COMIC STRIPSQUIDELINES

Comic strips

“… eye candy, or food for thought?”

COMIC STRIPS

Storytelling

Creativity Self expression

Problem solving

SequencingArtistic skills

Computer skills

Decision making

DEFINITION

O A comic strip is a common form of comics(a general term to also include editorial or gag cartoons and comic books or graphic novels).

O The term graphic novel is now established for the longer and more novel-like coherent story,

and O the term sequential art is also suggested by Will

Eisner .

FORM & USE

O It is a medium which combines text and visual information O It has the form of a collated sequence of drawings or

pictures arranged in interrelated panels to display with text in balloons and captions.

O It is used to express ideas, brief humor or form a narrative: It can be humorous or satirical but also may take the form of adventure story and even soap-opera continuity strip.

O When used to tell a story it has the 3 main parts of a story: (Setting, Characters, Plot)

WHEREo Often published in daily newspapers, with horizontal

strips, printed in black-and-white. Sunday newspapers offered longer sequences in special colour section.

o Web comics/online comics/internet comics, are available on the Internet and reach large audiences.

Web comics can make use of an infinite canvas thus not constrained by size or dimensions of a page.

common stip creatorsO Strips are written and drawn by a

comics artist or cartoonist

O Today due to technology more and more people express themselves via comic strips

O mixed media and digital technology have become common.

specialists Typically one creator produces the whole strip.

Sometimes • a writer carries out the script and• an artist (with or without additional assistant artists) the drawing

of the art . In some cases, one artist draws key figures/the characters while another does only backgrounds (common in Japan).

In American superhero comic books,

• a penciller lays out the artwork in pencil;• an inker finishes the artwork in ink;• a colourist applies colours• a letterer adds the captions and speech balloons.

Even if many strips are the work of two people, one signature is displayed

Cartoon Strip as a MediumA comic strip is considered to be a page-based story-telling through a sequence of frames similar to a filmed sequence of shots so

All strips use the basic film conventions:• angle (high, straight, low, canted)

• zoom in/out

• shot-reverse shot

• eyeline match

• Direction: left-right, top-bottom (in West)

• Colour: black and white or coloured

• use of shot distance (ELS, LS, MS, MCU, CU, ECU)

Structures (1)Micro-structures: inter-frame relationships:

shot-reverse shot zoom in/out repetition, contrast Q/A moment-moment action-action subject-subject scene-scene aspect-aspect non-sequitur flash-forwards flashback

Structures (2)

Macro-structures :Consistent style: narrative structure e.g.• beginning (setting/ characters/

actions)• middle (problem, effect)• possible solution/ cliffhanger

ORsimilar to a mainstream film and

television e.g. 4-act structure setup, complication, development, resolution

From Marchant, S. (2006) The Computer Cartoon Kit (with CD-ROM of images). Lewes: Ilex.Digital images & instructions provided!

THE MAIN FEATURES

TITLE

PANEL/FRAME

GUTTER

MOTION LINES

SPEECH BUBBLE

A CAPTION :A BOX (USUALLY RECTANGULAR) USED FOR NARRATION

TEXT IS USUALLY IN CAPITALS

FEATURES (1)

O arranged in “panels” or boxes.

O separated out by the “gutter”

the empty space surrounding them.

The story (in form of pictures or drawings) is

FEATURES (2)

O The narratives are shown in caption boxes, usually coloured, to differentiate from speech.

O Speech bubbles, usually round or square, use a tail pointing to the character’s mouth to indicate speaking out loud.

O Text, usually all in capitals

I HAVE THE SOLUTION..

FEATURES (3)

FEATURES (4)

O A scream bubble, with a jagged outline or a thicker line and usually larger

O Text, bolder than normal letters (the character is screaming).

WHAAAAA

FEATURES (5)

o Broadcast bubbles, with a jagged tail like a lightning flash shape

o Text,letters sometimes italicised to indicate communication through an electronic device (telephone, radio, TV)

…cartoon time…

FEATURES (6)

O A whisper bubble, with a dashed/dotted outline

O Text,smaller letters and a paler (grey) writing (the speaker is talking in a softer or quieter tone).

…AND THEN SHE…

FEATURES (7)

O Thought bubbles,cloud-shaped word bubbles(the character is not talking loud)

HMMMM!

FEATURES (8)

Action words

sounds can be heard and help the image make an impact.

Examples:POW! the sound of a blowBAM! the sound of a hard blow or to show something happening abruptlySKREEECH! a car sliding around a cornerKABOOOM! the sound of an explosion

O Usually in coloured jagged splats O Text all in capitalsO Exclamations are quite often

Analysing a Comic Strip

• Identify modal elements & their reasons for use• Identify target reader and genre • Identify stages in the narrative• Evaluate artistry • Evaluate representations e.g. stereotypes, non-

stereotypes

Creating a comic strip1. Planning

• Identify purpose, target audience and genre• Create draft storyboard• Decide on characters ,settings, pros

2. Producing• Collect/shoot/scan/upload images/photos• Create writing content• Use appropriate software to edit comic strip

3. Sharing• Save in format for distribution (e.g. pdf)• Print /share

TERMINOLOGY

TITLE: the name of the creationPANEL/FRAME: individual images containing a segment of action often surrounded by a borderCAPTION: a box (usually rectangular) for narration. Captions can give voice to a narrator, convey characters' dialogue or thoughts, or indicate place or timeSOUND EFFECT/SFX or ONOMATOPOEIA: The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g. cuckoo, sizzle)SYMBOLS/EMANATA: graphic signs used to convey information that goes beyond what could be perceived visually : e.g. sweat beads (for fear or anxiety), light bulb (for idea)GUTTER: the gap among panels to indicate narrative and temporality; the major place for meaning making.SPEECH /BUBBLE balloons: indicate dialogue (or thoughtMOTION LINES /movement lines /action lines /speed lines/ zip ribbons : the abstract lines that appear behind a moving object or person, parallel to its direction of movement, to make it appear as if it is moving quickly.MANGA: Japanese graphic novels, telling translated tales of romance, adventure, and politics.ENCAPSULATION: the process through which prime moments in a narrative are broken down into panels.CARICATURE: an exaggeration of personal characteristics, usually in picture formPERSONIFICATION: attributing human characteristics to animals or objects

RECOURCEShttps://www.tes.co.uk/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_striphttp://www.britannica.com/art/comic-striphttp://comicsforum.org/2013/02/25/chercher-dans-le-noir-the-gap-as-motif-in-caboto-by-lorenzo-mattotti-and-jorge-zentner-by-barbara-uhlig/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodolphe_T%C3%B6pffer#/media/File:Toepffer_Cryptogame_13.pnghttps://spot.pcc.edu/~mdembrow/glossary.htmhttp://blog.visualmotive.com/2009/understanding-comics-with-scott-mccloud/http://comicsforum.org/2013/07/26/list-of-terms-for-comics-studies-by-andrei-molotiu/

Glykeria Gkouvatsou