Diksia.com - Manga is a term that refers to comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Manga has a long history and a distinctive style that has influenced many artists and storytellers around the world.
If you are interested in learning how to draw manga, here are some tips and resources to get you started.
What is Manga?
Manga is a Japanese word that literally means “whimsical pictures”. Manga can be categorized into different genres, such as action, romance, comedy, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, sports and more.
Manga can also be aimed at different audiences, such as children, teens, adults, boys or girls. Some of the most popular manga genres are shōnen (for boys), shōjo (for girls), seinen (for young men) and josei (for young women).
Manga is usually serialized in magazines or anthologies that contain several stories by different authors. The chapters of each story are then collected and published in book volumes called tankōbon.
Manga can also be adapted into other media, such as anime (animated series or films), video games, live-action films or TV shows.
What is Manga Style?
Manga style is a term that refers to the common features and conventions of manga art. Manga style is not a fixed or uniform set of rules, but rather a flexible and diverse expression of creativity.
However, some of the typical characteristics of manga style are:
- Black-and-white drawings with minimal use of color
- Simplified and exaggerated facial features, such as large eyes, small noses and mouths
- Expressive emotions and gestures, such as sweat drops, blushes, sparkles and speed lines
- Dynamic and detailed backgrounds and perspectives
- Varied panel layouts and transitions
- Symbolic elements, such as sound effects, onomatopoeia and text bubbles
How to Draw Manga: Basic Steps
If you want to learn how to draw manga, here are some basic steps you can follow:
- Choose a genre and an audience for your manga. This will help you decide on the tone, theme and style of your story.
- Create your characters and their personalities. Think about their appearance, clothing, accessories, hair style, eye color and shape, facial expressions and body language.
- Plan your plot and structure your story. Think about the setting, the conflict, the climax and the resolution of your story. Sketch out a rough outline of your story arc and divide it into chapters and scenes.
- Draw your thumbnails and storyboard. Thumbnails are small sketches that show the layout of each page and panel of your manga. Storyboard is a more detailed version of your thumbnails that shows the dialogue, actions and emotions of your characters.
- Draw your final draft. Use a pencil to draw your final draft on a sheet of paper or a digital tablet. You can use rulers, templates or grids to help you with the proportions and perspectives of your characters and backgrounds.
- Ink your drawings. Use a pen or a digital tool to trace over your pencil lines with black ink. You can also add shading, textures and patterns to your drawings with hatching, cross-hatching or stippling techniques.
- Add tones or colors to your drawings. Tones are gray-scale patterns that create contrast and depth in your drawings. You can use screentones or digital tools to apply tones to your drawings. Colors are optional but can enhance the mood and atmosphere of your drawings. You can use markers, watercolors or digital tools to add colors to your drawings.
- Add text and sound effects to your drawings. Text includes dialogue, narration and captions that tell the story and convey information to the reader. Sound effects include words or symbols that represent sounds or actions in the story. You can use fonts or hand-lettering to add text and sound effects to your drawings.
How to Draw Manga: Resources
If you want to learn more about how to draw manga, here are some resources you can check out:
- Books: There are many books that teach you how to draw manga step by step, such as How to Draw Manga by Katy Coope, Manga for the Beginner by Christopher Hart or Mastering Manga by Mark Crilley.
- Websites: There are many websites that offer tutorials, tips and examples on how to draw manga, such as HowtoDrawManga.com ², MangaUniversity.com ³ or MangaTutorials.com .
- Videos: There are many videos that show you how to draw manga in action, such as How to Draw Manga by Mark Crilley , How to Draw Manga by Sophie-chan or How to Draw Manga by Mikey Mega Mega .
- Apps: There are many apps that help you draw manga on your smartphone or tablet, such as MediBang Paint , ibis Paint X or Clip Studio Paint .
Conclusion
Manga is a fascinating and diverse form of art and storytelling that has captivated millions of readers and fans around the world.
