Manga : Creating a character

The hero is your manga’s key figure: he's the one who structures the story and whom your readers will identify with. Here are a few rules to help you… Jump right in, but don't forget the basics: your I-MA-GI-NA-TION!

1. Imagine his or her personality…

First of all: figure out your manga's theme. Of course, shoujo (sentimental comedy) characters have almost nothing in common with those of a shounen (adventure and science-fiction)…

Next, do a table listing the following information:

• Gender?
• Age? Child, teenager, adult or elderly.
• Main quality? Intelligence, cunning, beauty, physical strength, patience, etc.
• Defect or weakness? Scrappy, affected by a mysterious illness or a phobia, physical handicap, etc.
• What does s/he like?
• What doesn't s/he like?
  
  
   

2. …to determine his or her appearance

Your character's drawing should provide clues about his or her character and personality.Here's an example! The hero is a youthful 24 year old man, a bit of an adventurer who acts on instinct. His parents died in a car accident that he survived. Nowadays, he travels, works for an NGO that helps orphans and he has to fight to protect them from a local mafia…
 

• You can tell his age and penchant for adventure from his physique: He is tall, muscular and slim.
• You can recognize his instinctual side from certain details: his undisciplined hair, his strong jaw darkened by the beginnings of a beard (he left the house without taking the time to shave).
• His neck is bears a scar from the car accident.
• His mouth is big and his eyes are gentle, both signs of his generosity.