Create a Fascinating Story with a Manga Method from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Create a fascinating story
Create a fascinating character

Know a basic structure of the story
Learn about japanese-style character creation

Create a fascinating story
Create a fascinating character
Know a basic structure of the story
Learn about japanese-style character creation

Syllabus

Make Yourself the Protagonist

In this section, you will learn how to create a short story using a "12 questions method". This method is a simplification of the complex thinking process of professional Manga Artists. You can easily create a story outline by just answering “12 questions”. Now, let's dive into the story world with me and enjoy creating the short story in this way!

The famous "5W and H Questions" is good enough for writing reports and diaries, but not enough if you want to draw manga or write scripts. Because it lacks two elements: emotion and growth. And if you use my "12 Questions Method" form, you can easily create a story outline by adding those two. Experience the fun of creating a story with this method I propose!

Many of the students I taught in university lamented that storytelling was difficult. In fact, however, it's not that storytelling was difficult, it's just that they didn't know what they should tell or shouldn't tell, and didn’t know the right order to tell. So, to solve them, I came up with "12 Questions Method". By using this method, anyone can easily know what to tell and in what order.

l explain what "12 Questions" means. Fill out the answers on the form you downloaded. Write specific answers instead of vague answers. The last three questions are especially important, so think carefully and answer them. Once you've written everything, you're ready to create a story outline.

There are various character designs in manga. I explain some of them briefly. If you draw manga, decide your own design. If you write just scripts, you can skip this video and go on.

Create a story outline by sorting the answers on the form you downloaded. If you draw manga, draw it on this form. If you write scripts, add a little more detail.

What is the most important thing to create a story?

The theme? The content of the story?

You can find them in many instructional books. But at least that's not how we Japanese manga artists see it. Of course, I'm not saying that you don't need a theme or a story, but there is a more important thing to consider first.

That's "THE CHARACTER".

Many beginners fail because they think too hard about their theme or story without thinking about the Character. I’m so excited to share this knowledge with you here on Skillshare!

“Think of the Character”, it's easy to say, but it's actually vague, and you don't know how to think of it, do you? So, in this class, I will share with you The Resume Method that I used in my university classes, and I will teach you specifically how to create a Character. This method allows you to concretely understand your Character, and it allows them to begin to move freely within your story. This method is very effective not only for manga, but also for short stories and scripts, and even illustrations.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Simplifies the complex thinking processes of professional manga artists, making story creation more accessible to beginners

Emphasizes character development as a crucial element in storytelling, which is often overlooked by beginners focused on themes and plot

Introduces the 'Resume Method' for character creation, which can be applied to various forms of storytelling, including manga, short stories, and scripts

Uses examples from popular works like 'The Gruffalo', 'Pokémon', and 'Naruto' to illustrate character analysis and development techniques

Focuses on a '12 Questions Method' to create a story outline, which may not align with other established storytelling approaches

Requires learners to download and fill out forms, which may require access to a printer or PDF editor

Reviews summary

Story and character creation basics

According to students, this course offers a simple and accessible entry point into creative writing, particularly focusing on story outlining and character development. Learners frequently praise the "12 Questions Method" for its ease in creating story outlines and the "Resume Method" for building deep, believable characters. The methods are described as highly effective for beginners and applicable to various formats beyond manga, including scripts and short stories. While largely well-received for its foundational approach, some feedback indicates it may be too basic for those with prior writing experience seeking advanced techniques.

Applicable to various story formats, not just manga.

"Even though it mentions 'manga method', I found the techniques worked perfectly for writing a script."

"I'm writing a novel, and these methods were just as useful as they would be for creating manga."

"It's great that the course shows how these principles apply beyond a single medium."

Clear, positive teaching style from the instructor.

"The instructor is very encouraging and his passion for storytelling comes through in the lectures."

"I found the instructor's explanations very clear and easy to understand."

"The way the instructor explained the methods made me feel confident I could actually do this."

Accessible and easy to follow for newcomers.

"As someone with absolutely no writing experience, this course was perfect; the instructor starts from the very basics."

"I appreciated how the course didn't assume any prior knowledge and walked through everything step-by-step."

"This is a fantastic introduction to story and character creation; it's not intimidating at all for a first course."

Method for creating deep, believable characters.

"Building a 'resume' for my character felt unusual at first, but it genuinely helped me understand them on a much deeper level."

"I found the Resume Method incredibly effective for making my protagonist feel like a real person with motivations and a past."

"Using this character method made my story flow more naturally because the characters felt alive and their actions made sense."

Provides a simple way to structure story ideas.

"The 12 Questions Method made outlining my story so much easier than I expected; it breaks it down into manageable steps."

