mangaka

Japanese comic artist

A mangaka is a creator of manga—Japanese comics or graphic novels.

The term encompasses both writing and illustration, though some mangaka collaborate with separate artists or writers.

In Japan, successful mangaka often work grueling schedules to meet weekly serialization deadlines: Oda has been the mangaka behind One Piece for over twenty-five years.

craft

panel

Distinct flat section

storyboard · drafting · speech bubble · sound effects · chapter · serialization · deadline · assistant · manuscript · pen nib

career

serialization

Encoding objects for transmission

debut · hiatus · cancellation · royalties · fan mail · award · burnout · retirement · prolific · legendary

Japanese

anime

Japanese cartoon art form

  • otakuObsessive anime enthusiast
  • senseiJapanese word for teacher
  • shoujoManga targeting young women

seinen · isekai · mecha · kaiju · light novel · Tokyo · Akihabara

storytelling

narrative

Account of events

arc · climax · genre · worldbuilding · twist · cliffhanger · backstory · dialogue · pacing · foreshadowing

Opposites
creation vs. consumption

mangakaotaku

Obsessive anime enthusiast

consumer · audience

medium of visual storytelling

mangakaanimator

Sequential image creator

film director · novelist · prose writer · storyboard artist · screenwriter

cultural tradition of comics

mangakagraphic novelist

Creator of illustrated books

cartoonist · comic strip artist

Phrases
Family

manga

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G