OpenCourser brand icon
Sign in
Sorry, this page is no longer available
Sorry, this page is no longer available
We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Udemy logo

How to Draw Manga Faces and Hair

4.6 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Half star
Based on 377 ratings
see reviews
Neil Fontaine

Hey, a friend of mine asked me to teach him how to draw manga or anime. I told him the best place to get started is with manga faces and hair, as this is the most different aspect of manga from comics.

That spawned this awesome course just waiting for you to check out. The first few lessons are free, so you can see if you like the teaching style, and to see if you learn anything.

I'm sure you will not only learn something but love the free preview lessons enough to buy the course to learn the rest.

Read more

Hey, a friend of mine asked me to teach him how to draw manga or anime. I told him the best place to get started is with manga faces and hair, as this is the most different aspect of manga from comics.

That spawned this awesome course just waiting for you to check out. The first few lessons are free, so you can see if you like the teaching style, and to see if you learn anything.

I'm sure you will not only learn something but love the free preview lessons enough to buy the course to learn the rest.

Once finished, in about five hours, you will fully understand how to draw manga or anime faces and hair, from eyes, to noses, to mouths, and even expressions/emotions.

So, if like my friend, you have a passion to learn how to draw manga or anime, then check out the free preview lessons.

The course is structured with video lessons that actually teach you methods for drawing manga faces and hair and emotions. This isn't your typical type of drawing tutorials you might find elsewhere.

These lessons will actually teach you and improve your skills. You will learn to draw manga faces, guaranteed or your money back.

You can take the whole course with just pencil and paper, although, I mostly draw on a Wacom Cintiq with Manga Studio 5. However, this is not required. Just watch the first few videos and it will make perfect sense why you only need a pencil and paper, and perhaps an eraser. :)

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn the basics of the manga head
  • Learn to draw the facial features, eyes, nose, mouth, hair
  • Learn to add emotions to your faces
  • By the end of this course, you will be drawing manga faces that talk and seem to move on the page

Syllabus

Introduction

In this video, you will learn a little about the art instructor and what you will learn in this course.

These are the images to use in the course. You can print them and draw over them if you wish, or use them as references.

Read more

All you need to take this course is a pencil and a piece of paper, and perhaps a ruler. However, you can also draw digitally, with a tablet, such at the Wacom Cintiq.

In this video, I show why I prefer to draw with a tablet, and why drawing with a tablet is pretty much the same as drawing with a pencil.

Before drawing a manga face or anime face, we need to understand the fundamentals of how to draw a regular face. Learn this first, then drawing manga or anime will be that much easier.

The easiest view of the manga face to learn, IMO, is the front view, so we will start there. Also, after you know how to draw the front view of the manga face and head, it is much easier to apply those measurements to the side view and the 3/4s view.

The next hardest view to learn, and not too often used in manga, is the side view. However, it is necessary to learn, not only for when you want to use it in a comic, but also to better understand the angled views.

Now, among the basic views, the 3/4s was the hardest for me to learn, and that is what we learn in this video. Just take your time. Do the exercises. Draw it several times, using the measurements, then draw it several times from memory.

An overview of what we learned so far in the course.

The eyes are the most important feature to learn because they make manga look like manga. The eyes are the more expressive part of the face. I think that's why the Japanese stress the eyes in manga.

In manga, noses are simplified, but they still need to be learned. There are many styles of noses of which I teach the most popular ones.

Manga mouths are also highly simplified and reduced in size, but still, we must learn the basic shapes that make of the mouth. Only then, can you truly understand how and why the manga mouth is simplified.

We also learn how to draw the most popular types of manga mouths.

We learn a quick overview of the other angles of the manga head, and how it works.

First we learn how hair works and a really cool method for drawing hair. Then we apply this to manga hair. We also learn how to draw a few popular styles of manga hair.

And finally, we learn how to draw manga emotions, which is a mix of how we change the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth. We learn to draw the most popular emotions used in manga, and how to mix and match different emotional eyes and mouths to get new emotions.

This video overviews everything we learned in the how to draw manga or anime faces course.

