Why Some Manga Authors Use Unusual Story Structures
Story structure in manga refers to how a story is arranged and told — from beginning to end. It shapes how readers experience the plot, characters, and themes. In most storytelling forms, there’s often a set pattern, like the classic hero’s journey or a simple linear timeline. But in manga, authors sometimes venture outside these norms with unusual story structures. This variety keeps the medium fresh and helps manga stand out amid countless series. These unique approaches can change how we feel, understand characters, or engage with the story. Let’s explore why some manga creators choose to stray from traditional formats and what effects those choices bring.
Breaking Away from Traditional Storytelling
Most manga use straightforward structures. The linear narrative is common: a clear sequence of events from start to finish. The hero’s journey is another staple, with a protagonist facing challenges and growing over time. But some manga break from these smooth paths. They might jump around in time, show events through different characters’ eyes, or piece together fragments to form the full story.
These unusual structures catch attention in a competitive market and better match certain story goals. For example, Berserk sometimes shows flashbacks mixed with current battles, adding layers to the narrative. Oyasumi Punpun uses surreal episodes and fragmented scenes that reflect the protagonist’s disturbed mind. By playing with time and perspective, authors can control the story’s pace, build suspense, or make readers active participants piecing things together.
Using non-linear or multi-viewpoint storylines isn’t made to confuse; it’s a tool that engages readers in fresh ways. It can make a plot feel richer and characters more complex, breaking the usual rhythm to keep interest high.
Enhancing Emotional Impact Through Structure
Unusual structures can intensify emotional reactions by controlling when and how information unfolds. Flashbacks might reveal a character's past trauma bit by bit, creating suspense or empathy. Parallel storylines can show different sides of an event, deepening understanding. Episodic chapters, where each section focuses on a different character or moment, let readers breathe between intense scenes.
This technique also builds immersion. When a story doesn’t spill everything at once, readers stay curious, emotionally invested, and more connected with the characters. For example, March Comes in Like a Lion carefully spreads character backstories and emotional struggles across chapters, making the reveal more powerful.
Reflecting Themes and Characters’ Mental States
Sometimes, unusual storylines aren’t just creative choices but deliberate reflections of themes or a character’s mind. If a protagonist suffers from fragmented memories or is an unreliable narrator, the manga’s structure might mimic that confusion. This approach adds artistic depth and keeps the reader guessing what’s real or imagined.
For example, Shiki uses fragmented storytelling to reflect the horror and mystery surrounding its characters’ deaths and transformations. Strange timelines or incomplete scenes can symbolize mental struggle, trauma, or chaos in the story world. This adds realism and emotional weight to complex themes, making the narrative a more personal experience for readers.
Cultural and Industry Influences on Story Structure
Japanese culture and the manga industry greatly shape storytelling choices. Manga is usually published serially in magazines, with chapters released weekly or monthly. This format encourages authors to design stories that maintain interest across many instalments.
Certain genres and audience preferences also influence how stories are shaped. Romance manga, for instance, might use slow-burning narratives, while thrillers could rely on cliffhangers or fragmented reveals. Japanese traditions have storytelling forms like Kishōtenketsu, a four-act structure based on introduction, development, twist, and conclusion that doesn’t always rely on conflict but on emotional or thematic shifts. This differs from typical Western three-act styles and encourages creators to experiment beyond usual plot expectations.
Serialisation Demands and Reader Engagement
The pressure to keep readers hooked week after week pushes manga authors to adopt structures that easily generate suspense. Cliffhangers at the end of chapters, multiple intertwining plots, or nonlinear timelines keep fans guessing. This can change pacing, sometimes slowing for character work or speeding up for action, depending on reader demand.
Such structures give an ongoing rhythm to manga and help authors extend or deepen the story in line with fan response, magazine deadlines, and editorial feedback.
Cultural Storytelling Traditions in Japan
Traditional Japanese tales often weave emotional resonance and atmosphere differently than Western stories. These narrative traditions influence modern manga storytelling, valuing mood, character relationships, and subtle thematic development. The Kishōtenketsu structure mentioned earlier exemplifies this, focusing more on contrast and development than conflict-driven plots.
You can read more about Kishōtenketsu’s unique structure at Luciano Salerno’s explanation of the four-act structure.
Creative Freedom and Artistic Expression
Many manga authors see unusual story structures as their creative playground. Rather than following strict conventions, they use structure to express their unique voice or artistic goals. This freedom allows them to innovate and stretch what manga storytelling can be.
Influence of Avant-garde and Experimental Manga
Avant-garde manga often push boundaries with unorthodox formats. These works may challenge readers with abstract panel layouts or non-chronological storytelling, inviting deeper reflection. Manga like Tekkonkinkreet or Blame! experiment with style and structure to create immersive, sometimes disorienting worlds that redefine reader expectations.
This experimental nature keeps manga fresh and exciting, encouraging more creators to take risks.
Author Personality and Storytelling Style
A manga’s story structure often reveals the author’s personality, background, and storytelling aims. Some writers prefer clear, linear tales, while others lean towards fragmented or poetic forms. This makes each manga unique in how the narrative unfolds.
Readers can appreciate this variety, noticing how structure shapes meaning and affects the reading experience.
Conclusion
Manga authors use unusual story structures for many reasons: to enhance emotional impact, explore complex themes, meet the demands of serialisation, and express artistic creativity. These structures invite readers to engage in new ways, appreciating manga as a versatile and evolving form of storytelling.
Exploring manga that break traditional formats opens up worlds of fresh ideas and emotional depth. If you want to dive into manga that challenge and entertain with diverse storytelling techniques, check out the manga collection at The Manga Menagerie. It’s a great starting point to experience the unique narrative styles that make manga a standout art form.
For readers curious about manga that go beyond battles and fights, our blog post on manga storylines is also worth a look. It highlights depth and creativity in manga storytelling beyond conventional action.