Manga Artist Akira Himekawa Teaches How to Draw Manga with Masterpiece The Legend of Zelda Vol. 4: Names

Hi all! This is Akira Himekawa. Today, we’re starting the Manga Maker series. We were asked to explain the method in which we create manga. So, we will show you each process involved in making manga.

■vol.4-1 :Names
When we say “name,” it’s not the English word “name.” It's a Japanese word borrowed from English meaning the process of "storyboarding" in the Movie and Anime industry. Japanese Manga industry call this process "name.” We do the layout of pages and create lines of characters in this process, after creating the plot.

We make layouts, draw simple pictures and put them in each layout. In this process, Manga artists try to imagine each scene as clearly as possible. We decide on the composition and atmosphere of each scene in this way. This work is very difficult and tiring, because we get into the feeling of each character to create each scene. There are people can quickly finish the “name” process. However, there are people who take a great deal of time to do so too. As for us, our limit each day is around 22 pages. When we create name for more than 22 pages our concentration starts to drift from fatigue. But we must sometimes have to push on through when we’re in a rush.

■vol.4-2 :Names
This photo is the name of "A Link to the Past". We created 176 pages of names each time. Because "A Link to the Past" was published with 176 pages at once. We do not usually create so many pages at once. Usually a monthly Manga magazine will be 24-32 pages, and weekly Manga magazines are 18-22 pages. Energy and stamina were necessary to create such a large quantity of pages at once. We try to avoid doing this when we can.

■vol.4-3 :Names
The names in the photos are drawn with really brief pictures, but this process is the most important part of preparation of before drawing Manga in manuscripts. Manga editors reads these names and judge the contents of Manga. They point out problems with the story or make suggestions to improve it. Manga artists revise based on this feedback and resubmit many times until the OK is given. When we begin a new Manga, this name work sometimes continues for more than a year. Sometimes the number of times that names are redone become legends of the Manga world. However, all the Manga artists hope to get the OK on their first draft. When name work is finished, Manga artists feel relief from the bottom of their hearts.

Do you understand what scenes these photos are? These are names which are not so different from the completed Manga. However, there are some cases of change between the name and the final scene that appeared in the Manga. Next time, we might show a few examples of scenes with very different names.

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The content of this article was taken from Akira Himekawa’s Facebook page with permission from the artists themselves and reorganized for publication on TOM.