Advices for becoming a mangaka in Japan (Felipe Smith) - mastersofmanga.com

[@brittneybocanegra5511]

Thank you so much for this information! I'm Hispanic and everyone is giving me crap about my dream. I know this video is old but it's still worth saying thank you. I know now first hand what I need to do.

[@Chucky1249]

I'm Hispanic too and I want to become a mangaka too and I won't give up no matter what anyone says about it I think you should do the same

[@adzinno7187]

Listen bro I have this dream too and people have been trying to crush it and I won't back down so don't you too

[@adzinno7187]

@@Chucky1249 we will do it man because nothing is going to stop me and I hope nothing will stop you

[@okboomer8277]

Get a real job!

[@PortgasDAce-wt5bk]

Same man. I'm Hondureño and I want to become a mangaka too.I told my parents that I don't want to study a doctor or a architect.I want to do what I Love most. So i know how much passion all of us have to become what we want in life. Never give up in your dream and I wish the best for every person who wants to become a Mangaka.

[@Sonoftutuchoppy]

Just because you love doing something doesn't mean its gonna be easy. Drawing every waking moment of every day for extended periods of time is mentally, and physically exhausting.

[@jesusvermillionthemereoleo5660]

If you're moving to Japan, you should definitely start drawing manga as a hobby. You should also be fluent in japanese, because without that you will never succeed. So my advice is: learn japanese (to the point of fluency), train your story and art skills and most important, don't give up

[@silentresilience]

Matthew Waterton I will never give up. I just started learning Japanese, and I will train myself to work hard! THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!!

[@jesusvermillionthemereoleo5660]

Aya no problem

[@Charlizard721]

Thanks Jesus

[@Kye0429]

Aya did you give up lmao

[@monkeykingmo-ri777]

@@Kye0429 seems like it lol

[@kingofbrawl3000]

I know the video is old but I really appreciate this man. Definitely gives me some hope, I feel like I got a really good story in the works right now, just got keep fine tuning my art.

[@dimitrismarsitopoulos8768]

Hey, any updates on your story?

[@Finalsabre]

If you have a story thats good they dont mind. It's still earning them money at the end of the day

[@d00msmith]

From what I have learned, all branches of the creative industries don't rely so much on your education credentials, but your ability to produce a professional product. Education can give you direction and additional skills, but in no way will it guarantee you breaking into the field in which you'd like to work in. People who are self-taught can have just as much success as someone who has had formal training. Portfolio. Portfolio. Portfolio. Learn about the businesses online to help decide.

[@smash44556677]

This guy really inspired me. I'm a african american living in america and I now know I have at least a standing chance at becoming a manga-ka. Ever since the days of DBZ I have been fascinated by Manga. Now I know that it is possible! Thank You Felipe Smith!!! My dreams have been reattached after countlessly being shattered.

[@coolformproductions]

The sort-of-annoying thing about wanting to be a manga-ka in Japan is that there is no concrete information in English. The statistics and chances are unknown.

[@SuHAibLOL]

bakuman was inspirational!!!!!!!!!

[@Shiromakesmusic]

dully noted

[@generalsociety9607]

I'm not writing a manga because I absolutely suck at drawing but I do want to become a light novelist. I'm thinking that it's probably less stressful than being a mangaka because drawing is really hard but that obviously doesn't mean it's stress-free. In fact, I've already written a few drafts(in English). I will translate them to Japanese once I move to Japan. I'm learning Japanese right now and tbh, I find it way easier than I thought it'd be. Yes, that even includes kanji. I only started 5 months ago and at my current progress rate, I'll be done with the course in 3 years. My only problem at this point is actually getting to Japan. I heard that immigration to there is a nightmare (that also happens to be what my story is about).

[@mistersureshot1749]

Its about practice practice practice. You can be able draw anything, once you put the time in it.

