Hello, everyone! Welcome to another exciting episode where we get up close and personal with the creative minds behind your favorite stories. Today, we’re delighted to introduce PenguinAngel, also known as Kira, the talented author of “The Monkey Prince and the Five Treasures.” Kira has bravely stepped up to participate in our Creator Spotlight interview, allowing us a glimpse into their world and creative process. So, without further ado, let’s dive in and get to know the wonderful Kira and their captivating story!
Hello everyone! I’m PenguinAngel, or Kira for many, and I’m the author of The Monkey Prince and the Five Treasures.
A few days ago, I decided to give it a try and volunteer for the StecStories interview, since I noticed that no one actually knew anything about me!
So here we are! Let’s start!
Well, to be fair, I can say that I have made “comics” for almost all my life. I remember that I used to make some silly drawings with my favorite characters since I was a child. I just loved to make silly characters, and the evolution (if we can name it this way) happened when I became confident enough to finally make my own content with my own story.
Well, as I said, it started when I was a child! It’s difficult to say when or how it started (I even used for a very long time DeviantArt, and I’m still quite embarrassed about that gallery to çwç )
But, if we talk about the story of my actual comic, it started with one realization: I make this story for everyone, but it’s my choice to make the rules here. I realized that, in the end, everyone had a good story to share and was just hiding behind the idea that no one would like it because it was something that I didn’t want to do. It all started with just one character design, then another, and then the story, and BOOM, here we are.
Well, firstly, I’ve always been a huge fan of adventure comics. My favorites were the ones where the protagonist needed to find an object with magical abilities before the bad guys. So, it was clear that I wanted to do something similar somehow.
Secondly, since this book is about a journey around the world, I wanted to touch on the most important cultures of the time and take my time to talk about my own in a little more detail.It’s a big job; everybody had their own story, their own tradition, but it’s extremely interesting!
And last, I wanted some magic in it! And here we are!
I don’t want to leave a big message; I’m not in any position to do so. What I very much want is to just write a story that people could find interesting and that would spark in them that dream I once had—to finally be able to write my own story!
At first, i started with Instagram. But, for certain reasons and a lack of knowledge on the subject, my story didn’t go very far. After some pushing by my friends, I finally decided to publish on Webtoon.
https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/the-monkey-prince-and-the-five-treasures/list?title_no=714735
At the beginning, I was quite okay with just Webtoon, even if I noticed a lack of response from people! And a lack of more subtle and essential technical needs that the site couldn’t provide.
Someone, I don’t remember quite who, give me the sprint to take a big step and start publishing on Tapas too!
https://tapas.io/series/The-Monkey-prince-and-the-five-treasures/info
In a short amount of time, I reached a level that Webtoon couldn’t give me! First of all, the thing that gave me a rush of happiness was the fact that I could read the comments and had the chance to reply to each one of them! Not to mention a forum with a community of many people that share my same interest. A second thing that I honestly find appealing about Tapas is the goal: the fact that a number is not just a number but an actual goal with an actual meaning—it’s an improvement!
I’m not an expert, and I haven’t seen any kind of problem that would put me in a bad position. But, there are people far more capable with this subject; I suppose that they can give you all the details.
The line is subtle, but the main difference is the fact that the choices of the characters, what’s going to happen, and how it’s going to happen, are almost impossible to predict. Mainstream content follows a pattern, so even if you change a few things in the story, you know what the situations and the characters will do. Taking a step back and using an indie approach to a story could help us to revitalize a stagnant situation that many comics platforms appear to be in.
Honestly, I don’t think I have one..or at least, I don’t think that I noticed something like that. I can only say that old-fashioned manga and comics did influence me in creating this story.
I’m still too small to start something like merchandising, but I love the idea of being able to talk freely on my Instagram account.
https://www.instagram.com/the_monkeyprince_adventures/
I’ve been able to meet and talk with many that share the same monkey passion as me!
The first big struggle was having the courage to finally be able to put my content into an actual comic app, but technically this one only needed a big step forward. My real struggle was transitioning from traditional art, which I still use, to digital art. Yes, I was able to purchase a tablet, but I needed to learn how to use it from the staff, which I did!
I can say that the real struggle, one that I still face today, is time. I have a job outside of my comics life, and this takes away much of my time but helps me gain materials! I overcame it by just accepting the fact that every good job needs time, so instead of driving myself insane, I took it easy.
Oh my, there are a lot of them! But I’ll try to put it simply:
Shinobu Ōtaka, creator of the manga Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, and the CLAMP group, creators of Card Captor Sakura and, my favourite, xxxHolic.
These artists inspired me by their art and the fact that their manga use a very low percentage of retinoids or use more contrast with white and black than soft colors. Not to mention that the use of computer graphics is very low, so when I started my comic, made only in traditional style, they became my savior.
Shiitake Gensodo was the one who mostly inspired me with her designs. It’s not very notable in the comics, since I prefer a simpler approach to character design for these matters, but for illustrations, drawings, and other things, it’s still my main inspiration.
The first time I met her works was at my first Lucca Comics and Games con (one of the major ones here in Italy). I remember that I spent hours copying and trying to get the secrets of her style when I finally understood how I couldn’t get away from it. It’s so full of detail; all of the girls that she draws have this fairytale aura around them.
As for my protagonist, the character that inspired me was Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist, by Hiromu Arakawa.
What can I say? I like protagonists that look like they need a few punches in the face because they make some snarky responses, but they also do the right thing, not because they believe in justice, friendship, and blah blah blah, but because it is the right thing to do.
First of all, practice. It’s impossible to have a perfect drawing style, but what you must do is try to find your own. Have you ever read MOB Psycho 100? Do you really think that One was a good artist? No, but this never stopped him from doing it anyway.
