Manga in Theory and Practice: The Craft of Creating Manga: 1

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This was a well-written work that dived into both the storytelling and artistic aspects of creating manga. A good motivation is one that makes the reader wonder what will happen to that character, and what that character will do, because then the reader will want to keep reading. And since you can’t draw a character posing from their face alone, I always draw sketches for fans as bust illustrations with the shoulders indicating a characteristic pose. But I believe story has never been the strongest point of Araki's manga, so perhaps his emphasis on the other two fundamentals is unsurprising. As well as, of course, the three act structure, heroes circle, and kabuki theatre, among other frameworks.

Probably his most important lesson is explaining his "ki-shou-ten-ketsu technique" (introduction, development, twist, and resolution). Likewise, realism is balanced in every work, even the most fantastical, and becomes - in a way - another signifier. Overall, I recommend Manga in Theory and Practice to anyone who wants to become a storyteller, especially if you love the creative craziness of Hirohiko Araki's world. Now, while the book is poorly translated in places, and the advice itself fairly vague or common (with exceptions, of course), I'd still recommend an admirer of Araki read this work.another one of those books that makes you want to get up and do or make something as soon as you’ve put it down. From an instructional perspective, this is an excellent book to the extent that it clearly identifies the elements of manga, the way these elements connect, shape, and depend on each other, and it communicates something of the mythos, lexis (linguistic and visual) and ethos that makes manga, manga.

Throughout this book Araki maintains a serious and cohesive tone, something not usually seen in his manga that usully tends to be "bizzare". Like any writing book, there are always going to be things that won't be helpful or you already know. Araki himself says this book is really intended as a “passing of the torch” book where he shares his secrets with the next generation of manga producers, and that’s what it is. Hirohiko Araki is the author of one of the longest-running and most beloved manga of all time, the epic fan favorite JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure .There were many parts I like about the book: the author offers some useful tips on characterization, and says some particularly insightful things about life experiences and thematic concerns. It's filled with great tips for ALL artistic expressions - even a dancer might take something from his words. Araki recounts his failures, his rejected submissions, and how he grew from mimicking and copying by learning how to foster his own originality. It is overflowing with enthusiasm and passion by someone who truly adores the form in a way few living mangaka do. If you find a theme that interests you and connects with you on a personal level – even if you think that theme may be too dark to sell – you should resolve to create your manga around that theme.

You'll learn more than the steps for making manga, because he teaches you how to think and reflect about each step and which considerations are (in his professional experience) most important.Attempts to reach those heights without any such map or anything else to guide the way will be frustrated far from the peak. This is one of the longest 'reviews' I've ever done, because I've wanted to read this book for a decade and decided to give it more than my full attention. That being said, I think what's most valuable to me as an artist (and what's most interesting to me as a fan) is how much his worldview and work ethic affect his process. He then provides two valuable chapters on implementing these tips into his own work, with examples and everything - extremely interesting to any existing fan of his work. If this part interests you, you should also read the manga Bakuman, which covers this in more detail and in more dramatic form.