A Perfect Manga-ka [Archive] - TOKYOPOP Message Board

Erisu-Chan

03-23-2006, 12:51 AM

Would Tokyopop take aboard someone if they were 14 years of age (grade 8) BUT THEY HAD A REVOLUTIONARY MANGA?:eek:

Many western Manga's are becoming to comicy though my art and storyline are like those of a true manga-ka (like a manga-ka of a true Japanese Manga) and is truely original BUT would Tokyopop give the youth a chance to show there tallent to the world despite their age and give the youth the chance to give back to the world and present their work in the store shelves to people of all ages (manly their own age group take or minus a couple of years) but give onto them exceptional work. WILL TOKYOPOP TAKE ME AND OTHER LIKE MYSELF SERIOUSLY? :confused:

-Erisu-Chan

PeNCILz

03-23-2006, 01:16 AM

Um... Well in RSoM there is NO age limit but you do need a parents signature I believe... Would be good if they got to see some art to actually see if you are as good as you say...

Klawzie

03-23-2006, 01:24 AM

Echoing Pencilz, RSOM is perfectly fine for you. You would probably not get signed for a book deal afterwards, though, 'cause you're still in school.

Also - the 'perfect' manga-ka doesn't exist except as someone who meets their deadlines properly. :)

Mitzuki

03-23-2006, 02:27 AM

LOL thats what i call selfconfidence. If i only had half of that

PeterAhlstrom

03-23-2006, 07:38 AM

Lots of people who think they have a revolutionary manga...don't. But definitely submit to RSoM. If you are not taken seriously, it will not be because of your age. Each entry is judged on its own merits.

But saying that, people who are in school--even college--usually don't have the time necessary to create books. Manga takes a LOT of time to make. So we usually encourage people to finish school before embarking on a huge project.

Kyaa the Catlord

03-23-2006, 07:47 AM

Then again, a lot of Japanese manga-ka would die for the length of time granted by the slow OEL release schedule. One book a year? I'll be terribly disappointed if the art in the next set of OEL's isn't mindshattering. (I have confidence that I'll not be disappointed though.)

gynocrat

03-23-2006, 08:02 AM

Lots of people who think they have a revolutionary manga...don't.

If you know it's revolutionary, then the revolution's over.

Then again, a lot of Japanese manga-ka would die for the length of time granted by the slow OEL release schedule.

No kidding! --and that's not native to manga makers...comikers have the same issues. I think the reasons for less rigid line-schedules is due to the fact that making comics is not a full time job that can support you; even if page rates are higher outside manga-making stateside, that doesn't change the fact that very few creators live off making comics alone and must supplement their income with a *gag* non-artistic job.

The perfect mangaka, if they actually exist, can organize their time so well they produce quickly, juggle more than one title for more than one publisher, and thus live off their earnings as a manga maker.

sferrick

03-23-2006, 02:03 PM

Erisu-chan,
I wouldn't worry about joining TP and publishing comics right away, especially if you're only 14. There's really no need to rush into something like that, and it's actually a lot better if you don't. Even if you think your artistic and sequential skills are good now you should still work on improving them. At age 14, you still have a bunch to learn about art. Plus, being in high school is enough work as it is...adding on the huge workload involved in making a graphic novel would be insanely difficult.
WILL TOKYOPOP TAKE ME AND OTHER LIKE MYSELF SERIOUSLY?
I think TP takes young artists seriously...it's just that working with someone who's still in highschool isn't really a great idea.
Trust me, I wanted to have a huge ridiculous epic series of graphic novels out when I was 14 but after I did the RSOM contest I realized what a huge amount of work it is to create comics. I even wish sometimes that I had waited a couple of years to enter RSOM because I'm kind of embaressed by the entry I did that got in the book. Yeah, so definately wait a little while. Finishing your education and improving your artistic skills should be your top priority now.

UrbanRevolution

03-23-2006, 02:26 PM

you've got the goods, i've seen you DA account, you've got some good work.
i would love to see some pages... till then.

if you believe in your talent nothing can stop you, but... at 14 nothing can stop you but you parents..so it goez. School is a huge thing, do it and do it well. But if you've made the choice that this is what you want to do for the rest of your life.....go for it!

sferrick

03-23-2006, 02:47 PM

if you believe in your talent nothing can stop you, but... at 14 nothing can stop you but you parents..so it goez. School is a huge thing, do it and do it well. But if you've made the choice that this is what you want to do for the rest of your life.....go for it!

