Children or adults don't care. It can be very complicated to pick up a "How to Draw Anime and Manga" book for the first time and not base your style on that of that particular artist. In this article, you will learn how to develop your own style! You will be able to create a style that encompasses many of the features of Anime and Manga!
Steps
Step 1. Read real manga and watch real anime
Seriously, although children's books often do this, anime drawing books teach you to draw poser, fake, commercial anime that don't capture the true essence of anime. Always look for Japanese names. There are several very good books on manga drawing written by real Japanese authors. Who draws Japanese art best? Certainly Japanese people, most of the time. Furthermore, by reading real manga, you will be able to notice and assimilate the characteristic traits of manga and anime, and you may even be able to recognize "American manga" (like kidsWB).
Step 2. Try drawing manga-style characters and / or animals before buying a drawing book
This way you will not subconsciously assimilate the style of the author of the book.
Step 3. If the book has step-by-step instructions, avoid jumping directly to the last drawing and copying that one
It's cheating, and it's the way you start drawing exactly like the author of the book. Start with the head circle, eye lines, and so on. You can also draw the character in the same pose as the one in the book, but at least it will be your personal work.
Step 4. Practice drawing your favorite characters
It might seem contradictory to what was said before, but it helps a lot. It is not so terrible to base your style on that of another artist, the important thing is not to copy it. If you draw your favorite characters and do it well, and if you like that artist's style, some traits of his style will remain when you draw your own characters. Don't just draw pre-made characters. They're a good place to start, but if all you can draw is Rena by Dot Hack, it won't be enough to do other things (although you'll hit a lot of Dot Hack fan sites).
Step 5. Don't let other people say your drawings are stupid
Even if they were, with practice you will silence everyone when you move to Japan and everyone will say "A! Ii manga-e desu yo!" ("Wow! Great manga drawing!") - although moving to Japan is not a great idea if you don't speak Japanese well, understand their culture and so on.
Advice
- How can you improve? By practicing. Buy a sketch pad and draw every day. When you have filled it in you will notice how much your drawings have improved from the first to the last. But you're not done yet! Keep practicing!
- If you want to draw, find pictures on the internet and study them. That way you'll probably be better at drawing your own characters too.
- Believing in yourself is certainly essential. Believe in your drawings even if you think they are not very good because you will IMPROVE if you believe in yourself and in your talent in drawing.
- If you have a hard time developing your own style, simply learn to draw pre-existing styles you like and eventually blend them to get your own. And don't be afraid to look outside the world of manga and anime for your inspiration.
- Ask for help from people who can draw manga, in real life and on the internet. Sometimes asking more competent people for help can help you improve a lot.
- Study real people and how they move in everyday life, you will learn a lot.
- Study Japanese culture. You will understand better what you are drawing. It is one of the ways to tell if you are reading a manga drawing book as a poser, see if there are many American references and stereotypes (like "the ghetto", which you would never find in a Japanese person's guide book)
- Draw real things, and see how you could make them more manga (if possible, backgrounds and objects certainly don't have a specific look in manga). Animals, especially, are very different in American animation
- Practice anatomy. Yes, it is boring to fix a picture of muscles and skeleton, but if you want to draw seriously, anatomy is essential.
Warnings
- This is a time-consuming process. You won't be a fantastic manga artist in a week, or a month. If you have a strong artistic background, like going to an art school or the like, it will be easier to assimilate it all (or harder, it depends). I probably improved even faster.
- If you're really going big and want to start selling your art, make sure you're not infringing any copyrights by making your characters exactly the same as those in your favorite manga in clothing, voice, personality or otherwise. They will look at anything.
