Forum - View topicNEWS: California University Offers Class on Manga Publishing
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Roy9076
 Posts: 286 Location: California |
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So that's the guy huh? Well, if I play my cards right I could transfer to Irvine very soon, but I would like to meet the guy more than take the class... but having both would be great as well.
I'm much more interested on his work on Berserk and Densha Otoko. |
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KyuuA4
 Posts: 1361 Location: America, where anime and manga can be made |
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One first step to producing American manga is right here. If you have the clout to undertake this kind of business, go for it.
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bleuster
 Posts: 455 Location: Orange County |
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Doesn't Irvine offer a manga and anime history course, too?
My cousin goes to Irvine. She actually asked me about anime once, but I downplayed it a bit (out of surprise). Maybe I should tell her take one these classes and get the answers first hand. |
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The Xenos
 Posts: 1519 Location: Boston |
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I'm torn here. First, I think anyone who talks about publishing American manga is misguided. You should also look at the American comics industry which has been around for decades. Never mind DC and Marvel, of course. I think the real revolution is from the smaller publishers or even Image who was rather the third party. Though other publishers like Dark Horse, Oni, and others. These people are publishing comics in America.
While comics in Japan (manga) are a fascinating industry and scene, they are very different than America. What works in Japan doesn't work here. Now what works here hasn't been working too good either, but I don't think the answer lies in using the manga model. Even TokyoPop's attempts at copying the manga market are very different. They're publishing is more like American graphic novels than the way manga is published in Japan. Even their sales of manga itself are more like graphic novels than the periodicals that first release manga in Japan. Though while I argue that it is wrong to ignore American comics when teaching a class about publishing comics in Japan, I think it's equally wrong to ignore manga. Of course it's also wrong to ignore European or South American comics too. Sadly, I hardly hear much about them because they sell for crap in America. I've actually been talking with some people at a college in Boston about their graphic novel program and after class meetings or industry nights. So it's nice to see comics appreciated by colleges. Yet, while my politics on the terminology of manga differ from this Northrop Davis, I also have to applaud him. If he's the one responsible for turning Cameron onto Alita, more power to him. Now I hear he wants to get Hollywood interested in Berserk. Those are a couple favorite manga, so I have to applaud him as a fellow fan. I cannot wait for this damn Alita movie. Not that the manga needs a movie to be good, but it's a big step for movies if Alita is brought to the screen. It could be one of the most amazing action films ever. Then there's Berserk. It's like Lord of the Rings, but totally badass. Toss in some Hellraiser horror too. It too would make a fantastic film. Only problem is how to fit the story into a movie. That happens with taking any serial medium like manga and turning it into even a series of films. I wish him luck with that too. |
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CorneredAngel
 Posts: 854 Location: New York, NY |
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Keep in mind that classes offered in the main undergraduate program have nothing to do with something that in UCI Extension. This is a five-session not-for-credit class that you have to register and pay for separately. |
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coolerimmortal
Posts: 522 |
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Wait...did anyone else notice the mention of a Berserk screenplay?
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The Xenos
Posts: 1519 Location: Boston |
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Hells yeah. Though a screenplay means almost nothing. This is the same guy who turned Cameron onto Battle Angel Alita. We can see how long that has been in development with still nothing happening. So while I'm excited, I'm not holding my breath for when it happens or even if it happens.
Also, I should link to the similar sounding program at Emerson College in Boston. I'm sure they wouldn't mind the publicity. http://www.emerson.edu/ce/programs/certificate/Graphic-Novel-Certificate.cfm |
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Crowspeaker
Posts: 1 |
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I had the opportunity to take the first two sections of the class and very much enjoyed it. One of the things that is worth the price of admission is being able to talk to industry insiders about the state of the market and the directions manga is moving, both here and in Japan.
In addition to that, you get the opportunity to work on your own manga and get it into shape for submission. |
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8gaugebrett
Posts: 5 |
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The Berserk manga could not and should not be turned into A movie. A lengthy series of movies however...
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Bertle615
Posts: 1 |
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I also took the past 2 classes.
