Why A Manga Genius Abandoned His Masterpiece

[@RelativelyBest]

Ah, I think I see the problem. Vagabond needs more basketball scenes.

[@dylcor]

yes

[@That_One_MF_0]

Imagine Musahi dunking on his opponents 💀

[@EBBX.]

Imagine Musashi Jordans (sandals actually)

[@peaceweapon1933]

*baseball 😂

[@genn8062]

@@EBBX.The Miyamoto 1s

[@julio1148]

I feel like the manga industry would benefit from a seasonal approach to their serialized projects. Like take a quarter off the year from production to slow down and prepare for the next season. Do this staggered accross authors so there is always content in the magazines

[@danielg.w5733]

There are magazines rhat do this actually. Monthly Seinen and alternative magazines often allow there authors to have irregular release schedules or the even the magazine itself will only come out every other month. Comic Beam is like that and so was monthly ikki (just to name a few). Weekly Manga is just the most popular cause people are impatient haha

[@PrismCasillica]

This would be great across the entire manga industry. I remember when my favorite shoujo mangaka retired early because her young daughter asked if she loved working on manga more than being a mom. Plus with how many authors have crippled themselves and died early I'm concerned on a whole for the industry.

[@ShouryaRathore]

@@PrismCasillica Aww that must suck,although she could have shifted magazines to move to a more seasonal magazine within the same publication,like moving from jump weekly to jump plus,but I guess that isn't always an available option

[@Rosso4654]

The industry wouldn't benefit from it, but the creators would. That's why the change isn't being made.

[@julio1148]

@@Rosso4654 the industry would benefit long term since it's a sustainability issue - artists are literally their most valuable assets, if they drop like flies and rely on the less-than-handful that can keep up then they're slowly dying already. I'm really curious what will happen to Shonen Jump when Oda retires, are they going to pray for another one like him to show up? Or are they happy with the IPs that loose steam around 200-300 chapters? I can count in one hand the amount of weekly manga that ended as well as they started

[@TaintedMarth]

I totally get why he hasn't picked it up yet. It makes no sense to work on something when you don't feel like it at the moment, it will only bring forth a product that is worse in quality compared to the former stuff. Great documentary dyl. Loved it.

[@dylcor]

Thank you so much marth greatly appreciate it

[@Z48654]

At the same time that’s not a good way to deal with artist/writers block. You have to force yourself to do something.

[@CptEddyPrice]

I disagree. If I didn't show up to the gym because I didn't feel like it, I would achieve nothing. Same with art or writing. It's about showing up ( unless you are burned out and just want to take a break )

[@robertnomok9750]

I feal like REAL is a more importan manga with a better morale and topic barely anyon touches. Compared to that Vagabound is just a lesser thing. Maybe he thinks so as well and focuses only on it for now.

[@TaintedMarth]

I think the process of creating something in a creative way and working out is entirely different. I don't think it makes sense to compare them. But even then, you should always consider that people work differently. While you might achieve great thinks while forcing yourself through it, someone else might need some breaks from time to time to get to the same result.@@CptEddyPrice

[@ren_sensei]

As an author myself, there's a kind of emotional burden we have to carry in order to see thru the lens of the characters all to breath life into the story. The mc Musashi, clearly is not an easy character to write. You need to be equally capable of handling the emotional stress that character is having in order to understand its journey. That's the kind of toll Takehiko is taking in the creation of Vagabond.

[@dylcor]

I appreciate the perspective man. I can only imagine how tough it is, which is why I really feel for Inoue. Ty for watching 🙏

[@ren_sensei]

@@dylcor Thanks for creating the videos as well, appreciate your analysis and perspective as well. Keep making~

[@sboinkthelegday3892]

I feel this when reading Welcome To The Ballroom. I bet if that series was as popualr as Slam Dunk, Japan would solve its population crisis.

[@nIhIl34]

Miura: 💀

[@temin2776]

Do you write books?

[@jotarojoestar898]

Yup, Slam Dunk was the reason why I played basketball and why I tried to join the school team back then. Even though I was not good, and I didn't end up on the team, I still had a sense of direction in my life and wanted to do something. That was really what gave me the motivation to try to achieve something for the first time in my life back then. Those were the days and Slam Dunk will be one of the most important manga that helped to shape up my life.

[@dylcor]

That’s incredible man thank you for sharing. It’s great to see how that passion passes through people, it started with Inoue falling in love with basketball, then he put it into his manga, and inspired many fans just like you. Thank you for watching

[@passbyicecube]

It's all the way around for me, I skipped classes and went to play basket ball for how much I love basket ball through the manga, never intended to join school team, did end up become the best free throw player for a very long time (94%). Nearly failed my high school graduation, but never blame basket ball for it.

[@Tien1million]

I never read the manga, but I do love the Slam Dunk anime. We use to play basketball almost every day at the park with a bunch of strangers who loved the game. Such great times back then.