Secondly, the story is YOURS; if people like it, they will still follow it; if not, they’ll just let it go. Writing something and asking yourself “what people will like” will never lead you to make something that YOU like.
1) When I have an idea, I like to listen to two main people: the one who reads comics because they like it but can’t draw, and the one who is a fellow artist themselves. The first group takes a simpler approach; they can be genuine and tell me honestly what they think about it or give me a few ideas; the second is more of a technical approach, like prospective, style, or how to put the page.
2) On a notebook, I put the first layout of the pages that I want to make and the balloons. With this, I can change a few things, show people who can help, and then proceed.
3) With the digital work, I start to draw and put anything on the table. In this part, I can start to do some research for houses, dresses, or other things that can help set the mood.
My motivation comes from just doing everything. I try to put myself at work but never completely concentrate on the comic, or I would fall into burnout quite easily. I even like to talk about possible scenes; this helps me motivate myself to go through the plot.
As strange as it will sound, I still lack that kind of confidence that lets me say “I want to start commissions” or “people will love this merchandising of my comic”. Outside of the internet, I’m still a waitress that works 8 hours a day, and much of the money that I have stashed away is used for simple staff, a few frivolities, and helping me obtain new materials for my works. It is helpful, even if at the end of the day I am exhausted.
As for the promotion, social media, and forums (such as Tapas), they are helpful enough!
Funding my project has been easy, at least in my case. I have been working in the exact period that I finished school; I never had the motivation to start college or any course, and I learned how to do comics by myself or with the help of a simple weekend course, so when I started my comic, I was more focused on doing it than “being paid by it.”
Now, that was my case; that doesn’t mean that it was the right course or the right choice. What I can say is that you should be cautious about the materials you buy or what kind of product you’re interested in. Try to ask about it with more fellow artists—what did they think about it and if they have any suggestions about it.
After a few of my answers, you all must have understood that I’m not exactly one who follows the stream. If it’s a matter of “doing something because everybody else is doing it so everybody will like it”, I’m not that kind of person.
If we’re talking about a possible platform or joining a new group, well, that depends on what others will say. I’m not going to jump into dark waters; if someone tells me, “It’s been a bad experience,” than I will ask others and come to my own conclusion.
I will sound sad; I’m aware of it, but I’m afraid that this industry is focusing more on the numbers than the actual story itself. I saw tons of works that looked the same but were still being pushed forward since they had a lot of followers, and I saw stories with “questionable content” that were being praised. So my idea is that it’s going to be tough.
That doesn’t mean that you have to give up. I know that is sad and demotivating to notice these things, but you are the only way to change these courses, so keep it up!
Shaped my works isn’t the right phrase that I would use. More like, they shaped “my position” in the community or motivated me to do more. I was able to meet a lot of new artists, a lot of talented souls that wish only to make their living with their passion, and I cannot be more grateful to them for letting me join them!
https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/the-monkey-prince-and-the-five-treasures/halloween-collab/viewer?title_no=714735&episode_no=24
https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/the-monkey-prince-and-the-five-treasures/christmas-collab-2022-canvas/viewer?title_no=714735&episode_no=26
https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/the-monkey-prince-and-the-five-treasures/valentine-collab-2023-canvas/viewer?title_no=714735&episode_no=28
I think that my real goal is to finally obtain something like a little fan base. I’m simple and easy, and I just hope that my story can reach as many people as possible and make a connection with them! I still remember the few that shared with me their art about my characters; I couldn’t contain my happiness those days!
To be honest, it’s kind of difficult. For many, it’s about “how many people follow you” or “how much you gain from your work”. I honestly think it is between these two. I’m proud to have reached at least my second goal on Tapas (the 100 followers), but there’s still so much work to do.
I, like many others, have low self-esteem. When I create something or write it, my first thought is, “It’s not good; it’s a stupid idea; who will like it?”
I’m a self-taught artist; what I learned wasn’t in some academy or school. I did it because I wanted it, so of course I still lack in technology and all the staff. I knew that I was making a leap into deep waters before starting, but I took the risk.
After a long bad period (lack of activity, lack of response from the readers, and all) and after my joining Tapas, comments started to come, and many of them were adorable, so full of interest, and so full of love for my work. It was like breathing fresh air after a long period. One of them gave me so much serotonin that I could have had an overdose. It was a good critique that showed me the things that I usually take for granted.
I learned that sometimes you feel like you’re wasting your time, and you really believe that. You need to endure and prove yourself, but most importantly, you need to do what you love!
WOW! I must say, this one took a lot out of me! And I thought that it would have been just some simple question about my comic! Well, I hope that my answers will be of some help to all of you! Remember, love your work, and never be ashamed!
PENGUIN, OUT!
Well, that wraps up our insightful interview with PenguinAngel, or Kira, the creative genius behind “The Monkey Prince and the Five Treasures.” We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know more about Kira and their captivating work. Be sure to follow and support their incredible storytelling journey. As always, stay tuned for more inspiring content All Ages of Geek, and until next time, keep celebrating the magic of creativity!
Stec Studio is a New Jersey-based company founded and run by by the Stec Sisters. We specialize in producing interactive comics and novels based on All Ages of Geek media, as well as creating a fully open world Boys Love Universe called BLU Media. This universe is being built from various media forms, including readable media, games, and animations.
Our main series, I Married a Monster on a Hill, is a popular WEBTOON that tells the story of a retired knight who falls in love with a half-monster. We are also developing an in-production visual novel called I Married a Monster on a Hill: Dates, along with an upcoming Wattpad Exclusive set in the same Universe. At Stec Studio, our goal is to create content that gives people hope and light, and we hope our stories can provide joy and entertainment to all who experience them.