Even a Monkey Can Draw Manga

Publisher
Viz
Writer
Kentaro Takeuma
Artist
Kentaro Takeuma
Country of origin
Japan
Length
2 volumes
Year
1990

Even a Monkey Can Draw Manga

By Mark McPherson
24th May 04

Kentaro Takeuma, a manga artist, and Koji Aihara, a manga artist in training, star as themselves in what has become one of the most controversal mangas ever published. While the purpose of the manga is to act as a how-to-make-manga book, it is also a story of discovery as Koji Aihara learns from the manga master in order to become a great manga artist in the future.

This is one of those mangas that are funny because it's true. Through this very odd series, Kentaro teaches both Koji and ourselves how to do basic manga techniques, write a story, explore genres and even go as far as how to get manga published and for who. Nothing is left unindentified. Even some of the most dirtiest secrets about manga are revealed such as the fact that most manga artists steal body design from other manga artists and passing it off as your own. There are also some helpful diagrams to help the viewer learn. They use a tetris game to help break down making an average story for ladies comics and use a sushi bar to help describe young men's manga.

I should warn you that Even A Monkey Can Draw Manga is not for the faint of heart. Nothing is left out in terms of content. There is poop, talk about masturbation, sex, violence, swearing and nudity. In fact, Kentaro actually appears naked quite a bit in the comic. There are even actual pictures of Kentaro naked, but don't worry, he only appeared in his underwear and then digitally altered the photos. Controversal, eh? Each chapter takes on a different topic. For example...

Chapter 1: Pen Name.
Chapter 2: Drawing Borders.
Chapter 3: Facial Expressions.
Chapter 4: Figure.
Chapter 5: Coming Up With Ideas.
Chapter 6: Come Up With Story.
Chapter 7: Youthful Arrogance.
Chapter 8: Shonen Manga.
Chapter 9: Shojo Manga.
Chapter 10: Young Men's Manga.
Chapter 11: Ladies Manga.
Chapter 12: Family Manga.
Chapter 13: Kid's Manga.
Chapter 14: Salaryman Manga.
Chapter 15: Mahjong Manga.
Chapter 16: Gag Manga.
Chapter 17: Psychic Manga.
Chapter 18: PR Manga.
Chapter 19: Possibilities.

...and so forth. There are many creative ideas spread throughout the series. In the possibilities chapter, Kentaro talks about turning a train schedule into a manga, despite how extremely thick it would be. There are also some humorous techniques such as replacing genitals with radishes, gun turrets and seals. There is even a name for the effect when people's heads explode in Hokuto No Ken. It's called "No Boom" and it's a technique that is often used in psychic manga for how cool it looks.

Aside from learning the style of manga, you also get a history lesson. In the shojo chapter, Kentaro goes through the progress of shojo manga from the 60's prince-and-princess stories to the 80's cute-girl-loves-hansome-rebel stories. There is also a good pen trick I learned from reading this. When ink starts to run from a pen, roll up a piece of tissue paper until it has a pointy end and let is soak up the ink. You can learn so much from this manga and yet still have a fun time reading it.

There are also some original aspects of this manga that you may not be familiar with like the SHEHH position. SHEHH is a basically a pose associated with an odd catch phrase. There is even a professor in America who enjoys the SHEHH technique. If anyone is considering going into acting, you may want to take a look at this chapter.

If you love manga or you are a bit new to it, Even A Monkey Can Draw Manga is a must in every beginner's and master's manga collection. Not only is this manga informative and educational, it's also funny and twisted with a sick sense of humor. Where else are you going to find a manga that stars it's creators, no, stars it's creators and also have them pose nude in it? Nowhere, that's where! I highly recommend that you purchase this manga. You won't regret it.

10/10

-- Mark McPherson 24th May 04