word balloons

Word balloons, also known as speech bubbles, are visual tools used in comics, graphic novels, and illustrations to represent spoken or thoughts of characters. They are typically shaped outlined areas containing text and are connected to a character with a small tail or pointer indicating who is speaking or thinking. This visual cue helps readers easily identify dialogue and internal thoughts, enhancing storytelling clarity. Their design can vary to suggest tone or emotion, such as jagged edges for shouting or wavy lines for whispering, making them an essential element for effective visual communication in sequential art.