mangAnimeおひさま塾: Learn Manga Drawing from Japanese Animator ① from Udemy

What is mangAnime おひさま塾 (Ohisama Juku)?

mangAnime おひさま塾 provides learn-anywhere video courses around the clock; where you can learn Manga and Anime drawing techniques from Japanese professionals.

Japan is one of the handful of biggest producers of animation in the world; about 60% of the all animations broadcasted in the world are made in Japan. Anime became greatly popular around the world.

Anime is based on a varied art form with distinctive making methods and techniques that have been adapted over time. The production of anime focuses on the animation of movement, and the realism of settings as well as the use of camera effects, including panning, zooming and angle shots.

The majestic fighting scenes in Dragon Ball, the gorgeous and amazing poses in Sailor Moon, and the tension that Detective Conan shows while catching the murderer...How are these works made?

Let our professional Japanese animator, Kimiharu Obata-sensei, guide you from the basics, right though to the skills you will need to draw your own anime heads from scratch.

Obata-sensei will show you the basics of drawing the figures of Manga & Anime characters, figure form in various shapes, positions and postures (including interaction), and the techniques of shot composition in creating storytelling scene.

Whether you’re a complete beginner, or intermediate at Manga & Anime drawing, you’ll learn things you never knew you never knew.

All videos are subtitled.

Come and join us.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Fundamental drawing skill
Japanese manga and anime drawing
Basics of drawing the bodies of manga & anime characters
How to draw hands, arms and legs for manga & anime characters. how are they attached to the torso

How to draw posture and interaction posture for manga & anime characters
How to combine all elements in manga & anime story, including visual elements, structure, placement, and centerline
Sharing of manga & anime anecdote in japan

Fundamental drawing skill
Japanese manga and anime drawing
Basics of drawing the bodies of manga & anime characters
How to draw hands, arms and legs for manga & anime characters. how are they attached to the torso
How to draw posture and interaction posture for manga & anime characters
How to combine all elements in manga & anime story, including visual elements, structure, placement, and centerline
Sharing of manga & anime anecdote in japan

Syllabus

Able to draw full body proportion for men and women in Manga and Anime

Body Drawing - Female Side View

Body Drawing - Male Side View

Body Drawing - Female Front View

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Taught by a professional Japanese animator, which provides learners with insights into industry-standard techniques and practices directly from a seasoned expert

Explores figure drawing in various shapes, positions, and postures, including interaction, which is essential for creating dynamic and engaging manga and anime scenes

Covers shot composition in creating storytelling scenes, which helps learners develop the ability to visually communicate narratives effectively in their artwork

Examines the production process of Japanese anime, which gives learners a behind-the-scenes look at the industry and its workflows

Discusses what you need to prepare to become an animator in Japan, which offers practical guidance for those seeking a career in the Japanese animation industry

Requires learners to have access to a peg bar, which may not be readily available and could pose a barrier for some students

Reviews summary

Learn manga & anime drawing basics

According to learners, this course offers a strong foundation in manga and anime drawing techniques, taught by a professional Japanese animator. Many students found the instruction on basic anatomy, proportions, and drawing challenging body parts like hands and legs particularly helpful. The course is frequently described as excellent for beginners looking to learn from scratch and appreciate the detailed breakdowns. While largely positive, some intermediate learners mention the initial content can feel basic. The course also includes interesting industry insights.

Learn about the anime industry.

"Enjoyed the anecdotes about working in the Japanese anime industry."

"Learned interesting facts about animation production."

"The history section was a nice bonus part of the course."

Perfect starting point for novices.

"As someone with no prior drawing experience, this course was the perfect way to start learning manga."

"Highly recommend this for absolute beginners; it doesn't assume you know anything."

"The pace and level are just right if you are completely new to drawing anime and manga."

Taught by an experienced Japanese animator.

"Learning manga and anime drawing techniques from a real Japanese animator is an incredible experience."

"Sensei Obata's explanations were very clear and easy to follow, truly showcasing his expertise."

"I appreciated getting insights and drawing tips directly from someone working in the industry."

Excellent guidance on challenging areas.

"The lessons specifically on drawing hands and legs were incredibly detailed and finally made sense to me."

"I always struggled with drawing limbs, but this course provided clear breakdowns and techniques."

"Getting step-by-step guidance on drawing various body parts in proportion was very useful."

Builds a solid base for drawing.

"This course gave me a really strong foundation in drawing basic manga anatomy and proportions."

"I started as a complete beginner and feel much more confident with fundamental drawing skills now."

