Guard inks passion for anime
Amir adds Malay warriors to tale largely set in Japan
KUALA TERENGGANU: Driven by his love for Japanese animation, a security guard here is working on his own adventure manga or Japanese comic.
Amir Mustapha Mursidi, 35, started work as a security guard in 2014 after the Terengganu-based animation company he worked with closed.
“It was a difficult time but I was determined to land any job to help take care of my parents,” he said.
Amir worked with Japanese designers and animators after earning a certificate in animation under a state-government run programme in 2007.
However, after about seven years in the content creation industry, he lost his job.
“I was at the library one day when I saw this security guard and I told myself to give it a go even if I had to take about a 60% pay cut,” he said.
Amir now guards a pawnshop during the day and heads to a fastfood restaurant after work to complete his manga.
Titled Mitsu Haruna – loosely translated as The Light of Spring – the manga’s protagonist is a Japanese female warrior who wields a sword called A Thousand Sakuras.
Although mostly set in Japan, he also includes Malay warriors into the mix for a little local flavour.
Amir obtains many ideas for his manga’s storyline on his way to work.
“I get my inspiration while I’m riding my motorcycle and I’ll make a mental note to pen it down after work,” he said.
Amir, who counts Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama as one of his favourite manga artists, said he had shared his creations with a small group of people and was encouraged by their support.
“One of them even told me it was good enough to be published so I’ll be working towards that next year,” said Amir, who hopes his work will inspire others in the state.