On Friday 7 March we welcomed manga illustrator and writer, Chie Katsuwada, to the RGS to run a series of engaging and insightful workshops for Second Form students. The sessions were a resounding success, combining fascinating content with hands-on experience, and were perfectly tailored to the students’ interests and abilities.
Chie’s workshops delved into the art of manga creation, covering essential elements of visual storytelling. Students learned how emotions are expressed through images, the use of visual onomatopoeia, and the intricacies of developing characters. One particularly interesting takeaway was how different speech-bubble shapes convey various meanings: traditional speech bubbles for dialogue, square bubbles for memories, and round bubbles for thoughts. This subtle yet effective use of visual codes is a crucial part of manga and was eagerly noted down by the students.
For context, Manga is a style of Japanese comic book or graphic novel that has gained worldwide popularity for its unique storytelling techniques and art style. The term “manga” refers to a wide range of comic books and graphic novels, typically featuring detailed artwork and dynamic characters. Its origins can be traced back to the 12th century, but modern manga began to take shape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The art form became a cultural phenomenon in Japan after World War II and has since expanded globally, influencing comics, animation, and popular culture.
Over the next six weeks, the Second Form will apply what they learned during Chie’s workshops in their art lessons, designing and writing their own manga comic pages. The students will showcase their creations at the RGS Summer Art Exhibition on Wednesday 25 June, where their works will be displayed for the school community to admire.
The feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their excitement about applying the skills they had just learned. Several students even approached Chie after the sessions, asking her to sign books she had illustrated and their own manga-inspired drawings.
Chie Katsuwada’s visit has undoubtedly sparked creativity and enthusiasm among the Second Form students, encouraging them to explore the art of manga further. It was a memorable day that will likely have a lasting impact on their artistic journey, and the upcoming exhibition promises to showcase some truly impressive work.