How bad is it to have a character face opposite directions while looking at the same thing

marygold 2016-08-14 05:50:41 UTC #1

Weird title, I know,

So currently one of my characters is looking at something. I'm drawing, drawing, but since I've been reading so much manga, my head's got a right to left reading flow although my comic is left to right. It's not a giant game changer no matter which direction my character is looking at the object, I just thought it would look slightly better if I made him face the other way. Fortunately, I'm in my rough drafts so I can flip the drawing, however, I've already published pages with the character facing the other way.

Basically, if I flip my current sketch, then this will be my scene sequence.
-Guy looking left at something
-Alternate scene page
-Guy looking right at the same thing

How confusing or at least not-suggested is it to have my characters face completely opposite directions while looking at the same thing in a span of 1-2 pages? I know it's simply a change in the reader's perspective and generally a change in POV isn't that bad, but it's only been a page, maybe it's too sudden...

AnnaLandin 2016-08-14 05:56:42 UTC #2

It's not a GIANT sin, but breaking the 180 degree rule can be confusing for readers, especially if it involves your characters moving through the scene.

I'd say flip it of you can, and if you can't, try to keep the rule in mind going forward.

marygold 2016-08-14 06:18:55 UTC #3

@AnnaLandin thanks for the advice, maybe I'll just keep him facing left then....

shazzbaa 2016-08-14 13:46:53 UTC #4

Over the course of several pages? Might not be a big deal, but be aware of your "camera".

Basically, if you were filming the scene, and the camera would have to whip really far around in a short time to get the opposite angle, it's gonna be disorienting. But if you move the camera slowly around from panel to panel, you can very easily end up facing the opposite direction without it being disorienting at all.

ChrisCoteArt 2016-08-14 16:32:01 UTC #5

Slap a panel in between, such as an establishing shot of the area. If you can smooth the transition by showing where you're suddenly jumping to first, it can work. The 180 rule doesn't only mean that you need to slowly rotate the "camera" so much as not jump anywhere too opposite too quickly, which you can get around with an extra panel with a bit more information about where you're jumping to.

UzukiCheverie 2016-08-14 17:14:16 UTC #6

That's doing what my animating teacher and I would call "breaking the axis". It can disorient your readers/viewers depending on how severe the jump is, so I would definitely keep it in mind moving forward A good way to avoid breaking the axis rule is to make sure you have something in the scene establishing the angle (so if you reveal that character B is also looking at an object, then show the object in the scene to show the angle in relation to the character).