Comics are serious business

Thailand's cartoon guru Kitsada Boonsri says that Thailand's fame awaits and there are plenty of job opportunities in the nation's cartoon industry.

"Actually we're just at the starting point if we want to compare ourselves with Japan or America, which have been successful for decades," says Kitsada.

"Thai cartoonists have never been discouraged from developing comics," he says. "We're always looking for new cartoonists with fresh ideas."

Thai comics have around for more than three decades. But there have been no long-running series.

The most successful cartoon characters are PangPond, a cute five-year-old hyperactive boy, created by cartoonist Pakdee Saentaweesuk, and Noo Hin, an Isaan-born maid who toils in Bangkok, created by Padung Kraisri.

Thailand's cartoonists have never had it easy.

"Thai readers don't read Thai comics," says Kitsada, 45, the editor-in-chief of GameMag and Hobby Toy & Model, monthly magazines from the Animate Group. "Nowadays if you walk past bookstalls, you'll see lots of Japanese comics. There are hardly any Thais comics there."

Publishers often don't want to risk the money on developing new cartoons when they can buy the copyrights of successful Japanese comics.

"I'm very tired from working in the Thai cartoon business," Kitsada says. "But unless someone takes the lead, Thai cartoons may be lost forever."

Kitsada has launched three Thai comics, Cabin Man, Progressive Temple I and Progressive Temple II and he continues to write more.

Lots of Thai artists have excellent drawing skills, but the Thai cartoon industry needs people who can create characters, interesting themes and compelling content. Currently, the Thai cartoon industry needs writers more than illustrators.

"I believe that Thai artists' are as proficient as Japanese artists. Some are even better," Kitsada says. "But we need content. The situation is similar to Thai TV programming. There not too many new scripts being produced, which is why Thais end up watching 'Baan Sai Thong'over and over again."

Kitsada doesn't have the time to draw cartoons since he is overseeing two magazines in the Animate Group stable. But he still works with character designers and illustrators to help them fulfil his visual imagination.

"An artist like JK Rowling uses her imagination to create a character like Harry Potter, a gifted wizard. She writes the story, while an illustrator or character designer uses her imagination to create an illustration. Rowling might have described Harry Potter as a student wearing glasses, but the artist brings him to life," Kitsada says.

To enrich their experiences and develop more compelling content, Kitsada suggests that cartoonists watch movies and read books on lots of subjects.

In addition, he suggests that anybody who wants to become a cartoonist or cartoon character designer should start by drawing cartoon characters that he likes.

They must practise, keeping the styles of popular cartoonists like Akira Toriyama, Japanese manga artist, in mind. Eventually neophyte cartoonists will develop their personal style.

Kitsada is confident that Thailand will create a cartoon character the magnitude of Mickey Mouse or Hello Kitty.

"But it has to start with Thais reading Thai comics," he says. "Publishers must give new Thai cartoonists a chance to create many different types of work."

And in order to make Thai cartoon characters more popular, Kitsada suggests that publishers work with TV producers, filmmakers and merchandisers to create TV shots, movies and spin-off products.

Story by Suwicha Chanitnun

Photo by Thanis Sudto

The Nation