Any questions? Feel free to ask them in here!

Welcome to The Manga Forge!

Welcome to Manga Forge! We are here to create manga and see our work get published! We believe in the value of team-work and in artists, writers and graphics-makers working together! We create monthly challenges designed to help develop your abilities, and a team of fellow artists, writers and graphics-artists for you to join!

Key to Manga Forge are our Studios. After a week, you will be given an option of several studios to join. A studio is effectively a team run by advanced level members who all work together to create manga! The studio you join will also help train you up.

The aims of the program

1. To build your skills and ensure that you understand the basics of manga creation.
2. To make sure you understand the importance of teamwork and community.
3. To find your route and specialised field.
4. To give you aim and focus.
5. To see you have fun and make friends with your fellow artists.

Becoming a Member

Step One: Signing Up!



Step Two: Making your Portfolio thread:

Next, go make your portfolio topic in here! Consider it your diary of what you make which you continually add to. You are also more than welcome to comment on other people's portfolios, and we highly recommend you do this.

1. Threads titles should say portfolio in them.
2. Thread titles should also include a tag saying whether they're artist, CG, writer or

Tags = Artist [A], CG [CG], Writer [W]. Or a mixture of tags if your multi-tasking

So for example: "FreeSaiyan's Portfolio - Lots of colours! [A/CG/W]" would show that I am doing artwork, Computer Graphics and Writing within my portfolio.

Step Four: Earn Your Levels!

Once your month induction is over, you are entitled to take an assessment test to work out what level you are at - whether it happens to be beginneer, intermediate or advanced. At this stage you're also allowed to switch to another studio.

You can choose to sit a level challenge in either writing, art, or GFXing. We will ask to see your portfolio and give you the challenge best suited to what level we think you might be.

You are allowed to develop your skills in any of the three fields. So, you may end up as an advanced GFXer, intermediate Artist and Beginneer writer, for example.

Further Information

Monthly Challenges for Everyone

As well as the monthly challenges set by studios for their own members, the Manga Forge staff will set a monthly challenge for everyone to do regardless of which team they're in. This will usually be a challenge which you can add to your portfolio. Typically a challenge will be given in each of the writing, graphic and art related fields. They may also be challenges which require an entire team to work together.

Successfully completing a challenge will add to your portfolio, build up your skills and thereby make it more likely that you will receive a higher level, so it's all very worthwhile.

Special Guests

Every so often we will have guest professionals who will either come in for a Q&A session or to set a special challenge. Stay tuned for announcements!

Building Your Professional Career

We have links with various manga-creating companies including Dimensional Entertainment who are one of our partners, and Studio Shoebox who do many things from creating manga to running artist alleys. If anyone in Manga Forge is at a high enough level we will refer you on to them and pass on a recommendation. We are also happy for any work you do with Manga Forge to be put on your CV.

We also highly encourage Studios to look at going professional if they are sufficiently good enough. We will offer Studios under Manga Forge advice on how to get their work out there, and as much support as we can provide.

Yay! This is what we've all been waiting for!
Can I just ask about the existing TD Teams? Do they still stand or will you be creating new teams? I ask because in the old teams there were pencillers and inkers and I for one was happy with that and with my team, but now you just have an artist. The addition of a writer is a good idea I think. That was was something that caused a few problems in our team, just because we all had different ideas on what we wanted to do.
Thanks Free, if I think of any other questions I'll be sure to ask

I'm very happy to be in the group again! I just want to know, are we going to start from zero?

Hmm best delete that little TD thing at the bottom of my sig now.

This was one of the things I enjoyed most about AL so I wouldn't mind coming back to this

Role: Writer/CG (inking)
How much time will you commit to this course: A minimum of 5 hours a week, but may fluctuate depending on my moderator/Alcon duties.
Preferred Team to Join: Nyu? *tilts head to one side quizzically*

I will try not to quit on the first hurdle this time -_-

Advanced writer hm.

