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Kimiharu Obata

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.

Read more

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.

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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

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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Body Drawing - Male Front View
Body Drawing - Female 3/4 Side View
Body Drawing - Male 3/4 Side View
Body Drawing - Female Back View
Body Drawing - Male Back View
Able to draw hands, arms and legs with proportions and shape breakdown of the front and side view.
Shoulders and Arms Drawing
Hands Drawing
Legs Drawing
Able to manage the basics of drawing different poses.
Posture Drawing - Center of Gravity
Posture Drawing - Movement
Posture Drawing - Twisting
Posture Drawing - Themed basis
Posture Drawing - Usual Posture
Posture Drawing - Signature Posture
Posture Drawing - Dynamic Posture
Able to create a picture which tells the story itself
Manga & Anime Composition - General Structure
Manga & Anime Composition - Size of Characters
Manga & Anime Composition - Position of Characters with Dialogues
Manga & Anime Composition - Centerline ①
Manga & Anime Composition - Centerline ②
Manga & Anime Composition - Slash and Corner
Manga & Anime Composition - Character and Background
Manga & Anime Composition - Telephoto and Wide Shot Effects
Able to draw action and interaction poses
Advanced Posture Drawing - Postures at Wide Angle
Advanced Posture Drawing - Viewing from Looking Up and Down Angles
Advanced Posture Drawing - Extremely Difficult Postures (Single Character)
Advanced Posture Drawing - Interaction
Manga & Anime Anecdote in Japan
What do you need to prepare to become an animator in Japan?
The History of Animation
How to use the Peg Bar
Production Process of Japanese Anime

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Teaches fundamental drawing skills tailored to manga and anime, which are essential for character design and visual storytelling
Covers body proportions, poses, and interaction, which are crucial for creating dynamic and expressive characters
Explores shot composition techniques, which are vital for conveying narratives effectively in manga and anime
Includes anecdotes about the manga and anime industry in Japan, which may offer unique insights and cultural context
Features instruction from a professional Japanese animator, which may provide authentic techniques and industry knowledge
Discusses the production process of Japanese anime, which may be helpful for those interested in working in the industry

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Save mangAnimeおひさま塾: Learn Manga Drawing from Japanese Animator ① to your list so you can find it easily later:
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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
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
Show steps
  • 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'
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.
Show steps
  • 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
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.
Show steps
  • 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
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Character Sheet
Designing a character sheet will help you solidify your understanding of character design principles and apply the techniques learned in the course.
Show steps
  • 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
Analyzing the composition of existing manga pages will help you understand how professional artists use visual elements to create compelling storytelling.
Show steps
  • 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'
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.
Show steps
  • 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
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.
Show steps
  • 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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 mangAnimeおひさま塾: Learn Manga Drawing from Japanese Animator ①.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history, culture, and techniques of manga. It offers valuable insights into the storytelling conventions, visual styles, and production processes of Japanese comics. While not a drawing guide, it provides important context and inspiration for aspiring manga artists. This book is valuable as additional reading to provide breadth to the existing course.

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