[@bardw8792]

Hi did you succeed? Can you tell me about your journey, i saw that you wrote it 3 years ago, so I am curious

[@sorathunderknight]

I am senior in high school, and I finally figured out that I want to do something with my drawing ability. But I don't really know which career I want most, my first choice would probley be an Animator, and I would love to work for Ghibli Studios in Japan. Or I think I would enjoy being a mangaka illustrator,or an American style comic book illustrator. But my question is would I have to go to a manga university to study manga like in Japan,or should I just stay in America and go to an Art school

[@ilinaeternity]

100% Agree with you, nicely put.

[@ShinDMitsuki]

I love your work, bought all 3 volumes of Peepo Choo! Your a inspiration to artist everywhere, keep working hard for us please :D

[@Zmangaka89]

How did you get to live there? I heard you can only get a work visa there by having a company sponsor you, were you sponsored by a company? If not, then how did you get a visa to live there?

[@jaysmith9088]

I highly recommend the 'How to Draw Manga' series as well as 'Bridgman's' figure drawing books. For a background in realistic figure drawing the Gean Leon Gerome/Charles Bargue Drawing Course can't be beat, it seems to be really applicable as I just started drawing in the manga style and I think my work is coming out pretty nice though maybe you'd be best served spending more time learning the conventions of manga. More or less hips are usually about half ways to the ground from the scalp....

[@Yoshi17th]

Wow, advice from the REAL DEAL! Thanks SO much!

[@jaysmith9088]

the ribcage can be 'blocked in' as a sphere as can the cranium, all 3 masses are connected by the spine, the hands usually fall about a 1/3 the way down the thighs, the thigh is a bit shorter than the lower leg, etc... Try to get a copy of the first 2 volumes of How to Draw Manga if you really want a thorough but to-the-point guide. Also, the eraser is as useful as the pencil if not more so.... Draw from reference at least as a base for your figures' poses, your figures will look more convincing

[@tobitguren]

:( I'm a little scared now. Can mangaka ever get married or something? I want to have a life in the future. TT____TT This sounds so depressing to be a reality.

[@SttudDioPierrot]

@beccaotaku Depends on who publishes your work in the US. you could even get it animated if it sells well. Mark Crilley's a really popular artist on youtube, and Warner Brothers is considering adapting his manga Miki Falls into an animated Movie.

[@nrgentertainmentartist8668]

That sounds quite depressing

[@shiprasaha1323]

I am a teen I am a non japanese from INDIA but I will be a Manga artist it's my dream thank you sir For your advice !!!!!😤😤

[@persondrawz1106]

Day 1 of being a manga artist "I'm ready to work hard and never give up" day 400 and 5 "kill me please"

[@mikatsukitty]

You achieved my goals that's so incredible, I hope I will make it one day just like you did. I think being a mangaka is not hard if you already love what you do and if you are addicted to your work but just like you said, if you're not japanese, you gotta move to japan and live there and drop everything else that matters to you. Personally I think being a mangaka outside of japan wouldn't be a good thing bc the manga you write or draw wouldn't become as popular as the ones in japan.

[@tysmith6337]

Ikr, Japan is one of top places to get famous with a good story and illustrating.

[@RobLucciXIII]

Bakuman's a good series to read if you wanna know about the manga industry

[@DarkB_Andy]

You don't need to live in Japan to become a mangaka? It's not mandatory? what about people who are interested in Japanese anime and video games industry instead?

[@Jhakaro]

