Anime Academy: Characters and Backgrounds! from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Basics of anime bodies
How to draw anime faces
How to do line art
How to do make an illustration with characters
How to design a character
How to design different types of characters

Design principles
How to draw backgrounds
How to draw different head views
The basics of perspective
Story telling

Basics of anime bodies
How to draw anime faces
How to do line art
How to do make an illustration with characters
How to design a character
How to design different types of characters
Design principles
How to draw backgrounds
How to draw different head views
The basics of perspective
Story telling

Syllabus

Introduction

Music: https://www.bensound.com

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This video is on what materials you will need!

I've received a few questions on the difference between this course and the previous course: Characters and Illustrations! Be sure to watch this video! This video is for students that are enrolled in my previous course: Anime Academy: Characters and Illustrations.

In this video, we will be going over how to draw basic shapes such as circles, boxes, and cylinders. I use an 11 x 17 inch canvas on photoshop. Make sure it is as big or bigger than that. :)

This is a simplified breakdown of the female anatomy :)

A simplified version of the male anatomy!

This video talks about how to draw smooth and dynamic gestures, and what to look out for. Enjoy :D

In this video, I will be showing you how to draw a variety of female hands using simple shapes.

In this video, I will be showing you how to draw a variety of male hands using simple shapes.

In this video, I will be showing you how to draw a variety of female feet using simple shapes.

In this video, I will be showing you how to draw a variety of male feet using simple shapes.

This is an update to the course. I will be showing you a quick and easy way to measure a person accurately.

In this video, I will show you how to draw the base of the male face and marking proportions!

In this video, I will be showing you how to draw different types of male eyes :D

In this video, I will be showing you how to draw different types of male noses :D

In this video, I will be showing you how to draw different types of male mouths!

In this video, I will be showing you how to draw the base female face and proportions!

In this video, I will be showing you how to draw different types of female eyes!

In this video, I will be showing you how to draw different types of female noses and mouths :D

In this video, I will be drawing different types of male hair, such as straight, spiky, etc!

In this video, I will be drawing different types of female hair, such as straight, wavy, etc!

In this video, I will be teaching you how to draw multiple head views in normal eye level.

In this video, I will be teaching you how to draw multiple head views in upper eye level.

In this video, I will be teaching you how to draw multiple head views in lower eye level.

In this video, I will be teaching you how to draw multiple female head views in normal eye level.

In this video, I will be teaching you how to draw multiple female head views in upper eye level.

In this video, I will be teaching you how to draw multiple female head views in lower eye level.

DISCLAIMER: I'm making this character more on the realistic side in terms of personality so that the expressions are more story based. If you are sensitive to emotional topics, you can mute the video and just watch how the process is made.

In this video, I will be teaching you how to draw 25 essential expressions! We will be creating our own character for this one.

In this video, I will be teaching you how to draw 25 essential expressions for girls! I am using my own character for this, feel free to use your own or follow along :)

In this video, I will be going through different female body types!

In this video, I will be going through different male body types!

In this video, I will be going through the 7 basic folds for your pose exercises!

Here is a short video on how to draw ribbons!

In this video, you will be drawing 4 types of female standing poses!

In this video, I will be going through how to draw 3 types of sitting poses for girls!

In this video, I will be going through how to draw 5 types of dynamic poses for girls!

In this video, I will be going through 3 types of male standing poses!

In this video, I will be going through 3 types of male sitting poses!

In this video, I will be going through 3 types of male dynamic poses!

In this video, I will be going through couple poses with the newly created characters~

In this video, I will be reviewing with you 1 and 2 point perspective for the next assignments!

In this video, I will be doing a quick over view about types of cameras and levels of convergence.

In this video, we will be doing a perspective exercise by designing a room using boxes as a base!

We will be detailing on top of the boxes we have built in this video.

The video after this was supposed to be the "super easy" one, but I later realized after making the video, it was more advanced, so here is the super easy one :)

In this video, I will be showing you how to draw an interior from scratch. This is actually more advanced, but since I said it was "easy" in the video, I didn't change the title...so you should watch the third one first before starting this one!

In this video, we will be doing an outdoor building. This is actually more medium level, so feel free to watch this one first!

I will be shading the outdoor building to show you guys how you can achieve a "manga" styled look using simple values and gradients!

In this video, we will start out with painting our basic forms, cubes, cylinders, and spheres. By understanding how to render these forms, this will help a lot in painting your characters.