"I always struggled with plotting, but using these 12 questions helped me quickly get a solid structure for my short story."

"This method is a game-changer for beginners like me; it guided me through creating an outline without feeling overwhelmed."

May be too basic for experienced writers.

"While great for beginners, I already had some writing background and found the content a bit too introductory."

"I was hoping for more advanced techniques, but this course stays firmly in the fundamentals."

"If you're looking for in-depth theory or complex plotting strategies, this might not be enough."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Create a Fascinating Story with a Manga Method with these activities:

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art

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Explore the theory and history behind comics and manga to better understand the visual language used in storytelling.

View The Cartoonists Club: a Graphic Novel on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Understanding Comics'.
Read the book, taking notes on key concepts.
Reflect on how these concepts apply to manga.

Review Basic Story Structure

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Review fundamental story structure concepts to build a solid foundation for creating compelling manga stories.

Browse courses on Story Structure

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Research common story structures (e.g., Freytag's Pyramid).
Identify the key elements of each structure.
Consider how these structures can be adapted for manga.

Develop Character Backstories

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Create detailed backstories for your characters to give them depth and motivation, enhancing your storytelling.

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Choose a character from your story idea.
Brainstorm their past experiences and relationships.
Write a short biography for the character.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Sketch Character Designs

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Practice sketching different character designs to visually represent your characters and bring them to life.

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Research different manga art styles.
Experiment with different facial features and body types.
Sketch several variations of your character.

Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics

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Gain a broader understanding of the history and culture surrounding manga to inform your own creative process.

View Manga A Visual History on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Manga! Manga!'
Read the book, focusing on the historical context.
Consider how manga has evolved over time.

Create a Short Manga Page

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Apply the concepts learned in the course to create a short manga page, solidifying your understanding of storytelling and character development.

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Plan the layout and panels of your page.
Sketch the characters and backgrounds.
Add dialogue and sound effects.
Ink and finalize your manga page.

Critique Each Other's Manga Pages

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Share your manga pages with peers and provide constructive criticism to improve your storytelling and art skills.

Show steps

Find a group of fellow manga creators.
Share your manga pages with the group.
Provide and receive feedback on each other's work.

Career center

Learners who complete Create a Fascinating Story with a Manga Method will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Manga Artist

A career as a manga artist involves creating visual narratives through sequential art. This course, focused on story creation using manga techniques, is highly beneficial for aspiring manga artists. The course's emphasis on the "12 Questions Method" and character development using the "Resume Method" provides a structured approach to crafting compelling stories. It's especially helpful for beginners who often struggle with character creation. Understanding these fundamental methods helps manga artists create narratives with well-defined protagonists, a key aspect of successful manga. The analysis of characters from popular works like "The Gruffalo," "Pokémon," and "Naruto" in the course provides insight into character construction, which directly applies to developing original manga characters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Manga Artist

Comic Book Artist

A comic book artist creates sequential art, often for publication in comics, graphic novels, or webcomics. The methods taught in this course, particularly the "12 Questions Method" for story outlining and the "Resume Method" for character development, are directly applicable to the work of a comic book artist. These methods offer a clear process for structuring narratives with depth and engaging characters. Aspiring comic book artists will find the course's guidance on character design and narrative structure to be invaluable. The course's focus on character analysis, using examples from well known titles, provides an approach that helps develop more compelling stories and characters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Comic Book Artist

Storyboard Artist

A storyboard artist creates visual sequences to plan out scenes for film, animation, or video games. The course material is particularly relevant for a storyboard artist because it teaches how to structure a story and how to create well defined characters that will move the story forward. Storyboarding requires understanding narrative structure and character motivation which this course provides with the "12 Questions Method" and "Resume Method". Lessons on character analysis, and character design provide applicable skills. Someone seeking a job as a storyboard artist will find the course's emphasis on narrative process useful.

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Animator

An animator brings characters and stories to life through movement. This course's focus on story structure and character development, through the "12 Questions Method" and "Resume Method", directly supports the work of an animator. The course's focus on creating compelling characters and structuring narratives provides fundamental skills for animators. The analysis of popular characters in the course will also provide insight into strong character design. Learning to build a strong character, which is at the center of this course, will help someone seeking a career as an animator create better work.

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Illustrator

An illustrator creates visual content, often for books, magazines, or advertising. This course may be useful for an illustrator, as the character design and story elements covered can enhance their work. The course encourages the creation of fully realized characters, using the "Resume Method", which helps illustrators create more compelling visuals. The course's focus on outlining stories and understanding character motivations, using both the "12 Questions Method" and character analysis, may provide a new approach for illustrators to approach their projects, especially those involving narratives or storytelling elements. An illustrator may find this course helpful to develop a new approach to their creative process.

