Shopping Guide
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.
■Manga Maker vol.2-1; Character's Rough Sketch
After coming up with the initial concept and meeting with the editor (explained in vol.1) we draw more rough sketches of the characters when we start to create the Manga. Based on the story or our ideas, we draw movement and characters’ expressions as rough sketches. In the case of Zelda, we redesign the characters so they can be represented in Manga, basing on their video game form. This is to create the "expression of the character that readers can empathize with", when we say "redesign the characters for Manga".
Video games and Anime are pictures which move and can impact people’s feelings. But as Manga does not have this motion Manga artists express "dynamic feelings" by placing a lot of information in one picture. When Manga artists pursue that they convey the dynamism or flow of characters’ feelings through Manga, and the picture becomes more elegant. Through this process the concept of the character is established.
■Manga Maker vol.2-2; Character's Rough Sketch 
The character of Link's in the "Ocarina of Time" is that of a brave man protecting a princess. Therefore, in the Manga we express Link’s character of strength and sense of justice, decisiveness, gentleness and power through our pictures. For example: The depiction of a body with muscles that can swing a heavy sword around – persuading readers of Link’s physical aspect.
The expression of purity and boyish innocence in the eyes. (Because Link ages seven years instantly in the story.) This expresses a good balance of humans’ strength and weakness.
We think about the details so that the character is relatable in the Manga. Even if the character was not originally designed around Manga.
※This is first cut of rough sketch of Link. This rough sketch published with book of the "Ocarina of Time" vol.1.
■Manga Maker vol.2-3; Character's Rough Sketch
Image of the Link ride the Epona.
■Manga Maker vol.2-4; Character's Rough Sketch
This Link's rough sketch drew by before "Majora's Mask". This Link's body is a child. However, he came back from the future seven years after "Ocarina of Time". Therefore he still have "Ocarina of Time"s' Link in his inside. So, we must created the Link with the body of the child and the mind of adult.
■Manga Maker vol.2.5-1 ; Characters’ Concept Changes With Media 
This post talks about characters’ concepts changing according to the medium they appear in to suit that medium’s audience. Generally in Japan, Manga are first published in Manga magazines. Recently, appearing first in web magazines or other online media has also become common. According to the main target audience of the magazine or medium, the concept of the character hanges.
The character of Zelda’s Link as he appeared in the magazine was very positive, as we wrote in Manga Maker vol.2. It is because the main target of that magazine is 11 year old to 12 year old children. Boys and girls at that age are beginning to enter adolescence. They are still children, but they are beginning to grow up and change. They begin to think "I'm not a child anymore" and sometimes they have similar ideas to an adult. Children had a positive image of adults in 1988 when we drew that Manga. As a hero for such children, that version of Link was best. We don't know how recent children view adults, though!
The Link of "Hyrule Historia" has an altered view of his life, because Link was in prison for four years. He said in Hyrule Historia, "my sword is broken. I can't run even more." "Hyrule Historia" is not a children's book. Therefore we decided that we would make a story for a more mature audience. The idea from the viewpoint of an adult that "a hero won’t always be accepted as such" is contained in the story. Hyrule Historia has the concept of "people with too much power negatively affecting the world". Still we were drawing a brave man who was going to continue having faith to fight for his beloved person in this book.
As for the nihilism and the irony, expression is possible in the medium for adults. We created not only scenes of Link prevailing in his struggles, but also more complex situations such as defeat and failure in the story.
■Manga Maker vol.2.5-2 ; Characters’ Concept Changes With Media 
The Link of "A Link to the Past" is not at all like the Link of "Hyrule Historia" . "A Link to the Past" was placed in the magazine for children in 2004. This Link gives the impression of friendliness more than strength. We draw this Link more softly. However, some feeling of heroism is necessary. We tried to give the impression that "he will do something in the story". It is necessary for the audience because he is the main character.
The TRIFORCE’s power is so great that all covet it. However, Link is pure which leads Princess Zelda to believe that only Link will use the TRIFORCE for good.
Of course Zelda follows the character development of her video game incarnation, basically. However, Manga artists consider and decide what we express in our Manga, like this. Link is the perfect hero of love and justice, even if he becomes quite cynical. The message which we want to convey is along this lines, but the expression methods are considerably different in Manga. That means that both the trouble and the trial are deep when people become adults!
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.
