Thread: Becoming a Writer for Japanese Animation

Well, if you're planning on working with Japanese people, you might want to learn the language first.

Grumble Grumble Grumble

Like most US production houses, Japanese Anime Studios will only use in-house writers, to avoid ownership/trademark/copyright issues with the story. And stories that are not in-house in origin are usually based on either published novels or Manga publications with verifiable trademark/ownership of the property. There has been some cases where an Anime series was based on a self-published doujinshi works ('Last Exile' and 'Afro Samurai' come to mind...) but since both were written by established professional Manga artists, questions concerning ownership and trademarks were not an issue...

Originally Posted by Sazuka

Well, if you're planning on working with Japanese people, you might want to learn the language first.

Ditto.

After which you'd start off really small, writing for your friends or other people just starting out as artists. And then you'd have to hope really hard your stuff gets published, after which you'd still have to continue hoping really hard a production house takes notice. I reckon that might take 5 years (if you're really hardworking in churning out good stuff regularly) or more.

All of this is great advice but none of these are really, REALLY answering my questions. I want to know how to become one, what roads need to be taken. Should I start a small business like Todd McFarland (The creator of Spawn) and publicize my own work or is there another way?

Originally Posted by Jokerman

All of this is great advice but none of these are really, REALLY answering my questions. I want to know how to become one, what roads need to be taken. Should I start a small business like Todd McFarland (The creator of Spawn) and publicize my own work or is there another way?

I personally don't know much of what to do. However what i want to do is slightly like your road...kinda. I'm hoping to be an Actor, Video Game Developer (A writer for the story and character design or something) along with animation. However I don't know where to start other than college. I'd like to create my own business. I say create your own, publish your work and see how that goes and try to "ally" up with some Anime/Magna cooperation and see if they'll take in your writing and such.

As I said I don't know much, but that's an idea. x.X

Originally Posted by Jokerman

All of this is great advice but none of these are really, REALLY answering my questions. I want to know how to become one, what roads need to be taken. Should I start a small business like Todd McFarland (The creator of Spawn) and publicize my own work or is there another way?

I'm trying to be a cartoonist and I can tell you it's a very competitive business. Here in the US, if you wanna work at places like Marvel, DC and Image--even the syndicates for the newspaper comics, you need to submit your work and wait for approval/conact. On average, there are at least 6,000 submissions a year and only 3 to 6 are selected. Credentials are kinda important in most cases as well (IE: Art degree, good portfolio, recommendations, etc).

However, although I'm not certain if they still have this option, Marvel has a smaller label called Epic. They have a deal where you can submit your work, be it writing, pencil, ink, color and if you're accepted, you get a contract. Writers get to assemble the crew, y'know the other guys. I've been holding a copy of the application for about three years now because I can't decide if that's the path for me. Plus, I wanna write AND draw; so you can see my dilemma.

I suppose you could create your own label. I've been considering the option for a very long time now. It wouldn't be so bad, but you have to get your work noticed. But that's here. In Japan, I'm not too certain on what the process is. I'd love to work there myself, however. You can try submitting your work to TokyoPop's office here in the US. They've got quite a few 'manga' that are creataed by Americans. On their website, you can submit your own manga for people to read. It's one foot in the door, at the very least.

Originally Posted by atomik_sprout

I'm trying to be a cartoonist and I can tell you it's a very competitive business. Here in the US, if you wanna work at places like Marvel, DC and Image--even the syndicates for the newspaper comics, you need to submit your work and wait for approval/conact. On average, there are at least 6,000 submissions a year and only 3 to 6 are selected. Credentials are kinda important in most cases as well (IE: Art degree, good portfolio, recommendations, etc).

However, although I'm not certain if they still have this option, Marvel has a smaller label called Epic. They have a deal where you can submit your work, be it writing, pencil, ink, color and if you're accepted, you get a contract. Writers get to assemble the crew, y'know the other guys. I've been holding a copy of the application for about three years now because I can't decide if that's the path for me. Plus, I wanna write AND draw; so you can see my dilemma.

I suppose you could create your own label. I've been considering the option for a very long time now. It wouldn't be so bad, but you have to get your work noticed. But that's here. In Japan, I'm not too certain on what the process is. I'd love to work there myself, however. You can try submitting your work to TokyoPop's office here in the US. They've got quite a few 'manga' that are creataed by Americans. On their website, you can submit your own manga for people to read. It's one foot in the door, at the very least.

now THAT is a good idea, thanks man. Actually that's a VERY good idea....