Faculty of Manga
Department of Manga Comic Art Course ストーリーマンガコース

A tried-and-true curriculum to train professional manga artists

Students in the Comic Art Course learn how to complete a high-quality manga that moves its audiencefrom faculty members who are professional manga artists and editors across various genres.Our unique curriculum, developed over two decades, draws out each student's individuality and steadily improves their drawing skills, expressive techniques, and storyboard composition.We also strive to help students make their career debuts, with some even making their dreams come true while at school.We have an extensive track record of success, and many of our graduates’ works have been made into films and animated series.But a comprehensive skill set is required to draw good comic art.Here, students acquire a variety of skills by doing everything on their own, from planning and research to storytelling and drawing.Students learn how to relate to the world through manga and build the skills to continue drawing manga after graduation.

Subject Highlights

  • Intensive instruction in core drawing skills

    [Core Practicum in Manga / Year 1]
    In addition to the basic penmanship needed for manga production, students learn the fundamentals of perspective, an essential skill for comic art that helps them master drawing backgrounds.Technical drawings and live croquis sketching are also used to broaden students’ range of character expression.

  • A one-year program to improve storyboarding skills

    [Script Practice & Expressive Technique / Year 2]
    In two consecutive storyboarding courses unique to the Comic Art Course, students gain exhaustive experience creating storyboards on various themes.Students make dramatic improvements after repeatedly producing storyboards and receiving feedback from several academic faculty members.

What you will study

  1. 1STYEAR

    Acquire the basic techniques for drawing manga

    Students learn the basic techniques that form the foundation of manga production, such as pen and ink drawing, perspective techniques, and sketching.There are also classes to learn the basics of digital art, so students can learn the techniques for drawing manga from scratch.

  2. 2NDYEAR

    Learn to create compelling stories

    In the first half of the course, students focus on a storyboard practice assignment before creating a 16-page original work where they learn how to turn a concept into a story.Another elective focuses on color manga techniques.

  3. 3RDYEAR

    Develop individual strengths in small-group seminars

    Students join seminars to develop their strengths in a specific area.They are also given opportunities to gain real-world experience, including classes to develop practical manga production skills through assignments in collaboration with publishers and distribution companies and classes to produce manga in partnership with the government.

  4. 4THYEAR

    Draw your chosen themes

    Working with an academic supervisor, students create a manga of at least 32 pages or the equivalent.Many students become professional manga artists after their graduation work attracts the attention of publishers. Still, many others find employment at game and design companies based on their level of illustrative ability.

What You Will Learn

  • Instruction that builds skills by individuality and ability
  • The ability to draw a complete manga
  • Learning from professionals to improve quality

Selected Artwork

Facilities

There are no walls between the third- and fourth-year studios, creating an open space where students can pick up on things from each other's lessons and interact in a single space.

PICK UP!

  • Our Windows and Mac rooms each have 40 computers, all equipped with pen tablets and capable of producing digital manga.

Academic Faculty

Careers

The Comic Art Course is the shortest route to becoming a manga artist.Many students make their professional debut while still in school, and countless students and alumni have achieved commercial success.In addition, the ability to plan, research, tell stories, and draw manga on your own are all skills that students can use across many different careers.

  • Professional manga artist
  • Manga artist's assistant
  • Gaming and entertainment industry
  • Manga teacher

Voice

  • NAGASAWA Ayako Current Student

    Gaining confidence in my drawing and narrative composition skills.

    I’ve been drawing manga for a long time, even before I came to Kyoto Seika.I decided to enroll in the Comic Art Course because, in addition to drawing, I liked the idea that I could learn how to write a story from the ground up.Plus, all of my teachers are manga artists themselves.I think the greatest thing about the course is that you get to hear honest feedback from professionals throughout the learning process.As I continue my studies, I have honed my ability to think up stories and draw full-length manga.One class that left a particular impression on me was creating a magazine with students from other courses.By conducting research, writing a manuscript, and hiring external designers, I gained valuable skills that will be useful after graduation, including how to better communicate my ideas and meet deadlines.I’m planning to work as a designer at a video game company after I graduate.I believe I can take the drawing and narrative composition skills I have developed and apply them to character development and writing full-length fantasy works.One of my dreams is to create my own original game and then turn its story into a comic.Having been influenced by so many manga growing up, I hope to do the same and make someone's life happier through my work.
  • MIKAWA Kaori Academic Faculty

    Learning to relate to people and depict human emotion

    As a manga editor, I have been involved in the production of many different works,and I’m currently working on manga in both Japan and Korea.Manga, as part of popular culture, has to be something that people can relate to.Artists always need to be aware of their readers, understand what they find interesting, and know what they expect.My research looks at commercially successful worksWith this in mind, I would like to use my findings to guide and advise students studying to be manga artists. I recommend that our students interact with a large number of people while they are in school.Manga is about depicting the human heart.Tension is formed when characters clash with or come to respect one another.I believe that being interested in other people's ideas and broadening your horizons leads to the ability to depict human emotion.At the Comic Art Course, students spend plenty of time learning all aspects of manga production, including the basics of drawing, narrative, worldbuilding, and character creation.We also put a lot of effort into bringing out and nurturing the individuality of each student, with an eye to their careers as professional artists.So if you think you have what it takes to become a manga artist and want to make your professional debut while still at school, Kyoto Seika is the place for you!