Technician Versus Performer/Quotes

"This may only be my theory... but speaking in broad terms, there are two types of manga artists who succeed in this world. One is the type of person who draws what they want to draw. To put it in rather negative terms they’re the ones who rely on natural instinct, or in positive terms they’re the "genius" type. The other type is the type of manga artist like you, Takagi, who creates a hit through calculation. And the one who has the chance of potential of creating a smash hit is by far the non-calculating person."

(He pauses as Mashiro and Takagi react in surprise)

"Okay, sorry, let me put that in a different way. It’s basically harder to calculate a smash hit. In other words, those who can create a smash hit through calculation have an advantage. They won’t end up as a one-hit wonder. And, if we editors could calculate hits like that, we’d get big promotions! Ha ha ha."

—Akira Hattori, Bakuman｡