"Helped me understand the core principles of character structure before moving to more complex poses."

May feel slow for some learners.

"If you already have some basic drawing experience, the first few modules might feel a bit slow."

"I found myself wishing some parts moved a little faster, especially the very introductory lessons."

"Might be a bit basic if you're not starting from scratch, but still has value."

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 mangAnimeおひさま塾: Learn Manga Drawing from Japanese Animator ① with these activities:

Practice Basic Anatomy

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Reviewing basic human anatomy will provide a solid foundation for drawing manga and anime characters with accurate proportions and dynamic poses.

Browse courses on Figure Drawing

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Study anatomical diagrams of the human skeleton and musculature.
Practice sketching basic figures using simplified anatomical forms.
Focus on understanding the underlying structure before adding stylistic details.

Read 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'

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Reading this book will help you develop fundamental drawing skills, such as perspective and proportion, which are essential for creating compelling manga and anime art.

View Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: The... on Amazon

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Read the book and complete the exercises.
Focus on the techniques for perceiving spatial relationships and edges.
Apply these techniques to drawing manga and anime characters.

Gesture Drawing Practice

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Practicing gesture drawing will improve your ability to capture the essence of a pose quickly and dynamically, which is crucial for drawing action scenes and expressive characters in manga and anime.

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Find reference images of dynamic poses from manga, anime, or real life.
Set a timer for 2-5 minutes per pose.
Focus on capturing the flow of movement and the overall energy of the pose.
Repeat this exercise regularly to improve speed and accuracy.

Four other activities

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Create a Character Sheet

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Designing a character sheet will help you solidify your understanding of character design principles and apply the techniques learned in the course.

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Develop a unique character concept with a distinct personality and backstory.
Sketch the character in various poses and expressions.
Include front, side, and back views to showcase the character's proportions and details.
Add color and shading to bring the character to life.

Analyze Manga Composition

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Analyzing the composition of existing manga pages will help you understand how professional artists use visual elements to create compelling storytelling.

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Select several manga pages from different genres and artists.
Identify the key elements of composition, such as panel layout, character placement, and use of perspective.
Analyze how these elements contribute to the overall narrative and emotional impact of the page.
Document your findings in a written or visual report.

Read 'Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics'

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Reading this book will give you a deeper understanding of the cultural context and artistic conventions of manga, which will inform your own creative work.

View Manga A Visual History on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key concepts and historical developments.
Analyze the visual styles and storytelling techniques of different manga artists.
Reflect on how these insights can influence your own manga art.

Create a Short Manga Story

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Creating a short manga story will allow you to apply all the skills and knowledge you've gained in the course to a complete creative project.

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Develop a compelling story idea with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Create a storyboard to plan out the visual layout of each page.
Draw the panels, adding dialogue and sound effects.
Incorporate the techniques learned in the course to create dynamic poses, expressive characters, and engaging compositions.
Share your story with others and get feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete mangAnimeおひさま塾: Learn Manga Drawing from Japanese Animator ① will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Manga Artist

A manga artist creates sequential art for Japanese comics. The course offers instruction in diverse areas of drawing manga. This instruction includes figure drawing, proportion, posing, and composition, all of which are essential for a manga artist. This course, with its focus on Japanese manga and anime drawing from a professional Japanese animator, is directly applicable to the work of a manga artist. The techniques and knowledge taught in this course will help develop the unique skills needed to create manga professionally.

See salaries and explore the career path for Manga Artist

Character Designer

A character designer creates the visual appearance of characters for various media. This course provides instruction on drawing manga and anime characters, including full body proportions, different poses, and various angles. The course's focus on character design, including drawing hands, arms, legs and the relation of these to the torsos of characters, helps build a foundation for a character designer to develop distinctive and expressive characters. The instruction on posture and dynamic poses in this course can further help develop a character's personality through the way they move and stand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Character Designer

Storyboard Artist

A storyboard artist creates visual plans for animation, film, or other visual media. This course assists in learning about scene composition, character placement, and storytelling through visuals. The course also includes instruction on creating action poses and character interactions through manga and anime drawing, allowing a storyboard artist to effectively communicate the flow of scenes and pacing. The course's instruction on composition, visual structure, and camera effects such as wide angle and telephoto shots directly translates to the work of a storyboard artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Storyboard Artist

Animator

An animator brings characters and stories to life through movement and visual expression. This course offers instruction in the fundamentals of manga and anime drawing, including figure construction, posing, and scene composition. The course also includes instruction in Japanese animation techniques by a professional, which are highly relevant to the practical skillset of an animator. The focus on character design, figure drawing, and visual storytelling in this course directly builds skills crucial for success as an animator, and specifically an animator working in the anime style.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Concept Artist