In this video, I will be briefly going through the forms of the face to help with putting the face in lighting!

In this video, I will be showing you a simple way of rendering using the basic shapes as well as the techniques used in the basic shape rendering video!

In this video, I will be giving you a simple way of looking at color and how to utilize it through color temperature!

In this video, I will be showing you how to paint a still life using color temperature principles. We will be using a limited palette of oranges and blues.

Here is a brief tip on how to render skin and making it look nice!

In this video, I will be going through how to paint fabric and how to use color in them!

In this video, I will be flat coloring the linework!

In this video, I will be taking previous drawings from other lessons to practice coloring!

In this video, I will be teaching you the basics of the Hero's journey, a common story structure so you can create your own story for the further illustrations up ahead!

In this video, I will be teaching you the design principles to help with character designs later on!

In this video, we will be redesigning a character of choice, using reference and themes!

Using the Hero's journey method, I will be showing you an original story I made up so I can use it for character design later on.

In this video, I will be going through Mia's character and personality. I highly recommend that you make it personal and make your own characters! This whole section is my process for creating characters.

Before sketching, I like to do explorations to get ideas started in my head. I always make sure that these are stress free and just to get it out, no matter how ugly the drawing!

In this video, I will be going through Mia's character sketches for her civilian form.

In this video, I will continue going through Mia's character sketches for her civilian form.

In this video, I will continue going through Mia's character sketches for her hero form.

In this video, I will be going through Mia's prop design for her magic items.

In this video, I will be refining Mia's design, and I set up her reference page.

In this video, I will be lining Mia's reference sheet! In the end, I removed the extra parts of her page and simplified it.

In this video, I will be coloring the base colors for everything.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers the basics of drawing anime bodies, faces, and backgrounds, providing a solid foundation for beginners interested in this art style

Explores character design principles and storytelling techniques, enabling learners to create unique characters and narratives within the anime style

Includes instruction on digital painting techniques using Photoshop, which is a standard tool in the digital art industry

Teaches perspective drawing, which is essential for creating believable backgrounds and environments in anime illustrations

Requires learners to use Photoshop, which may require a separate purchase or subscription, potentially posing a barrier to entry for some students

Features over 60 content, which may be time-consuming for learners with limited availability or those seeking a more concise learning experience

Reviews summary

Comprehensive anime art fundamentals course

According to learners, this course offers a largely positive experience for those looking to dive into anime drawing and illustration. Students report that the course provides a strong foundation covering essential topics like anatomy, perspective, digital painting, and character design. Many appreciate the instructor's clear explanations and the step-by-step approach, which makes complex subjects accessible. The inclusion of hands-on projects is frequently mentioned as a valuable part of the learning process. While some find the sheer volume of content significant, the overall sentiment is that this course is a comprehensive resource for beginners and those seeking to improve their anime art skills.

Primarily uses Photoshop, may require adaptation.

"The course heavily relies on Photoshop, so having access to and basic familiarity with it is essential."

"Some parts might be slightly outdated if using a newer version of Photoshop, but concepts still apply."

"If you use different software, you'll need to figure out the equivalent tools yourself."

A significant amount of material to cover.

"There is a lot of content to get through, which is great value but can feel overwhelming at times."

"Be prepared for the sheer volume of videos; it's a long course but very detailed."

"The course is extensive and requires dedication to complete all sections."

"It's a very long course with many hours of lectures and exercises."

Practical assignments reinforce learning.

"The projects were a great way to apply what I learned and see my progress."

"Working on the illustrations and character designs gave me valuable hands-on practice."

"The mini-projects helped solidify my understanding before moving on to larger pieces."

"The assignments encourage practice and application of the techniques taught."

Covers a wide range of topics.

"It covers everything from basic anatomy to backgrounds and digital painting, a truly comprehensive course."

"From faces and hair to dynamic poses and composition, it touches upon many essential areas."

"I was surprised by how much content was packed into this course, covering characters AND backgrounds."

"The range of topics is fantastic, including Photoshop basics, perspective, and painting."

Instructor explains complex topics clearly.

"The instructor does a great job of explaining concepts step-by-step, making it easy to follow along."

"Videos are easy to understand and the demonstrations are very clear."

"I appreciate the detailed explanations provided for each technique and concept."

"The instructor breaks down complex ideas into manageable parts."

Provides comprehensive basics for beginners.

"This course provides a solid foundation on anatomy, perspective, and overall digital art skills using Photoshop."

