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Puxi G5 PG Lesson: Enter the Real World of a Professional Comic Artist

March 28, 2023

Basic subject knowledge education, such as Math and Science, enables students to understand the basic components of the world. Career education, on the other hand, enables students to see the endless possibilities of the future. In order to broaden students' interests and knowledge, in the sixth week of PG class, the fifth grade of Shanghai High School International Division Puxi Campus invited Mr. Niu Niu, an up-and-coming cartoonist who has been working in the cartoon industry for seven years and is currently the lead writer of his own studio on Bilibili, to give a speech.

Mr. Niu Niu firstly asked the students a question: What are comics? Many students answered enthusiastically,‘A book made of pictures’‘A book that uses pictures to express words’‘A story that uses pictures and words to express’…After some discussion, we finally agreed to define comics as telling a story with pictures.

In order to let the children get closer to the world of comics, Mr. Niu Niu started from the history of the ancient times when human beings used drawings to remember things, and comics were produced when there was no writing. In addition, Mr. Niu also mentioned that comics are also a medium to convey ideas. At this time, some students mentioned ‘Sanmao’, which was keenly captured by Mr. Niu, and he further extended it.

Then, Mr. Niu Niu talked about the development history of comics by combining famous comic works in China and abroad. Take ‘Tetsuwan Atom’ as an example, its author, Osamu Tezuka of Japan, under the influence of ‘Princess Iron Fan’ and ‘Monkey King’, developed his own set of animation systems and created comics with anime subplots, which became popular all over the world. In contemporary times, more and more comics have emerged. With the development of technology, the carrier of comics has also gradually changed, from paper media (comic magazines, comic books) to web comics. The carrier of web comics has made it easier for more people to access comics.

When Mr. Niu Niu asked the students, ‘What can comics bring to you?’ Everyone spoke up enthusiastically. ‘You can have fun with comics!’ ‘You can get a little knowledge and have fun.’ After that, Mr. Niu Niu showed the students a series of comics and their values and meanings with examples. For example, ‘Paleontology Munchkin’ can let people know the knowledge of substances produced by volcanic eruptions and their properties, which is the process of spreading knowledge through comics. In addition, comics can also be used as a medium to promote traditional Chinese literature, such as ‘Memorize Ancient Chinese Poems in Half An Hour’. Through the combination of images and words, readers can remember ancient poems more deeply.

When asked which comics they have read, students raised their hands immediately, ‘Totoro!’ ‘The Legend of Luo Xiaohei!’ ‘One piece!’ In these comics, students can learn various local cultural characteristics, develop understanding of happiness and dreams in the eyes of each author, learn various kinds of science knowledge, and expand their general knowledge. Mr. Niu Niu summarized the gains from the comics as ‘knowledge’ ‘empathy’ ‘happiness’. Connecting with his own experience in the field, he showed the students the real working condition of the comic artist. ‘Do you like to draw?’ ‘Yes.’‘Is there anyone who wants to draw cartoons in the future?’‘Yes!!!’ The voices of the students resounded throughout the auditorium.

In order to let the students understand more about the cartoon industry, Mr. Niu Niu also shared the whole process from a cartoonist's drawing to a printed cartoon book and even to an animated film. Finally, Mr. Niu Niu also provided some advice for students who enjoy drawing and aspire to work in this field. The students were very much immersed in the lecture. Even as it ended, they were still eagerly discussing the new knowledge and experience they gained from the lecture. It is well believed that our students now have a deeper understanding and experience of the cartoon industry after this fantastic career lecture.

Written by Mixi

Pictures by Melanie, Mixi

Edited by Serene Yang, Niall Keenan