So lately I've been tossing up the idea of having a more "authentic" japanese feel and thought about having the book read backwards, like manga.
How do you feel about having my book read "backwards"? Do you think it adds to the book, subtracts or makes no difference?
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Justin
ReplyDeleteI think your Question #1 and Question #3 interplay with each other. I feel like if you approach your book with an "authentic" Japanese feel, I'd like to see the insides hand-drawn AND read from right to left. I know manga can be drawn either by hand or computer but I've always associated it with hand-drawn, since there's something humanist about it.
That being said, I think it makes no difference in some ways. It might be unusual if some people aren't used to reading a book from right to left. But if you do go for a 'manga' feel (hand-drawn illustrations and right to left) it could really work because that's how manga is.
I agree, it would be cool if you read the book right to left especially if you use a Japanese binding style with manga-like hand drawn illustrations then it would be the whole package and tie together very well.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting for the pop-up format as well, I've only ever seen pop-ups that go left to right, I wonder if there is anything you can play with or change to fit with that? Since the left side will be revealed first.
I think the main advantage is it will give you a clear Japanese/Manga feeling.
Maybe you can draw it in a manga style. If you make the book backwards they all your cars will be racing backwards as well?? Who is your audience? If you make it backwards would you confuse kids who read it? Would the cars be Japanese cars where the steering wheel be on the right?
ReplyDeleteI think it would make for a more playful experience, but because you have a lot of stuff going on, best to keep something [just one subtle element] predictable or intuitive.
ReplyDeletep.s. but if you are going for the manga ness, manga lovers will get it. others will get to play with it first then they'll try to figure out the narrative direction.
ReplyDeleteThey'll ahve fun trying to read Japanese. ;) Hohoho!
ReplyDeleteBut I've decided that I will hand illustrate all of my stuff. I picked up a manga and borrowed some authentic stuff from Japan from a friend to get a better feel. I really like the style. They look even better in color.
We're going 100% East-side style...