2023 Spring Semester
Manga Drawing
Section 1
Instructor
時限
Yamato David
Office/Building
Office Hours
【Course Outline / Description】
This is a beginner-level studio course in which students will be learning and participating in the
production of self-publishing manga. In this course, students will study the various aspects of
manga production and all of its stages: character design, set design, illustration, script writing,
inking, and editing for publication. Students will be given guided practices during the first 13
classes to acquire basic practical production skills as well as the artistic philosophy behind the
studio practice. Students then will be asked to demonstrate their understanding of the previous
lesson by partaking in the production process of a publication during the remaining course. With
the guidance of the instructor, students will each contribute 8 pages of manga as well as
advertisement materials such as posters and postcards for their publication.
Section 2
【Course Objectives/Goals/Learning Outcomes】
At the end of this course, students will acquire the basic technical skills for constructing visual
narratives in the form of manga. By participating in studio practice, students will gain a deeper
understanding of this form of art from a consumer standpoint to that of a creator: in the process
acquire a realistic, firsthand knowledge of this unique Japanese visual communication tradition.
Section 3
【Class Schedule/Class Environment, Literature and Materials】
Subject
Content
Lecture 1
8/29
Course Introduction /
Introduction to Manga Production: Tools
Introduction to the course
contents and various
materials used in manga
production
Lecture 2
9/2
Experience of Manga: Genres and Readership
Group discussion on various
genres of manga and their
readership in preparation for
the production
Lecture 3
9/5
Manga Workshop: Character Design &
Constructing an Identity A
Introduction and workshop
on character design and
note-taking
Lecture 4
9/9
Manga Workshop: Character Design &
Constructing an Identity B
Workshop: constructing a
conservational narrative
Lecture 5
9/12
Manga Workshop: Character Expression
Workshop: constructing
emotional expression
Lecture 6
9/16
Manga Workshop: Set Design A: Perspective
Workshop: basic perspective
drawing
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2023 Spring Semester
Lecture 7
9/19
Manga Workshop: Set Design B: Dollhouse
Introduction and workshop
on creating a visual
environment
Lecture 8
9/23
Manga Workshop: Visual Language of Manga A
Introduction and workshop
on manga panel (Koma,)
lettering and terminology
Lecture 9
9/26
Manga Workshop: Visual Language of Manga B
Workshop: tools and
techniques for manga.
Lecture 10
9/30
Manga Workshop: Illustration Project
Workshop: Students will be
asked to demonstrate their
understanding by presenting
one illustration at the end of
this lesson.
Lecture 11
10/3
Manga Workshop: Visual Narrative: Comic
Strip (4 Koma Manga)
Introduction on storyboarding
for manga and workshop on
creating comic strips.
Students will be asked to
demonstrate their
understanding by presenting
four comic strips by the next
lesson.
Lecture 12
10/7
Manga Workshop: Visual Narrative: Short
Story
Introduction on storyboarding
(name) for short stories and
workshop for brainstorming
multiple ideas for manga.
Students will be asked to
demonstrate their
understanding by presenting
at least 2 proposals in week
13.
Lecture 13
10/10
Manga Workshop: Visual Narrative: Short
Story
Workshop: storyboarding
Lecture 14
10/14
Visual Narrative of Manga: Critique
Critique: story proposal for
the publication project.
Lecture 15
10/17
Manga Production: Name/storyboard
Workshop: storyboarding
Lecture 16
10/21
Manga Production: Name/storyboard
Workshop and critique on
storyboarding
Lecture 17
10/24
Manga Production: Name/storyboard
Workshop: storyboarding
Lecture 18
11/4
Manga Production: Sitagaki/ Sketch
Workshop: transferring
storyboard to sketch.
Lecture 19
11/7
Manga Production: Sitagaki/ Sketch
Workshop: transferring
storyboard to sketch
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2023 Spring Semester
Lecture 20
11/11
Manga Production: Sitagaki/ Sketch
Workshop: transferring
storyboard to sketch
Lecture 21
11/14
Manga Production: Final drawing
Workshop: transferring the
sketch to the final drawing.
Lecture 22
11/18
Manga Production: Final drawing
Workshop: transferring the
sketch to the final drawing.
Lecture 23
11/21
Manga Production: Final drawing
Workshop: transferring the
sketch to the final drawing.
Lecture 24
11/25
Manga Production: Finishing
Workshop: transferring the
sketch to the final drawing.
Lecture 25
11/28
Manga Production: Finishing/DEADLINE
Workshop: transferring the
sketch to the final drawing.
Lecture 26
12/2
Manga Production: Lettering
Finalized story manga project.
Lecture 27
12/5
Manga Production: Editing the booklet:
Postscript, Extra pages
Finalizing the group
publication
Lecture 28
12/9
Manga Production: Promotional content
Workshop: creating posters
and postcards
Lecture 29
12/12
Manga Production: Promotional content
Workshop: creating posters
and postcards
Lecture 30
12/12-16
Final Exhibition
final display of all works
created during the course
【Textbooks/Reading Materials】
While textbooks are not required as the main focus of this course is on the studio practices,
handout and references materials will be provided by the instructor when required. Students are
also encouraged to explore various manga publications on their own during their studies in
Japan.
Purchase of the suggested reading and resources in the list below are not required but highly
recommended for those who had less experience in studio practice prior to this course.
Suggested reading:
● 『人を描くのって楽しいね！―マンガのための人物デッサン―』中村成一, 廣済堂出版, ISBN :
4331514706
Recommended resources:
● 「人を描くのって楽しいね」: https://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~zm5s-nkmr/index.html
Section 4
【Learning Assessments/Grading Rubric】
Class Participation 30%
Final Project 40%
Project Assignments 30%
As this is a beginner-level course, the evaluation of students will be heavily influenced by the
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2023 Spring Semester
personal growth of the student between the beginning to the end of the course as well as the
level of completion on their project and class project participation. 30% of the student's final
grades under the project assignments will be the evaluation of their personal growth and the
effort they placed into their projects. As the production of a publication that consists of all
students’ work is the final output of this course, the ability to meet deadlines and work with
fellow students will also be an important measure for evaluating students’ achievement, which
will account for 40% of the final grades. While a large portion of this studio course involves
individual work, as a group publication project the full participation of all students will also
factor into their final grades under the grade category for class participation which will account
for the remaining 30%.
Section 5
【Additional Information】
Students are not required to have any previous study in studio art or creative writing to take this
course, however, as the production of a publication is the center focus of this course, students
are expected to meet various short deadlines which may involve work beyond the class periods.
While the improvement of technical skills in writing and drawing is one of the learning elements
of the course, personal growth and the ability to work in a group will be the key factors that
students who are considering taking on this challenging course should be aware of.
A material fee of ¥10,000 per semester, payable in advance, will be charged. (non-refundable)
The material fees are NOT refundable even though you drop the course.
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