Author Eiichiro Oda stepped into the manga industry when Takehiko Inoue, Togashi, Toriyama, and many more legends were leading the shonen scene. Now, the legendary One Piece creator’s name is written among the greats in history. As one of the greatest manga artists of our time, Oda has always advised new manga creators whenever he gets a chance to. After a long time, Oda participated in an interview about the Shonen Jump Magazine, and this time, he shared the golden rule for new mangaka.
Do Not Be Swept Away by Others: Oda
It seems like not just us, the One Piece creator has also been observing the evolution of the shonen category. Yes! I’m talking about how the modern shonen titles, such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, Gachiakuta, etc. These titles have made us think whether the shonen genre is silently turning into seinen?
“I can almost feel what today’s young creators are thinking. I think rookie mangakas are directly influenced by the world. For example, during the COVID-19 period, there was a sudden surge of dark-themed works. Stories were submitted with ideas like, “this world is a dystopia, there’s no hope here, so let’s migrate to the moon,” and multiple works of this kind arrived simultaneously,” Oda said.
It’s only natural for the new mangas to draw inspiration from the very world we live in today, right? Then Oda remarked how the internet era is having an effect on aspiring manga creators:
But at the same time, we live in an era where the voices of others are heard through the internet way more than necessary. If you’re going to draw manga, since manga is something you think about and create on your own you should trust what you love and not be swept away by others.
The One Piece creator is one hundred percent right here, as times have significantly changed, and it’s not the same anymore as when he began his One Piece manga. With the boom of the internet, everyone will always have something to say about someone’s new work. While constructive criticism is absolutely necessary, the author has advised new manga creators not to be swayed by hateful comments and to trust what they love the most. It is essential to have a unique voice in every manga, which will automatically lead to its success.
Shonen Jump Is the Birthplace of New Manga
After advising the new mangas not to lose their unique voice, Oda also emphasized how Jump allows new creators to turn their beloved passion into the next big thing:
“And Jump, as a platform, is exactly the place that can turn that personal passion into a boom. Jump has always been the magazine that sparks these kinds of movements; that’s why I want everyone to unleash what they love even more, even if it’s something the world hasn’t seen yet. If you turn what you ‘love’ into manga, I want you to believe that you can create the next big boom.”
One Piece creator’s advice is a much-needed lesson for all the aspiring manga creators out there. The author himself is a living example who broke the tradition of a battle shonen manga by completely focusing on adventure over battles in the One Piece manga. That said, what do you think about Oda’s valuable advice? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
