Reference Materials for Drawing Characters and Art Part 1

The views and comments in the following blog are statements of opinion regarding the subject of “How to Draw” books involving the Japanese Manga Art form. The views expressed reflect the beliefs and opinions of the writer, with claimed first amendment freedom of speech guarantees under the Constitution for the United States of America.

I normally don’t waste time on things I don’t like. I usually ignore them. Like all the people peeved over Chick-Fil-A right now? (I fully and unreservedly, and without any apology support Chick-Fil-A but that’s not the point) – when a company, musician, artist, or any other such entity does something I don’t like I usually just ignore them and spend my time on things I do like. When some  Christian fundamentalists were having coronaries over Marilyn Manson years ago because of his blasphemous lyrics and substandard music, I was ignoring him. I don’t like what he does either but I simply ignored him. And where is Marylin Manson today? Hmmm… who cares!

REVISED/UPDATED – EFFECTIVE 5-SEP-2012

Since 2000, at least 2 years since the first “How to Draw Manga” books arrived in the USA from Japan, I have watched as certain artists began to take note of the popularity of Anime and Manga, abandon their own “How to Draw Cartoon” book projects and jump on the “Manga” bandwagon. I didn’t give it much thought at the time because I thought the art was no where close to being what the Japanese were doing. So I ignored it.

In recent years and months, I have watched as such artists have released dozens of books of their own, and have crowded the authentic Japanese books I go to the bookstores to buy off the shelves. So out of frustration, and with the trends I have seen over the years and some materials I have come into possession of (shown on this blog – the books I am criticizing) I wrote a blog showing what I believe are the phonies, with “Hey, here’s the REAL DEAL”.

This blog is my personal editorial, and my opinion.  I’m really not out to get anyone and I’ve got nothing personal against anyone I’m criticizing here. I have even edited out some names I was using before, and tried to tone this down a bit.  This is simply my own opinion and something I want to get off my chest and blow off some steam about. It is not intended to be a personal attack against anyone involved. It is actually more about what I would rather see promoted. I am speaking as both someone who enjoys art as a hobby, and someone who goes to the bookstores to buy art books – reference purposes aside, I also collect them. So I guess that’s another side hobby in and of itself perhaps? But I speak in that capacity. Perhaps that is my own brand of idealism. So be it. It has been revised for some content. I have really tried to tone this down a bit from the original article. This is merely my opinion.  Some may disagree and that is perfectly fine.

God bless!

Sincerely,

Jade Dragon

First— AVOID THE COPYCATS!

EVERY AUTHENTIC PRODUCT HAS ITS COPYCATS

What do two cans of Sloppy Joe sauce have to do with manga? (I generally use Heinz’s Sloppy Joe sauce myself!) Just as off brands try to make themselves look like the major brand as in this case with apparent knockoff of a popular Sloppy Joe sauce brand, many imitation artists trying to make a quick buck try to cash in on the manga fad by releasing imitation books labeled “Draw Manga” that fail to capture the true essence of the art form but try to somewhat resemble, to a certain degree, the real thing. That may seem like a harsh thing to say. But I feel it is somewhat appropriate. This again, is my opinion as someone who has been involved with Anime and Manga ever since boyhood, as opposed to someone who, it seems, got into it for a career purpose. My involvement with it is at a hobby level as something I enjoy. And I have watched for far too long as some American artists have sought to gobble up market share, not caring whether or not their books truly resemble the art they are claiming to sell “how to” books on (or so it seems to me).

Books such as these now litter the shelves at stores like Barnes and Noble and Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Arts and Craft Stores.

It reminds me very much of the late 1980s when Heavy Metal music got popular and you had all these pop rock bands who grew long hair and wore spandex, and got labeled “Metal” by the record companies even though true Metalheads like me and others knew they were not – it’s how the term “Poser” (or “poseur” – someone who is a faker, a wanna-be) came about. Bands like Winger, Dangerous Toys, Mr. Big, Danger Danger, Poison, Motley Crue (though some might debate me on that one), Britny Fox and a host of other “Glam” bands (funny – in the documentary film, “The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years” which featured mostly these poser glam bands, one of the only true Metal musicians interviewed in the whole film, (aside from Alice Cooper) Dave Mustaine of Megadeth called that “Gay L.A. Metal”) were considered “posers” by true “metalheads” who were listening to true Heavy Metal bands such as Manowar, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Slayer, Savatage, Fates Warning, Ozzy Osbourne, Dream Theater, and I could name many others.

