Veerachai Duangpla (; born 2 May 1987), known by the pen name The Duang (), is a Thai cartoonist and illustrator. He is best known for his series The Story Begins With... (). The first volume won the 2010 Silver Award at the 4th International MANGA Award. His works have been published by many renown Thai publishers and are popular among Thai youth." ArtGorillas, March 15, 2011 The Duang also became famous after collaborating with VRZO production, one of the most popular YouTube channel in Thailand.
Profile Son of Thai comics artist Ruangsak Duangpla, Veerachai Duangpla started drawing comics at the age of 13, influenced by the work of his father, Thai comics like Kai Hua Rau and manga such as Dragon Ball,"Interview with Verachai Duangpla", 2011 Shaman King or Flame of Recca."Interview with Tha Duang" in: LET'S Find Your Style. LET'S Comic, p. 18, 2014 He then decided to choose the manga One Piece as his model, considering the plot more subtle. Trying to break away from manga's influence, he later introduced some elements of Tim Burton's art into his own style."Interview with Tha Duang" in: LET'S Find Your Style. LET'S Comic, p. 18, 2014 He studied Visual Communication Art and Design in collegeInternational Manga Award website and continued to explore the Western comics production, borrowing visual and narrative features from Marvel Comics or French cartoonist Nicolas de Crécy to his art. His most famous series The Story Begins With... () is a compilation of short stories concerning instructive episodes and social satires of Thailand through the eyes of a Thai boy.Sarun Saelee, The Thai Financial Post, January 21, 2011 "Thai cartoonist grabs Silver Award from 4th International Manga Award" Published by Banlue Books, the first volume won the 2010 Silver Award at the 4th International MANGA Award. The Duang, with other Thai cartoonists of his generation such as Puck, Sa-Ard or Note, is a regular contributor to the alternative Thai magazine LET'S Comic founded in 2004.Warat Karuchit, "The Uphill Climb to Reach a Plateau" in: John A. Lent (ed.), Southeast Asian Cartoon Art: History, Trends and Problems. Jefferson: McFarland & company, 2014
The Duang and VRZO The Duang gained popularity with Thai teenagers through his collaboration with VRZO production, one of the most famous YouTube channel in Thailand. He adapted classical folk tales into animated cartoons which were meant to provide useful lessons to Thai teenagers. These animated cartoons gathered quickly more than a million views. The Duang also created cartoon characters based on the members of VRZO team such as , George VRZO and Isara Hata.
Works Clart Room (), 2006, published by Children's Foundation () The Lesson of a Doll Boy, 2007, published by Children's Foundation () Shockolate, 2009, published by Cartoonthai Studio (Siam Inter Comic) I AM, 2009, published by Cartoonthai Studio (Siam Inter Comic) The Story Begins With... (), 2009, published by Banlue Books Innocent Series 2009, published by LET'S Comic The Story Begins With... volume 2 (), 2010, published by Banlue Books Remember The Duang, 2010, published by LET'S Comic Around The Duang, 2010, artbook (resized edition) published by LET'S Comic My Inspiration, 2011, published by Fullstop Book Robot Boy No.03, 2011, published by Banlue Books The Story Begins With... volume 3 (), 2011, published by Banlue Books สงสัยมั้ย ธรรมะ, 2011, story by Chaiyapat illustrated by The Duang, published by A Thing Book ขอตามเม้นท์ ทุกชาติ ทุกชาติไป, 2012, published by Children's Foundation () Innocent Side Stories, 2012, published by LET'S Comic The Story Begins With... volume 4 (), 2012, published by Banlue Books สงสัยมั้ย ธรรมะ ฉบับ รู้ทันทุกข์, 2012, story by Chaiyapat illustrated by The Duang, published by A Thing Book Quote of The Duang, 2013, published by Banlue Books My Inspiration II, 2013, published by Fullstop Book The Story Begins With... The Duang in Japan volume 5 (), 2013, published by Banlue Books สงสัยมั้ย ธรรมะ พุทธทาส ฉบับ เช่นนั้นเอง, 2013, story by Chaiyapat illustrated by The Duang, published by A Thing Book The Story Begins With... volume 6 (), 2014, published by Banlue Books BlackBoy, The Series - First Chapter: Kill'em All, 2014, published by LET'S Comic สงสัยมั้ย ธรรมะ ฉบับ ทุกข์ไม่มีจริง, 2014, story by Chaiyapat illustrated by The Duang, published by A Thing Book The Story Begins With... volume 7 (), 2015, published by Banlue Books Tomtam's Diary & Super Robot, 2015, published by Banlue Books สงสัยมั้ย ธรรมะ ฉบับ ความปกติ, 2015, story by Chaiyapat illustrated by The Duang, published by A Thing Book B&W: Black & White, 2016, published by LET'S Comic VRZO - ()
Awards The Story Begins With... (), 2010, Silver Award at the 4th International MANGA Award
References 11. Se-ed online book shop
12.The Duang Facebook fan page
External links International Manga Award website