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The story
When the thread’s OP declared they’d aim to become a manga artist starting from zero drawing experience at age 38, the thread lit up with debate over strategy. Some pushed the traditional route — pitching to editors or posting on Shintousha — while others argued for the “wait to go viral” route: posting doodles on social media and hoping to get discovered. Opinions split on whether drawing skill is even essential, with some pointing out that “there are more manga artists with rough art these days” and others countering “that’s a completely different level.” Someone floated letting AI handle the artwork, but that drew pushback too, with critics saying it would make the story boring.
What people said
38 years old
Never drawn a single thing
The goal is to become a manga artist, not to beat any particular person
Fight with the weapon you already have
And what weapon would that even be?
Making threads is my hobby, it's my life
I figure that's fair enough as practice
Post doodles regularly on social media, catch someone's eye, and if you go viral, jackpot
Yeah, I figure that's about the only way
The issue is you've never drawn before.
Everyone around you has been drawing for years.
These days originality is the real weapon though
A manga artist who can't draw isn't even worth discussing
I want money from manga
Nah, just carving out two hours after work is already tough — go beyond that and you won't be able to keep it up
Well yeah, I've got a job and other hobbies too
There are more and more manga artists with bad art lately
That's a completely different level
If you draw while livestreaming you'll improve, and if it goes well you could land some regulars
You don't even have to show your face
Makes sense
Streaming your practice time might not be a bad idea
AI's still a good three years off from being able to do manga
Even Furuhata Ninzaburo (the famous TV detective) said age doesn't matter when you're starting something over
Chiikawa's art is actually really good though
Don't go dreaming about blowing up online
Even if you pitch, won't they turn you away at the door because of your age?
Instead of fantasizing about getting good starting now, draw a manga that works with the art you've already got
Fair enough
I do think publishers matter
With that attitude you're gonna miss the wave of the times
I think Shintousha is amazing
That'd be boring
The story is exactly the part that should be left to AI
Background and Key Points of This Debate
There are broadly two routes to becoming a manga artist: getting discovered by an editor through a publisher’s rookie award or a direct pitch, or building a following directly with readers via social media or web-manga posting sites. In recent years, success stories via the latter route have grown more common, with character appeal and pacing sometimes valued over drawing technique. Shintousha, mentioned in the thread, is a long-running site where amateurs can self-publish their work, known as a route distinct from pitching to editors. AI-assisted art generated plenty of discussion, but participants were split on when — or whether — it’ll become practical. It’s also worth noting that “let’s figure out how to become X” threads are a recurring 5ch staple, where the fun is often in the back-and-forth itself rather than how serious the OP actually is.
※This article is excerpted and summarized from a thread on 5ch’s Nandemo Jikkyō G (general live-chat) board: “A Thread About How I’m Going to Become a Manga Artist.”
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