This was a screenshot I took of Christopher Hart’s DeviantArt Gallery who is one of the chief offenders in this whole mess. This is artwork publicly displayed on his deviantArt web gallery for all to see.

Admittedly, there is one drawing that could safely pass as “Manga Style” on here called “Beach Party”. The “Moe Maid” one also. And the “Quick Sketch” kind of flirts with “Bishonen” style (“pretty boys”) just a bit. However since this artist is selling himself as a “Manga Artist”, I fear that his drawings like “Stylish Cartoon Girl” that he used to have on his gallery are easily getting falsely mislabeled as being part of the “Manga” genre simply because the character has large eyes when it more closely resembles something you would see on “The Jetsons” or something. There is more to drawing a “Manga” character than simply giving them large eyes.

I would also add that the title “Cute Food Kawaii” is an exercise in redundancy since “Kawaii” means the same thing as “cute”. It’s like saying “I am schizophrenic and so am I.” or something to me. And unless you’re trying to draw some kind of “Super Mario Bros.” Video Game fantasy where “Mario” is going to punch the crap out of a smiling ice cream cone for 1000 points how does this even make sense anyways?

Another shot from Christopher Hart’s deviantArt gallery.

My observations have been that many American artists selling “How to” books on drawing Japanese Manga style are not making proper distinction on what is and is not Japanese Manga style and I’m not sure they know it themselves.

    My other problem with Christopher Hart’s art style is that he does not fully grasp the shading techniques used by true Japanese artists which are a harder contrast of light and dark shadowing that he just does not use. I’m not sure if it is because of the color mediums he is using or just the way his books publish when I’ve looked at them? They just don’t strike me the same as the Japanese stuff I often look for. In my own style, I use a softer transition for own shading but I still use this harder contrast for my own drawings. There is also a use of highlights for the hair, shine in the eyes, etc.

This image is directly hot-linked from Christopher Hart’s deviantArt page (it is not being hosted on this website). This is apparently a sample of a new book  about “Kawaii Style for the Beginner”. There are a few big mistakes here.

1. There is no such thing as “Kawaii” style.

But people, animals, or characters can be “Kawaii” – an “evil bunny” would be a contradiction of this term. An evil character cannot be “kawaii” – put simply:  it has to be a cute, loveable character.

2, The terms used in Japan for artwork of this style or similar style of character would be terms like “Super Deformed” or “Chibi“.

3. This drawing lacks the shadowing techniques used by the Japanese in their cartooning styles, even in Super Deformed and Chibi styles, and even the eyes do not conform to true Japanese Styles. This is simply a small cartoon character that is labeled with popular Japanese buzzwords.

This is the iconic image at the bottom left side of my blog. The “Gaia Online” sprite, based on my character “Nyrva Dragonwood”. (Yeah, I mess around on Gaia sometimes.) It’s more of a video game-style sprite. However for all intents and purposes, this is a Super Deformed, or perhaps more “Chibi” version of my character than what I would draw. (Super Deformed would be a little more cartooney, more distorted) “Kawaii” style? Give me a break. There’s no such thing.

“Ryo-Ohki” from “Tenchi Muyo” is a character created by Masaki Kajishima and serves as a much better example. First off, the word “Kawaii” in Japanese is their word for “extremely cute” and the drawings in the aforementioned “Kawaii” book are extremely cartooney but not cute – or not in the same sense as the Japanese version of “cute”. “Ryo-Ohki” is extremely cute – is a half cat, half rabbit creature, etc. etc.You can read more about it here. Notice the style and detail to Ryo-Ohki – the character’s sense of presence created by the shadowing, and even the feel of life given by the look of it’s eyes. This is totally lacking in example given above. I think people would be better off trying to practice drawing Ryo-Ohki.

Another screenshot from deviantArt

Where is the light and dark contrast on these alleged “Manga Kawaii” drawings?  Where is the shadowing? I have a background in Desktop Publishing and graphics. So if you’re going to spend the money to run four color process for a book you’re going to charge people $20 USD for, at least do a little more than fill in single-color shade, maybe? I’ve seen drawings of “Hello Kitty” that utilize more shading and skill than the simple “paint bucket” fill job done on “Anthro Cutie” here, come on now!

Charging $20 for a book containing drawing an ice cream cone or an “evil bunny” labeled with incorrectly-used Japanese terms but lacking in the Japanese style of shading or shadowing, with no depth to the eyes, is to me something that an artist with integrity should not be doing in my opinion. This is not to say artists like this do not have integrity. But I question the use and definition of his terms for this art. Since this involves using Japanese terms and ascribing a meaning to this art in a way the Japanese themselves do not do, at least from what I have seen over the years observing authentic Japanese artists and real Japanese websites pertaining to Japanese Anime culture (not American fan sites about the subject).

