How to Draw Manga Characters

Last Updated: December 16, 2020

Manga artistry can be an amazing skill when mastered properly. It's simple, easy and with proper practice can become a skill that can help you in many ways. Eg - doing projects (at school), designing clothes and heaps more. One of the most satisfying things is bringing your character to life and personalizing them with clothes and more. Read on to learn how.

Steps

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For examples, buy one of those modeling dolls from a craft store or look in the mirror. Making your pose realistic is important, but start of with something basic, a person standing with hands behind their back. Draw a large circle for the hips, the legs connected on.
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Draw circles/oblongs around your lines, making sure again it's realistic. If you're a man, start off drawing men, if you're a woman start by drawing a woman. Start off according to your gender and learn to know the male/female body better before you draw any boy/girl characters. Turn your dots into larger circles, for example, around the knees (this eventually makes the kneecap).
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Women have a slimmer waist while a man's is less defined. Add some lines for the neck and make some triangle shapes for the feet. Erase all the original 'skeletal' lines leaving only your border.
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You can basically design any clothes but an important part is the fold. They make the look realistic (that ever so important word again). Start basic though, a simple robe or something. If you need help, get a rag and hang it the same way. Gravity applies to fabric as well so make sure it falls the right way.
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You'll soon see the difference.

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What do I do if my drawing looks creepy?

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Turn it into a creepy character. If one specific part or parts of the drawing look creepy, keep practicing those parts until they look the way you want them to.

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Are manga and anime the same thing?

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They have a similar art style, but anime and manga are different: Manga comes in the form of a comic (often read right to left), while anime is an animated cartoon.

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Why is it hard to draw perfect circles?

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It is difficult to draw anything perfectly, and circles are no exception. If you want to draw better circles, it may be useful to trace something or invest in a compass (the math/drawing kind, not the navigational kind), as it will help you draw circles.

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Tips

Go on DeviantArt and search up 'Anime', and find one to try to do a quick sketch. That way you can observe it and do a similar one yourself. It can help build skill of drawing Anime Characters.

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Watching anime while drawing helps with expressions and more and sometimes trying to draw a character from your favorite anime then comparing with an actual picture can really help with technique.

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Buy a Anime/Manga drawing book for a more comprehensive guide.

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Things You'll Need

Good pencils
Good eraser
Good work space
Art diary
Anime/manga drawing book

How to Draw Manga Characters

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