A few things that I'd like to make note. The class doesn't focus on copying the japanese anything. It even states in the article that there is no focus on japanese manga style. It is influenced by the Japanese manga business model. This has nothing to do with some silent rivalry between Kodansha and Marvel or whatever. The class focuses on the japanese business model in comparison to the american business model for graphic novels. outside of that, the development of one's story is based more on northrop's experience as a screenwriter and someone who has published his own manga in japan through Sueisha. In terms of Mr. Davis's professional work in getting hollywood in on great stories, his position is that of a producer. Movies work really slow due to bureacracy. If Battle Angel takes 2 decades to make, these things as I understand are beyond his influence. The same goes with Berserk and Train Man. Emerson college, kudos for them for having a graphics novels class also. I'd go there if i lived in boston. But anyway, as a past student and a person who coughed up cash for this class, it's probably the best class I've ever taken in terms of understanding how the business works and how it works compared to the American counterparts. I don't think it's wrong that many Americans are making an attempt to draw manga through let's say Tokyopop's rising stars of manga, but many things fall short from the story and the experience the creators have in sequential art. Out of all the domestic mangas I see produced, I really only like Drama-con which I believe has sound art and a descent story, or at least one worth putting some money towards. Again the talent pool for graphic novelist in the US is lacking just because we really don't hear Stan Lee living as a millionaire or what not, yet in Japan Rumioko Takahashi is the 5th richest person in Japan. Again something that is possible due to the japanese business model for graphic novels. But why am i defending this stuff, check it out, ask northrop some questions, drop by the open house, or I believe he's running a panel at Anime LA. I think it's worth the money. |
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Crawly
Posts: 204 |
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I did. Can't say I'm particularly thrilled at the idea. Anytime I hear "American adaption" I cringe. |
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Elroy McGee
Posts: 2 |
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The previous classes featured the following guest speakers and more. This time, selected students will be pitching to a major movie studio. Previous students are now interns at publishers and more.
Previous guests: Ash Brannon, co-director of the Hollywood animated movies “Surf’s Up” and “Toy Story 2” Hikaru Sasahara, CEO of Digital Manga, which among many manga titles, is co-publisher of “Berserk” manga Dallas Middaugh, Associate Editor, Del Rey manga publishing Eric Calderon, heads creative business development for the Japanese animation studio Gonzo Maki Terashima-Furuta, President of the U.S. subsidiary of Production I.G., Japanese anime studio IJeremy Ross, Tokyopop, the publisher of OEL manga Eugene Son has written for animated shows such as “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, “ATOM” and “Duel Masters” Robert Napton of Bandai America You may want to take this class because its a multi-billion dollar industry that has promoted and encouraged creativity throughout its history. Storytelling that is uninhibited, uncensored, and without restrictions. Its not about copying, but learning and applying where you want to your own goals, whether it is creative or business. Why else take it? Maybe you have: Interest in manga/anime and a curiosity as to why it is successful A desire to create your own story and enter the industry (for instance, besides a writer and artist, you could be an editor, executive, voice artist) Have not found a medium that meets your needs Like us you have a love for anime and/or manga When should you start? NOW – anime/manga is rapidly entering the US mainstream. It’s the fastest growth area of US fiction publishing. Huge Hollywood movies are being made from manga and anime, like “Battle Angel Alita” , (James Cameron directing) “Speed Racer” (directed by the makers of “The Matrix”) and last week’s mega-hit release “Transformers”. There are many opportunities in this industry if you can prove your talent. Such a window of opportunity can’t last forever. What we do in this class is give you the means to be competitive and the resources to become successful provided that you work hard and are committed to do your best. By the time the rest of America catches on, it may be too late to have such easy direct contact with editors and publishers available now. An awesome value for the small money involved. Hope this helps! |
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reanimator
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From reading all these posts, I think that these classes are more suitable for people who have some experience in illustration or creative writing or both. Since Bertle615 described what is it like, I don't think it was meant for kids who wants to draw so-called "Manga style".
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SharinganEye
 Posts: 402 Location: Les Etats-Unis d'Amérique |
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I've seen too many manga with great art and a wasted potential from a sluggish and paper-thin plot. I think NaNoWriMo would be a great exercise in organization (starting pre-November with outlines and notes, and preliminary research using Wikipedia and such), scheduling, creativity, and basic practice. |
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