A good quote I like from Pixar about coincidence is that "Coincidence to get characters into trouble is great. Coincidence to get them out of trouble is cheating."

"If it's a happy ending, everyone gets married in the end. If it's a sad ending everyone dies." Pretty much.

"When you love a movie's ending, don't just sit there and love it. Analyse it and figure out how it works."

"If it's a happy ending, crack a cold one open with the boys. If it's a sad ending, it's lukewarm."

I actually took script writing class and Deus ex machina was the first thing we covered in how not to end

I love these type of videos

The ending to Brody's Ghost was really well done, in my opinion. The story was really enticing and well-paced.

One of my favorite writers, Rick Riordan, does something in his books that i really like. In each book series, the main plot is always solved, but he leaves just enough loose ends hanging that there is enough room to comfortably make another book series. He once said that he doesn't like the usual epilogues, where they move on to 20 years into the future and everyone's married and what car do they have and how many kids, because it doesn't leave room for expansion. Look at the Harry Potter franchise (movies) (please don't spoil the books, I'm still reading them). The end basically tells us they grew up and now have kids. Sure, they did make another book beyond that, but it won't have the same flare our original main characters gave us. At some point you have to let go of your original main characters (for example, Percy Jackson, whom Rick said would no longer be going on any INTENSE adventures, but would sometimes pop up), yet its hard to imagine the franchise without them. The endings from his books are usually pretty satisfying and almost always tend to pave the road for a future story OR leave enough minor questions to start a new one. By the end of one of his series, you can ask questions like "what happened to this secondary character?" "where did this person go?" "Where did this person get all this stuff?" And he can come back and answer questions that were subtly hinted but weren't necessary to answer in order to have a good story.

I feel like my favorite anime, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, actually manages to have examples of both how to end a story perfectly, and how NOT to do so. Specifically, the original 12-episode TV-series has an ending that neatly wraps up all the major themes of the story, is perfectly consistent with the established lore of the universe and when you look back at the story after seeing how it ends, the foreshadowing is readily apparent. Oh, and it also leaves no need for any more story to be told... ...Which unfortunately leads us into the sequel movie, Rebellion. THAT movie basically has a big action scene that seems to be the climax of the story, only to then throw a massive twist ending after that which just completely changes the way the audience perceives a certain character, drastically alters the status quo of the world as a whole, and then it spends the last fifteen minutes or so establishing this really unsettling atmosphere and raising tons of questions about what this turn of event means... And then it just sort of stops. I mean, the twist IS technically foreshadowed, but the hints are SO subtle that it basically demands SEVERAL rewatches for it to make any sense at all, and it undermines what WOULD have been a perfectly fine ending otherwise. Like, the twist happens right when you could be forgiven for thinking the movie is ending. And even then, the ending doesn't really feel like a cliffhanger either, and even now, four years later, we still don't have any clear confirmation that the story will continue, beyond a vague statement to the effect of "We're working on SOMETHING new for this franchise!" ...I suppose with all that I just said, it goes without saying that I thought the story was stronger WITHOUT said sequel. I mean, the sequel had some interesting ideas in it, but as a whole I felt it did more harm than good.

I love all your videos, I honestly don't understand how someone could be so good at art. Thank you for existing and sharing all your art techniques, you have helped me get high levels in art at my school. I hope you continue to inspire more people. Thank you ~emily

Your storytelling videos are helping me so much with a story I'm coming up with. For months now I've been working on a manga, (or at least, the idea of one,) and although I have the characters, theme and so many ideas, I'm having trouble developing a good plot and how to tell the story. Thank you Mark!

From a theatre history student (me): It means "god from (a) machine". Ancient Greek and Roman plays almost always ended with a god descending from the heavens to fix all of the problems, the actor playing the god being lowered down via a crane-like device or "machine".

I speak French, and I can tell you your pronunciation isn't that bad.

I don't write stories, I just draw, but maybe this information will be handy one day, so.... in the noggin it goes. time to start watching! Edit; These tips are pretty helpful, but if you ever chose to make a certain video with spoilers in it (of random movies, or anything) in order to aid your tips, I don't think many people would mind, and you could always have an annotation or a warning to skip it! :)

bittersweet endings are my favourites

I just love sitting here watching you draw and talk. It sounds boring but it really isn't at all

I would think that it's better to have an ending from the start, but once you develop the story, it changes, and you find it better like that. What do you think?

When you don t know how to end your story: All was a dream

Let's have a second of appreciation for the fact that Mark has kept his greeting for years now. Seriously I watched him since I was 7

I understand what he means about having a good ending. I read this one book and just after the final battle all the important character's lost their memory of the hole event, it left me so incomplete that it took a moment for me to realize that the book achaly ended that way

The picture is soo pretty. Thank you as always for your advice!

