Graphic Narrative Production

Abygail Jones

Graphic Novel

Research• A graphic novel is basically a book length comic

(Up to 100+ pages)• It’s created and read in comic format• There’s not much text Only for analogue Shown in speech bubbles/thought bubbles Brief explanations In captions• The text is read from the top left to the bottom

right• Most commonly presented in panels• Mostly in black and white• Some graphic novelists are experimental with

colours and different types of art (watercolour etc.)

• Some images can be disturbing• Some images can be visually pleasing• Most commonly designed in a 6 to 9 grid

pattern• The more experimental novelists use different

grid techniques that can be confusing to make layouts that do not conform to the usual 6 to 9 grid layout.

Research• Graphic Novels can tell one

continuous story from first page to last page

• Sometimes they are a collection of shorter stories/individual comics

• Mostly darker than other types of illustrated literature, darker genres:

Drama Adventure Politics Romance Science Fiction

• http://www.nbillustration.co.uk/graphic-novel

• Different illustration methods

Flat Colour using air brush

Flat Colour, black and whiteUsing acrylic, is computer generated

Line and washUsing pen and ink and watercolour

Black and white format

Not a lot of text, no long explanations

Pixilated effect on the writing Use of different font

all the way through, the text isn’t in a straight line or particularly in any order either

Captions

Storyboard order – from top Left to bottom Right

Flat colourComputer generated

Dramatic

In all CAPSThe background is textured compared to the rest of the images

Target audience: early teens: ages – 12 plus

Children’s BookFolk and Fairy Tale

Research• These are stories assisted with images to let

the young reader see the image instead of visualising/picturing it

• Fairy tales take place in far-off times and places – ‘Once upon a time’

• Magical happening are normal in these stories

Magic isn’t seen as strange or unnatural• Often tells the story of an individual Usually beautiful but badly treated girls Handsome princes Stereotypes An evil king, queen or witch• They always finish with a ‘happily ever after’• Some plots are continuously re-created with

new ideas and characters For example, Beauty and the Beast and The

Frog Prince• Most stories are about an individual being

unhappy and then finding happiness

Research• Colourful – appealing to younger

ages• Not a lot of text on each page,

sometimes it can just be a whole picture depending on the target audience age

• Again depending on the age of the target audience – the stories are not very long

• Clear images and easy to read text

• The more images there are, the less text there will be – especially descriptive text

• Fonts usually used are Times New Roman, Goudy, Garamond or Baskerville

Not a lot of text – it’s clear and easy to read – no descriptive techniques used

Block colours

Bright and colourful

Stereotypes (Blonde hair)

Mostly lets the picture tell the story

Times New Roman

Illustration is hand drawn

Target audience is definitely for children – the bright colours, the easy text and the hand drawn illustration proves this

Ages 5 - 6 plus