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Writer

A writer crafts narratives for various mediums, including novels, scripts, or short stories. This course's emphasis on story structure, through the "12 Questions Method", and character development using the "Resume Method" can help writers create richer and more engaging stories. The course's methods for outlining a story and understanding character motivation is useful for all writers. The course's analysis of characters in literature, film, and animation gives writers a framework for developing their own protagonists. Someone seeking a career as a writer will find the course's focus on the foundations of narrative helpful.

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Screenwriter

A screenwriter develops scripts for film, television, or other screen-based productions. This course, focusing on story and character creation, is beneficial for aspiring screenwriters. The "12 Questions Method" provides screenwriters with a structured approach to creating story outlines, while the "Resume Method" helps them develop fully realized characters that will drive the plot, which are both crucial skills. The analysis of protagonists from various popular sources will provide a strong basis for screenwriters seeking to create their own characters. The course's focus on character and plot gives aspiring screenwriters a foundation for their work.

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Game Designer

A game designer creates the rules, systems, and stories of video games. This course may be useful for a game designer, since story and character are central to many games, and this course helps develop those two important elements. The "12 Questions Method" provides a structured approach to building story, and the "Resume Method" helps to develop characters. Games often rely on an engaging narrative and well-developed characters, so those seeking a career in game design will find the course's emphasis on these aspects of story telling valuable for their work. The analysis of characters in the course helps to build an understanding of character design.

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Character Designer

A character designer creates the visual appearance, personality, and behavior of characters for various media, including animation and games. This course may be beneficial for character designers. The course’s “Resume Method” focuses on character in particular and provides a system that allows for the creation of detailed characters. Developing a character’s profile, as taught in the course, is central to character design. This course takes a deep dive into how to develop characters, going beyond just appearance. The analysis of characters and their motivations provides a helpful foundation for those seeking a job as a character designer.

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Content Creator

A content creator produces engaging material for various platforms, such as social media or websites. While this course focuses on narrative structure, its character development modules, through the "Resume Method", may be helpful for content creators who want to develop more compelling content. The course's emphasis on creating a strong narrative may lend itself to the creation of engaging content. Content creators can apply the methods of the course to develop content that is engaging and character driven, leading to more popular creations. A content creator who is seeking new approaches may find the course helpful.

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Instructional Designer

An instructional designer creates educational materials and courses. While this course focuses on storytelling, the principles of narrative structure and character development, through the "12 Questions Method" and "Resume Method", may be helpful. These methods can assist in creating engaging and informative learning experiences. Understanding how to build a compelling narrative, as covered in the course, may provide an approach not typically seen in instructional design. An instructional designer who is seeking new approaches may find this course helpful.

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Editor

An editor refines written, visual, or audio content for clarity and impact. Although this course primarily focuses on story creation, the principles of narrative structure, using the "12 Questions Method", and character analysis could be useful for editors. Understanding the methods used in storytelling can help editors assess whether elements of a story will work, and how each piece contributes to the whole. Editors can use their understanding of character, gained from the course's "Resume Method", to evaluate stories. Editors may find this course helpful in developing a deeper understanding of narrative.

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Marketing Specialist

A marketing specialist plans and executes strategies to promote products or services. This course, focusing on story creation, may be useful in creating compelling marketing materials. The course's emphasis on character and narrative, through the "Resume Method" and "12 Questions Method", can help marketing specialists create more impactful campaigns that resonate with their target audience. Marketing is often used to tell a story about a product, so understanding the building blocks of stories, as is taught in the course, can be applied to a marketing strategy. A marketing specialist who is seeking new approaches may find this course helpful.

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Public Relations Specialist

A public relations specialist manages an organization's public image and communications. While this course emphasizes storytelling, the course's focus on structuring narratives, through the "12 Questions Method", and character development, using the "Resume Method", may be applicable to shaping public narratives. A public relations specialist may benefit from a better understanding how to apply narrative techniques in their work. This course's focus on the elements of story telling may give public relations specialists a new framework for approaching their work. Someone seeking a framework may find this course helpful.

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Social Media Manager

A social media manager oversees a company's presence on social media. The understanding of storytelling and character development, taught in this course, may be useful for creating more engaging content, through the "12 Questions Method" and "Resume Method". While the course focuses on long form storytelling, the basics of building character and narrative could be helpful for social media managers who want to create content that resonates. A social media manager who is seeking new approaches may find this course helpful.

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Create a Fascinating Story with a Manga Method

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Story and character creation basics

Activities

Career center

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