[@wetlettuce8215]

you were good just that they were better

[@kimmuwai1041]

i thought i was the only one who started a sport because of anime lol

[@thesunthrone]

Honestly, the hardest thing about Vagabond and continuing it is that it... honestly can just end at any point. In a way, most of the essence was already said in the first few arcs, and what happens after is just reiteration of the same themes, same meditations in greater detail. The arcs are so self-sufficient, so intense with visual and Buddhist metaphor that you don't even really need to see how it ends to "get it". I've read it up to volume 20, and even at this little-over-half point I feel like I have experienced a true work of art that urges you to look within with each encounter, and is only richer the more life experience you as a reader have. So how do you conceivably deliver more of *that*? Even if Inoue does not draw another chapter of Vagabond, it has cemented its place in history as one of the absolute peaks of the medium.

[@bobbobby475]

Ys I feel like this happens when a story is more character driven then plot driven

[@mramisuzuki6962]

This what you gotta be like Sword of the Immortal and just end it. 9 years after you want to. Wait until.

[@MrMagnaniman]

I'll definitely check it out. I was a fan of the Earthsea series by Ursula K Le Guin when I was a kid. At one point, she declared that she was completely done with the series. 20 years later, she came out with a collection of short stories and a novel, all set in Earthsea, basically saying, "I guess I wasn't done with it after all." As long as there isn't a compelling plot, just left hanging, I think that a hiatus is totally fine. There's no need to arbitrarily end something that you may come back to, even if you have no immediate plans of coming back to it.

[@danielfunes2419]

You're right but all the events lead to the culmination of Musashi vs kojiro.

[@n4ughty_knight]

I can't believe he's gonna wuss out before the Musashi vs Kojiro fight. That's literally the only interesting thing that can happen in the story. Of course, since the manga is very different from the novel, Kojiro is deaf instead of being a complete psychopath, so it would be interesting to see what kind of excuse the manga would use in order to kill off someone who is handicapped.

[@Rociel]

Thank you for making this and showing sensei such compassion. It’s easy for people to say just draw the damn manga already. But as an artist myself, I related to everything he’s going through on such a painful level. When something means too much to you, and to top it off you have a perfectionism issue, and feel this enormous pressure brought upon by the expectations yourself and others have on you, the weight is unbearable and it truly becomes a crippling paralysis.

[@dylcor]

Thank you for your comment! I'm glad I've seen so many people in the comments showing compassion towards Inoue

[@paxhumana2015]

@Rociel, are you an artist for a manga, out of curiosity?

[@Sakurasan2023]

Manga is INCREDIBLY hard

[@fionatsang9353]

Funny story: I was hired by a writer to draw a comic he was working on that was set in Heian era Japan. He told me that Kurosawa's movies, especially the Samurai trilogy, were a big inspiration. I'm not a movie buff, but I was very familiar with the Vagabond manga, so I looked to it as a guide for my art style and getting right historical details of feudal Japan. It was only when the writer and I started talking about how I would draw a panel where a character is hung from a tree that we realized the Samurai films and Vagabond manga had identical plots because they were both adapted from the same novel, a fictional retelling of the life of Musashi. We had a good laugh over how we had unknowingly been on the exact same page but in two different media!

[@Hot.Cocoa_0]

that's so cool! can you tell us the name of the comic you worked on?

[@capitalburst245]

cap

[@lebrondavis1420]

@@capitalburst245how do you know that?

[@ghagzor]

Its cap because there are only 1 or 2 musashi movies. Most samurai movies are 47 ronin, 7 samurai, yohimbo, etc.

[@capitalburst245]

@@lebrondavis1420 Guess

[@stupidmonkey089]

There's a certain sad irony in that Inoue's approach to Vagabond is similar to Miyamoto's journey before he made his realization in the story

[@albertoandrade9807]

What do you mean

[@notrelevant6702]

I was just thinking that. Vagabond has such a profound arc how clinging to perfection and expectation and purity is the inhibitor of progress and maybe happiness yet this seem to be something the very man who brought us this arc in Takezo is wrestling with 😮🤔

[@kunkker77]

@@notrelevant6702 He could save others from the futile pursuit of perfection, but not himself. Ironic

[@faisalsukhtian1932]

⁠@@notrelevant6702But even this realisation can be a bit more complicated than one would like it to be. Because the barrier between “doesn’t have to be 100% perfect” and “just letting go and slacking hard on my IP by churning terrible additions to it” can be pretty thin(looking at you modern Ubisoft games). So the question on your primary line bordering perfection being too high a task or even unsubstantial is: how far below will my next line gonna be? Good? Average? Terrible? But hey, maybe I’m thinking too hard on an irrelevant aspect of the situation so 🤷

[@TipoIrritable]

@@notrelevant6702 He was just tired and wanted a Basketball manga.

[@acemendoza3898]

Like most people I came to know Takehiko Inoe through Slam Dunk. How you put his apprehension in completing Vagabond is great. Thanks for making me like the guy even more!! Every time I see a spread page of Vagabond is like masterpiece in itself. Thanks again for making his struggles more understandable.