+DarkBloodFang130 "Kotaku article: Being an Animator in Japan is Brutal" check it out. Besides needing to move to Japan if you wish to work in a pre-established Japanese Studio as opposed to just creating your own show in an anime-esque style, you'll need to be well versed in Japanese at least to some degree if not fluent and you'll need to work extremely hard for very little pay. The guy mentions working in Nakamura Pro for 8 months, for 1 dollar a drawing estimating he'd make 300 dollars a month, it's practically slave labour and then when he moved to Studio Pierrot who worked on Naruto amongst a plethora of other shows, he was getting 2 to 4 dollars a drawing so getting about 1000 a month. In Ireland even Studio Pierrot's pay per month is less than the minimum wage in Ireland for a 39 hour average work week, Nakamura Pro's wage is less than one average working week in Ireland and that's for a month over there. The pay is atrocious for such a creative and rare skilled profession as compared to any countries in the west for the same type professions and you are expected to work longer hours. The guy mentions that sometimes people are worked so hard to the point that they vomit and the less busy days are six day work weeks working ten hours a day averaging 60 hours a week for such little pay and that's when things are fairly calm nevermind crunch time. Not to discourage it or anything but if you're serious about working there you need to know the facts, far from home, the people you care about, friends, family and practically no English speakers, different culture and ridiculous work ethic standards to live by and all for poor pay. Just make sure if you ever consider it that it's what you really want to do and that you will be strong enough and disciplined enough to do it. That being said I have no idea about conditions in the games industry but I can more or less presume that due to their work ethic in general, it'd be much the same or at least no where near as comfy a job as over in the west (and it's a very hard job here too). But as a final good note, I urge you check out the article I mentioned and the guy did say this. . . "When I was working as an animator in New York I could afford an apartment, buy stuff and had time to 'life a life'". But creatively, he was not happy with what he was working on. "Now everything about my life is utterly horrible, however the artist in me is completely satisfied"

[@sorathunderknight]

Thank you for putting it in prospective for me I hope I figure it out soon:)

[@Koidianz]

Have you figured it out?

[@NikShnookal]

god bless you thank you for the information

[@alisiae1]

I'm pretty sure even if you LOVE drawing, doing it 24/7 even if you're not up to it will feel a hell of a lot like work.

[@freedfighter96]

@OtakuChixx Its pretty simple, all you have to do is find a publisher willing to publish your work... For example a lot of people go to TokyoPop, however I they recently shutdown their company. There are many other companies out there for example the well known Dark Horse, if you have heard of markcrilley that's who his publisher is. However the Manga in a American may be a little different/ or it can be very similar, just depends upon the style of the company you draw for.

[@TheRedgundam]

i really do want to be a mangaka, hopefully i can learn japenese when i start college in a few years.

[@yuko-kapa8637]

Did you become mangaka TheRedgundam at the end? If is yes congratulations

[@boutassai]

@1Manny93 Well look at it this way. There are millions of children in Japan and all have grown up with manga and anime. Out of those, you'll have a small percentage who want to do that as a profession and an even smaller percentage who actually have the talent and will to make it "big". Its a different market there and its best to know thy enemy if you wish to conquer them. That's why its good to move there and get to know your audience. You also need the drawings and narrative skills.

[@sportytiger123]

i agree, i am a person who is not very good at school....at all, but i am working hard to improve my art ability every single day. So therefore if you are very good in art i think-you don't have to worry about studying 'till you drop. But then again its really handy to have insurance, because droppign out of your job can happen to anyone at any time, and having a medical degree to back you up 'till you can go back to drawing later, is really useful.

[@somerandomfatguy.3384]

KZbin after 9 years " so you wanna know how to become mangaka " wow.

[@bcdkoh]

10 years now

[@Amane214]

Question here🙏🏻are japanese publishers ok with forgeiner publishing g their work in Japan, like remaining anonymous and getting original paying for your work and not lowered bc I am a forgeinet

[@JackDaddy91]

@ballwizard6 He had to come out with the manga in Japan in order for it to "officially become a manga. if he came out with it in America. It would be just a manga style comic.

[@yazuki-wolf]

In terms of work load verses pay, do you think it`s it`s a fair trade? Or are mangaka being taking advantage of (since so many people want to be mangaka they`ll work for just about anything). I`m not published at the moment, but having met with a number of editors I was starting to get the idea that while I was putting a huge amount of effort into it, the promise of rewards seemed to be less and less substantial.

[@Sakitsunebi]

Wow, I'm impressed man, congratulations! It must have taken alot of hard work to get to where you are. So I have a question; besides the language barrier and different cultures, what were som other challenges you had to overcome and a foreginer trying to make it as a mangaka in Japan?

[@attakOfTheMarshmallo]

i'm so excited! XD i wanna be a mangaka in japan ^.^

[@yazuki-wolf]

@1Manny93 Yes. Japan is one of the few languages (maybe the only I don`t know) that has a word for death from overwork. You will get pushed to your physical limits.