The way you mix manga and realism is so lovely!its so satisfying to look at

"you do not want a magical coincidence to save the day" jojo part 2: 0-0

It's "God from the machine" but your version works too

Didn't even realise it. But your right about raiders of the lost arch. But I think he got away with it because he at multiple times during the film warned the protagonist from opening the arch. So they basically had it comen.

Gosh....this is a gorgeous illustration...those lips are wonderful! Thank you so much for the tips! They are always super helpful! I would really appreciate some advice in the future with avoiding plot holes and maintaining continuity within a story :)

your pronunciation of "dénouement" is pretty good actually! you pronounce the "nou" as "new", while it's pronounced more like "noo". great video! I always have a hard time with endings, so this was helpful!

Hey Crilley, I just wanted to say thank you. I started watching your videos like a few years back. I went through my old drawings and the progression I had from your videos was amazing. Now I'm kinda doing my own thing; not really relying on tutorials at all. I'm gonna be an art major next year and I largely give you credit for that. I mean, I found your videos when I needed them and they really helped me learn and grow and kept me motivated. Now I'm at the point where I'm going off and doing my own thing and I just wanted to say thank you.

This has been incredibly helpful, thank you Mark 😁 Also, my sister got me your new book "Manga Art" as a late birthday present and it is THE BEST!

You outlined my favroite piece of advice, Crilley! People always wonder why I watch things if I obviously hate what I'm watching, but I do it to find out WHY I hate it and to learn from other people's mistakes.

Dude, I would call you sir in real life but whatever, your videos are so great to relax and watch and they're so engaging because I'm constructing my comic book's plot. Good news though, its done, the ending and key events have all been finished along with all the character arcs. The Aftermath (Denouement) has been fully crafted, side stories are done too. it took 8 years of Imagination, completely erasing some ideas and turning others into independent stories. I revamped the plot numerous times in those 8 years but it's finally worth it. I've got the best story I could ask for from a readers perspective, and a-lot of great ideas I can't wait to put in comic panels So yeah keep it up , the videos are appreciated. and I'll be sure to pick up Brody's Ghost

the way you do your line art is so satisfying

This is extremely helpful to me. I've already started releasing my own comic pages on social media. And as it follows along my guidelines I had written down ahead of time, I'm rewriting the chapters ahead of the current one and had almost cornered myself to the point where it was hard to come up with a decent ending. Your tips have created a new opening to help me find that satisfactory ending I'm looking for!

Hey Mr.Crilley, just wanted to by say thank you for all the writing advice videos. I have been conceptualizing and piecing together a comic for a good couple of years now. Every time I watch one of these types of videos, I leave with an "Ah Hah!" moment that fills in a bit of my story more. Either I cross out a silly idea, or a plot point/moment/character growth just clicks with me. I am glad I found your channel! It has definitely helped me on my journey to finish this project! Good work :D.

Today I've been writing the detailed outline for my story for my graphic novel and omg I've watched these advice videos about 5 times hahahaha, very helpful though! Love your videos, I've been watching you ever since I began drawing properly when I was probably around 9 years old. You have seriously helped inspire me so much and I'm so thankful. If I didn't find your videos back then I doubt I would be doing what I am now about 7 years later.

So many years have passed, I am still in love with your style.

'profoundly dissatisfying' :DDDD I think I'm going to use that in future :D

Thank you for these story advice uploads!

I love this piece! Very well done.

These type of videos are super helpful! Thank you!

All movies now just feel like trailers for other movies that will also be trailers

That girl kind of looks like a grown up Talia

in middle school people asked me how i got so good at drawing and i'd be like my god taught me (mark)

Mark, that was really good. I find for a story to work, it's important to identify at the outset what the problem will be, what will maintain interest/suspense along the way, and how it will be resolved. It's helpful to be a loose as you put it so you can take advantage of inspiration that comes to you along the way, but unless you know where the story is heading, I don't think it's going to turn out unless you're just lucky.

Thx for helping us manga/comic/writers with ending a story.I want mine to be both happy and sad. Like the ending itself will be a good, but the way it happened will be very sad. so bittersweet. ye

I love these story tips! Very helpful and informative

love these vids and I love the way you draw eyes

I love your vids, especially ones like these, You are amazing at art and I love your tutorials! Thank you so much!

I have recently started with story writing and this video really was helpful. Thank you.

Another great and informative vid Mark! I appreciate these types of videos and feel they will help me with my future comic project. Thanks!

I've been dying for more Story tip videos eeee

Great video :) I've been working on a novel for 2 years now and I'm almost at the end and these tips will be very helpful when I plan out the ending. Thanks!

Hey Mark. I love your advice about stories and plots

These tips really helped me ! Thank you ! The art work in the back is absolutely amazing (:

Amazing video! Thank you 😄

I really needed to see this, thank you so much!

Having a bit of a writing dip. So this helps bunches!

Before I'm dead set on making a series, I make sure I think up the plot first, characters second, ending third and beginning last. Along the way, I'll fill out the middle. That's my process anyways, thanks for the tips!

this really helped me Mr Crilley thank you!

