By Bob Oliver
If you are looking to get into the best art colleges in the world, some styles may jump out at you more than others. The ability to understand which one will be the best for you is not something that is the same across the board; to say the least, it's subjective. It is worth looking into a variety of styles and I'd like to think that some budding artists will be more taken in by the lesser utilized styles. Manga, for instance, is tremendous for those who want to go for something different.
The styles that are most common seem to have certain elements of reality but what about those that don't have many realistic aspects, if any at all? This is where manga can come into play and I feel as though it is a more niche category in the way of art. Emulated after the style utilized in Japanese comic books, you may find that these particular pieces of work aren't as common. Does this necessarily mean that it shouldn't be considered at all?
One could make the argument that manga is a different take on comic books, which isn't too far-off. Comics are popular in their own right - especially now, considering the litany of superhero movies that have garnered tremendous publicity - as they have been able to help readers become invested in fictional worlds. Much like the conventional comic books we all are familiar with, manga can take on a series of moods. Just as easily as they can become gritty and real, one can make the argument that they can be rather playful by design as well.
As strong as these styles might be, what if someone wants to create art while using a more niche style that fewer people tackle? Manga is viewed as one such style, which is done by replicating the look of Japanese comics. It probably goes without saying that this is not going to be as recognized, meaning that anything related to manga is going to be tucked away in a smaller area in a standard bookstore. Nonetheless, it has gained a strong following, so there is reason to utilize it.
What I'm surprised by, though, is that there are actually a few types of graphic novels in this style that appeal to America. "Scott Pilgrim," for example, is a series that not many people would have considered outside of the movie starring Michael Cera. However, there is a series of novels done about it and there are many who believe that the novels in question are actually much better than the movies. There is clearly an audience for this type of medium; it's just a matter of appealing to it.
The styles that are most common seem to have certain elements of reality but what about those that don't have many realistic aspects, if any at all? This is where manga can come into play and I feel as though it is a more niche category in the way of art. Emulated after the style utilized in Japanese comic books, you may find that these particular pieces of work aren't as common. Does this necessarily mean that it shouldn't be considered at all?
One could make the argument that manga is a different take on comic books, which isn't too far-off. Comics are popular in their own right - especially now, considering the litany of superhero movies that have garnered tremendous publicity - as they have been able to help readers become invested in fictional worlds. Much like the conventional comic books we all are familiar with, manga can take on a series of moods. Just as easily as they can become gritty and real, one can make the argument that they can be rather playful by design as well.
As strong as these styles might be, what if someone wants to create art while using a more niche style that fewer people tackle? Manga is viewed as one such style, which is done by replicating the look of Japanese comics. It probably goes without saying that this is not going to be as recognized, meaning that anything related to manga is going to be tucked away in a smaller area in a standard bookstore. Nonetheless, it has gained a strong following, so there is reason to utilize it.
What I'm surprised by, though, is that there are actually a few types of graphic novels in this style that appeal to America. "Scott Pilgrim," for example, is a series that not many people would have considered outside of the movie starring Michael Cera. However, there is a series of novels done about it and there are many who believe that the novels in question are actually much better than the movies. There is clearly an audience for this type of medium; it's just a matter of appealing to it.
About the Author:
If you'd care to learn how to sketch in various styles, manga included, please research the best art colleges today.