Heading into a brand new school for your senior year is hard. But then having to deal with supernatural drama can make it even worse! In the supernatural WEBTOON series, Jackson’s Diary, Jackson just wants to make it to the end of the school year without all the ominous and unsettling feelings creeping him out. Oh, and don’t forget all the stuff with Exer! We recently had the chance to chat with creator Paola Batalla for National Hispanic Heritage Month about bringing this supernatural series to life and what happens behind the scenes.
If you haven’t read Jackson’s Diary – let’s go! It updates every Sunday and can be read here! Be sure to follow and support Batalla on social media as well! (Instagram)
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Paola Batalla
Julia Roth: Jackson’s Diary is one of our favorite supernatural WEBTOON series. What was your inspiration behind the overall story?
Paola Batalla: That’s so lovely to hear! Thanks so much!
The lore and concept of Jackson’s Diary have been created and existed since I was starting high school. All my personal experiences with my family and friends became a significant factor in the thinking and portraying of ideas in the comic from then until now. I love stories with a large grayscale of roles instead of a black-and-white dynamic. Of course, my interest in the supernatural couldn’t be missing. That’s why I also included a magical element in my story.
JR: Why did you choose to go down the supernatural path?
PB: I find paranormal things and any other stuff that isn’t “normal” very intriguing, but I also like simple and common things. I started imagining everyday situations, turning them into something unique and weird. That’s how I figured out a way to make those elements match human emotions and feelings.
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JR: You weave Hispanic culture beautifully throughout the story. Was this a conscious effort or more of a “write what you know” situation?
PB: Both ways! I’ve brought Colombian culture as well, besides Mexican culture. I’m Mexican, but I had to research Colombia’s common customs as well. I tried my best to deliver the essence in both countries.
JR: How far into the story do you have planned out? Do you have a clear end in your mind, or do you take things week to week or month to month?
PB: I’ve mapped out the main ideas and outline of the story. Such as the bases and goals I need to achieve throughout the season, but not all the scenes and dialogues are 100% percent developed yet. The script is part of my weekly episode production.
I do have an ending in mind, though. But I’m still open to creating other ideas in the future. I usually update or add something new every two months!
JR: What have been your biggest influences while working on Jackson’s Diary?
PB: Besides my family and high school experiences, music also inspires me. It usually comes from movie soundtracks, musicals, or 80s and 90s songs. I also watched old anime and cartoons in my childhood, so I believe that’s where the art style came from!
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JR: You’ve recently kicked off season two. Do you have plans for a third and maybe fourth season?
PB: I have plans for a possible third season. I do have a bunch of ideas to set up in that new phase, such as new reveals and even a series finale. That’s why I’m still not very sure about a fourth one!
JR: What is your creative process like? What goes into writing/drawing each chapter?
PB: Weekly, I start polishing the last details from the script I’ve planned for a new episode. I usually listen to classical music in the background to focus on writing. Then I begin with the sketches to better understand what I’d like the chapter to look like. Then I send the complete thumbnails to my editor for her to supervise the content. Once I get her feedback and do the last content edits, I officially start with the line art and coloring phase, from which I get a lot of help from my assistants. In the end, I render the episode by myself, adding backgrounds, special effects, last changes in the speech bubbles, etcetera.
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JR: What has been your favorite part of crafting the series?
PB: I enjoyed writing and drawing my season finale! It was a lot of fun to end it in suspense as one of the biggest reveals in the comic. I also partnered with a composer who did an excellent job ambient the scenes. I felt the result was pretty cinematographic and emotional.
JR: What WEBTOON series do you keep up on? Any favorites?
PB: I love The Kiss Bet by Ingrid Ochoa (I’ve been subscribed since it was on Canvas) and The Prince of Southland by Geroux! Both have my soul right now. I also read Lord Have Mercy on WEBTOON CANVAS!
JR: Do you have any plans for a future WEBTOON series? What genre would you like to tackle next?
PB: I do have a couple of new stories I’d love to begin after concluding Jackson’s Diary. I even started writing a general summary of the concept I’m thinking of, such as character designs, so I’m also very excited about these future projects. I’d love to stick to drama and maybe add a little of a thriller!
This article was originally published on 9/16/22.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/webtoon-series-national-hispanic-heritage-month/
Who I Am: A nerd by the strictest definition. I enjoy diving straight into my favorite fandoms without a care in the world. I live on video/board games, fantasy movies and TV, and all things geeky.
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