[@dylcor]

Thank you for watching!

[@SplitGoose]

​@@dylcor What the fuck was the point of this content? You left the real content for the final 30 seconds and its was a godshit opinion too

[@davidnguyen1848]

The hardest part about the indefinite hiatus was just how close to completion it was. It really was just the last fight left. There are plenty of adaptations of the novel, most notably the critically acclaimed Samurai Trilogy starring Toshiro Mifune, so the conclusion is out there i guess but inoue's stunning art adds so much to that story.

[@GameArts1]

I thought those were based on Musashi, a novel by Eiji Yoshikawa? Or do you mean just Musashi's journey overall?

[@random.random]

​@@GameArts1Vagabond is based on the novel and the movies too. Ending is known to all but would be great if it can get done the manga

[@20tetsuo77]

I just wanna say one thing, Inoue has assistants and does not draw his backgrounds, so his backgrounds are still drawn in pen by the time he switches to brush in 15, and I believe there's still some pen work in some of the panels. I'm not sure when he fully makes the switch to brush, but it's definitely not long after this. So, inoue does all the characters, the assistants do all the backgrounds, which are not in brush unless the scene calls for it (which he might also do himself)

[@dylcor]

very true, but the brush detail also extends to his character illustrations

[@20tetsuo77]

​@@dylcor that's what I meant, he does the characters in brush but not the backgrounds

[@deowardiman]

I'd rather have an unfinished masterpiece than a masterpiece that slowly turns to shit

[@BertoPlease]

I appreciate this being a non-spoilery history of this. I haven't started reading Vagabond yet, while it's definitely on the top priority list, I just don't want to start another manga series with indefinite future rn (Berserk and HxH manga reader...). I probably will soon anyway but I was definitely curious why it was currently on hiatus, so was a pleasant surprise seeing this on my feed

[@ahipmom3104]

Inoue should reread Musashi, he'd probably find his enjoyment again since he's appropriately following a similar arc to the novel version of Musashi, who reconciles his personal quest and achieves his goal through a lateral idea.

[@pieterlindeque7798]

There are many ways to the top of the mountain indeed.

[@nandaiser]

I actually think about the same thing when watching the video

[@100navat]

I would be very surprised if he doesn't constantly refer back to the book since the manga is based off it.

[@6tiple6ix6afia]

My wife is from Isehara, Kanagawa, and after watching this video I asked her if she read Slam Dunk in school (because i knew she played basketball in middle and HS). She said everyone on her team read it constantly

[@wajeh1987able]

funny how from 2015 till around 2019 I kept coming monthly back to a manga' site to see if there;s a new chapter maybe .. the last time I check it was around 2022 then I stopped

[@gipro1]

I fully respect his need to distance himself from his work. I really thought the manga was considered finished where it left off. Hearing you recount his recent interview where he states he intends to return to it someday is incredibly relieving.

[@eli3949]

We all know inoue never gunna finish vagabond sadly 😞

[@OrroHelhammer]

The creator of berserk said the same thing.....

[@Braian9887]

​@@OrroHelhammer sadly him die for casuality before berserk end, dont are the same history

[@floatingdisembodiedhead8975]

Whether he returns to it or not, Vagabond will always be up there as one of the great mangas. Imo the most beautifully drawn manga I've ever load my eyes upon, even better than most comic book and manga nowadays.

[@imsentinelprime9279]

Still sucks for the fans though. Imagine being a engineer and then quitting on a project you were assigned because you don't feel like it. At that point why even start it if you aren't going to try to see it through.

[@tiiramisu2464]

Thanks for making this! I always love learning more about Inoue

[@animeballsdeep]

Great video ❤

[@dylcor]

Hey, thank you!! I've been watching ABD since I was like 14 years old lmao, so seeing this comment is pretty crazy.

[@animeballsdeep]

​@@dylcorthank you for the kind words 🙏☺️

[@mattwith4ts]

This was great. I guess I don't need to make an Inoue video now.

[@dylcor]

Thank you man ! I love your channel I can’t believe you commented on my video 🙏🙏

[@JeromeProductions]

What a cameo!

[@mechajay3358]

I found this video after watching yours about Araki.

[@Crysis1334]

4:44 Love that Miura is in this picture as well. Amazing.

[@Vorzac]

Dylcor, I cannot thank you enough! This video really helped reassure me in my own struggles as a creator. Without getting to self-indulgent; I've spent over a decade working on my own Magnum Opus - A story that I may not even publish, but is still deeply personal and important to me. Working on something with such self-imposed importance is isolating and often demoralising. I feel like I can sympathise with Inoue's position somewhat, where doing your concept and ideas “Justice” can drive a creator to maladaptive perfectionism and even avoidance. This video help me realise I'm not alone in this, and that solidarity is so very inspiring. I am in your debt, my friend!

[@josephjones5800]

I hope one day, when you're ready, you feel like you can share it with others!