At age 14 though? That's really early to be sure of something you're going to do for the rest of your life. Don't get me wrong, I think it's terrific if you've got motivation and direction at an early age but I think it would be wiser to wait a bit, even if you are sure of what you want to do. Most 14 yr olds still haven't had exposure to most of the art world. What if you find something else that you'd like to do as a career but you've never thought of before.
I'm not trying to discourage anyone at all, I just think that it would be better to wait a bit until entering the comics industry. And I was 14 only about 3 years ago so I know exactly how it feels to want to get into the industry ASAP.

( btw thanks for the compliment. : ) )

KaYoKitten

03-23-2006, 03:07 PM

I was only a year younger than you when I first attempted trying to draw manga, though I'd been drawing for several years before that. I tell you what, though, it's that "sequential art" that really gets you! Even if you've been drawing for a loooooong time (I'd been drawing from life for five years), you truly need to build some experience with storytelling visually. I'd suggest doing at least three projects before even attempting a manga like the printed OEL artists at TP have been doing.

I don't mean huge volumes--just a few short stories with well-defined characters. Draw the same thing over and over again--and make sure you can draw backgrounds and emphasize things with tone. Dev art is a great way to get feedback. I posted my 6th RSoM manga there so I could see where I'd gone wrong (where I hadn't already seen it myself). I got some great PMs from people who didn't want to have their words on the forum-style comment bar, which is great for me and hides them if they don't want to get bombarded by people wanting their manga critiqued.

You've got to also know what your weaknesses are--what do you need to improve upon to be better? No one's perfect. I'm positive that Tavisha-san and Svet-san and everyone knows what their weaknesses are. You need to be able to self-critique, too. Why not put your dev-art link in the signature of your post? That way I can see what you've done so far and give you some criticsm--believe me, you're going to need all the help you can get. I thought I wasn't going to need anyone when I started out--WRONG. So wrong. If people don't like what they read and see, you don't sell manga. If you don't sell manga, you don't get published. Simple. ^_^

UrbanRevolution

03-23-2006, 07:53 PM

At age 14 though? That's really early to be sure of something you're going to do for the rest of your life. Don't get me wrong, I think it's terrific if you've got motivation and direction at an early age but I think it would be wiser to wait a bit, even if you are sure of what you want to do. Most 14 yr olds still haven't had exposure to most of the art world. What if you find something else that you'd like to do as a career but you've never thought of before.
I'm not trying to discourage anyone at all, I just think that it would be better to wait a bit until entering the comics industry. And I was 14 only about 3 years ago so I know exactly how it feels to want to get into the industry ASAP.

( btw thanks for the compliment. : ) )
Oh I think you totally have a point but…

Long story short, I was 15 when I picked up my first copy of
Rob Liefelds X-Force.That moment I said
“This is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life.”
(Nothing could stop me) But I couldn’t get a job in comics to save my life, so I went to art school, lost my mind, and found it again. Still couldn’t get into comics, so I went into Animation, Worked for some of the biggest players in Hollywood, Still couldn’t get in to comics. I did web design, went on tour in Japan as a DJ, went back to animation, and still no luck. But I never forgot the dream, and now 12 years later, I did it. I’m getting published in the American Mainstream by Rob Liefeld.

Still today I’m fighting to get into Manga….Why? Because I never give up, I committed myself to the dream. 14 or 65 it doesn’t matter.

I’m not saying don’t experience life, that’s what shapes and evolves the artist. Be the sponge! If you Believe in your dream, and commit yourself to it fully, it’ll happen. It might happen today, or 12 years from now. You don't know if you don't try. If you can do it today, why wait? There may not be a tomorrow…… Fallow your Bliss!

Ok that might have been the long story…:rolleyes:

Shipuh

03-23-2006, 08:58 PM

i find offense to the statement that western manga has become too comicy.

is there anything WRONG with westernized comics telling an epic-like story found in anime? no.

and personally i really dont like it when westerners try to "copy" other peoples style. (i.e. japanese art/anime)

if a comic style is what a person draws, and they are GOOD at it, and the art is good (and original...anime or non anime), and the story is good, then there shouldnt be a problem.

copying anime art though and not finding your own individual art voice is what makes me upset.

its not the anime art itself, its the lack of originality. some americans can pull off anime art in their own way superbly!!

tokyopop is pro for any forms of sequential art. some of the art styles have bothered me in the past with americanized "anime". and i feel partially for what you say.

but making something like you are speaking of makes yourself an hypocrite.

well, i actually haven't seen it, so i shouldnt judge, but the way you described it... :\ cant be too cautious around that.

sorry, i didnt meant to sound mean. v__v; just needed to get that out.

