Many of us love cartoons,

很多人喜歡漫畫

most of us grew up reading them

很多人讀漫畫長大

or having them read to us.

或讓別人讀給我們聽

The fact is, cartoons have been around a long time.

事實上，漫畫存在已久

There are all kinds of cartoons:

有各種不同的形式：

strip comics,

四格漫畫

comic books,

漫畫書

political cartoons,

政治漫畫

single-panel cartoons,

單格漫畫

graphic novels,

圖像小說

web comics,

網路漫畫

animation,

動畫

caricature,

諷刺漫畫

there is something for everyone.

每人都可各取所需

No matter the form them come in,

不管漫畫的形式為何

cartoons elicit all kinds of emotions from the viewer

漫畫可帶出讀者的各種情緒

- happiness, sadness, anger, hilarity, calm -

開心、悲傷、憤怒、歡樂、平靜

and can transmit ideas in an instant.

也可以快速地傳遞想法

Cartoons are a universal medium enjoyed and understood

卡通是種共通的媒介

around the world and across borders.

讓世界各國的人們都喜愛與了解

This is why they have survived so long as an art form.

這是這種藝術形式得以長存的原因

But how can a medium that is on the surface so simple

但看似如此簡單的媒介

have so much influence and at times be so meaningful?

要如何富有影響力且寓意深厚？

Let's look at what a cartoon is.

讓我們看看漫畫是什麼

It starts with an idea.

漫畫由想法開始

The idea can be verbal,

想法可能是話語

written in words,

文字

or it can be visual.

或是景像

A visual idea is simply

視覺的想法只是

a picture,

一幅圖像

a drawing,

一幅畫

a doodle.

隨手塗鴉

These ideas come from a variety of places.

這些想法從各處而來

Cartoonists might find the idea from observing life,

漫畫家透過觀察人生得到想法

reading a newspaper,

讀報紙

trawling online.

上網

It can come from a sentence someone said

或是從某人的一句話中

or a single word heard on television.

或電視上的某個單字

Cartoonists are like sponges;

漫畫家就像海綿

they soak up people, places, mannerisms, clothing, and behavior.

他們從人群、場所、為人處事、穿著、舉止吸取靈感

Sometimes they might jot them down

他們有時可能隨手記錄在隨身攜帶的黑筆記本中

in a little black book that they carry around with them.

他們有時可能隨手記錄在隨身攜帶的黑筆記本中

Other times, it is just soaked up into the cartoonist's brain

有時會記在腦海中

only to be squeezed out later when she is sitting at her drawing table.

當她坐在桌前時再畫出來

Not only does a cartoonist have to be aware

漫畫家不只要注意所見之事

of what she is seeing visually,

漫畫家不只要注意所見之事

but she has to listen to herself think.

她也需聆聽自己的想法

In other words, take the incoming information

換句話說，將得到的資訊

and select it, shape it, and then use it for a cartoon.

做出選擇、改變然後轉化為漫畫

Now that you have an idea,

當你有個想法

or something you think could be good for a cartoon,

或覺得適合當作漫畫的題材

it's time to shape it.

就可以開始塑造漫畫了

A cartoon is like a staged play.

漫畫就像是舞台劇

A cartoonist is playwright,

漫畫家是編劇

director,

導演

stage designer,

舞台設計

choreographer,

編舞者

and costume designer.

和服裝設計師

A cartoon has characters,

漫畫中有人物

a set,

場景

dialogue,

對白

even if one line,

就算只有一句

and a backstory.

和背景故事

The characters must be dressed to fit the idea,

人物們必須依照該想法做合適的裝扮

speak in a way that is natural and forwards the idea

以自然且能傳遞想法的方式說話

or gives the punchline.

或點出笑點

Nothing should be in the cartoon

漫畫中不會有對於傳遞想法沒有幫助的元素

that is not absolutely necessary for the advancement of the idea.

漫畫中不會有對於傳遞想法沒有幫助的元素

The image and words have to <i>dance</i> together

圖像與文字必須以合乎道理的方式共舞

in a way that makes sense.

圖像與文字必須以合乎道理的方式共舞

It could be a graceful dance, or an awkward dance,

可能很優雅或怪異

if that is part of the humor or idea.

只要合乎幽默或想法即可

And then the execution.

接著是執行

Some cartoonists sketch the idea with pencil

有些漫畫家用鉛筆畫下想法

then ink it with pen using a light box.

然後在燈箱上用筆描出輪廓

Others visualize the image in their head

有些人在腦中構圖

and draw directly on the paper in pen.

直接用筆在紙上作畫

Different kinds of pens are used:

漫畫筆有很多種

felt-tip, mechanical pen, or a crow quill.

細色筆、自動筆或墨水筆

Paper can be light-weight or heavy-bond.

紙有分輕薄和重磅數的

Many cartoonists add gray tone, called a wash,

許多漫畫家會加上灰影，稱做暈染

by using black watercolor and a brush.

利用黑色水彩和水彩筆

Others use a soft pencil for the tone.

其它人用素描鉛筆畫陰影

Color is usually created by using watercolor.

通常用水彩上色

A finished cartoon can then be scanned and adjusted,

一幅畫好的漫畫會被掃描、調整

and the caption can be added on the computer with Photoshop.

然後用電腦的繪圖軟體 Photoshop 加上文字

New technologies are emerging for the cartoonist's use in creating her cartoon.

新的技術讓漫畫家在創作中有多種選擇

Photoshop can serve as a tool for color and image.

繪圖軟體是上色與圖像的工具

Some may draw directly on a tablet with a stylus.

有些人會直接用繪圖板和觸控筆作畫

The choices at this stage of creation work in tandem with the idea,

這些選擇在這階段依內容而有所不同

and often when the final caption is added,

通常等到最後文字加上後

it gets adjusted yet again.

會再調整一次

But, little is left to chance,

幾乎所有的部分都經過精心設計

except, perhaps, some of the watercolor.

除了某些水彩的部分

All these elements function in concert with one another.

所有這些元素共同交織運作後

It's almost like a dance of words, ideas, and images

就像一場文字、想法、圖像的舞

that work together in order to make the cartoon

它們一起讓漫畫成為永恆不朽的藝術

a timeless, resilient work of art.

它們一起讓漫畫成為永恆不朽的藝術