[@randomblackbutton]

As someone who wants to get into Vagabond but read about its ongoing hiatus, I'm so glad someone covered this topic in the way that you did. This video provides a logical and respectful amount of speculation as to where his motivations lie. Even if it's been said a lot already, I still would like to say that this video is very well edited, paced, and written. One can feel the level of respect and research you put into this video essay delving into such an interesting point of focus on a mangaka as culturally significant as Inoue-sensei. This is my first video from your channel that was ever recommended to me and I'm glad I clicked on it. You have my sub and like, looking forward to your future videos. Cheers!

[@ryanspence5831]

It is worth reading. Even if it never gets a climax, it is a mature work. If you want to give yourself a blessing then read it.

[@Lavender_FGC]

Phenomenal video, I could really hear the passion in your voice when you spoke on how ordinary it is to feel so much pressure and fear when it comes to finishing something that is regarded as your greatest work. I am humongous fan of Inoue and of Vagabond, and I constantly tell people to read it to this day, even though I know its quite possible that it is never truly finished. It's that great.

[@TaqiyahIman]

halfway through but thank you so much for this video essay, vagabond is such a special manga in my life, and Inoue's decision to ink it is something i seriously appreciate. his brush strokes are so meditative, I don't know how to explain it, but reading the manga while enjoying every linework he meticulously has placed on the paper is a whole other level of experiencing discipline and the desire to be perfectionist. everytime i read the manga again, i just feel like i'm going through a saint's prayers. maybe it's too reverent of a description Edit: As an artist myself, I get it...I was sad, but after hearing his lamentations abt how he needs to enjoy to make manga again, I really get it. Art is so painful when you have no desire to create. Not sadness, not happiness, but no desire. Especially imagining someone like Inoue, who has made so much and probably been so productive, it must be really painful to be unable to work on it despite knowing he could do it. He's made 34 volumes, I will be content with that. The fact that he even shared his works and still produces such good quality is enough proof of his love, and I hope he seeks love wherever else he can until the desire comes back. And if it never does, it's still more than okay. Nobody did what he did, and that alone is amazing

[@a.soraparu773]

Thanks for the content. Vagabond is amazing, and I respect Inoue for wanting to complete a series with a high standard, and not just because of external pressure. At least he is enjoying doing what he loves. Thats most important.

[@onemanteaparty409]

My man, this is incredible. Your storytelling and editing is out of this world, holy crap. Gotta get you popping off.

[@dylcor]

Thank you man, I really appreciate that! Put a lot of work into this one

[@ImchautzuCHAUTZU]

Speaking of storytelling, I recommend checking out his video "How stories can change lives" It's a banger!

[@mladen8127]

Great video! There are interesting parallels with Inoue and Takezo's journey in the manga - learning from masters and then surpassing them, sickness and slow recovery, mellowing with age, striving for perfection... I feel like once Inoue has gone through what he needs to go through, he'll be ready to authentically tackle those final chapters.

[@aronsurakh1747]

you become what you focus on

[@thonyarriecheg]

These artists being so creative and prolific, it has to be hard to make compelling art at the same time they don't feel they have to or it's their job to create it. It's burnout! I really appreciate how he's taking time away until he feels like what he did is what he wants it to be. Art is a very personal exercise.

[@ramaluminus]

I know this video mainly talking about Vagabond but, oh my god Real is just emotional roller coaster, I don't know how many times I've read it while tears flowing down through my cheek, especially the wrestling match, it's just so heartbreaking but also inspiring at the same time.

[@dylcor]

Real is one of the few manga I’ve cried to. It’s just phenomenal, has some of my favourite characters in anything

[@MauriceLuk-zw1zv]

Some of the lines, too! Like the father told the main character why the hand have five fingers of different sizes and functions as shown in a basketball team!

[@Renzob0nd]

I just recently finished vagabond and honestly it’s my favorite story I’ve consumed this video was very informative and well edited gives me motivation to get back on my KZbin grind too ! Keep up the good content bro

[@dylcor]

I'm so glad!

[@pickles168]

Great video. Inoue did a Vagabond art exhibition in 2008 where he drew and displayed an epilogue for the manga (presumably set after where it would eventually finish). Its availabile online and is a beautiful read. He included a bit about his feelings towards the manga in it too

[@dylcor]

Yeah, I’m aware of the exhibition chapter. I didn’t Include it in the video because… well it’s not really a conclusive ending to the story. It’s good stuff, but it’s more of a separate thing than an ending

[@ak2298]

I guess its just always way more easy to unfold an amazing story then to bring it back together to an amazing end.

[@bursegsardaukar]

That also happens to the Guyver manga. Nobody knows why it wasn't continued but rumors say that the author quit and went back to being a dentist after the death of his patner...