Some asked me what my settings are for Manga Studio 5, so here they are. I also talk about why I now prefer Manga Studio 5 over Photoshop.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Focuses on manga faces and hair, which are distinct from Western comic styles, making it ideal for those specifically interested in manga art
Starts with the basics of drawing a regular face before transitioning to manga, which builds a strong foundation for beginners
Teaches how to draw various manga facial features, including eyes, noses, and mouths, which are essential for creating authentic manga characters
Requires only pencil and paper, making it accessible to beginners without the need for expensive equipment or software
Explores how to draw manga emotions by changing the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth, which is crucial for conveying character feelings
Includes a bonus lesson discussing Manga Studio 5 settings, which may be useful for digital artists already using or considering this software

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Manga faces and hair drawing fundamentals

According to learners, this course is a great starting point for beginners interested in drawing manga faces and hair. Many find the teaching style clear and easy to follow, especially praising how the instructor breaks down complex topics. Students feel they gain a solid foundation in the basics, including drawing eyes, noses, mouths, and hair, and appreciate the focus on different head angles and emotions. The course provides practical drawing methods that can be applied with traditional pencil and paper or digitally.
Learn methods applicable to different tools.
"I appreciated that I could follow along using just pencil and paper, even though the instructor uses a tablet."
"The techniques taught are solid and can be applied whether you draw traditionally or digitally."
"He shows you the underlying structure, which helps no matter what tools you use."
"The method for drawing hair is a game-changer."
Perfect course if you're just starting out.
"As someone with no prior drawing experience, this course was the perfect introduction to drawing manga faces."
"If you're a beginner who wants to learn manga, this is absolutely where you should start."
"It covers all the fundamentals you need to get going."
"I didn't feel overwhelmed at all, which is great for a beginner."
Strong focus on eyes, hair, and expressions.
"The lessons on drawing eyes and hair were particularly helpful and detailed."
"I loved learning how to draw different manga eyes and expressions; it really brings the faces to life."
"The section on hair drawing methods was unique and very useful."
"It covers all the key facial features needed for manga art."
Methods and techniques are presented clearly.
"The instructor explains the concepts very well, making it easy to follow along even if you're completely new to this."
"His teaching method is fantastic, breaking down the manga head and features into simple, manageable steps."
"I really appreciated the clarity of the video lessons; everything was explained simply and effectively."
"The instructions were easy to understand, which is crucial for a beginner like me."
Some find the course pace a bit slow.
"While thorough, the pace felt a little slow at times, especially in the earlier lessons."
"Could move a bit faster through some of the basic explanations."
"For someone who wasn't a complete beginner, some parts felt a little drawn out."
"I sometimes skipped ahead slightly in the videos."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Draw Manga Faces and Hair with these activities:
Review Basic Anatomy
Reviewing basic facial and head anatomy will provide a solid foundation for understanding the structure beneath the stylized manga features.
Browse courses on Facial Anatomy
Show steps
  • Study diagrams of skull and facial muscles.
  • Practice sketching basic head shapes and proportions.
Read 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'
Reading this book will help develop fundamental drawing skills applicable to any style, including manga.
View Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and complete the exercises.
Practice Drawing Manga Eyes
Repeatedly practicing drawing different styles of manga eyes will improve muscle memory and consistency.
Show steps
  • Find reference images of various manga eye styles.
  • Practice drawing each style multiple times.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Manga Character Sheet
Designing a character sheet will allow you to apply the learned techniques and create a cohesive manga character design.
Show steps
  • Choose a character concept.
  • Sketch the character's face from different angles.
  • Design the character's hairstyle.
  • Add details and refine the design.
Read 'Mastering Manga with Mark Crilley'
This book offers specific guidance on manga drawing techniques, complementing the course material.
View The Comic Book Lesson: A Graphic Novel That... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and follow the tutorials.
Draw Manga Expressions from Real Life
Observing and drawing real-life expressions and translating them into manga style will improve your understanding of emotions and how to convey them effectively.
Show steps
  • Observe people's expressions in real life or in photos.
  • Sketch the expressions in a realistic style.
  • Translate the expressions into manga style.
Critique and Share Manga Drawings
Sharing your drawings and receiving feedback from peers can help you identify areas for improvement and learn from others' techniques.
Show steps
  • Find a group of fellow manga artists online or in person.
  • Share your drawings and provide constructive criticism to others.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Draw Manga Faces and Hair will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Character Designer