Tentopet

03-23-2006, 09:27 PM

No kidding! --and that's not native to manga makers...comikers have the same issues.

Hmmmm maybe I don't know what I'm talking about but I'd have to disagree with that. Talking to artists who work for Marvel or DC, I say that I have to pencil 3-4 pages a day and their jaws drop. From what I see, they have monthly issues, around 25 pages per issue, and they have a writer, a penciler, an inker, a colorer, and a letterer. Granted, some of them do two projects at once, but say I were a penciler: I'd only have to pencil one page a day and have my weekends free!! I mean, their pages are larger and require more action and backgrounds than what I do, so that's more work, but dude. My goal is a chapter a month (my shortest was 26 pages--six chapters on average per book), and that's everything, from start to finish.

As for "a year per volume", that's not the case with most, especially in regards to what their original schedule was. And some people follow through with that schedule beautifully! Hey, I Luv Halloween volume 1 came out in October, and the second one's already out in March. That was only *does her math* FIVE MONTHS!! Ben Roman must be a work horse ;)

(I'm not here I'm working)

crispy

03-23-2006, 09:50 PM

As for "a year per volume", that's not the case with most, especially in regards to what their original schedule was. And some people follow through with that schedule beautifully! Hey, I Luv Halloween volume 1 came out in October, and the second one's already out in March. That was only *does her math* FIVE MONTHS!! Ben Roman must be a work horse ;)

(I'm not here I'm working)

Ben's release date was pushed back super far for volume 1, so he had longer to work on I Luv Halloween vol 2. However, that's not to say that he runs behind schedule. For all I know, he could be faster than a speeding bullet.

Tentopet

03-23-2006, 10:12 PM

KaYoKitten

03-24-2006, 12:55 AM

>< The simple fact that ya'll are drawing for a printed manga is what makes me a little envious. I honestly think that 3-4 pages a day is what the average of a manga-ka is, and I do mean for the entirety of the thing and not with assistants.

At that speed (let's take 3 pages), that's 21 pages a week, which is quite close to a short chapter length. (And I thought I had it bad trying to pull off 18 pages in 2 weeks...course, that was around school AND work...this is why they don't want to start publishing school-goers!) If you're a bit slower, and you work at 2 pages a day, being penciled, inked, AND toned, ready for print, that is 28 pages. The question is: Can you do that while going to school? The answer for almost everyone is unanimously: NO.

Especially while attending high school, and if you're a full time student in college. Taking 12 credit hours (now 9 because I had to drop this INSANE course, which I didn't need anyway) AND going to work for 6 hours every day (take away another 4 hours if that includes getting ready, going, and coming back), there goes half of my day right there. Take away my class times, and you have about 8 hours left in the day. Do I have the time to pencil, ink, tone, and complete two pages of manga AND sleep? Do I? No.

Now take a high school student at your average school, assuming they'll put their focus on their schoolwork (priorities here). You wake up assuming at about 6 or 7, school starting about 7:30. School gets out about 3. You get home about 4 if you take a bus and get off last, assuming some other things. You gotta do homework, which takes another hour, and you have to do your chores because you still live at home. Say that takes you until 8 pm. Can you pencil, ink, tone, and complete 2 pages of manga before bedtime around 10 pm? If you can do all that in an hour for one page. Which is nearly nobody, you'd have to work at a pace that would startle just about anyone.

Now, you've also gotta make room to do talks with your editor, maybe you're in choir at school, maybe you got a part-time job once you're in junior year...Yeah. Regardless of how good you are, simple scheduling conflicts of a person in school and working part or full time is what keeps you outta the running for publication of this kind. But DON'T worry about it! Practice practice practice and get to be awesome before you're eighteen, get together a knock-your-socks-off portfolio and do what thousands of other artists have done: Get a job based on your portfolio and your skills. Get connections, make it happen.

Now to go follow me own advice. :P

morganluthi

03-24-2006, 02:05 AM

Alrighty, well I know for sure at least that Joanna (Roadsong) and Queenie (The Dreaming) are some dang punctual ladies. And of course Bettina performs deadline miracles that steal the thunder of Moses parting the read sea (uh...I'm feeling biblical).