[@tendaimsimang8630]

Inoue seems to be following the path of the character Musashi in Vagabond. Finding the meaning of life and identity outside the pen and sword. Sometimes fictional characters must die, so that real people may live. A resurrection to Vagabond may come, but his peace of mind is what we should pray for principally . But if you think about it, we all have an idea where this story may go. Look at Guts, Thorfinn, Vash Self sacrifice and the pursuit of peace above all, is the true path of a spiritual warrior, they just have to realise it. From shedding blood, to giving it. From hate to love. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 They will follow the path of Buddha and Jesus with a bit more blood involved.

[@0ldar]

Wish you wouldnt bring religion into it, violent stories meant to genocide others so the 'chosen ones' may live on is the antithesis to the message you said before. Also check out Slavoj Zizek's take on Buddhism being a sociopathic religion.

[@ANUBASS]

can't blame him, the pressure to keep the series interesting/deep whilst being heavily limited due it being based on musashis real philosophies and exploits, as an artist this would drain me and I would constantly be craving to work on something less rigid that I could just have fun and experiment with my own characters, settings and stories especially with the fact he probably makes far less money from it that other worse manga because it didn't get anime adaptation or OVA and probably alot less merch and promotional deals etc due to it

[@NelsonStJames]

Inoue and G.R.R.M are different. Also there is a difference between writers that look at writing as a job, as opposed to writers that believe they need to be “inspired”. Any artist in the latter camp is pretty much relegated to having a very low oeuvre, and beginning artist will probably never ever complete anything because the perfect conditions to create are almost never going to emerge. So you create because you have to create whether you feel like it or not.

[@jamesbenson2090]

Exactly that is something myself as a creative struggle with at 29

[@kunkker77]

William Faulkner: “I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.”

[@Chadius_Thundercock]

One wrote one of the most important pieces of media in the 21st century and the other writes incest porn with magic. Not the same

[@Ghozt5563]

As an amateur (not beginner anymore) artist who only draws with inspiration (I tried discipline, doesn't work for me), the easiest way for me to find it is to learn about new techniques, because it makes me want to try them out immediately. This does lead to a lot of unfinished art though, as well as inconsistent style, but it's more enjoyable and makes learning kind of inevitable.

[@SCMSD]

GRRM is a talentless hack don't compare him to Inoue who very clearly has talent.

[@DXDragon38]

What a well constructed video! I had no idea how Inoue-sensei felt, and I can fully understand why he found it necessary to step away from them. I hope one day he can find enjoyment once again in his work and finish them, not just for us fans, but for himself.

[@therealKrak]

I don't like reading mangas too much because they are mainly black & white but Vagabond cought my attention with it's awesome art style. I really like how you depicted the struggle of artists with their perfectionism and how it dauntes us to not achieve our own standards and therefore makes us procrastinate. It was really spot on.

[@JVision1]

Do you like webtoons?

[@therealKrak]

@@JVision1 I'd say so. Especially Manhwas, although I don't know if there is a difference, all I know is that's the korean form of mangas.

[@JeromeProductions]

@@therealKrak well there is a difference in the sense that not all webtoons are Korean made

[@aintijustthecutest3863]

I absolutely love Vagabond, as much as his previous work, Slam Dunk, as it was part of my childhood. I was deeply saddened when I heard it went on a definite hiatus, but hearing from you that Inoue sensei hasn't completely abandoned it, has given me hope that someday I'll be able to continue and hopefully finish reading this masterpiece.

[@murph_archer1129]

Immaculate video as always. I really need to get back to Vagabond

[@dylcor]

Thank you for watching!! Who knows, maybe by the time you catch up Inoue will be working on it again 😉

[@fr0styfgc861]

This was a great, well told short story. KZbin algorithm loves this stuff, keep it up.

[@eunhyuekpark6159]

Vagabond I'm still holding hope for, its so damn good! This also reminds me of Ai Yazawa gonig on Hiatus from Nana....both heartbreaking! Great episode my dood.

[@NotKoiy]

Insanely well edited video, great job. Looking forward to see more content.

[@retrowhisper]

Takehiko Inoue is a genius and can't wait for Vagabond to come back. Great video

[@Israfel36]

Really solid video, man.

[@cexeodus]

Of course it was Musashi. lol Everything i have been studying this past month circles back to Musashi in some form. Kinda amazing really. Thanks for putting your heart into this, its such a good video dude. 10/10

[@dylcor]

I really appreciate it man, thank you

[@P1015532oni]

I’ve read the Eiji Yoshikawa novel first before I read Vagabond. I remembered being so enamoured by the novel, falling in love with the story and becoming invested in the characters. When I finally discovered Vagabond, I cried with happiness. I could not believe how a manga artist completely captured how I portrayed the novel in my mind, yet there it was. Details of the story varies a bit, of course. I loved the loud-mouth arrogant Sasaki Kojiro in the novel, but I was just as equally impressed with the deaf-dumb version in the manga. It’s like seeing two parallel realities of the story happening at once before me.

[@dislikebutton3599]

I absolutely didn't expect such a low number of subscribers when I exied the full screen at the end of the video. You did an incredible job, thank you and please keep going.

