Hikaru Yajima Introduces The Art of Manga

Manga artist Hikaru Yajima and Baton no Hoshi

This week in Tokyo professional manga artist Hikaru Yajima introduced the art of manga to our animation students, who have been studying at Digital Hollywood University in Tokyo.

Manga forms much of the source material for Japanese anime, part of what gives Japanese animation its unique character and flavour.

In this interactive workshop our students had the opportunity to draw their own manga panels, with a theme set by Hikaru Yajima.

About Hikaru Yajima

Manga by by Hikaru Yajima

Born in Tokyo in 1988, Hikaru Yajima began her career as an office worker, working as a graphic artist for a big corporation.  

Eventually Hikaru Yajima got fed up with being asked to "whip up a quick re-do for next week", and she left her corporate job to begin a new career as an independent manga artist. 

Baton no Hoshi

Among Hikaru Yajima's manga works is the series Baton no Hoshi ("Star of The Baton") - first published in 2018. 

Manga Workshop

Escape Studios manga artists hard at work

The theme for today's manga workshop was to draw "a memorable phrase inside a manga panel".  The students were given a manga template to work from, as well as pencil and paper. 

Story, Story, Story

All of our animation students got a chance to show their work.  Among Hikaru Yajima's comments were that drawing skills - while undoubtedly important - are actually secondary to the ability to tell a story.  In manga, it is the story that is king. 

Escape Studios in Tokyo at Digital Hollywood University

Japan Animation Study Tour

This week twenty one Escape Studios' animation students have been studying in Tokyo, learning about manga, anime and Japanese animation techniques.

The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation. To apply for one of our courses, follow this link.