Selina Dean - Drawing Manga

The possibilities are limitless when drawing a manga character, but there are still rules to consider. Planning out your characters costume, hair and even proportions will give you a rich source of inspiration and open up many new options for character creation. By learning the different methods of drawing and various ways in which you can improve your techniques, you can make a difference to the overall quality of your artwork.

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Manga is a highly dynamic type of comic book an exciting, graphical way of telling a story. Indeed, it is proving to be a very popular art form which sells millions of copies to fans of comics all over the world.

The Japanese word manga means comics pictures in sequence.It is thought that the term was applied originally to a series of Japanese woodblock printed artworks by Hokusai in the nineteenth century. Manga has matured from a product that was once perceived as a niche market for children or simple comedy into a popular medium which continues to grow and develop, pushing back graphical boundaries and approaching subjects in a manner that is rarely done in other media.

Anime is a common term that is often confused with manga. Anime is short for animation, usually synonymous with animation specifically from Japan. Popular Japanese comic books are often made into animated series or movies, perhaps with videogames, figures and merchandise, to expand upon the original franchise. Sometimes (although very rarely) manga is created as a spin-off when an original animationbecomes popular amongst fans.

Some fans of manga may have been introduced to Japanese-styled illustrations and comic books through exposure from videogames, animated movies, anime videos or shows. They may have read about it in magazines or seen action figures of favourite shows in comic shops. Manga is a very lively and striking way of story-telling, quite different to traditional Western comics. Many of the subtleties of manga are misunderstood by people new to the style. The term manga itself describes not a genre, but many styles, different methods of storytelling, pacing and emotions. It uses unusual, and quite abstract, visual ways of conveying ideas and character attributes to do this. Originally, most manga was translated from its original Japanese language and repackaged in English-language format for other fans to enjoy. Now the term can describe dynamic, stylized comic books from any country which have an element of Japanese comic aesthetic.

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Cyber-punk style accessories combined with subdued colours demonstrate the possibilities of experimentation within manga style.

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Colourful hair and vivid lighting are often associated with anime but this style is also used for manga illustration.

Manga possibilities .

Manga can tell tales as varied as a fast-paced, action-packed soccer story to a subtle, troubled relationship drama. It can contain backgrounds that are highly complex and imaginative, transporting us to a future that we would otherwise never see. A single page can contain furniture or architecture from a country we have never visited, yet panels of emotions can be presented just by a simple pattern or complex markings as well as (or even instead of) speech. The list is endless - there are no real boundaries!There is nothing more rewarding than creating a piece of art that creates enjoyment and pleasure for both the onlooker and the creator. Lets draw pictures and comics that give everyone a great sense of wellbeing. Above all, lets draw manga!

Caption:
Pages of manga are often printed in black and white.

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Within manga, there are many different themes and genres that are commonplace. Manga relies on characters who are believable and resonate with the reader in their different circumstances and situations, who develop fully and turn into figures whom we want to champion, characters we want to win the fight.

Presentation .

Different types of manga present content in different ways. Although much manga will have a central goal for the protagonist to achieve, it can vary greatly from something personal and emotional, to a more tangible, recognizable achievement. The characters and their struggles are also presented in different ways, depending on the readership. For example, there is a lot of emotion and storytelling in comics for girls which is as thought-provoking and powerful as a good movie. Conversely, boys comics shift the focus to the action, providing non-stop excitement, whether the manga is an other-worldly fantasy adventure or a more contemporary quest for personal achievement. Think outside the boundaries of comic layouts and ideas that you currently know and experiment as much as you can with enigmatic, deep ideas!

Manga for boys and girls .

Characters with whom we relate and aspire towards are the types that are most successful, endearing and popular. There are many common themes within manga which can be split mainly into two categories as follows: manga for boys and manga for girls.