[@dylcor]

Wow, thank you!

[@Tsunamimiko]

This makes me want to cry😭 I love Takehiko Inoue’s passion for his craft and his interests. I began playing basketball because of slam dunk and the representation of a team working hard together made me want to get better at Judo as well. I am an artist as well and I have been struggling with always wanting to make everything perfect but I am slowly getting used to not making every line and detail perfect but instead getting my ideas across on the page. I hope he can find some more peace in his heart.

[@_Bees]

you really described well the artist struggle bro... I want to make aswell, but definitely feeling the same feelings as Inoue. I don't know his experience, his life or anything, but I can sympathise with him. Not to the degree of knowing the external pressures, but the internal pressures.

[@share.theworld]

Thank you! you made me consider reading it asap

[@LouieGrind]

I think that the greater the manga is, and the more the artist revere/love his/hers creation, the less they are willing to compromise and want it to be perfect. This is a very hard task to achieve and will create long hiatuses because it's that more challenging to create a chapter that you're actually satisfied with. There's a reason there's such a big difference in quality between ex. Vagabond and the weekly Shonen's.

[@thebodyflicker4525]

You just helped me love Inoue even more. Thanks man. Wonderful video.

[@thedreamsoldiers]

I just finished reading Vagabond & it was even better than i thought. Berserk & HxH are my other 2 favorite manga. Its frustrating always wondering if these 3 series will ever finish

[@RocSandy]

I watched this video a couple of months ago, and It was recommended again. And yet again, I couldn't resist watching the entire thing ❤

[@dylcor]

I think I remember you commenting !! Thanks for watching again 🔥🔥

[@RocSandy]

@@dylcor My pleasure! Thanks for the amazing content!

[@LowellLucasJr.]

I understand as an illustrator and artist to want to make Peak work but make it satisfying at the same time. You can't just rush something when you want to make sure it's at your best. I understand he's been given a lot of time to work on his masterpiece, so hopefully he's been able to reflect on what methods who wants to continue doing so in the future. With that said, Im sure he'll get that spark again that will help his creativity Blossom even further!

[@baelayet]

been wondering for a long time what happened to Vagabond and why it hasn't been picked up yet. thanks for the video man! learned a lot, take love!!!

[@mbrowww]

This is crazy well made, keep it up man. 🔥

[@angelocosta6649]

Honestly, that "what if" of Musashi's death/manga's ending was so moving, so stunningly beautiful and well written that I'm ok with it being the end. It makes no sense for Takehiko writing without being in love with it because this love was precisely what made the manga so special

[@SoulStarSketchin]

I had no idea he had a hiatus that long. Omg that is awful and devastating. Really loved his work. I get it though burn out happens to all of us.

[@Albertozaurussss]

Thank you man, some of us really needed this. Once again, thank you!

[@Woefuleternal]

Such a great & compelling video. From the points being made to the editing, and everything in between. Not only did you inspire me to pick up Inoue's other works but lit the flame the resides inside myself. To create something. Thank you for being you and giving us such a masterpiece, you deserve a lot more attention.

[@dylcor]

This is the most kindhearted comment I’ve ever received on this channel. Thank you for watching, and I hope you stick around. Please, create something! Do it! You can do great stuff, put in the work and it’ll be worth it.

[@Woefuleternal]

@@dylcor thanks a bunch. I'll always be here supporting you, i'm already looking forward to your next upload!

[@elkhrist]

Great video! I recently finished reading the book Musashi, it gave me the closure I needed. I can now patiently wait for the manga.

[@dylcor]

thanks for watching! I still need to get around to reading it, I know its gonna be great

[@George_M_]

Vagabond has gotten so spiritual and contemplative, I feel like he's motivationally done with it. The character organically reached such a serene state.

[@GreenFuMan]

I'm crushed he stopped because his journey could be seen in manga. I could feel his philosophical outlook and views in his writing. Vagabond is sadly in my top, I had no idea he may never finish it. Thank you for this video friend

[@Smitty19966]

This was awesome in-depth analysis of Takehiko Inoue. Good job! 👍

[@dylcor]

Thank you very much!

[@SomeguyIdk-df5td]

Idk, if this is a comparison, but I find when reading copy paste, isekais or power fantasy manhwa/manhua, I can speed though reading hundreds of chapters in a day, but for high quality masterpieces I find myself stopping if I feel the slightest hit that I'm not in the perfect state of mind to fully appreciate it, I'm 100 chapters in to berserk and haven't touch it in about a year

[@sadiq_op7800]

This is your greatest video, and that says a lot. Just wow, brother

[@dylcor]

Thank you as always brother, sincerely appreciate it!

[@ShockedTaiLung]

This video has such great editing

[@riahisama]

No wonder Vagabond feels like an experience rather than a normal manga, it all makes sense.

