The following contents are suggestions from us. Since those lessons are private lesson, both the term and contents are flexible. You can request a subject if you have something in your mind.
You can follow all the courses without the book, but there is a program learn manga with this book.
Course content
Mini-course
Lecture (1 class, 2 hours)
Making Manga
Explanation what it means to make a manga, using original art and layouts from real works as examples (Moon and Blood, Digital Manga, Inc. / Wedding Peach, Shogakukan). Particularly in the case of Moon and Blood, we will illuminate the specific steps, including dealing with an editor, the plot, name, rough sketches (digital), line drawings and working in digital art, all the way to the actual book (paperback).
I believe it’s more effective to look over the text beforehand. I can also answer any specific questions, such as, “Why did you do it this way,” or, “How did you draw this?” The course content will differ depending on the level and experience of the students.
Practice
For Beginners
Drawing a character (1 class)
After a simple lecture and Q&A session, we will draw a character. Depending on the student level, the school offers a sample drawing, or printed line art for paint and screen tone work. Then, using manga tools, we will ink the art and put on finishing touches (Beta, whites, tone work). Depending on the participant’s level they might not finish in one class.
Drawing expressions (1 class)
How to give characters lively facial expressions. After a brief lecture with some examples and Q&A, the student will draw character faces with various expressions based on the example.
Drawing a scene (1 day / 2 classes, pencil work & inking)
After a brief lecture with examples and Q&A, the student will draw characters with backgrounds based on the example. Also: Drawing backgrounds with perspective.
Drawing “chibi” characters/cute mascots (1class)
Covers some tips for drawing the “chibi” characters and cute mascots seen in many Japanese manga/anime. Explains the differences between normal characters and chibi characters. Observe an artist converting a character into “chibi” style, and see how it is done. Then practice drawing a chibi/mascot character.
Four-panel manga (1 day, 2 classes)
We will use a relatively easy example of four-panel manga, “Essay Manga.” After lectures using real examples to show students how they can draw upon daily life for four-panel manga material, and how to shape that into four parts with exposition, development turn and conclusion, they will then begin to draw. We will finish with inking, tone work/coloring.
Character designs (1 day, 2 classes)
The student will create a character and draw one scene in the setting provided. Then, after a lecture about character design, the student will draw from his or her own imagination with no example supplied. I will suggest approaches and help guide the whole process, with students free to ask questions at any time.
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Short course
A course longer than two days, or a combination of multiple mini-courses. These will be arranged after receiving applications. It
would be possible to take a certain number of lessons per week, or take them in a sequence (aimed at travelers). There is also the option to make it into a class (for long-term residents). Also, if there is something you want to learn in particular, let us know and we will consider it.
Designing your own character (1 day/for everyone)
Create a character and draw one scene in the setting provided. Then, after a lecture about character design, draw from your own imagination with no example supplied. I will suggest approaches and help guide the whole process, with students free to ask questions at any time.
+1 more day
Designing other characters
Choose one person from the setting provided, perhaps one of the people around the character drawn in the previous lesson. Give him or her a face. This can be one of the character’s family members or friends, for example.
Creating your own characters
(Two days/ intermediate – For students who have drawn manga stories or want to)
After a brief lecture, the student will make an original character and give him or her a background. Students will give their character three-dimensional depth, and, if possible, draw other characters, such as friends. They will also draw one scene to illustrate the character's personality.
Drawing 4-8page short one-shot manga storyboard (3 days)
Because it is difficult to draw short story manga, I suggest students draw based on their own experience, or a slice of everyday life. This is very much like an expanded version of the four-panel manga mentioned above. The student will learn how the frame layout should be arranged, and how artists lead reader’s eyes, etc. The students consult me with their ideas and storyboards, and I will advise them on layouts and sketches.
(If a student has a certain idea and story, of course he or she may use it.)
