Emotion



Figure 12 
Mood can be shown through varying line thicknesses, shapes, drawing styles, or expressions and emotions of a drawn character. In comics, manga, anime, and graphic novels, lines are often used to illustrate visually the emotions of characters.
These are called emanata. ('To emanate' is to 'spread outwards from an origin'.) 

Lines can represent pride, joy, anger, disgust, anxiety, cold, or madness.

Emanata can also be symbols such as 'Zzz' (sleeping), a light bulb above the head (an idea), or 'EEEEE' (scream). 


Figure 13

Figure 14
Colour shows information about mood, just as it does in visual images.

For example, red can represent anger, and green can represent cold or jealousy.

Colours used in graphic storytelling can also be symbolic, giving the reader hints towards messages or themes in the text.


Frames

Frames can be complicated and abstract, or they might be very simple.

Sometimes, the artist uses a different shaped frame (wobbly or faded instead of straight lines) or a different coloured gutter to indicate a different time - a flashback or foreshadow. 

Sometimes, the colour of a highlighted frame's contents will be black and white or drawn with softer lines or softer (washed out) shades of colour.

Whenever you notice a change in frame shape within a graphic story, pay attention. Something important is happening there.


Winsor McCay/Public Domain


Winsor McCay /Public Domain