Ah, if only to be so punctual...I guess it's a good thing my editor (Paul) doesn't read these boards -OR DOES HE?!?!?!:eek:

Erisu-Chan

03-24-2006, 02:17 AM

Yes there is no such thing as a PERFECT manga-ka (i tend to over egzagerate with my words :D ) but with my art skills, i've been at an art school from a very young age and have perfected most points of manga (as i know i'll never be perfect) i don't mean to talk myself up but i'm extreamly good at novel writting and have won contests within my school and through the local area, also i'm very farmilliar with visual story-telling but with subbmiting my work i think i'd wait till i was 15-16 before seriously sending in my work to Tokyopop Inc. DON'T GET ME WRONG! I am aware of what goes on within the working world outside of school and how committed i must be (i can wip up 3-4 pages in 1 to 2 hours (penciled-tonned-inked-lettered) i use photoshop to tone and letter and ink with....INK (i don't need to tell you what i use to pencil :rolleyes: ).

Anyway, i don't do after school activites, here in Australia (and at my school) we don't get much homework (and hour is a huge amout of homework -i've never done that much) igo to school at
8.am and go to classes at half past 8, and luckily for me i'm orginised and great at public speaking and taking to others meaning i'd have no probs with taking to the editors (not to meantion my parents are behind me all they way -they want one successful child (laughs)

Please don't put me in with the rest (i'll post on my work as soon as i can) and don't Underestimate me (i hate to talk myself up and sound cocky but i do just seam to have that natural tallent with manga -art its self)

-Erisu-Chan

Kyaa the Catlord

03-24-2006, 02:38 AM

Alrighty, well I know for sure at least that Joanna (Roadsong) and Queenie (The Dreaming) are some dang punctual ladies. And of course Bettina performs deadline miracles that steal the thunder of Moses parting the read sea (uh...I'm feeling biblical).

I didn't mean any disrespect to them. I simply was pointing out that given the slow release schedule of OEL via TP, they have a much longer deadline period. Being a creative person myself, I realize this CAN be a very bad thing as well.

Erisu-Chan

03-24-2006, 02:47 AM

QUOTE by Tokyopop Monitor:
"Lots of people who think they have a revolutionary manga...don't. But definitely submit to RSoM. If you are not taken seriously, it will not be because of your age. Each entry is judged on its own merits.
But saying that, people who are in school--even college--usually don't have the time necessary to create books. Manga takes a LOT of time to make. So we usually encourage people to finish school before embarking on a huge project."

_______________________________________________

I also fully understand what is said by this but as i stated in my last post, if this manga -despite age IS truely at a high level (there i go again talking my self up :p ) and worthy to be published would it be taken in like someone who is out of school (i also said above in my last post that i have the time and the true commitment as would be expected of a manga-ka and i also have so much free time i don't know what to do with :eek: (this would mean i could finish about 7-10 pages -completed and ready for publishing, with in a day or 2.)

Below is a poetic blurb about my manga (note that no one is allowed to copy this without my persmission as it is my personal work and my work is dear to me -thankyou )

What if,
You made a promise to the one you love, that you would destroy the one you fear most, what if, they promised that back…what if, the one you promised to protect becomes the thing you promised to destroy?
In a battle from your heart leading you into a seaming never ending battle for the things you cherish most. To find eternal happiness and put your taunted mind to rest
You must first fight in a long epic battle for the 3 Worlds.
Ashura, Kahen, Nikori, Suriipu, Teami and Inuwashi, the band of six are the only ones who stand between victory and total destruction and must join together
And put their missions and dreams together to make their futures the way they wanted
And face the world alone in the journey to rebuild the Emerald Sword and defeat
The Guardian Wolves to become strong enough to defeat Tasekai and his minions
And eventually over throw the Maiden of Hell; the reincarnation of the Wolf Emerald
But a question still remains…
If you had to kill the one you love most because
They are the Maiden of Hell could you do it?
Or would the cherished memories of them been too much that you couldn’t harm them?
You can’t over power her; your words don’t reach her,
But in one kiss would you save that person or would they,
Cut you down to nothing?
…

so what do you think of it? :rolleyes:
well any way that's the end if this post of mine ;)

-Erisu-Chan

JayneCobb

03-24-2006, 02:48 AM

lol funnieeee

gynocrat

03-24-2006, 07:00 AM

Hmmmm maybe I don't know what I'm talking about but I'd have to disagree with that. Talking to artists who work for Marvel or DC, I say that I have to pencil 3-4 pages a day and their jaws drop.

I didn't say pencillors, or inkers, I said comikers. Sorry, I use my own evil terms and assume everyone knows what I'm talking about. ^__^. There are artists who must pencil AND ink their own pages; they don't make 'japanese comics' in the traditional sense, nor is their work marketed as 'manga' because they're making what is deemed a 'graphic novel' and creating for what is termed as, 'an American publisher.' I know from experience you get placed on a page per month schedule in order to get your book finished...so by comikers I did not mean those who pencil and/or ink in the traditional Marvel/DC creative flow chart.

crispy

03-24-2006, 09:07 AM

UrbanRevolution

03-24-2006, 01:46 PM

Have you read his story? Have you seen his artwork?
Maybe it's the same story done in a different way.

If you get down to it, there are only 12 different stories to be told.
Every story is in some shape or form a variation of one of them.

What makes a story “revolutionary” or successful are its characters, the emotional journey they take you on, promotion, and originality.

Depending on how it's executed. It could be revolutionary.

crispy

03-24-2006, 02:39 PM

Part of what you're saying is that to be revolutionary partially entails originality. It's basically impossible to be truly original when writing fantasy comics these days. There's always something that sounds like whatever you're doing. With this story, there are many different things you can relate it to. And along with that -- from her little explanation, most of it makes very little sense to begin with.

Regardless -- even if your artwork is OMGS AMAZING, Tokyopop doesn't seem to have any plans to dedicate themselves to dozens of volumes of a manga that may or may not work. The fact that you're fourteen doesn’t help, either.

Don't worry about getting a book deal at this stage in life. Regardless of how good you may be, artists can always stand to improve. Just practice more, both with your writing and art. Life drawing has never hurt anyone, regardless of how good you are, you can still stand to improve.

sferrick

03-24-2006, 02:44 PM

(i can wip up 3-4 pages in 1 to 2 hours (penciled-tonned-inked-lettered) i use photoshop to tone and letter and ink with....INK (i don't need to tell you what i use to pencil ).
Woah, if that's true I really doubt that you're putting enough effort into your pages.

What makes a story “revolutionary” or successful are its characters, the emotional journey they take you on, promotion, and originality.
Depending on how it's executed. It could be revolutionary.
I agree, the way a story is executed completely makes or breaks it. There's novels that sound really cheesy and horrible if you just look at the basic plot but are actually executed really well and make for a fantastic story.
But the poetic blurb Erisu just posted is more than a basic plot summary and it's not really executed in a revolutionary way. To be completely honest, I think it sounds a bit contrived.
Plus, I think that when someone keeps saying that his/her work is revolutinary it really makes me question if it really is.

UrbanRevolution

03-24-2006, 02:50 PM

ya i feel you.

Erisu-Chan

03-24-2006, 04:26 PM

The poetic like blurb really isn't meant to be REVOLUTIONAEY and is work from about 4-6 months back...also if you see my pages the work does have enough as needed (although yes, i can take much longer depending on apart of the story :rolleyes: )

-Erisu-Chan

Erisu-Chan

03-24-2006, 04:31 PM

To find eternal happiness and put your taunted mind to rest
You must first fight in a long epic battle for the 3 Worlds.

That automatically marks your story as not being revolutionary. There are hundreds of OMGS MAGICAL QUEST!!! comics, and nothing in particular about your story is strikingly interesting or original... IMO anyway.

I must say no, it isn't 'a magic quest' no i've put originality within this story i'd love to post up my story summery BUT i don't know how safe it is (if anyone can steal any of my ideas) i personally find that blurb not to original ('n' intersting) myself (or as something that would go to a high Manga-Ka level -no i got better stuff for that, but i can't show you :D )

I'll post some of my work on the board soon too :D

-Erisu-Chan

Shamdu

03-24-2006, 06:27 PM

OK.... I'm REALLY not the kind of person who likes inflating her own ego by "crushing people's dreams", but I just gotta say that....

Just wait with this. Grow up and mature a little before you try to go professional.
Refine your art and stories (No matter how great you think your story is, I doubt it's the kind of story Tokyopop is looking for. Especially since it doesn't seem like something that could squeeze into 3 books) And learn some humility. (Even if you ARE good, it's generally not a great idea to think too highly of yourself - not saying this to belittle you, this is for your own sake - it's best to maintain a realistic view of yourself, so you could improve in anything as best as you can)
Again, I'm not saying this to belittle you - I remember how it was like in your age.... You just need to do some growing up, it's natural. :D

Also,
I must say no, it isn't 'a magic quest' no i've put originality within this story i'd love to post up my story summery BUT i don't know how safe it is (if anyone can steal any of my ideas) i personally find that blurb not to original ('n' intersting) myself (or as something that would go to a high Manga-Ka level -no i got better stuff for that, but i can't show you :D )

I think people worry too much about their ideas and such being stolen. Remember, it's not the idea that matters, but what you do with it, and how you execute it.

Erisu-Chan

03-24-2006, 10:01 PM

(i can wip up 3-4 pages in 1 to 2 hours (penciled-tonned-inked-lettered) i use photoshop to tone and letter and ink with....INK (i don't need to tell you what i use to pencil :rolleyes: ).

OOPS :D i wrote 3-4 pages in 1 to hours (it was late at night so) i was meant to write 1-2 in 2 to 3 hours :o , sorry 'bout that :D

-Eris-Chan

Rem Akimichi

03-24-2006, 10:19 PM

Ah, you're young, you can wait.

Heh, I don't mean that in an insulting way, but it's true. At 14, no matter how good you are, it's not a wise idea to dedicate yourself ONLY to one thing. Think of all the other experiences or oppurtunities you could be missing! When I was 14, I felt the same way you do. I'm 18 now (and, believe me, 4 years is a huge diffrence in experiences and style) and...I still feel that way. So, if it's something you're passionate about, then take the time to develop yourself as well as your art, and if you still love it in 4 or 5 years, then all the better! You'll be a better manga-ka for it ^_^

Erisu-Chan

03-25-2006, 09:15 PM

(No matter how great you think your story is, I doubt it's the kind of story Tokyopop is looking for. Especially since it doesn't seem like something that could squeeze into 3 books) And learn some humility. (Even if you ARE good, it's generally not a great idea to think too highly of yourself
(it's best to maintain a realistic view of yourself, so you could improve in anything as best as you can)

Also,
I think people worry too much about their ideas and such being stolen. Remember, it's not the idea that matters, but what you do with it, and how you execute it.

Don't tell me how good or bad (you don't know it!) and even so if it isn't the kind of stroy TP is looking for that isn't your place to jugde (and it isn't over 3 book -i know that's what they'd like but my story just doesn't do that. I don't think highly of myself in a cocky way but i know i don't think little of myself either -i look at myself in a realistic view -i know i can improve but please don't tell me what i should improve...

Also,
people should VERY MUCH be worried about their ideas and "Such being Stolen". Yes i know the idea matters alot and anyone can execute it on many different ways to make it good (if someone liked my story they could cout and change it and create it in their own way changing it and using it themselves for a TP manga -if that isn't being realistic than i don't know what is!)

I don't mean ti be rude BUT this is just a fact i'm stating as I feel what you wrote was wrong.

Here is Australia, life is different to the US, Year 8 students are 14 years of age but are more mature depending on the individual -most people are more mature and grown up by this stage in life.

RGDS Erisu-Chan

Kyaa the Catlord

03-25-2006, 09:29 PM

Based solely on your posts, I'd be terribly surprised if your work was any good. Sorry, Erisu-chan, but you aren't representing yourself well at all.

PeNCILz

03-25-2006, 09:42 PM

Allow me to use my vocabulary skills!

conceited |kənˈsētid| adjective: excessively proud of oneself; vain.

That is what you are Erisu-Chan. Conceit is not mature, so I don't know how you can say you are more mature than someone in the US. Maturity is different for EVERY person. It does not matter on where you live.

The definition of mature is:

mature |məˈ ch oŏr; -ˈt(y)oŏr| adjective ( -turer, -turest) • having reached an advanced stage of mental or emotional development characteristic of an adult

(BE ADVISED THAT THE ABOVE DEFINITION IS ONE OF MANY)

crispy

03-25-2006, 10:31 PM

lol. Nice. Now you're pulling the "my culture is better than yours!" card. How mature.

I'd have to just agree with Kyaa and Pencils on this.

nicolepalmer

03-25-2006, 11:28 PM

wow..i can feel the tension in this thread...I really would like to see your art though please post some up so we can all see what youre talkin about

JayneCobb

03-26-2006, 12:00 AM

what shamdu says about humility, that marks a true person, as well as patience.

youths these days.
what a shame, what a shame.

YamPuff

03-26-2006, 12:07 AM

This started out as a cool thread and ended as a 'is Erisu-chan's manga and artwork any good' thread. Which is silly, because as of yetwe haven't seen a single sample of her work. There really is no way of telling at all whether she's good or not because you can't judge artwork on maturity or conceitedness or these forum posts.

Magic Knight Rayearth has the lousiest storyline ever. If I told you 'I'm gonna do a manga about three girls who have to save another world and its princess' you'd laugh at me!

So, if Erisu-chan's really wants real opinions, she'll (or you'll) have to post them where we can see, even one page. If you can draw pages so easily, (and I'm not being sarcastic) well, draw one up, scan it and post it. Don't post your story if you don't want to; just give us a sample of your style.

That's how you get real opinions. And if you want to know if Tokyopop will accept your work, why not ask Tokypop, instead of giving veiled insults and hints that Tokypop doesn't accept teenagers seriously. Take yourself seriously. This isn't about you or your age. It's about what sells and what doesn't. Its about deadlines and sales. Tokyopop isn't God's gift to manga-ka; its a company.

And humility is a useful tool. I'm not saying put your work down, but you should be realistic. If you have the opinion that your atwork is so wonderful, chances are it'll never improve and you'll never take criticism seriously. And you can never achieve perfection; there is always room for improvement.

I just recently started a thread on how much better I liked one manga than another. The manga-ka actually replied and put her artwork down, said she accepted my criticism and was even flattered by it and wasn't defensive in any way. I now have a better opinion of her and her manga for it. As for Erisu-chan...well, if its so good: post it!

Talk is cheap. Or, in this case, posts.

KaYoKitten

03-26-2006, 02:07 AM

I'm going with YamPuff on this one, cakes. Is this a forum about acceptance into TP or about putting people down? Ya'll should be ashamed of yourselves for trying to discourage Erisu-san. Certainly, she's young and still in school and perhaps a bit boastful, and certainly the piece she's given us to go on is a little bit familiar. But that's no reason to base assumptions into her work before we've even seen anything of it!

Although, Erisu-san, I must also agree that you are still quite young and perhaps not as mature as you may think. However, there is no one here who is going to stop you from pitching a story to Tokyopop. And I hope no one else will consider trying to discourage you from pitching the story at all. Now may not be the best time to pitch, however, and that is what I've tried to get across.

As we've said, even though you may be a prodigy and a genius with your manga, it isn't quite the ripe time to attempt being published. High school is stressful enough and I doubt this differs across the seas, as I know people in many other countries including Queens, Australia. I suggest (though you can take my advice or leave it, that is entirely up to you) that you continue improving and refining throughout high school, and attempt the pitch when you have graduated. Four years is a long time, I know. However, it is a long time to improve, and draw, and write, and create new characters and new facets in the story that you hadn't thought of up until now.

I have a story myself that I've been working on since I was your age, and I'll be 20 at the end of this month. I know what it's like to be 14 and wanting to jump into things. Time is a devil woman, and we her slaves, I'm afraid. However, like I said before, my advice and the advice of all others on this board may be obsolete--we don't really know how TP will react to your story and characters. But I would like to see some of your work, myself. ^_^ I enjoy looking at new works and styles.

franchan

03-26-2006, 05:50 AM

At age 14 though? That's really early to be sure of something you're going to do for the rest of your life.

I not sure if I entirely agree with you there; I've wanted to be an author since I was 6 or 7, and although I've branched off into art a bit more in recent years (thanks to anime), writing will always be my major passion. It might not work out, but I'll always want to do that more than anything.

My dream is to be able to stay at home at write for a living, and have people read and love my books the way that I love to read them myself. :D

It's up to the person, in my opinion, go for what you want to do and not what you've been told to do... just be open to other suggestions. ;)

Erisu-Chan

03-26-2006, 02:30 PM

I know, i'm very aware that i need to dp more growing up (after all i'm only 14 :D ) but i will keep perfecting my art (till no one can say "that's a good drawing, for a left hander i mean" again -people can be so cruel to others :( )
but anyway i'll br posting up one of my pictures today :D
-also sorry if i'm being rude or cocky (i guess that left hander junk gets to me :)

Ta for now

-Erisu-Chan

sferrick

03-26-2006, 02:32 PM

I not sure if I entirely agree with you there; I've wanted to be an author since I was 6 or 7, and although I've branched off into art a bit more in recent years (thanks to anime), writing will always be my major passion. It might not work out, but I'll always want to do that more than anything.

My dream is to be able to stay at home at write for a living, and have people read and love my books the way that I love to read them myself.

It's up to the person, in my opinion, go for what you want to do and not what you've been told to do... just be open to other suggestions.