A character designer develops the visual appearance of characters for various media, including video games, animation, and comics. This role requires a strong understanding of anatomy, expression, and visual storytelling. This course on drawing manga faces and hair may be useful because it provides specific training in a popular style of character design. It directly addresses the creation of manga faces, eyes, noses, mouths, and hair, as well as the expression of emotions. This is especially useful for a character designer working on anime or manga-inspired projects.
See salaries and explore the career path for Character Designer
Graphic Novelist
A graphic novelist writes and illustrates long-form stories in the form of graphic novels. This role requires strong skills in both writing and visual storytelling. This course may be useful for a graphic novelist who wants to create manga-style graphic novels, or incorporate anime influences into their work. The specific training in drawing manga faces, hair, and emotions helps the graphic novelist develop a distinctive visual style. The emphasis on conveying emotions through facial expressions may be especially useful for graphic novel storytelling.
See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Novelist
Visual Development Artist
A visual development artist works in animation and film to establish the visual style of a project. They create concept art, character designs, and environment designs that guide the overall look and feel. This course on drawing manga faces and hair is valuable for a visual development artist looking to incorporate anime influences into their work. Mastering manga facial features and expressions aids in developing unique character designs. The course’s focus on emotions helps effectively communicate character personalities.
See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Development Artist
Comic Book Artist
A comic book artist creates sequential art for comic books, graphic novels, and webcomics. This role involves drawing characters, backgrounds, and panels to tell a story visually. The course on drawing manga faces and hair may be useful because manga is a popular and influential style within the comics world. Understanding the specific techniques for drawing manga faces, eyes, noses, mouths, and hair helps a comic book artist to diversify their skill set and appeal to a broader audience. Learning to draw expressions and emotions helps in visual storytelling, which is crucial for a comic book artist.
See salaries and explore the career path for Comic Book Artist
Animator
An animator creates moving images for films, television, video games, and other media. This often involves drawing characters and backgrounds, as well as using software to bring them to life. The course on drawing manga faces and hair helps an animator who wants to specialize in anime-style animation, or incorporate anime techniques into their work. Mastering the nuances of manga facial features and expressions may be useful to an animator. The course's emphasis on drawing emotions is particularly relevant, as conveying emotions is a key aspect of animation.
See salaries and explore the career path for Animator
Webcomic Artist
A webcomic artist creates and publishes comics online. This often involves creating new content on a regular basis and engaging with an online audience. A course on drawing manga faces and hair may be useful for webcomic artists who want to create manga-style webcomics. Mastering the techniques for drawing manga faces, hair, and emotions helps the webcomic artist create a visually appealing and engaging comic. The course's practical approach, using pencil and paper or digital tools, makes it accessible for webcomic artists of all skill levels.
See salaries and explore the career path for Webcomic Artist
Illustrator
An illustrator creates images for a variety of media, including books, magazines, and websites. They may specialize in character design, concept art, or visual storytelling. This course may be useful for illustrators who want to incorporate manga styles into their work or create illustrations specifically for manga-themed projects. Learning how to draw manga faces, hair, and emotions adds a valuable specialization. The course's focus on methods for drawing, rather than just replicating, helps an illustrator develop a deeper understanding of the style and apply it creatively.
See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator
Concept Artist
A concept artist creates visual representations of ideas for films, video games, and other media. This may involve designing characters, environments, and props. This course may be useful for a concept artist who wants to incorporate manga influences into their designs or work on anime-inspired projects. The course's focus on drawing manga faces, hair, and emotions helps a concept artist quickly and effectively visualize characters. This is particularly useful in the early stages of a project when exploring different visual styles.
See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist
Game Artist
A game artist creates the visual assets for video games. This may involve designing characters, environments, and user interfaces. This course may be useful for a game artist who wants to specialize in anime-style games or incorporate anime influences into their work. The course's focus on drawing manga faces, hair, and emotions helps the game artist create visually appealing and expressive characters. The game artist might find that this course helps to deliver a great user experience.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Artist
Storyboard Artist
