Anime-maniac

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Screentones Tutorial

Screentone is very useful in manga because it can save manga-ka time and it also improve the quality of manga. Doujinshi-ka can also use screentones to make an interesting artwork. Screentones can be divided into line action, special effect, shading, and background. Line action is the screentone that can be use to make effect and impact from the movement of character or object in manga. While special effect is use for effect like cloth’s texture, emotion effect, exploding effect and many more. Shading is use to make a shadow effect or to make a dark surrounding like at sunset or night. While background is use to make a complex background and repeating background. Screentone can be bought from bookstore but its price is expensive. If doujinshi-ka know how to use graphic software, it can be made using Adobe Photoshop.

Steps to make simple screentones using Adobe Photoshop

Open a new file in Adobe Photoshop with size of 8x8 pixel in JPEG/JPG format and white background. Don’t use bitmap/bmp format because we will use the Layer function in the next step.

Zoom in to the maximum available.

Then go to the Tool Bar and choose Pencil Tool. Next, right click on Paintbrush Tool, Pencil Tool is below the category.

After that, open a new Layer. Use Pencil Tool to draw 2 point on your file. Both point must be aligned at 45 degree. To ease your work, think like this:

Your file size is 8x8 pixel. If your first point coordinate is (3,3) then your second coordinate should be located at (7,7).

Next, open a new Layer and repeat step 4. But this time redraw both points on the same position, and make them bigger and reshape it according to yourself. Repeat this step until you get a variety of shape in different sizes.

Now go to Select > Select All, then choose the first layer that has points on them (not the empty layer). Go to Edit > Define Pattern and name your screentone.

Repeat this step for every Layer. All Layer that have been saved will exist in Pattern category for your use.

Congratulations! Now your screentones have being made successfully.

Gun X Sword

Year: 2005
Studio: AIC A.S.T.A.
Total anime episodes: 26

In a planet called Endless Illusion, there are many fighters and warriors live and dangerous criminals also exist. The civilazation are like the western-style and they also have a high mechanical technology. They also have war machines that were called Armors. The story begins when Van’s wife, Helena was killed by a man called Clawman on their wedding day. In his wedding cloth, Van go on a journey to hunt the killer without realizing that his target is a dangerous person.

Van- Tall and always show spiritless expression, but when he is angry or when fighting he will be a serious man. He is an expert swordsmen and the pilot of Armors called Dann of Thursday.

Wendy Garret- She joined Van on journey and hoping to meet her brother. She thought that her brother was kidnapped by Clawman. But the truth was her brother was consent to join the Clawman.

Priscilla- A girl that was very energetic and aggressive. Met Van in an Armors duel and she admire him. She pilots an Armors called Brownie that is very quick.

Carmen99- A special agent who works as an informer and ever work with Van.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Naruto

Year: 2002
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Total anime episodes: 220

This anime is about Uzumaki Naruto who dreams to be a skilfull ninja in his village, ‘The hidden leaf village’. But the 4^th Hokage had sealed a demon wolf into his body since he was young. Therefore there are not a single villager who loves Naruto. To reach his ambition, Naruto has trained with his best friend, Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke by his teacher, Hatake Kakashi.

Naruto

Naruto has a powerful chakra. His ambition is to be the 5^th Hokage.

Sasuke

A shy guy. His power came from his bloodline, Sharingan. His main ambition is to kill his elder brother, Uchiha Itachi who had killed all the villagers including their parent.

Haruno Sakura

Very expert in using chakra. She loves Sasuke although she knew that Naruto loves her. Her main enemy is Ino because both of them love Sasuke.

Hatake Kakashi

Naruto’s teacher and also Sasuke and Sakura’s teacher. He was promoted to Jounin rank when he was 6 years old. He has a Sharingan technique that can copy enemy’s movement.

Gaara

When he was born, his father had sealed a sand creature, Shukaku into his body. He can uses sand to attack and defending.

Orochimaru

He was a legend and is about 50 years old. He was trained by the 3^rd Hokage, but after he was not appointed as the 4^th Hokage, he learned many forbidden juutsu to get revenge.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Planning the plot for doujinshi

1. Pre-sketching

First, determine the story that will be made, such as adventures, romances, friendships, or others. Then analyse the plot theme and the messages that want to be delivered. Next, determine the location/setting plot and the characters that will be involved. Make the sketching for location images and the characters. Finally, begin to plan the plot structure in details. This step is so important to distribute the share of pages and to determine the overall balancing of doujinshi that will be made.

2. Set up the plot plan

Plot is usually being made of four level:

a) Introduction

This level is to introduce the characters, especially the hero and heroin characters. The details for each characters like name, age, short description of their background and characteristic must be included so that reader will recognized them.

b) Conflict

Conflict is divided into two parts, the beginning conflict and the middle conflict.
The beginning conflict is usually the introduction of antagonis character. If there is no antagonis, then it will be the starting problem for the hero/heroin. This part is very important because if it was not arrange properly, it will disturb the overall plot. The details must be reveal carefully, don’t reveal all the important details in the beginning conflict. The middle conflict is the chapter where hero/heroin tries to solve the conflict. In this part, the hero/heroin will discover more details of the problems arise.

c) Climax

Climax is a critical moment where the hero will fight the antagonis leader and facing the most difficult problem. All questions wil be answered in this part.

d) Ending

Ending part will shows the scenario after the conflict had been solved, either it will be peace or sad. It will also be the clue for the next episode (for continue series).

Tips: The share of pages for one-shot (8-12 pages) usually use the 1:3:2:1 ratio (intro:conflict:climax:ending).

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Fullmetal Alchemist

Year: 2003
Studio: Bones
Total anime episodes: 51

Two brothers, Alphonse & Edward Elric had tried to revive their dead mother using alchemist. They have failed and thus causing Alphonse to lose all his body and Edward lose each of his hand and leg. At that time, Edward had saved his brother by putting his spirit into an armour suit. Until then, they must try to find the Philosopher stone that has the power to regain their bodies back.

Edward Elric – A nice guy who always take care of his brother. He can change his hand into a sharp weapon for fighting. His automail hand and leg was made by Winry Rockbell. The installation of them are very painful.

Alphonse- He is the younger brother, but peoples always mistaken him as the elder because of his physical appearance that are twice of his brother. He can also perform alchemist but he was not recognized as the National Alchemist. Al owe his life to Ed because Ed has saved his spirit.

Winry Rockbell- Ed and Al friend when they were young. She is the same age as Ed and she was also the creator of hand and leg equipments that was being used by Ed.

Roy Mustang- National alchemist who has the ability to use fire as alchemist. His rank in army is Liutenant Colonel.