Date Published: May 4th, 2025

How To Create A Survival Manga

In today's video, we're talking about how to create a manga, comic, or light novel in the survival genre. The survival genre focuses on characters trying to survive in a challenging environment, typically a dystopian or apocalyptic environment. This video will focus on how to make a survival manga that feels believable, and that your readers will enjoy too!

What Is The Survival Genre?

The survival genre focuses on characters surviving in a harsh or difficult world. It is commonly set in an apocalyptic or dystopian world where the characters need to survive. Survival is also combined often with time travel, or isekai, but it isn’t limited to just these genres.

Give Characters The Motivation To Survive

While goals are important in any story, goals are especially important in the survival genre. What makes the goal important, however, is the motivation behind the goal. This motivation must make them determined to survive, even in the harsh conditions around them.

Consider The Unknown Dangers Of The World

In the survival genre, the fear of the unknown is the true threat. While characters may be able to prepare for known dangers, there always may be unknown threats lurking just around the corner.
Including these unknown dangers can keep the readers on the edge of their seats as they read your story.

Every Character Should Have Unique Abilities

Each characters’ abilities should help them survive in the world of the story (even if those skills aren’t fighting oriented.) For example, a character who is good at singing may be able to create a distraction. Or a character who has experience in sailing may be able to help the rest of the group traverse the ocean.

Show Your Audience The Danger Before Your Characters

A good way to build tension in a scene is to show the audience the impending danger before the characters notice it. This lets your readers in on a secret, allowing them to get involved in the scene, and watch how your characters will respond next.

With Every Challenge, Let Your Characters Grow Stronger

Show how your characters change and learn through the story. In the beginning, they may struggle in the face of new dangers, but over time, they should learn new skills to help them survive.

Force Your Characters To Make Tough Moral Decisions

Present situations where your character is forced to make a tough decision in a small amount of time. This not only shows more information about your character, but it also creates intense situations which show the true dangers within your world.

Take A Moment To Show Beauty Amidst The Survival

The survival genre is not just about showing your characters surviving. I believe that one of the most important elements is showing the beauty amidst the challenging events. Whether events bring characters closer together, or help them to see beautiful aspects of the world they never noticed before, there should be moments of peace for your characters.

Know The Ending

Stories in the survival genre tend to be longer than stories in other genres. It can be helpful to plan ahead and know how you intend to end the story. By knowing the end, you can create a more fulfilling story that works towards that goal.