What inspired me to make a manga?
I’ve never really completed an art project in full. I’d start a illustration or a comic and quickly giving up or start something new leaving the current project behind. It wasn’t really until I had I freak-out in a store, discovered that I have OCD, and couldn’t touch anything that I really dedicated my self to a project.
Hold on, I should probably explain that more in depth (lol). I was with my family one day doing some shopping when I was confronted with a warning sticker. This warning sticker was a California Proposition 65 notice; warning that the item I was holding in my hand and another identical item that was in my brothers hand has a chance of causing cancer or birth defects. This is a sticker that is required on products that have or may have come into contact with one of the now 65+ chemicals on California’s list if the product is being sold in California. I don’t currently live in California, but some items have the notice no mater which state in the US you’re in because it’s cheaper for the manufactures.
I used to lived in Australia (where there is no such warning) for more than 15 years. (some of the things on the list are band in Australia, but not all). I had heard of the warning, I once saw a documentary about it while living in Australia, and I had encountered it a few other times while living in the US, but… To say the least? I freaked out. Mostly internally, but still, I freaked out. The item with the warning was actually purchased. Which only stressed me out even more…
After that day I was even more paranoid about the warning than before. I was paranoid about anything I though might have come into contact with something else that had that warning. I would spend ages washing my hands… At the time I was responsible for doing the dishes in my household so I would also take that task to the extreme.
On a day where I felt extremely exhausted from washing I asked for help from the person that I normally look to for that kind of advice; my mother. She was calm, but seemed a little concerned. She had previously suggested asking my doctor about OCD, but I hadn’t because OCD in my mind was making sure everything was neat and tidy…
While we waited for an appointment opening my Mom would read to me: “The OCD Work Book (Third Edition)” Which discusses self help methods for getting better, (it recommends using it along side seeing a specialist). Latter that month I got both diagnosed with OCD and a specialist. As-of writing this I’m still seeing a specialist for OCD and working through the Book.
I don’t know exactly when I stoped touching pretty much everything, but my specialist has been giving me help and advising me on things to do. So slowly but steadily I have been touching more and more things again. I nearly cried from joy when I was finally able to play a video game again. I was worried of touching the Nintendo Switch my family has so I tried something that in my mind would be safer. My Dad’s old Nintendo DSixl (sense then I have been able to use my family’s Nintendo Switch)
I spent a lot of time watching movies and dubbed anime before I re-opened that door. One anime in particular: “New Game!” really stuck with me for many reasons. The show is about a young girl named Aoba getting a job as an artist at a video game studio. It felt encouraging to see someone work hard towards their goals. Even if she failed or felt defeated from time to time; she would try harder to reach them.
It was also fun to see the relationships she formed with her colleagues. (An experience I’d love to have some day). I also feel that the charters were really well written. There is a lot of charters, but some how Shotaro Tokuno (The author of the manga that the anime is based on) managed to give each one a unique, and believable personality.
Unfortunately the show as of writing this only has two seasons, which don’t complete the full story. So in a way that’s what made me start reading books again too. I was a little scared, but I had to know what happened to happened to Aoba! So I took a leap of faith. (And finished Volume 1 in about two days)!
It wasn’t long after watching “New Game!” that I longed to draw myself (I hadn’t done it in months). Once again I was a little scared, but I did it anyways. I bought an Apple Pencil to start drawing again with. Sense then I’ve been able to draw with a normal pencil and most of my work on Project MANGA is done with a Wacom pen tablet and my laptop.
I made up my mind at some point that I wanted to actually complete something. I really wanted to have something to show people. (How can I call myself an artist if I’ve never finished anything!?)
I kept coming back to the idea of a manga so I did a LOT of research on the subject. I eventually stumbled upon a YouTube Chanel by the name of: “Learn to Draw Manga”. They discuss in one video how a lot of beginners start a manga, but don’t finish one. hey suggest to aspiring mangaka’s (a manga artists/author) to start small.
Start with a “one-shot manga”. A manga that tells a complete story in a single chapter. Apparently magazine companies in Japan look for one-shots to test the concept of a story, and if they like it enough; they might have the author continue it as a series or have the author rework it for a series. Some example of this are: Attack on Titan, Naruto, and Dragon Ball.
Another YouTube Channel, that I found inspirational, was “PirateSoftware”. Both of these creators seemed to be saying the same thing: Don’t wait around expecting to suddenly ‘Get Good’ or wait till you think you’re good enough, but rather Just make something. It Doesn’t have to be perfect. Use it as a learning experience for your next one. You’ll never be good enough to start in your own mind. Every time you make a Manga, a Video game ect. You will be better at it, because you’ve done it before. (I might write more about both of these YouTube channels in a later article).
I guess in a way that’s how I’m approaching OCD, one consistent step at a time.
in the end I anded up dedicating my self to this project. No mater how bad it looks I want to make this one-shot manga a reality!!
Currently I’ve given my manga project the working title of “Project MANGA”, but lest be assured there is going to be a better title than that latter on.
If you made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to read my story! (/^▽^)/
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One thought on “What inspired me to make a manga?”
I am very proud of the progress you are making in both areas. I pray that you will continue work in them