How to be a Manga Artist

The ultimate guide for aspiring artists with a love of manga.

Following How to Draw a Graphic Novel, Balthazar Pagani returns, joined by manga expert Asuka Ozumi, to demystify the process of creating manga, from the creative spark that inspires a story, to what it's like to work in a professional manga studio.

Featuring the work of Italian manga illustrator Silvia Vanni, and told from the point of view of two young manga fans, How to be a Manga Artist delivers a blend of professional advice and practical tips to guide aspiring creators. This includes how to construct a compelling narrative, develop characters your readers will fall in love with, and the basics of printing, digital file set-up, and self-promotion.

How to be a Manga Artist also includes a specially commissioned chapter by renowned Japanese illustrator Fumio Obata, who encourages readers to look beyond the aesthetics of manga and to put themselves into the story to develop a style that is entirely original and true to them. The book further offers biographies of famous manga artists, definitions of key Japanese terms, and a list of must-read cult classics.