[@LonelyHoops]

You should make more video essays like this, the vibe and the writing on this video is immaculate

[@dylcor]

Thank you! Already working on the next one

[@Juriismywife]

Kinda sad most people know him for Vagabond and Slam Dunk, but few mention REAL, which is insanely good, arguably just as good as Vagabond, if not better at some points. Recentl, it seems he will pick up the pace to draw REAL for the next months on schedule, hopefully this will motivate him to give Vagabond some love too, but honestly, even if Vagabond ended there I wouldn't mind, the last arc was peak because it explored the meaning of true strength, that goes beyond slashing enemies with the sword like Musashi thought for so long.

[@ibbtancred]

No you’re so right 💀 people act as if he never writes now as if REAL doesn’t exist. it’s probably my favourite work of his as well

[@tun4774]

i agree too,REAL need more regognition

[@Chadius_Thundercock]

I heard that he’s gonna finish REAL then go back to Vegabond. Idk if it’s true though

[@saaimhaider8703]

Real is fucking goated, genuinely has some of the most emotional chapters I've ever read. Inoue only delivers peak

[@imsentinelprime9279]

Not s sports amanga/anime fan. So I pass. Unless it's Hajime no ippo

[@AZ-zz4kn]

Great Documentary. Although only work of Inoue I read/watch was Slam Dunk, to this day it’s still my favorite sports manga of all time. Not only was it extremely influential in Japan, it was in other Asian countries as well. Even in China as a kid, I remember adults knowing Slam Dunk. It Inspired me to play basketball during my childhood for a few years

[@ProfSir1]

I’ve written two of three books in a trilogy. The third book is stressing me out more than the first two because it’s the end. It’s the send off. It’s supposed to be the best one. That kind of stress doesn’t leave, and I understand someone else’s desire to step away.

[@mrcomet124]

Bro I just wanna say the way you make your videos and the topics you cover are amazing your Berserk Video was amazing and I can already tell like 2-3 minutes into this that this is gonna be a masterclass of a video your editing style and way you talk is Amazing and my gosh is your voice soothing keep it up your a master at making Vids and the art of it is amazing of how you depict these Manga artists story’s

[@DiegoB0525]

I don't blame him for stepping back on Vagabond. And it's like you've said, that an artist/writer pours their soul into their work. I go through that all the time with my art, and get disheartened sometimes when it's not received like in my mind/thoughts. But this feeling just makes me try harder at least, so that's not so bad.

[@polyphoniphilia]

Super pleased the algorithm has picked this video up, your content is fantastic!

[@dylcor]

Thank you! Greatly appreciate it

[@realexiscastro7213]

Great video! I wonder if a part of Inoues hesitance on Vagabond is also the deeply affecting emotional similarity he must feel as a mangaka to Musashi. You said it yourself that he’s someone who clearly loves and appreciates being a part of a team, but his process is such a laborious and lonely practice that I would imagine it’s hard not to work on Musashi and see himself. A young, talented kid who honed his craft to the point of near universal acknowledgement only to be lonely, crash and recontextualize his life ( farm saga ) and take all of his collective experiences to forge a new path forward that’s purpose driven. Compared to Real which is all about overcoming adversity through the connections and support people give each other. Besides it being his magnum opus and perfection I imagine a contributing factor is how much Vagabond can really be meta to the creative process and subsequently Inoue himself

[@Thishandleshouldbeavailable]

Man..... i read VAGABOND around 2010, and i remember i was jaw dropping for daysssss just for the beautiful + so much detail in the drawing and how he depicting human ambition and learning from everysingle fking thing for life and pursue the answer of it all as a true samurai warrior (and much more) !!! And i re-read it every year since thn😅. Now im 34, watching ur video in the month where i re-read it. Thankyou for giving so much love and speak out about VAGABOND hiatus with such details. Have a wonderful life, and hope you find happiness. Once again, thankyou. Respect all the way from Jakarta (Indonesia)

[@dylcor]

Thank you !!

[@kugelblitzkrieg]

I refuse to start Vagabond until it’s completed or cancelled because I know I’ll enjoy it and don’t want to be itching for more. Already made that mistake with Berserk and don’t want to do it again. That being said, I can wait as long as Inoue needs for that to happen.

[@ItachiGun-t9q]

You captured my attention completely. I wanted to switch, but your presentation had me hooked. Kudos to you, sir!

[@XxjeffersonDkidxX]

“The perfect manga, huh? There is no such thing as perfect in this world. That may sound cliché, but it’s the truth. The average person admires perfection and seeks to obtain it. But, what’s the point of achieving perfection? There is none. Nothing. Not a single thing. I loathe perfection! If something is perfect, then there is nothing left. There is no room for imagination. No place left for a person to gain additional knowledge or abilities. Do you know what that means? For artists such as ourselves, perfection only brings despair. It is our job to create things more wonderful than anything before them, but never to obtain perfection. A artist must be a person who finds ecstasy while suffering from that antimony." - Tite Kubo favorite character Mayuri Kurotsuchi

[@dylcor]

He’s spitting facts 🔥🙏

[@JesusMartinCG]

The movie scenes from 10: 04 to 10:45 is NOT from Kurosawa: is HARA KIRI, directed by Masaki Kobayashi.

