amber! Why is Luffy’s body rubbery, like it’s made out of gum? – Because he ate a Devil Fruit that changed his physical constitution!
Penmaru: I see! Those examples momentarily make me think, “Ah, perhaps that could happen!?” whilst filling me with excitement and anticipation for what could happen next! Shihan: Yes. And I must note, when you come to creating an excuse, it’s really important to NOT make it “TOO LOGICAL”. Penmaru: Not too LOGICAL……? How come? Isn’t being logical a good thing? Shihan: Any story has “plot holes” or “bad points” you can point out. Take Superman for example, you can always say things like “Just because he’s an alien, it doesn’t mean he can fly!” or “Does that planet even exist?”. Moreover, logic that makes too much sense does not give the readers the surprise or entertainment they are longing for…… Please always keep in mind that “Manga is a ‘Wonderful’ lie”. Penmaru: Aha! After all manga itself is built on a lie, so the “possibility” doesn’t really matter, right? Shihan: Yes. Having said that, a logical reason that doesn’t make sense to readers cannot rouse sympathy in them either. Even worse, you might just make them think you’re crazy! The important thing is to tell believable, yet entertaining lies that feel real to the readers. “THINK WILD, EXPLAIN CONVINCINGLY”, is how I put it. Penmaru: So you mean like this……?
“WILD IDEA” “WILD EXCUSE” = Just crazy, not convincing/believable… “LOGICAL IDEA” “LOGICAL EXCUSE” = Too obvious, not entertaining…… “LOGICAL IDEA” “WILD EXCUSES” = Surprising, but might not click with readers…… “WILD IDEA” “LOGICAL EXCUSE” = Interesting, and understandable -> UNDERSTANDABLE SURPRISE!
Shihan: Well understood, Penmaru! That is core of what I mean, yes. Shihan: We can say that “Making excuses” is all about “expressing your logic”, rather than “explaining based on facts”. A logical idea, even if it is wild, is far more convincing than an idea without logic. Moreover, if you have a strong “excuse” established, it can give birth to even more new ideas. I strongly recommend you make a habit of “thinking of excuses” every opportunity you get! Penmaru: Alright!! Shihan: Now! Enough talking! Let’s have dinner! Penmaru: Um, Shihan, about that…… Shihan: ??? Maid-san: CLEAN UP! CLEAN UP! Penmaru: The maid robot has already cleaned the table, because the Omu-rice has gone cold while you were talking…… Shihan: Wha, whaaaaaaaaaat!?!?!?!?!? Penmaru: Shihan……I promise I won’t be selfish anymore, so… what say we tidy away that robot, too……? Shihan: A convincing idea indeed…… I agree…… Maid-san: TIDY AWAY! TIDY AWAY!! And thus, the Maid-san robot’s fate has been sealed……Yet the fate of Penmaru’s journey is still nowhere in sight!!Ganbare, Penmaru! Become the best manga creator in the world!! Did you enjoy reading this story? Did you find the hints and tips to improve your manga production? If YES, please share the article with your fellow creators! If NO, please let me know how we can improve Penmaru’s journey! We welcome any and all kinds of opinions and questions, requests and comments, day and night! Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for updates 😉 Script: Mayuna Mizutani – Follow me on Twitter and Facebook Illustration: Roberto F. – Support him on Instagram,Facebook & APOIA.se Tweet your questions / opinions / reviews at #SMACMangaDojo, and I will answer! 😉 A new editor joins the team, just in time for the SMA9 judging!!
Greetings fellow manga lovers!
My name is Brendan, and I’m from England. Nice to meet you!!
Like my esteemed colleague, Enrico, I too am a HUGE fan of ‘Fist of the North Star’ and even had the great fortune of localizing the first 6 volumes for the recent eOneBook kickstarter release! (Jagi’s my favorite character in case you’re wondering!) My other loves include pro-wrestling and Sumo, so titles like ‘Kinnikuman’ and ‘Aah Harimanada’ are also ranked very high on my bookshelf. OH! And I LOVE anything creepy in my manga! Mwahaha!
I’m new to the SMAC! editorial team but I’ve already had the great honor of reading many of your submissions for SMA9 ahead of the exciting International Manga Fes to be held in Kumamoto this coming September! After seeing the level of your work, I can barely contain my excitement at seeing how the final judgements for the submissions will turn out! I’m truly blessed to join the team of super talented editors here at SMAC! and I can’t wait to work with YOU, the creators, in making something truly special! On that note, PLEASE keep those submissions coming! You still have until August 10th to submit your illustrations so, in the spirit of WASAMON, if you’re still unsure about submitting – “Give it a try!”
In the meantime, with summer just around the corner here in Japan, please feel free to check out my weekly blog “The Weekend Yokai Hunter”. Starting from next Friday, I will be hunting around Tokyo for different “Yokai” (supernatural entities indigenous to Japan) and shedding some light on their background and relevance in modern day culture. I hope to see you there!
Lastly, please be sure to check out the bios of the other editorial members below! ↓↓↓
SMA-EX3 – DEADLINE EXTENSION for Illustration Category!!
SMAC! editorial team has good news regarding the ILLUSTRATION contest of SMA-EX3! (さらに…)
