+- +-

+-User

Welcome, Guest.
Please login or register.
 
 
 

Login with your social network

Forgot your password?

+-Stats ezBlock

Members
Total Members: 65
Latest: Triptiagycle
New This Month: 1
New This Week: 0
New Today: 0
Stats
Total Posts: 2185
Total Topics: 176
Most Online Today: 1
Most Online Ever: 1890
(September 16, 2022, 11:19:15 pm)
Users Online
Members: 0
Guests: 5
Total: 5

Author Topic: Manga cover analysis (guidebooks included)  (Read 2668 times)

Lumaria

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 511
  • Reviewer
    • View Profile
Manga cover analysis (guidebooks included)
« on: December 30, 2015, 10:46:38 pm »
So here we will analyze Manga covers and see if we find patterns in cover design. And at the same time compare it to the western version. I"ll start off with Dragon Ball manga covers.

This will primarily help those who want to self-publish and find a way to get more.

original cover
http://www.oocities.org/hawk-taylor/DB1Cover.jpg
http://www.kanzenshuu.com/guides/manga/tankobon/16/cover.jpg
compiled re-release
http://www.kanzenshuu.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/viz3in1_home_page.jpg
guidebooks
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonball/images/2/2d/DBLandmarkCover.png/revision/latest?cb=20120206172204
http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/yamcha/images/1/10/Dragon_Ball_Forever_Comic.png/revision/latest?cb=20101013005201
english
http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonball/images/0/0d/DBallv1.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100715065659

My Analysis:
Dragon Ball tend to follow a distinct pattern, at least in the Japanese versions. For example, the logo of "Dragon Ball" is not the overly flashy or quirky, that the English ones use. They use a more standard font. Its easy to see and read, and overall appealing.  I noticed more shonen mangas tend to use Sans-type of fonts, which makes sense because Japanese tend to prefer it because its easy to read for them. The kanji takes an even more minimalist way. The furigana underneath "Dragon Ball" is used in a stamp form and volume number and even volume title are down below.

As for the art, Dragon Ball series also puts big focus on where its centered. All of the original releases had a frame where the art would be placed, and often times the art would pop out. I noticed particularly the cover with Goku and Picollo really shined because they are both in opposite positions, and if both framed, would not work. However, because the Piccolo portrait is framed and Goku is not, it works really well.

As for the English editions, they aren't that great. The logo isn't hideous, but i prefer the original logo a little more. Something about it speaks to me. The bright red just does not compliment the work. Its too bright, and also the big number on the corner just feels intrusive. Overall it just dumbs down the original design.

As or the guidebooks, Dragon Ball loves its dragons and even though there are no frames, the cover does well to center the art right at Goku and them with another non-intrusive logo.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


John Will

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 20
  • Here to help
  • Location: South Africa
    • View Profile
Re: Manga cover analysis (guidebooks included)
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2016, 05:14:53 am »
 Those first two Japanese version covers are my two favorite dragonball covers. I despise those red English covers, they're outright horrible.

A lot of english versions of manga ruin the original japanese covers and sometimes even use random illustrations in place of the original. Drives me crazy.

My favorite manga covers are those first couple of Bakuman, of course the art degrades to a simpler style as it goes on, but manga is an extremely strenuous task so you can't blame Obata.
"...And make use of the life bestowed upon him." - Hi no Tori, Osamu Tezuka

Lumaria

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 511
  • Reviewer
    • View Profile
Re: Manga cover analysis (guidebooks included)
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2016, 09:57:59 am »
It drives me crazy too. Bakugan is definitely a good example.

Akai

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • SSX 999
  • Location: UK
    • View Profile
    • Akai Ito Studio
Re: Manga cover analysis (guidebooks included)
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2016, 08:48:15 pm »
I'd like to have a quick look at Naruto's covers!

I think it started by following the shounen standard in Japan as you showed for Dragon Ball: a square frame and bit popping out of it:

http://i500.listal.com/image/3852312/500full.jpg

Sometimes though the composition goes a bit crazy (lazy?)...at first glance a lot of the covers are a bit difficult to read or don't seem to convey much:

http://cache.coverbrowser.com/image/bestselling-comics-2006/383-1.jpg

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/narutocouple/images/d/d4/Nartuo-Images-Manga-Volume-29.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140906143024

A lot of covers can be read in a circular way - the japanese read right lo left, so in the covers below you can easily see how each element of the picture guides you to the next - an object, an arm, a look...there is often a strong standing element in the middle, and things happening around him.

http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435526255l/2453403.jpg

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/naruto/images/2/2a/Vol37.png/revision/latest?cb=20141102221710

http://images.saiyanisland.com/data/585/Naruto-Manga-Volume-63.jpg

http://www.nonsolomanga.altervista.org/nonsolomanga/albums/naruto/cover-manga-naruto-shippuden-seconda-serie-./49.jpg

I think that with time, Naruto has created his own style through his cover illustration, often very dramatic in the centre, and balanced with calm on the side:



http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140422113120/naruto/images/5/57/Volume_69.png

I still don't think Naruto manga covers are amongst the best though! The manga chapters cover are a lot more experimental and original (fish eye view anyone?), but I have to admit that the style and composition makes Naruto stands out in manga stores!

Lumaria

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 511
  • Reviewer
    • View Profile
Re: Manga cover analysis (guidebooks included)
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2016, 02:24:59 pm »
I thunk Naruto covers (like Bleach and One Piece) all started off unrefined. If you look at Bleach's covers, the intent to be flashy was there but Tite Kubo's art was unrefined. Naruto for some reasoned used an unusual conflicting contrast in his work. Just look at volume 1. You would see the frogs having contrasting shadows but Naruto/Sasuke/Sakura wouldn't have that.

Its interesting. For Naruto I was never fully attracted to the covers until Part 2.

Orchid

  • Administrator
  • Sr. Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 381
    • View Profile
Re: Manga cover analysis (guidebooks included)
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2016, 03:26:29 am »
https://dwgkfo5b3odmw.cloudfront.net/manga/thumbs/thumb-2628-TBLB_08_web.jpg

I noticed this manga before and thought it would be a good place to bring up for a cover analysis.

This manga is different when it comes to coloring. It almost feels like 80s or 90s manga but  different somehow. I think it might be the logo too.

 

+-Recent Topics

Triptiagycle by Triptiagycle
March 09, 2024, 11:28:13 pm

It can be used to plan your trip by ragini95324
December 17, 2023, 04:15:46 am

巴马总统评为百强企业家在岁 by Aklima Khatun
December 17, 2023, 12:55:22 am

在上发布了的更新 by Bappy Bappy
October 18, 2023, 02:57:23 am

We'll also see the removal of expand by Sabbir Hossain
September 16, 2023, 05:17:11 am

Provide an opportunity to start communicating with the manager by Rasel Rasel
September 16, 2023, 03:33:41 am

When one of my clients has done this by Md Raihan
September 12, 2023, 05:29:02 am

Your store's navigation is confusing by Md Mahfuz
September 12, 2023, 05:19:11 am

Capturing reality from new perspectives by anno rani
September 10, 2023, 06:43:26 am

The main advantage of adopting by Arfan hossen
September 10, 2023, 04:52:38 am