Creator Looking for Artist in Partnership for Manga.
Hi there everybody, I'm new to Tapas so please forgive me if I botch this post in any way.
I've been struggling to find an artist willing to collaborate and or partner with me to elevate my manga from its current art style to more traditional line art. I was recommended to try Tapas and take a temperature check and see if this may work.
This would be a long running partnership and in the event that the manga becomes monetizable, which would be amazing, there would be a revenue split, or revshare. I'm told that artists here are willing to do this?
I've seen other posts that confirm this is a popular way to gain partnerships and secure long running stories. I also think with how things are just in nature, revshare is the best for both parties, and completely fair. 50/50 down the middle.
The goal comes in stages:
- Revamp the current volumes to meet expectations, standards and quality for online viewership.
- Continue from last volume with the same standards and quality into further volumes.
- Grow a substantial following online and aim for publication and print production.
The artist and I will work closely together; and I will even help by making the front cover and back cover art; however if the artist chooses to adopt these tasks as well then I will give them everything they need to in order achieve the look and style.
Look & Feel
The style I am looking for would be a solid mix of the current look, but with the professionalism to that of Shiro Amano, Tetsuya Nomura, Tite Kubo, Tekashi Obata, just 2000's manga and anime in general, but of course, the artist's "voice."
Artists know what I mean when I say their "voice." Or at least should, just in case, an "artist's voice" is their style and signature in a piece.
I don't want the artist to feel like they have to be beholden to a strict style especially if they can't replicate it. It's more of a guide than anything, In the event I find an artist, I would help curate the style.
I will leave some of the artwork for you to get an idea of what I'm talking about, I made myself in photoshop with 3D Software because obviously I cannot draw.
About Me
I've been a Creative Writer for over 15 years, guest lectured at college and universities on the topic of Character & Narrative Design; I'm extremely passionate when it comes to creating worlds, characters, narratives, visual media and works of art that transport the audience on a journey.
I'm currently working on starting my own entertainment company and I'm hoping that this will a step in the right direction. I am Adobe Certified for over 10 years and have a portfolio you can look at here
The Manga
So the manga is called "D - LiNK". A story about the meaning of memories, and how they shape friendship, identity, morals, lifepaths, choices and the fate of worlds connected. Think Kingdom Hearts meets Final Fantasy XV with the flair and action of Yakuza and Bleach.
Basically a Shonen melodrama ...
The Pitch & Story Hook:
A young Japanese law student; Kanzaki Daigami is cast into another world where a prestigious organization is broiled in an unforgiving and unrelenting civil war! The only way to get back home is to achieve his destiny of becoming The Gatekeeper of Memories with the help of his friends Shikyo Yoshikawa and Treyton Bellegale. Together they will try to put an end to the conflict by collecting Memento Shards to restore The Grand Gateway which transported Kanzaki to this world in the first place.
In the event I do find an artist, I want to say up front that I want to edit a few story and characters before we begin. Though from the finalization it's all systems go.
Art Style Examples
Release Schedule
I don't like nor believe in crunch culture, quality takes time and effort I will give the greenlight when I know that it matches my standards, and it spent enough time in the oven, so to speak. This is one reason why I have the schedule set to every month. Also because most manga is released every month. Either the 1st, or the 8th of every month following the traditional release windows. In that time, I have a two ways I can make this as stress free as possible.
A: I will write out each volume (the script) in a semi hybrid script and novella like form then highlight the major story points.
B: I will give an outline as to what's needed in the volume and work with the artist to make sure they know the overall details and such in a highlighted , bullet point list.
If the artist as any other way to help the transition from word to visuals, I am more than willing to compromise if not choose their way, all I ask as the creator and author, the storyteller, is as the artist keep an open mind and try to do right by the story.
How Many Artists Do You Need?
Ideally, just _ONE _ however, three is the max I would take. I know artists either jive with one another or too many hands spoil the pot, too many hands in the cookie jar robs the sweets.
I want to be very clear on this so we know the expectations up front:
If I had three, one would be background, one would be characters, the final one would be effects, paneling and speech bubbles.
I would then change the credits on the front cover to say from solely my name, to my name, the company who published it (my entertainment company's name) and then on the inside cover, or the next page there of, have "Adaptation by:" and list out each of the artists who contributed.
If I had only **ONE *** artist, it would just be our names and the company who published it; as well as if and when we get a secondary publisher to actually publish and print the manga, they would either go on the inside cover or we would find a way to a way to get all four parties. But because this is just for online currently, it would be just out two names.
Hope that made sense.
Content & Themes
There is blood, mild language, violence, smoking, alcohol, and young adult themes. This is a Shonen and a slightly mature one but not entirely. Yet we aren't shying away from young adult content. Suggestive themes may be implied. This isn't a hentai or gore fest, yet it is a more edgier manga. The goal is to balance the YA themes and the innocence and poignancy of the story, characters and plot.
NOTE
Age and Gender do not matter, it does not matter if you are a female or male artist. I want us both to succeed and to make money from telling an amazing story that I know can far. "D - LiNK" has 3.3K Reads with 33 Subs on Webtoon. I know that's nothing, I know it's not mind-blowing, but with the right talent behind it, I know it can go somewhere. Don't forget, While the Artist is hard at work, I'm promoting this like a madman. This is a team effort on everything. At any point the artist can take breaks, step away, or withdraw from the project, however, I would hope I can find someone consistent.
Thank you for reading!!!