"It taught me the basics really well and I feel much more confident in my ability to draw characters."

"The fundamentals sections like perspective and anatomy were incredibly helpful for building my core skills."

"I gained a much better understanding of the foundations required for drawing in the anime style."

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 Anime Academy: Characters and Backgrounds! with these activities:

Practice Basic Shapes

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Reinforce your understanding of basic shapes, which are fundamental to constructing anime characters and backgrounds.

Browse courses on Circles

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Draw circles, boxes, and cylinders repeatedly.
Practice combining shapes to form simple objects.
Focus on smooth lines and accurate proportions.

Read 'Figure Drawing: For All It's Worth' by Andrew Loomis

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Solidify your understanding of figure drawing principles, which are essential for creating dynamic and believable anime characters.

View Melania on Amazon

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Study the Loomis method for constructing figures.
Practice drawing figures using the techniques described in the book.
Apply the principles to anime character design.

Gesture Drawing Practice

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Improve your ability to capture the essence of a pose quickly and accurately, which is crucial for dynamic anime illustrations.

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Find reference images of dynamic poses.
Set a timer for 2-5 minutes per pose.
Focus on capturing the flow of movement.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Design a Character Sheet

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Apply the character design principles learned in the course to create a detailed character sheet for an original anime character.

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Develop a backstory and personality for your character.
Sketch various poses and expressions.
Create a final character sheet with front, side, and back views.

Read 'Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter' by James Gurney

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Deepen your understanding of color and lighting techniques, which are essential for creating visually stunning anime illustrations.

View Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions) on Amazon

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Study the principles of color theory and light interaction.
Experiment with different lighting scenarios in your digital paintings.
Analyze the use of color and light in your favorite anime artwork.

Create an Anime Illustration

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Integrate all the skills learned in the course to create a complete anime illustration with a character and background.

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Develop a concept and story for your illustration.
Sketch the composition and character poses.
Create the line art and add color and lighting.
Refine the details and add finishing touches.

Build a Portfolio

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Showcase your best anime artwork to potential clients or employers.

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Select your strongest pieces of artwork.
Organize your artwork in a visually appealing format.
Write descriptions for each piece.
Share your portfolio online.

Career center

Learners who complete Anime Academy: Characters and Backgrounds! 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 types of media. This course directly relates to character design by teaching how to create character concepts, including poses, expressions, clothing, and unique features. Having a comprehensive understanding of character design would allow a character designer to create many different types of characters. The course also covers anatomy, proportions, and different views, which are important for creating consistent and believable character designs. The character design section of this course will help to develop the skills required for a successful career as a character designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Character Designer

Illustrator

An illustrator creates images for various media, and this course provides a strong foundation for this career. The course teaches the process of creating illustrations from start to finish, including character design, background creation, and digital painting techniques. The course’s focus on drawing anime bodies, faces, and hair, as well as its detailed instruction on poses and clothing, are all directly relevant to the work of an illustrator. Learning perspective and how to draw environments adds to the skills necessary for designing full illustrations. The digital painting and color theory segments will also be useful. Anyone looking to become an illustrator might especially benefit from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Digital Painter

A digital painter creates artwork using digital tools and software, and this course can help to develop the skills needed for this career. The course teaches the fundamentals of digital painting based on the anime style, as it covers essential topics like color theory, lighting, and rendering. The course teaches how to use digital brushes, and the basics of photoshop. The course also includes still life exercises, as well as practice on painting light and values. This course may be beneficial for anyone looking to work as a professional digital painter.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Painter

Concept Artist

A concept artist creates visual designs for characters, environments, and props, often for use in animation, video games, film, or other media. This course helps someone become a concept artist via its in-depth training on how to design anime characters and environments. The course offers opportunities to learn about different types of character designs, including the use of dynamic poses. The course's segments about backgrounds, perspective, and digitally painting provides some of the skills that a concept artist needs. Anyone wishing to become a concept artist would benefit from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Background Artist

A background artist creates the environments and settings for animation, illustration, and other visual media, and this course provides instruction that is particularly relevant to this career. The course features a section on learning to draw backgrounds, which includes instruction on perspective, environments, and room design. Being able to draw backgrounds in perspective may be particularly useful for crafting interesting spaces for characters. Learning digital painting is also helpful for adding depth and detail to backgrounds. This background artist role can benefit from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Background Artist