The ending to B.G suited everything that had been established up to that point. It emotionally fulfilled the reader and resolved many of the problems the protagonists had dealt with while still leaving just enough still not quite right to make you feel like it could go on or make you wonder after the fact. Basically, my Ideal ending.

Hi mark, I love your vids:) Thanks for everything

"if it's a happy ending everyone gets married" - Clannad "if it's a sad ending everyone dies!" (cough, cough!) - vocaloid story of evil

this really has me thinking about my comic in general and I still have a lot to think about X'D

Beautiful

Thank you 😊 this video helped

can you do a video on character arcs please??

Drawn perfectly everytime!

This was a great video! I still remember the worst ending I ever gave a story, and yes, it was a stupid deus ex machina ending where a barely-there character saves the day. Fortunately deus ex machina isn't my style, and most of my endings haven't been so crummy. Thank you for making this video, since comics are as much about writing as they are about art. You're a really good teacher :)

I just got "The Drawing Lesson." I've improved alot! Thnx Mark!

[Cries at Bleach's ending....]

great work! love this type of video, help us fine tune our work... thanks a bunch! maybe one about writing stories for continuing series, like large story archs over several issues? foreshadowing for future books?

You know none of my stories have a happy ending though I like the middle and beginning dunno about when I bee a Mangaka 😼😼😼😼

Great video

I actually met him at an art teaching once, it was like 3 years ago. but he was pretty cool

back with the black prisma! :D

Very Nice and Awesome painting

I'm 13 and I'm creating a comic. I'm 2 pages away, so this is a great video for me. Thank you Mark!

As a reader of books i would add another tip / pointer ... The story can have subliminal plot lines almost hidden deeper within the story plot that a reader won't usually notice on the first read, so by the time the reader has read the story a few times they pick up new things that was missed on previous reads wich sometimes changes the original perception of the story from the first read of the story. This gives your books life beyond the first read and if a reader is reading your book multiple times then they will remember it better and recommend it to thair friends. The Watchmen is one of my favorite stories because you get enough to finish the story upon the first read but you know there was lots of bits within the story that makes you want to read it again to see what else you can spot.

"When you love a movies ending dont just sit there and love it" 😂😂😂😂

very cool i like it!!

To me a good ending is a balance of happiness and sadness. A good, solid ending should be bittersweet.

Really helps

Hi Mark!

Hi Mark. Great advice as always. I used to start writing by coming up with an ending, then working backwards to map the rest of the story to that ending. But that was when I was Much younger!! ;-)

Yes, thank you! I'm writing the outline for my comic, and the ending was a bit worrisome for me, thank you!

Great tips Great video.

This is pretty much why I recommend movies that even I don't like too much. You can learn from it~

for your next Q&A i'm wondering: do you draw so much that you forget your drawings? like if someone showed you a collection with some of your art and some art in styles similar to yours, would you struggle in picking out which pieces were yours?

Hey guys, I just wanted to add onto Mark's comments about rewriting and knowing your ending. This is actually a super important point that I hope no one overlooks. A lot of people like to just sit down and write, eager for an ending to pop out of nowhere that will be satisfying and oh so sweet. But this approach to writing will take longer and often lead to more frustration. When it's recommended you have an ending in mind, that doesn't mean: hero gets in a car, runs over the villain, hero gets married. It usually means to have a general idea of what you want the ending to be. Does the hero die? Does the villain die? Does the hero escape? Etc. The how and the why are irrelevant until the rewrite stage, but you should know what goal you are writing toward. Otherwise, you're going to be sitting at Chapter 1 wondering, "So what do I want to write about?" Give yourself little ending goals in either the outline or rough draft stage. Then you can refine in the rewrite which will be the most crucial and time consuming part of the process.

your prononciation of dénouement is good, trust me, i live in belgium

hey Mark i was wondering if this week you could do a video on how you create, find, and pick clothing styles for your characters. I don't really know a lot about clothes and was wondering if you had a method on how to pick or create a style for a character.

Miki Falls did have a surprise ending... I did not see that end coming.....

“Let’s go ahead and lay down this pencil” that’s an ending! 👌

My comic series will end with the main villain dying but a another big villain in my series takes his place. It will lead to my next series. Basically, my point of the ending is to show that a threat will always come even after you defeat the previous one. Same with heroes. A few dies, more will rise. It’s a never ending cycle. The sequel isn’t that planned out though. I’m focused on ending my 1st, favorite series, then I’ll focus on the sequel

Pretty much every harem-esque rom-com anime has a "choose your own ending" ending. The ending where the protagonist hooks up with nobody, and you're left to just make up your own ending. That shit really grinds my gears.

That's Exactly the art style am trying to achieve the perfect mix between anime and western comics

I WANT TO TRY THIS TOO

thanks for this video! your french accent is quite good actually ^^

Like Von Ryan's Express. Won't spoil it, but it's really good.

He said "MERE MORTALS" YESS!!!