Coloring (1-2 classes)
The techniques I teach are watercolors and digital (Photoshop) coloring. This can be combined with other courses, like “Coloring your drawings.” I demonstrate my original color illustrations so that you see what they are really like.
Digital work (1-2 classes)
Some tips with Manga Studio. I'm not an expert in this field, but there still might be something I can teach. If a student is a beginner, for example, I have plenty to teach. It also could be combined with other classes. This also covers finishing techniques (tone work, for instance) for drawing works, or for drawing a character with Manga Studio from scratch, for instance.
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Special program (For intermediate students)
For students who feel they are not prepare to draw one shot manga yet, or are not interested in making story but want to draw manga.
Drawing 2 spread pages manga.
(1- 4 days, Composing 2 lessons & Drawing 2 lessons)
After a lecture about composing the storyboard, students compose 2 spread page manga name (storyboard), based on the script which was provided by the school. They then draw a manga from the storyboard.
Because 2 spread pages are a minimum segment of Manga composing, you learn the essence of manga in this way.
Students can take their own script instead of the one school provided.
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Long courses
NEW
Manga Drawing Deluxe course - 6 months / once a week /
You can take one / some subjects you like separately.In each section, the student draws 1 or 2 inking illustration.
+ graduate work One shot manga around 16 pages (under 24)
(Traditional/digital)
- Plot 4 times
- Storyboard 4-8 times
- Character sketch 2 times
- Inking 2 times
- Background 4 times
- Inking background 2 times
- Tone-work 1-2 times
Drawing one shot manga 3-6 months (For intermediate students)
Over 12 weeks (3 months), students will aim to complete a 8-16-page one-shot manga. The content is the same as the “Manga Production” course for Japanese people.
Complete a 8 or 16 page one shot manga. (3-6 months)
Course goal
Students will learn as they go through the manga production process by completing standalone manga works. They will experience the necessary elements behind manga production from beginning to end.
Preliminary drawings: 1-2 months
Plot submission
Adapt your own plot to an exposition-development-climax-conclusion structure.
Outline the events, then separate them and reconstruct them with effectiveness in mind (bubble outlines).
Think about the characters’ dialogue (specifically speech mannerisms to match their personalities and ways to set apart their vocabularies).
※Write the profile of your main character.
Turn your bubble outline into a page list.
●Think based on each page spread (split up the pages while considering the layout in broad terms)
Thoroughly omit any unnecessary elements.
Cut out unneeded episodes/dialogue.
Think about how individual episodes and dialogue relate to each other. Make the artist’s intent clear when it comes to individual elements.
Rough character sketches
Make character designs based on the settings and stories you have previously completed. As you do so, keep in mind how you want to show characters’ personalities based on the drawings and how you want the readers to receive them. (Do you want them to be repulsed, to feel they can trust the character, to want to befriend the character?)
Making a name (A story board)
Settle on a flow of layouts and panels with awareness of how the reader will see the page.
Think of what you want to show for each page spread.
Think about opening up space for the parts you want to show, and boldly cutting other parts.
(You will often have to cut out sections during the naming step.)
Always be aware of the camera, of what you want to show and of how you want to show it while creating your compositions.
Drawing: 1-2 months
Rough character sketches + backgrounds
Be mindful of character expressions and poses. Are you using powerful expressions? Poses that conflict with the setting? Movement?
Inking characters + background (props)
Carefully select and arrange props. You can use objects to show characters’ personalities or elaborate on the story.
Rough sketches of backgrounds
Draw backgrounds with simple perspective. Learn what is typically omitted in manga and put this method into practice.
Inking backgrounds –Effects
Effect lines (集中線、スピード線、ベタフラ,etc. Manga Special effects), psychological backgrounds, and more.
Finishing:
ベタ painting black parts (shinny effect, etc.).ホワイト, Tone work
※Techniques will include perspective, tracing over photographs and tone work, as necessary for the individual student.
Tools which are available at Manga School Nakano