Animation Artist

An animation artist creates moving images, often using characters and backgrounds. This course helps someone interested in this path by teaching the fundamentals of illustration and design, as related to anime art. The course’s lessons covering character design, anatomy, poses, and expressions may help an animation artist in their work. Additionally, the training on backgrounds, perspective, and digital painting are helpful skills. The course shows the process of how to design characters. Anyone who wishes to work as an animation artist may find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animation Artist

Visual Development Artist

A visual development artist creates the overall look and feel of a project, typically for animation or video games, and the skills learned in this course can translate well to this career. The course's lessons on character design, background design, and digital painting techniques are all relevant. Learning the fundamentals of drawing anime characters, designing backgrounds and putting them together in full illustrations would help a visual development artist. The course's emphasis on perspective, composition, and storytelling may also be useful. Anyone interested in a career as a visual development artist, may benefit from taking this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Development Artist

Freelance Artist

A freelance artist works on various creative projects for different clients, often involving illustration, design, or digital art. This course may be useful to a freelance artist by providing a wide range of skills needed in the field. The course teaches how to design characters, backgrounds, and full illustrations, all necessary skills for many freelance projects. The digital painting and color theory sections may be particularly useful in generating artwork. Also, developing the skills to create their own unique artwork would suit a freelance artist. Those seeking to work as a freelance artist may benefit from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Artist

Comic Book Artist

A comic book artist creates the visual art for comic books or graphic novels, and this course may be useful for someone looking for a career in this field. The course covers the fundamentals of character design, illustration, and storytelling, which are all relevant to being a comic book artist. This course includes learning to draw anime bodies, faces, and poses. Additionally, the course also covers composition and how to create multiple illustrations. Anyone thinking of a career as a comic book artist would benefit from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Comic Book Artist

Video Game Artist

A video game artist creates the visual assets for video games, and this course may be useful for someone exploring a career in this field. The course offers a solid foundation in character design, background creation, and digital painting, which are all useful for creating game assets. The course's detailed instruction on drawing and painting anime characters, environments, and illustrations should prove useful. The digital painting and composition segments may also be beneficial for producing in-game artwork. Those seeking to work as a video game artist may find this course helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Game Artist

Storyboard Artist

A storyboard artist creates visual representations of stories, typically for animation or film. This course may be useful for a storyboard artist because it covers aspects of visual storytelling, character design, and illustration. The section on story structure, character design, and how to draw different poses may contribute to the skills useful for a storyboard artist. Also, the ability to design scenes with backgrounds using digital painting skills is relevant to visual storytelling. With this in mind, this course may be useful for those exploring becoming a storyboard artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Storyboard Artist

Art Director

An art director oversees the visual style and images for various projects, and this course may be useful to help someone enter this career. The course covers a wide range of skills, including character design, background design, and digital painting techniques. A person who understands how to create illustrations and characters may be best suited for a position of art director. The skills learned in the course, such as creating illustrations with characters, is a helpful foundation. This course may be useful for someone wishing to become an art director.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Graphic Designer

A graphic designer creates visual content for various media, often for branding or marketing purposes. This course may be useful for a graphic designer because it helps someone learn how to create and design unique visual content. The course includes instruction in creating digital illustrations, character design, and composition. These skills may be useful in creating many graphic design projects. This course may be useful for those wishing to become a graphic designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer

Costume Designer

A costume designer creates the clothing and accessories for characters in various media, and this course may be helpful for developing skills useful for this profession. The course teaches how to draw and design clothing for characters. The course goes through how to draw the seven basic folds, and how to integrate them onto the body. Having a knowledge of how clothes move and drape on characters will help a costume designer. This course may be useful for someone wishing to be a costume designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Costume Designer

Art teacher

An art teacher educates students in various art techniques and concepts, and this course can be helpful for someone looking for a career in this field. The course provides a structured approach to learning anime art, from basic shapes to complex illustrations. It offers a step-by-step guide for teaching others, which may help an art teacher develop their curriculum. The course also focuses on clear instruction and commentary, making it easier for someone to educate students. Anyone interested in a career as an art teacher may find this course helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art teacher

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 Anime Academy: Characters and Backgrounds!.

Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara

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Provides a comprehensive understanding of color theory and lighting principles. While geared towards realist painting, the concepts are directly applicable to digital painting and creating visually appealing anime illustrations. It expands on the course's painting and lighting basics. This book useful reference tool.

Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions)

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Anime Academy

Characters and Backgrounds!

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive anime art fundamentals course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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