[@justsimplegamer]

# learn japanes# well.. here goes my dream of becoming mangaka... let`s see what becoming comics artist needs...

[@HyunaXleejoon]

First of all, if your Manga becomes a TV-series that would be good however here in the NA we dont really contact Japanese Studio;s because your TV show has to have Good Ratings to make it international otherwise it's almost impossible! I suggest if your work gets turns into anime/cartoon over here in America,congrats because that is nearly impossible but if it does and it doesn't make an international ratings then go over to a japanese studio and put in a request for your work to get -continue

[@itme4503]

What if you wanna get published in Japan but not live there could I like send it to them or fax it

[@raizwei]

check the publisher site first to know if its okay. as far as i know its okay to send them but know the instruction first before sending them. as for fax, i don't think its good idea.

[@raizwei]

you can also send them in mail.

[@user-rn5xy6gm9z]

Would it be possible to maintain a relationship with a significant other? Is it possible to space your work properly so you can get weekends off or something?

[@PhantasyStarLover]

What could be added is that you have to be prepared for only having a small income, despite your hard work, according to people in the business.

[@Devesh-rr8tv]

Right!

[@64msbobbie]

Can you take any breaks if your making manga

[@RebeccaJ720]

Will my mangas be published in Japan & other countries if I stayed in the US?

[@ajae311]

I don't know if you've realized... But that bananaattack guy is someone I didn't expect to see here. His work is amazing And legit. I advise u to see his channel I swear to god....

[@paulwritesfights]

just an idea...a mangaka fight writer, to do the action fight scenes , so instead of just cool looking they are also new and creative. i love manga and have quite a collection and my experience is everything about them is near perfect except the fights. just an idea...n great vid!

[@Sakitsunebi]

f cpurse skill and dedication is a given but it's interesting that you say they don't care about one's schooling? What are your sources that would make you say this. I was under the impression that places like Japan, Korea and almost every single developed Asian country, holds schooling in VERY high regards. I know this because I am Asian, and higher education is very important to my parents.

[@Arekkusu56]

lets say if I made a manga here in the U.S. what would it take to become an anime? if it could turn into an anime is it possible that it could have a Japanese opening? please answer

[@Der49Ronin]

hey i want to publish my work in japan but i dont know how to get a work visa for the job mangaka how did you manage to get a visa???

[@SaltedMallows]

Is that a Wacom 21Ux Tablet ?

[@tobitguren]

Another question, can mangaka ever get married? I wanted a family when I got older so this really depresses me in a way. :/

[@monkeykingmo-ri777]

This dude is a inspiring. I hope to become a mangaka but chances are pretty low since im a black kid in america with no knowledge of japanese :p but ill start

[@1Manny93]

@boutassai wow, and this guy is one of the lucky few.

[@MilkoMilkovicz]

nice vid.

[@yohan.888]

Sugoi...!!

[@Arekkusu56]

thanks man but what do u mean by NA?

[@sytestown]

@tobitguren of coure they can just look at the mangaka of one piece is married and i know the mangaka of hunter x hunter is married to the mangaka of sailor moon . and they have kids . hope this helps :) dont give up on becoming a mangaka ever

[@AMVMakerRen]

Well If U Wont To Work For Shonen Jump Then Yea.They Are Real Strict On Who They Let In. There Are Other Manga Studios In Japan That Will But Being A Mangaka Is Not Easy.( Sorry For Spelling)

[@OtakuChixx]

So u can do manga in america? How? Plus, damn that's a shit load. i completely understand what it takes to be a mangaka. I've seen enough Bakuman. to get an understanding of it. but thanks for the advice.

[@1Manny93]

wow, is there really as much hard work as they say?

[@substance.abuser]

Peepo choo is top tier

[@Theentirehorse]

i've seen you comment on literally almost every single video involving felipe XD

[@yujabes]

i'm sure its his dream come true to be ''mangaka'' in japan. but i think he would earned a lot more in america. its kinda of weird working in a country and writing stories not for your native tongue. there are more english speakers around the world, then japanese. strange road you took there fella. anyway keep up the good work.

[@Sach.T]

Nice Wig

[@SupCor]

Lesean brought me here!