A concept artist creates visual designs and concepts for characters, environments, or other visual elements for creative projects. This course provides instruction focused on character drawing, poses, composition, and storytelling through visuals. The course will assist a concept artist in developing a strong foundation for creating dynamic and engaging visuals through the techniques of manga and anime drawing, and it also provides instruction related to creating character interaction, which can be relevant for concept art that depicts relationships.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Freelance Artist

A freelance artist offers art services to clients on a project basis, and the skills learned in this course are directly applicable to a variety of art projects. This course provides a foundation in figure drawing, composition, and dynamic posing that are essential in a variety of art settings. As a freelance artist may take on projects in manga, illustration, comics, or character art, the techniques covered here would be highly useful to a professional artist. This course specifically offers a unique niche of skills within the field of art, which can help a freelance artist offer unique services.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Artist

Comic Book Artist

A comic book artist creates visual stories in the form of sequential art, and the techniques of manga and anime drawing are directly applicable to the broad world of comic books. As this course emphasizes figure drawing, composition, and storytelling, it will help a comic book artist develop a strong foundation for creating dynamic and compelling narratives. The instruction on posture, action, and character interaction further helps build the skills needed to create effective comic art. This course can therefore be useful for both manga and also Western comic book art.

See salaries and explore the career path for Comic Book Artist

Illustrator

An illustrator creates artwork for various publications and products. This course can help build a strong foundation in drawing figures, poses, and compositions, which are valuable skills for an illustrator. The emphasis on the techniques of manga and anime drawing in this course can help an illustrator develop a distinctive art style using professional techniques. As an illustrator may create artwork for many different applications, the skills emphasized in this course may be useful in a variety of contexts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Video Game Artist

A video game artist creates visual assets for video games, and this includes characters, environments, and other graphical elements. This course may be useful in its focus on character drawing, poses, and composition. The skills in manga and anime drawing developed here, particularly the techniques of character rendering at various angles, can be directly applied to the creation of character concept art or in game assets. The instruction on posture, combined with the instruction in dynamism and movement, can also be used to create lively and unique video game art.

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Art Director

An art director manages and guides the visual style and imagery for projects in various industries. This course may be useful for an art director in the animation, manga, or comic book industry. The course's instruction on scene composition, character poses and interactions, as well as the use of camera angles translates directly to these fields. An art director must understand the elements of effective visual storytelling and this course, which focuses on the fundamentals of drawing and visual communication, would provide useful insights.

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Technical Artist

A technical artist applies technical skills to the creation of visual assets, often for video games or animation. This course may be useful to a technical artist seeking to understand the fundamentals of figure drawing, composition, and movement; understanding these basics helps a technical artist improve the quality and fidelity of their work. The course also provides technical insights into animation production and camera effects such as wide shot and telephoto effects, which a technical artist should consider.

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Art teacher

An art teacher instructs students on the principles and techniques of art. This course may provide insights into techniques for teaching manga and anime drawing. The course provides a detailed learning structure that an art teacher may wish to emulate. A teacher may find this course, which presents a step by step method for learning illustration and character art, helpful. This course also emphasizes the fundamentals of drawing, which are the backbone of any successful art curriculum.

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Motion Graphics Artist

A motion graphics artist creates animated visual effects. This course may be helpful for a motion graphics artist interested in character animation through the techniques of manga and anime drawing. The course, with its focus on figure design, character movement, and storytelling through visual composition, offers a starting point for motion graphics that involve character design. The course may also be useful in its focus on camera effects like wide angle and telephoto shots, which are helpful for a motion graphics artist to master.

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Graphic Designer

A graphic designer creates visual content for communication purposes. While this course is focused on drawing and illustration, it may be useful to a graphic designer. The instruction in composition, character placement, and structure can also be applied to the composition of logos, posters, and other graphic design work. A graphic designer who is able to render illustrations or other artwork may also find the skills taught here useful for adding unique visual elements to their designs.

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E-Learning Developer

An e-learning developer creates educational content in digital format. This course may be helpful for a learning developer interested in creating animation or visual learning materials. The course's focus on manga and anime production, combined with its clear instructional approach, may be useful to an e-learning developer. The course also provides background knowledge of both the history and production process of Japanese animation, which can also be helpful to a learning developer.

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mangAnimeおひさま塾

Learn Manga Drawing from Japanese Animator ①

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Learn manga & anime drawing basics

Activities

Career center

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