When it comes to how many pages of manga can be drawn in a day, there are different opinions among manga artists. For example, Japanese manga artist Tetsuya Chiba, known for creating works such as “Little Boxing King,” recalled being criticized by editors for drawing too slowly. The editor said that a normal person can draw 20 to 30 pages a day, but Tetsuya Chiba feels that drawing 7 pages a day is already his limit.
This memory has recently sparked a heated discussion online, with netizens generally believing that drawing 7 pages a day is already quite productive. Let’s take a look back at the cartoonists half a century ago, those true creative geniuses.
Stop messing around. I’m afraid I’ve never had the chance to say such things in my life
This remark was roast on the X platform by the senior Japanese manga editor in charge of “Scientific Super Electromagnetic Gun” and other works. This cartoon depicts an editor complaining that the manga artist’s progress is too slow:
Most people work a little harder and can draw at least 20 to 30 pages a day, right? What are you doing
This line has sparked discussions among netizens, who have accused the editor of using exaggerated language. After all, many modern weekly magazines may not necessarily reach a weekly volume of 20 to 30 pages, let alone a day.
This memory comes from the memoirs of veteran manga artist Tetsuya Chiba
Chiba Tetsuya’s classic work “Little Fist King”
In the year 2021, the book was published as follows: (1)
The manga that sparked the topic comes from the memoir’s article “Tetsuya”, which tells the story of Tetsuya Chiba who was asked by the publishing house to live with other manga artists in the 1950s and 1960s in order to be centrally managed
At that time, well-known writers such as Zhou Zuo Endo, Chunnosuke Yoshiyuki, and Shun Takami all lived in the “Old Mitsui Koyo Mansion” villa behind Kodansha Publishing House.
And manga artists include Akira Matsumoto, Tsunayoshi Takeuchi, and Osamu Tezuka, known as the “god of manga”.
Chiba Tetsuya claims to be the slowest and most frequently criticized by editors among these manga artists.
The editor said to Tetsuya Chiba:I only drew 7 pages from morning till night! What are you planning to do
Editor:Like an ordinary person, if you work harder, you can draw at least 20 to 30 pages a day! What are you really doing
At the time, Tetsuya Chiba, who was only 20 years old, was assisted by her 16-year-old brother Akira Chiba, who later became a manga artist. When he was scolded, his younger brother defended him
Yaxi Sheng:Brother spent time modifying some details in order to strive for excellence
But the editor disagrees and continues to accuse Tetsuya Chiba of lacking professional consciousness
Editor:It’s time for the deadline, professional cartoonists should not be fixated on details, they should finish the original manuscript first. Did I say something wrong!? When can you lose this amateur mentality
Japanese netizens have expressed their opinions on the phrase ‘an ordinary person can draw 20 to 30 pages a day’
What ordinary, this is simply a superpower
This so-called ordinary is legendary level
No one else can do it except Osamu Tezuka
I’ve only heard of Rumiko Takahashi being able to do it, except for the shore companion
I need to be able to draw 20 to 30 pages a day, and if it’s serialized in a weekly magazine, I can take a six day break. I’ve tried five page comics, but I had to stay up for two nights
Are you sure it’s not pages 2 or 3? (Confused)
A line that even comic editors would be stunned by
Even a draft is not acceptable, right
Do you think you can reach the level of an ‘ordinary person’?