A storyboard artist creates visual representations of scenes for films, television shows, and other video productions. They translate scripts into a series of drawings that outline the action and camera angles. A course on drawing manga faces and hair helps a storyboard artist who needs to depict characters in a manga or anime style. The ability to quickly and effectively draw manga faces and express emotions is crucial for conveying the story's narrative and tone, and the course's structure may be useful for the artist's work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Storyboard Artist
Art teacher
An art teacher instructs students in various art techniques and concepts. They may work in schools, community centers, or private studios. The course may be useful for an art teacher who wants to teach manga drawing techniques to their students. Providing students with instruction on how to draw manga faces, hair, and emotions allows students to explore a popular and engaging art form. The course's structured approach and clear explanations may be helpful for art teachers in developing their lesson plans.
See salaries and explore the career path for Art teacher
Fine Artist
A fine artist creates original works of art for exhibition and sale. This may involve painting, sculpture, drawing, or other media. The course on drawing manga faces and hair may be useful for fine artists who want to explore manga as a medium for their work. The specific methodologies for drawing manga faces, eyes, noses, mouths, hair, and emotions adds a valuable specialization. The course's approach to teaching methods, rather than just replicating, helps an artist develop a deeper understanding of the style.
See salaries and explore the career path for Fine Artist
Art Director
An art director is responsible for the overall visual style and images of a project, such as a film, television show, video game, or advertising campaign. This role involves overseeing a team of artists and designers to ensure that the visual elements align with the project's goals. The course on drawing manga faces and hair may be useful for an art director who is working on a project with an anime or manga aesthetic. Understanding the specific techniques for creating manga faces, eyes, noses, mouths, and hair allows the art director to provide informed guidance to their team. This course helps them make sure that the team's work is aligned to project goals.
See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director
Fashion Designer
A fashion designer creates clothing and accessories. This role involves sketching designs, selecting fabrics, and overseeing the production process. The course on drawing manga faces and hair may be useful for fashion designers who want to incorporate manga-inspired elements into their designs. The ability to draw manga faces and hairstyles helps a fashion designer create mood boards and illustrations that showcase their clothing designs in a unique and visually appealing way. Learning the essentials of facial features helps the designer's work to stand out.
See salaries and explore the career path for Fashion Designer
Technical Artist
A technical artist bridges the gap between artists and programmers in game development, animation, and visual effects. They develop tools and workflows to improve the art creation process. This course may be useful because understanding manga faces and hair is useful for creating realistic 3D models, and creating efficient processes for generating manga art. A technical artist may also be responsible for optimizing the performance of manga art in games or animation.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How to Draw Manga Faces and Hair.
Cover image
The Comic Book Lesson
Save
Provides step-by-step instructions and tutorials on drawing various manga characters, expressions, and poses. It great resource for learning specific manga drawing techniques. This book is helpful in providing background and prerequisite knowledge. It is also valuable as additional reading.
The Comic Book Lesson: A Graphic Novel That Shows...
Paperback
$
Cover image
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Save
Teaches you how to draw what you see, not what you think you see. It emphasizes visual perception skills that are crucial for accurately capturing shapes and forms. While not specific to manga, it provides a strong foundation in drawing fundamentals. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Paperback
Check
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Kindle Edition
Check

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Reddit
X
Link
Email

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Course image
Rating
4.6 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Half star
Effort
5.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Neil Fontaine
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Focuses on manga faces and hair, which are distinct from Western comic styles, making it ideal for those specifically interested in manga art
Starts with the basics of drawing a regular face before transitioning to manga, which builds a strong foundation for beginners
Teaches how to draw various manga facial features, including eyes, noses, and mouths, which are essential for creating authentic manga characters
Requires only pencil and paper, making it accessible to beginners without the need for expensive equipment or software
Explores how to draw manga emotions by changing the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth, which is crucial for conveying character feelings
Includes a bonus lesson discussing Manga Studio 5 settings, which may be useful for digital artists already using or considering this software
Share this
Share to help others discover this course.
Facebook LinkedIn X Reddit Link Email
Begin learning today
Enroll now to gain full access to How to Draw Manga Faces and Hair.
Enroll now
Save for later
Add this course to your list. Find it anytime.
Save
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser