Lynn Okamoto, creator of Elfen Lied, took to Twitter/X on October 29, 2023, in a viral thread that many saw as the iconic figure lamenting the failure of his career. He found that despite writing well-received works, such as Elfen Lied, Nononono, Brynhildr in the Darkness, Kimi wa Midara na Boku no Joo, and Parallel Paradise, he had not yet become an artist. master.
He also revealed a criticism that has haunted him since his days as a budding mangaka artist: “It was my first time submitting work to Young Jump, and even though I didn’t have a special experience with was torn apart, but that was hard to hear. At that time, ‘Everyone who had the goal of becoming a manga artist loved drawing and had been drawing every day since middle school. Okamoto-kun, you’re different, right? That’s why you suck at it.” Being lectured about it all through middle school.”
Parallel paradise © Lynn Okamoto・KODANSHA
The success of Elfen Lied has helped Okamoto become one of the few financially independent mangakas. However, he left advice for any mangaka who wants to become a mangaka to not be as successful as he did. “Even though I’ve been a manga artist for over 20 years now and have lived drawing manga long enough to have raised babies into adults instead of just since middle school, I still haven’t become one. master painter. The important thing to improve your drawing skills is not the amount of time you draw but whether you enjoy drawing or not. Therefore, people who want to become master painters but think that painting is a hassle will never become master painters. Including myself. I used to see my assistants who were incredibly good at drawing, doodling in their sketchbooks during their off hours, and thought there was no way I could beat the type of weirdo who drew even during their off hours. .”
Lynn Okamoto’s Elfen Lied manga was serialized from June 2002 to August 2005 in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump magazine and is licensed for North America by Dark Horse Comics. This manga series has published 12 volumes and has been adapted into a famous anime. Revolving around the main character Lucy, Elfen Lied received praise for its exploration of dark themes but was also criticized for its nudity and graphic violence. Okamoto’s latest work, Parallel Paradise, serialized in Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine, has sold more than 3 million copies.
Seven Seas Entertainment licensed Parallel Paradise for North America and provided the official synopsis: Tada Yota’s ordinary day at school takes a strange turn when a bizarre apparition pushes him out a third-story window. He wakes up in a fantasy world unlike any other. Not only do dragons and knights exist, but every resident of this world is a sexy babe! No man has been seen in the kingdom for thousands of years, so Yota is about to get very, very lucky. Whether Yota is truly dead or transported to this place for mysterious, unknown reasons… either way, it’s his version of Heaven!
Source: Official X © Lynn Okamoto, KODANSHA Anime Production Committee / Elfen Lied