Masking (comics)

American cartoonist Scott McCloud argues that readers are more likely to identify with a simply-drawn "iconic" character than with a realistic-looking one.

Masking (or the masking effect) is a visual style used in comics, first described by American cartoonist Scott McCloud in his book Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. McCloud argues that characters with simple but recognizable designs, which he terms "iconic" characters, allow readers to project themselves into the story by using the characters as a "mask".^[1] He further argues that the juxtaposition of iconic characters with detailed backgrounds, characters, or objects can create meaning and strengthen or weaken readers' emotional and psychological connection to certain elements of the graphic narrative.^[2]

Masking can be found in various media outside of comics, such as animation, picture books and video games (especially visual novels).^[3] Masking is commonly used in manga and anime; McCloud states that masking "was, for a time, virtually a national style" in Japan.^[4]

^ McCloud 1994, pp. 42–43.
^ Buuck & Ryan 2017, p. 156.
^ Wolf 2014, p. 109.
^ McCloud 1994, p. 43.

[FOOTNOTEMcCloud199442–43-1] McCloud 1994, pp. 42–43.

[FOOTNOTEBuuckRyan2017156-2] Buuck & Ryan 2017, p. 156.

[FOOTNOTEWolf2014[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidbllWBQAAQBAJpgPA109_109]-3] Wolf 2014, p. 109.

[FOOTNOTEMcCloud199443-4] McCloud 1994, p. 43.

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