[@RosanaAMata]

Is there a chance that your manga become animation in japan even if you're not japanese?

[@looniemoonie5955]

If you are published and have great ratings like Bleach, Promised Neverland, One Piece etc...why not? The other chance is to get OVA to promote your manga like Petshop of horrors or Alice in Borderland

[@tobymonte6688]

There is! A mangaka named Tony Valente (French artist) will have an anime adaptation from his manga Radiant.

[@Finalsabre]

Nope. As long as you have a story written up in a manuscript you're good to go :)

[@md6714]

i won't have much time for freinds..what freinds

[@Olafemi96]

md6714 i know right 😆😆😆

[@needler267]

Can you smoke weed in Japan? Would suck if its harder.

[@richardidntwantodie]

Mabey I should just stay in Ireland then... I'm sure the manga industry will have expanded in Ireland by the time I leave school!

[@PergyG]

My friends say i'll probably never make it as a manga artist because I'm Hindu.

[@aii1717]

I’m an extrovert so I honestly don’t see my friends often or family I stay in my room all day.

[@Kye0429]

You mean introvert

[@cellus5594]

Hey mark, im interested in being mangakanin japan. I'm thinkin to apply to a college in Yokohama that have a manga department. May i have some consulting time with you? Please do response to this comment. Idk u will notice this or no. This vid is 5years ago smth. But please do reply if u notice this. Thanks in advance

[@planta46]

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO, WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRAW?

[@shiprasaha1323]

Can you help me ! What kind of Qualifications do we require to become a manga artist??

[@TheGuillotinecutter]

The only thing i ever want to know if they allowed non japanese person to work in manga magazines. If they don't mind then I guess all you need is working hard.

[@Dot2375]

agree

[@ballwizard6]

u def shouldnt move to japan just to draw comics, im sure felipe had more than that reason to move these, like cultural interests and stuff. But Manga is a style, thats it. Competing with thr mangaka in Japan would be insanely difficult, u just gotta know how to market ur stuff out here

[@butterfly22432]

wouldn't you need to also go to a manga university...?

[@looniemoonie5955]

You can self-study

[@ariaangelical]

even tho ShindoL and many others probably aren't Japanese.

[@sportytiger123]

i agree, i love drawing and thats why i did an experiment "a day without drawing is a day wasted" i tried that and by the end of my summer brake i was deflated on the ground with twitching hands. If you dont feel like drawing, and you are forcing yourself to- that is Satan's hometown for me.

[@NavyBlueManga]

yeah you lesant sent me here

[@TotalNicktou]

I love, manga. I love drawing manga. But to be honest, i just can't imagine someone wanting to live is life as a mangaka. I meen, there is working for his living... and there is slavery... Twelve page a week, don't miss a deadline, and u better be good... or ur fired. So, yeah... Mangaka.

[@looniemoonie5955]

You can draw bi-weekly or monthly. Not everyone draws 20 pages a week

[@13aboody]

well we know all that but are you happy with this life or not?

[@MansonMamaril]

well that's the general and it is truth but the title of the video indicates that his opinion is bias to Japan... :))

[@hiitsy]

Then you've probably never read Bakuman.

[@Miganishi]

Basically he just keeps repeating "work hard and learn Japanese"...

[@groundead4lyfe]

@TheRealSentai Howdy, Sir Dog Milk!

[@Arekkusu56]

oh LOL I FEEL SO STUPID

[@SuperAnik10]

Those who's born with true skill can only became mangaka

[@overlordsea1067]

SuperAnik10 story is most important , look at one punch man, the artist original (ONE) , not the redraw .

[@1Manny93]

@okamichamploo wow lol. that's how you know these guys are all about working.

[@freshxzuha]

well thanks! now I'm put off! I'd rather be a dentist.... ooh that sound good! yay! but nooo!

[@yrockerboy]

Stay away from Chris Hart lol

[@HyunaXleejoon]

north america

[@SPMask]

One very important he failed to mention is,.....don't do manga period! (Not worth it, in the long haul.)

[@ochre4170]

Wait, art is work? :[]

[@chdeaaa]

Learn how to.