It’s like putting a very European-American-looking mannequin in a Japanese Kimono or outfit like this one local grocery store I shop at does in their Asian food section. I go to their Japanese food aisle every time I go there (along with European Chocolate and imported German Bier) for stuff for my veggie stir frys and more varieties of Pocky than are sold at any Anime Convention (seriously!) but they have cheesy American-looking mannequins in Japanese Kimonos and believe me – it looks hokey! Anyways…

And secondly, to draw something “extremely cute” (which is what “kawaii” means) does not mean a lack of attention to detail shown on the artwork previously shown. You’ll also note how the “evil bunny’s” right ear is a bit longer than his left and should be shorter than it is, even flopped down. The total length of the ears should be the same but the full length of the right ear is maintained and matches the length of the bunny’s left ear 1even after flopping it down. I’m sure it takes only a few minutes to draw that rabbit in pencil, another maybe half hour to ink and color in Photoshop with the paint bucket and there are a huge number of mistakes. And how much are people being charged for this book?

(To be fair: I admit, I struggle with proportion too on a lot of my own drawings. I see that with a lot of artists, even professionals whom I have much respect for. Proportion IS a hard thing to master.)

There is a reason that American auto manufacturers have been nearly run out of business (for example) by Japanese automakers. Companies like Toyota, Nissan, and other Japanese companies put incredible time and workmanship into their products. This is why Detroit is a near ruin, and has been for decades now. The Japanese put a lot of time and detail into their work. I would sooner buy a Toyota Camry than anything built by Ford or GM. Put simply: They don’t do things half-ass.

The same is true of their artwork. And a lot of Americans artists who are now releasing “Draw Manga” books are only grasping a form of the style but not necessarily the full concept or idiom, and still charge the same $20 the Japanese books charge.

This is artwork of Elwing (Female Elf) and  Xion (the guy) from Shining Tears

Note how the mouth and facial features are drawn, the eyes – the newer-school anime and manga style seems to omit the pupils, the hair, the shading, etc. Including the use of highlights, etc.Plus the clothing on Elwing’s body appears to be shimmering – as if it were made of a silky material or something.

A wallpaper of Iczelion released in 1994 and created by Japanese Artist Toshihiro Hirano, who also created Fight! Iczer One and Iczer Reborn. The series was produced by KSS Studios of Japan and released by the long since defunct ADV Films (well deserving of their demise – having gone from being a cutting edge anime company in the 90s to a kiss-arse caterer of trendy anime in the 2000s!)

You will note the “old school” anime style employed by Mr. Hirano whose style is very much in the vein of the older Macross series, etc. just a bit updated. Note the highlights in the hair, the contrast shading, the shine on the body armour, and the attention to details.

This is why I am taking issue with many of the American artists who are doing alleged “How to Draw Manga” books because they do not employ the use of or pay attention to the use of such details, so they cannot teach, demonstrate, or illustrate, what they themselves do not often do.

There is one description I once read about Anime characters that has always stuck with me – “too cartoon to be realistic, but too realistic to be just a cartoon”. Chris Hart’s, and even more so, the styles of many of his copycats are still too “cartoon” in my opinion, to be marketed as Japanese style. But I think anyone who seriously pays attention to true Japanese comics won’t give his material the time of day anyhow. So far most people I’ve encountered who do use his work generally get their Anime off Cartoon Network anyways and never buy any themselves from authentic Anime dealers.

But to be fair, making a comparison of the art I am criticizing to Hanna-Barbara, may be a bit unfair and of course, that is just my opinion. But to me the styles are very similar, particular with espect to the artist’s non-manga cartoon materials. It’s a personal opinion – a matter of taste for me. I just don’t care for those styles.

I always favored the Japanese cartoons, and the Looney Tunes styles- though cartoons, there was always more to their styles to me. I think for me the Hanna-Barbara were just “too cartooney” for me as opposed to some of the old “Looney Tunes” where you would have “Bugs Bunny” sometimes animated against a somewhat realistic background of buildings or forest, etc. Much more attention to detail, etc. At least for some of the older cartoons from the 50s and 60s etc. from the Looney Tunes franchise – not now. There was much more to offer the eye to me. Hanna-Barbara just never appealed.

