Do you think it's impossible for a non-japanese team to creat successful manga?

[Lilvic92]

Me and my friends are just black americans from new york with a dream of creating comics like Marvel and DC, but we also love manga (even more so than american comics in some cases). There are only 6 of us who work on the comic characters but lately me and 2 other people in the group have wanted to make something with more of a manga feel to it. Like the story, art style, and refernces to japanses cultures and background. (we're debating whether we should left to right or right to left, I want to try right to left) We are kinda like Shujin and Saiko from Bakuman. My friend does the story and I'm the artist, Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata (creators of Death Note and Bakuman) are biggest inspiration right now and we're really excited about the story we've come up with but recently we've been wondering if it's really possible for a couple of american teenagers to be successful mangakas...especially since we don't speak a lick of japanese nor can we write it. (that's what translators are for though )

Well enough rambling about my life, do you guys think it's possible and does anybody else share our dream?

 

[Ōkami]

ya it's possible and besides you never know it could be the one that bridges the gap

 

[saaaaaadpanda]

Anything's possible, but it seems unlikely.

 

[The Western Wheel]

Brody's ghost is a published one... never read it though...

 

[narusuke uzuchiha]

you do know if you make it that it wont be a manga as manga just means comic in japan

man·ga
/ˈmaNGˌga/
Noun
A Japanese genre of cartoons, comic books, and animated films, typically having a science-fiction or fantasy theme

so if you and your friend made it outside japan it would not be a manga it would be whatever you country calls a comic

 

[Souji]

Move to Japan, learn Japanese, and make money off a manga. Don't stop dreaming, if you're really passionate about it, go for it!

 

[Punk Hazard]

It's possible. After all, Avatar: The Last Airbender was made by white guys. However, I doubt people will actually consider it manga/anime.

 

[Ōkami]

you do know if you make it that it wont be a manga as manga just means comic in japan

man·ga
/ˈmaNGˌga/
Noun
A Japanese genre of cartoons, comic books, and animated films, typically having a science-fiction or fantasy theme

so if you and your friend made it outside japan it would not be a manga it would be whatever you country calls a comic

if that tattoo is yours.......

 

[YowYan]

Avatar: The legend of Aang and Korra were made by americans, if I'm correct. So, animations> Definitely. Manga? hm... Not sure, as I haven't seen any from the western world.

 

[Punk Hazard]

you do know if you make it that it wont be a manga as manga just means comic in japan

man·ga
/ˈmaNGˌga/
Noun
A Japanese genre of cartoons, comic books, and animated films, typically having a science-fiction or fantasy theme

so if you and your friend made it outside japan it would not be a manga it would be whatever you country calls a comic

That doesn't mean that you have to be in Japan for it to be manga/anime, but that the genre came from Japan.

 

[Elio]

if that tattoo is yours.......

xd I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Kαmi]

Not impossible just improbable. You should learn Japanese if you really want to make this happen. You should give it a shot though, can't hurt to try right?

 

[Lilvic92]

Move to Japan, learn Japanese, and make money off a manga. Don't stop dreaming, if you're really passionate about it, go for it!

Yeah thanks man !! I honestly am passionate about it, it's been my dream since my elementary days when I used to watch DBZ on toonami

 

[Lilvic92]

ya it's possible and besides you never know it could be the one that bridges the gap

Yeah you're right, we just need confidence and determination. It all has to start somewhere.

Anything's possible, but it seems unlikely.

True, but I guess the challenge will make the success so much greater.

 

[julio10ification]

its very possible i mean look at Avatar The Last Airbender it was created by two americans Michael Dante DiMartino and
Bryan Konietzko they emplamented a lot of japanese culture in it. and look how it came out it was successful so ya its very possible so go for it im rooting for you dude

 

[Lilvic92]

Avatar: The legend of Aang and Korra were made by americans, if I'm correct. So, animations> Definitely. Manga? hm... Not sure, as I haven't seen any from the western world.

It's possible. After all, Avatar: The Last Airbender was made by white guys. However, I doubt people will actually consider it manga/anime.

I completely forgot about Avatar..Legend Of Korra kinda sucked though, totally hated the ending.

 

[Lilvic92]

its very possible i mean look at Avatar The Last Airbender it was created by two americans Michael Dante DiMartino and
Bryan Konietzko they emplamented a lot of japanese culture in it. and look how it came out it was successful so ya its very possible

Yeah true, and it got it's own movie..I mean it was terrible thanks to M.Night Shyamalan but it's still a milestone nonetheless.

 

[YowYan]

I completely forgot about Avatar..Legend Of Korra kinda sucked though, totally hated the ending.

Korra is not over yet. That was just season 1. Though I didn't really like that modern-based civilization of the city.

 

[Ōkami]

Yeah you're right, we just need confidence and determination. It all has to start somewhere.

True, but I guess the challenge will make the success so much greater.

every journey no matter how hard or how easy begins with one step

 

[~Hebi Terumi~]

If you're really interested in making a comic or manga, there are indie comic companies (Image Comics) that can publish your stuff for you. They do all kinds of genres.