I guess I should explain myself to everyone. I've been very active in the real world and I think I'm to blame for the stopping of the previous version. Goes with a saying about me since I was a child. "Determination but no motivation." I'm going to be more serious about this venture, because as far as I can tell, I'm not going anywhere at the moment. Going from temp job to the next, waiting for the next fun game to come out. Overnight at a friends house every so often. This isn't what I'm wanting. I'm wanting recognition. I'm going to get it. Through the use of the Manga Forge.

As you well know, I can to artist things. So please don't make me go hardcore into it. Meh, never mind that. I'll take what ever you can throw at me.

I'll be waiting at the little corner of space called Cinji Hito's Despot.

And I assume all previous members will remain at previous level and group pairings? What about all the work done for Alcon? Will we get any brownie points for those as well?

Also, I do remember there being an incentive for gaining levels when we were still TD, such as financial acknowledgment in the company Dimensional Entertainment for small work like posters and things, if we so choose to go up that far.

Since Dimensional Entertainment isn't really gonna be our "boss" anymore, what other reasons are there to work hard and level up? Form the look of it we don't have a solid company sponsor, and there really are lots of groups on the internet designed just for people to support each other and aid in the improvement of skill. This one was special though because we had a Dimensional entertainment giving critique from professionals and if we improved well enough at a reasonable pace we'd most likely have a place in the company, though it was a small place. Don't get me wrong, the whole "peer evaluation" and everyone working together ideas came from me when Mr.Huy and the others were busy, but if this is all we have to offer now there no spark besides all the bonds I've already made with people here. I'm not quitting MF or anything, I just liked the idea of having a small position in a company after all this training was over, and I want to know if there is still a possibility something like could ever be available to us again, considering the amount of time and work we put into this in the beginning, some of us having the intent to stay on as a smaller member of Dimensional Entertainment...

My fingers hurt... ow...

Do we sign up agin or will everything transfer over?

like all the others i'm a bit confused...don the previous team still the same or we have to change in order to have a wraiter, a colourist and an artist?
and what about our work so far? is everything starting from zero? is there some one that can reply to all of this questions?
btw i like and never leave MF, just need some explanation....

I'll try this again

Role: Artist
How much time will you commit to this course: 5 hours minimum, because i'm not sure how much accurately i'll be able to put in

- All teams have to be remade. We'll try and remake existing teams, but in some cases might not be possible since all teams will now need at least one advanced artist and GFXer (for now we'll exempt needing writers since no assessed writers exist).

- Levels will be reassessed. For example, if you were level 3, this does not necessarily make you advanced level in the new setup (lower level level 3s are closer to intermediate not advanced). Likewise level 1 and 2 are closer to beginneer level, rather than intermediate.

- Previous work for Team Dimension will count as if it was work done for Manga Forge.

- The reason why Dimensional are no longer a part of this is not because they don't want to sponsor it, but because they do not have the time. As you may have noticed, Huy has not been on here in over two months.

- We intend to get professionals in to set challenges still. They just won't all be set by Huy, for reasons above.

- We remain a partner to Dimensional and will pass on recommendations of talent as we see it. Dimensional Entertainment will still take artists on if they are of sufficient quality. So that road definitely remains open. Dimensional will advise us on various aspects, but won't be adopting a hands-on approach anymore due to lack of time.

- Everyone will need to signup again for record-keeping purposes. Will send a PM out tomorrow to everyone.

- Will clarify this topic. Please keep asking questions, thanks.

I'm glad things are starting to move again. I miss having something to look forward to every week XD

Should we rebuild our portfolios or is what we have so far alright? Or will there be another starter assignment like there was last time?

In any case:

role: Graphics/Artist
Time I can spend: with the exception of work 7 hours a day and sleep, I have a pretty open schedule. I can put in at least 5 hours a week no problem and will put in more as needed.
Preferred team: *raises hand* I'M UP FOR GRABS! WHO WANTS MEH!?

Role: Artist, writer and Computer Graphics all of them
How much time will you commit to this course: 5 hrs or more daily
Preferred Team to Join: None at the moment

Role: Artist
Time committed: 5hrs + weekly
Recommended Team: None

Role: Writer and Computer Graphics
How much time will you commit to this course: 5+ hours a week and most days
Preferred Team to Join: I'll go in any team =D