[@ryuno2097]

Wow. I didn't realize Takehiko still write / draw , i thought he stopped after Vagabond. Plus i didn't know Vagabond was still on going as i thought it only went for a few books.

[@sheogorath601]

Sir, Thank you very much. great Video

[@jinmakarov8187]

yeah , , i read vagabond and , , damn , , it raises my standard so high to the point is hard to enjoy other manga anymore

[@AbdullahKF]

very good video i enjoyed it alot keep up the good work 👍🏻

[@Hello-ug6bx]

I have more respect for any authors/writers that willing to quit their masterpiece work rather than those who are rushing to finish it. It sucks when some writers actually start off good but then flop just because they want to get over it and not care about the plot, reputation, or the writing anymore. For me, Takehiko Inoue understands how important writing is so he decided to stop because he doesn't want to ruin the perfect narrative of Vagabond. When you care for its narrative, it means you're respecting the characters, as well as the fans who look upon it. I'd prefer to read an unfinished work over to read a story that is doomed to fall at the end. It's sad to see unfinished work, but I cannot say "no" to those kinds of writers who know the quality of writing.

[@guidcs0]

excellent video, very well made! cant believe you have only 1.6k subs.

[@ghun131]

I love his manga. They resonate with me so much that I think I can see those characters. I would imagine the author working on multiple drafts and throwing away many days work because they failed to meet his own standard. Wish him the best of health and the best of heart

[@Thepilgream]

Its good to see this, I love takehikos works and philosophy, and appertly you too.

[@jjstarrprod]

That was quite the documentary, man ! Awesome ! Question, did you shoot yourself all the footage of Japan, or did you get them on stock footage site ? They're gorgeous ! As someone who's been drawing ever since I was a kid, and been working in animation for 15 years, I went through a period of extreme burnout due to the gruesome working conditions of the industry, to the point that I can't even touch a pencil anymore. Luckily, I still have photography as my second passion to still create visual arts, but it's been at least 7 years since I last drew something personal, let alone work in animation anymore. Some things, you need to be in the flow to keep it going. Once the flow has been broken, it's extremely hard to get it moving again, like trying to move a massive boulder. So I can totally understand why he stopped drawing Vagabond. When the masterpiece is growing ever bigger than the artist himself, to the point it becomes a traumatizing chore to keep at it, it's better to just leave it as is, unfinished, rather than keep at it while being mentally dragged and risking to ruin the legacy of the entire work by delivering a crappy ending. Look at Game of Thrones, the TV series : For 5 years in a row, it was the most talked about show on the entire planet, and now that the finale came and went like a wet fart, how many people are still talking about it ? Most people have completely forgotten about it, or want to forget all about it, as it never existed, as the final 3 seasons were an insult to the rest of the series that has the world so enthralled and gave 10 years of their lives to it ! Only to finish in the most unsatisfying way possible, which millions around the world took as treason and utter disrespect to the audience's intelligence and time from the showrunners. A fate like this for Vagabond would be truly devastating, both for the world, and for Inoue Sensei. I actually really enjoyed that he's found a new creative life by directing the animation movie The First Slam Dunk, that came out this year, which is a masterpiece of the medium ! You can tell was directed by a true artist, dedicated and passionated. Who knows, maybe animated film in the vein of The First Slam Dunk is the way he's gonna end Vagabond ?

[@dylcor]

Thank you so much for watching and for the extensive comment. Appreciate your thoughts brother

[@harrellt1405]

When youre in the top, its only down from there, or at least you have to keep using the best of you and finding new innovations to keep at the top. This can be very exhausting.

[@jadedemperor2820]

To be fair I get why berserk went on hiatus I respect him for choosing his wife and his irl life over the manga

[@imsentinelprime9279]

Still sucks for the fans though. Imagine being a engineer and then quitting on a project you were assigned because you don't feel like it. At that point why even start it if you aren't going to try to see it through.

[@noahbruce6142]

@@imsentinelprime9279 I'm not sure if you are referring to Muira or Mori, but Muira worked on the manga for 27 years. He was absolutely dedicated and fixated on it. When his friends would drag him out to eat, he had anxiety attacks because he thought he should get back to work ASAP. As for Mori, it was dropped in his lap and he never intended for his friend to die. Plus, he is doing it all by memory of conversations he had with Muira before he died. Also, neither was "assigned" to make the manga. It was a choice. It's never a given that a manga will be finished for various reasons. To suggest that an artist is required to complete their work for YOUR enjoyment is peak entitlement.

[@leokuhn8958]

Great video thanks!

[@squeebbb]

Vagabond is seriously one of the most, if not THE most beautifully drawn manga series in existence.

[@antonydrossos5719]

I have the first 3 omnibus editions of Vagabond, along with a copy of the Book Of 5 Rings. I’m going to look into finding the rest of the available series in hard copy