I didn't mean to come off as being like "no! You should have no idea or dreams of what you want to be when you grow up." It's totally awesome if you've got dreams and motivation at an early age but I'm just saying that it's too early at age 14 to just jump into those dreams in the form of a full-tim career that takes a ton of time and hard work. I'm all for young artists expressing themselves and having ideas of what they want to do (probably b/c I'm a young artist too and I too was a 14 yr old with the same dreams 3 yrs ago) And I'm not trying to discourage anyone I'm just saying that a career in the comics industry is really hard and it takes a whole bunch of time which, at 14, you should be devoting to school and just being a kid.
It's up to the person, in my opinion, go for what you want to do and not what you've been told to do... just be open to other suggestions.
Geez, I'm not saying that I disagree with that at all. XD
I in NO way believe that people should do what they've been told and I didn't say that. (and I hope that I didn't come off as trying to say that)
And earlier I was saying something along the lines of "be open to other suggestions".

nicolepalmer

03-26-2006, 02:49 PM

looking forward to seeing your art :D

franchan

03-26-2006, 02:49 PM

sferrick

03-26-2006, 03:22 PM

Oh, well, I agree that you shouldn't overburden yourself with a an extra set of deadlines whilst in school. But if you want to enter just for fun, and then work on a book for tokyopop later in life then that's great.
I didn't mean you said that last bit, I just mentioned that because it was related to the point. Don't be angry. Pwease? *Offers icecream of your favourite flavour*

Okay, you're refering to entering RSOM right? I'm totally for that. I think THAT would be a great idea for anyone, especially if you're still in highschool. There ain't nothing wrong with aiming for getting into RSOM and then doing a book later. I did RSOM in 9th and 10th grade and I thought it was a great experience. Ack, sorry for the misunderstanding! I thought you meant...other things...

KaYoKitten

03-26-2006, 11:23 PM

Okay, you're refering to entering RSOM right? I'm totally for that. I think THAT would be a great idea for anyone, especially if you're still in highschool. There ain't nothing wrong with aiming for getting into RSOM and then doing a book later. I did RSOM in 9th and 10th grade and I thought it was a great experience. Ack, sorry for the misunderstanding! I thought you meant...other things...

The main problem with this is that she's in another country. >< She would have to do a straight-on pitch. I think what WOULD be an excellent idea, though, is to get Australia to have its own RSOM, like the UK did. ^__^ More wonderful artists and writers for OEL there, I'd say. The country is only a little smaller than the US itself (though in pop., I think it's a bit farther down that line due to the Outback. Not many peoples in teh Outback. Of course, not many people in Death Valley or Wyoming, either...^^; ). So maybe that's what you should support, cakes! *major suggestion*

Erisu-Chan

03-26-2006, 11:36 PM

I hope to one day complete my manga and send it to TP but i know that will have to wait till i'm finished with year 10 or something but i'll never stop my manga :D

-Erisu-Chan (my favorite ice-cream flavour is chocolate :D )

UrbanRevolution

03-26-2006, 11:57 PM

never ever give up on what you love .

best of luck!

Erisu-Chan

03-27-2006, 01:39 AM

thanks so much :D

-Erisu-Chan

YamPuff

03-27-2006, 05:21 AM

So maybe that's what you should support, cakes! *major suggestion*

Why do you keep calling us 'cakes'? You hungry or something?

:D Oh yeah, this is off-topic. I guess.

Pedes

03-27-2006, 06:02 AM

I didn't say pencillors, or inkers, I said comikers. Sorry, I use my own evil terms and assume everyone knows what I'm talking about. ^__^. There are artists who must pencil AND ink their own pages; they don't make 'japanese comics' in the traditional sense, nor is their work marketed as 'manga' because they're making what is deemed a 'graphic novel' and creating for what is termed as, 'an American publisher.' I know from experience you get placed on a page per month schedule in order to get your book finished...so by comikers I did not mean those who pencil and/or ink in the traditional Marvel/DC creative flow chart.
For example Stan Sakai ^^
It's like that in Europe (belgium, France)- pencils and inks are done by the same person, story, colors may be made by the same or another. But the comics are different from both manga and american comics: they are (usually that is) published in albums, A4(more panels on the page; more static) 48 pages.. Usually the speed is one album per year, but it depends, and one artist rarely works on one title.

Out of topic: Gynocrat - don't you have a page on Y! gallery?

KaYoKitten

03-27-2006, 12:42 PM

Why do you keep calling us 'cakes'? You hungry or something?

:D Oh yeah, this is off-topic. I guess.

^^; Sorry, I always forget new people don't know this little quirk of mine. I'm usually very good friends with older people, the kind who call everyone "honey" or "sweetie" or my personal favorite, "darlin'", as I'm originally from the South. Anyways, I picked up that trait from my older friends, but I wanted something unique. My favorite friend from Georgia, Ms. McKenzie, used to call me "sweet cakes", so I just shortened that down the "cakes". ^^;; :o :p