Embarking on your path to mastering anime and manga drawing is thrilling and demanding. With so many unique styles and characters, it’s no wonder why so many people want to learn how to create their own anime or manga art. However, if you’re a beginner, Where do you start? This article will walk you through the basic steps to start drawing anime and manga independently.

Learn to draw anime and manga on Medium.com

Step 1: Master the Fundamentals of Drawing

Before you dive into drawing anime and manga, it’s crucial to understand the basic principles of drawing. Even if your goal is to create stylized characters, having a foundation in basic drawing will greatly improve your skills. This includes understanding concepts such as perspective, proportions, and anatomy.

Work on Basic Shapes and Forms

All drawings can be simplified into basic shapes. Whether it’s circles, squares, or triangles, being able to draw these forms well will serve as the foundation for all your future drawings. Try to practice drawing these shapes from different angles and perspectives.

This exercise aids in developing a sense of depth, an important skill when drawing characters on a 2D surface.

Step 2: Study Anime and Manga Styles

Once you’re comfortable with basic techniques, move on to studying anime and manga-specific styles. Anime and manga are known for distinctive features like oversized eyes, exaggerated expressions, and dynamic postures. Get familiar with these traits by reading manga or watching your favorite anime shows.

Deconstruct Your Favorite Characters

A great exercise for learning how to draw in the anime style is to break down your favorite characters into their most basic forms. Pick an anime or manga character you like and try drawing them using basic forms. This will give you a better understanding of how these characters are constructed.

After deconstructing, gradually build up the details like hair, clothes, and facial features. You’ll realize that even the most detailed characters start with basic forms and techniques.

Step 3: Learn How to Draw Anime Faces

The face is one of the most important aspects of anime and manga characters. It’s usually the first thing viewers notice and conveys most of the character’s emotions.

Focus on Eye Styles

One of the main features that sets anime apart is the large, expressive eyes. There are many different ways to draw anime eyes, ranging from simple to highly detailed. Begin by practicing different eye shapes and experimenting with a variety of expressions.

Anime eyes are highly expressive and can convey emotions like happiness, sadness, or anger. Mastering anime eyes will bring your characters to life.

Practice Proportions

Anime faces typically follow a different set of proportions than realistic human faces. Usually, the eyes are larger, while the nose and mouth are smaller. The head shape is often more exaggerated. Practice these proportions by sketching the face from various angles like front, side, and three-quarter views.

This exercise will help you become comfortable drawing faces from different perspectives.

Step 4: Practice Drawing Anime Bodies

Though faces are crucial, learning how to draw the body is just as important for creating lively characters. Anime bodies, like faces, often have exaggerated proportions. The limbs may be longer, and the characters may have more defined or stylized physiques.

Study Basic Anatomy

Even if anime bodies are not entirely realistic, it’s essential to understand basic human anatomy. This knowledge will help you create more believable poses and movements. Study how joints bend, muscles flex, and bodies move.

Once you have a good grasp on anatomy, you can start experimenting with more stylized and exaggerated poses.

Step 5: Make Drawing a Daily Habit

Consistency is key when learning to draw anime and manga. The more you practice, the better you will become. Try to set aside at least 30 minutes to an hour each day for drawing.

By making drawing a daily habit, you’ll quickly see improvement in your skills. Always carry a sketchbook to practice whenever you have a moment of inspiration.

Join Online Art Communities

In addition to tutorials, joining online art communities can provide you with feedback and support. Websites like DeviantArt or Reddit’s art forums are filled with aspiring and professional artists willing to share tips.

This is also a great way to stay motivated by sharing your work and seeing the progress of others.