Noob Book Review - Visual Storytelling by Yasu Tanaka

I met Yasu Tanaka and Bea Tanaka for the first time in one of their talk on script-writing organised by Sharpened Word around 2 years ago. In the talk, they promoted this very book titled ‘Visual Storytelling’ and was open for order.

I did not hesitate. I put in my name on the list. Also on few other occasions, namely ‘NOTA’ special screening in GALERI PETRONAS.

And finally last few weeks I got my copy!

I’m not an avid reader at all but the book was so intuitive, I finish it all in one sitting. One of the reason is it has around 50% of the narrative done in graphics instead of text. It is very effective in communicating the lessons in storytelling, setting a first hand example for a noobie (newbie) like me.

Which takes me to what I’ve bump into recently of what George Lucas told Jon Favreau, the director of the upcoming Disney+ Star Wars show, the Mandalorian, he recalled,

“One thing he said to me was, ’remember, Jon, the real audience for all stories and all myths is the kids that are coming of age’, because he’s really a Joseph Campbell adherent.”

Which also being taught indirectly in this book on how visuals are very important especially when the audience ‘is the kids that are coming of age’. Because it is the young that we need to teach the lessons of the generations so they can learn from it and not to repeat the mistakes done.

What is beautiful about story like Star Wars Trilogy (I personally think there’s only 3 Star Wars movies.) that it reaches to even adults, going through our Circles of Life.

It is also been said in most of Pak Hassan Abd Muthalib talks on how to ‘sell your stories’. He needs no introduction on his classics animation masterpieces that obviously reaching out to the youngsters in delivering the messages. Cartoon-ish as they may seem, but the core message reaches all ages.

And this book gave me just that. A basic idea on how to structure a story. The characters, the up and downs the characters go through, what is the meaning of antagonist and protagonist and the main thing is to know what your story is about.
Yasu Tanaka is a script-analyst for the movie Bleach and directed together with Bea Tanaka the movie ‘NOTA’. Learnt his craft from his years in Hollywood and now staying in Malaysia and has been sharing their knowledge in their classes.

It is currently on sale in Kinokuniya KLCC and MPH. Also available for purchase online
https://42ndacademy.com (click BUY NOW under the book info)
https://www.gerakbudaya.com