Give me a break! I never liked “Scooby Doo” or “Flintsones” or the “Jetsons”. I always used to wish someone on Scooby Doo would whack that annoying character “Thelma” and kill her off the show. Maybe I should draw that I really hated Shaggy and Scooby too since those two useless chicken-shits were scared of everything and were only good for stuffing their faces! I hated that stupid show and always had to sit through it as a kid waiting for “Battle of the Planets” or something I liked better to come on. And you always knew the people who called the “Scooby” gang ended up being the people behind the crime anyways, so what was the freaking point wasting a half hour watching that crappy show anyways? lol!

But I think for me, there is just something lacking. Lack of completeness somehow, so I just don’t care for his general cartoon style.  For those who like it, “more power to you” – as they say “different strokes for different folks”. But I will never recognize his work as being Japanese style until it starts looking a lot more like it. I created my character Nyrva Dragonwood in 1997 and this is 2012. I didn’t start drawing her “Japanese style” until six months to a year later. It took me years of practicing in my spare time in between working full time, etc.  to get to the point where I now am. (Hey, some of us work real jobs you know! I punch a clock and go to work for a living.) And I know I have a lot of room to grow and I’m just someone who draws for a hobby.

I admit I’m being a bit critical here I admit. But one of the things I have discovered about drawing Anime and Manga over the years, and I still struggle with this, is that you have to learn figure drawing. Attention to detail, anatomical correctness, proportion, and the design of the human body, and even of animals, creatures, etc. is still very important. You don’t want to draw larger heads unless you’re suggesting the character is a child. Even eye size and style can suggest a characters age I’ve learned. Granted there are different styles within Anime and Manga style art – such as super deformed, chibi, etc that change the rules but there are still rules even within those styles which make those styles what they are. As simple as the styles look, Japanese Anime and Manga is a very complex art style to draw. If the books teaching the material do not have a handle on grasping this complex style, you will not learn much from them.

While we’re on it, this book has a title you really have to pay attention to. Don’t be like me and stop on “Magical Girls” – Christopher Hart is not kidding when he says “friends” – maybe 1/3 (rough guesstimate – I didn’t count the number of pages for Pete’s sake) of this book covers the “girls”. The rest of this book covers drawing “magical guys” and even creatures that still don’t quite fully look “Japanese” style.

I wasn’t kidding about the “Gandalf” crack on that last picture. There is a picture of a wizard in the book that is a spitting image of Gandalf. At least now I know how to draw “Manga Gandalf”. So what about the rest of the “Fellowship”? “Manga Gimli” and “Manga Frodo” and “Manga Bilbo” and “Manga Aragorn”? How about “Manga Legolas” and especially “Manga Eowyn”?  Because we love pretty manga elf girls here at Oslaania.net. How about it Mr. Hart? lol! Can I draw “Manga Sauron” too? What’s the “manga” version of “Sauron’s eye” atop “Manga Mordor”?  Give me that “Manga ring!” lol!

“One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them one ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.”  – there I quoted it now just because I felt like it!

By the way there is also a drawing that is a sort of “teen” spinoff of “Super Idol Misty May” in the book that looks adolescent to me, but I say you’re better off getting the video “Otaku No Video” and just practicing trying to draw the real “Super Idol Misty May”.

And here she is, the REAL “Super Idol Misty May” from “Otaku No Video” directed by Takeshi Mori and produced by GAINAX and release in North America by AnimEigo – so ladies and gentlemen, you can learn how to draw her by just observing the details!

It’s OK to use Japanese terms when appropriate at the right place or the right time. But the misapplication of terms like people who are publishing “Kawaii” style that doesn’t exist are doing, run the risk of sounding like a weeaboo.

As a result of aggressive efforts by American artists and copycats trying to get in on the game, it is no longer possible to get authentic Japanese “draw Manga” books off sites like Barnes and Nobel. They no longer have them on the store shelves for customers like me who like to look at books before buying to examine first. Sure they might be able to order them, but then one is obligated to buy.

I find this morally repugnant since Manga is a Japanese art form. And many American artists who can’t even draw it right have pushed these books off the shelves out of the hands of customers who want them.

The economy (that Obama bin Laden claims is “getting better” somehow?) may have a big part in what the stores carry these days as well I’m quite sure. I actually preferred Borders over Barnes and Nobel, and of course, sadly, Borders went belly-up. The last several times I was in Barnes and Nobel, many of the book sections over all have shrunk in available selection, not just “manga” books. Many of the art and photo books, even computer and technical books I go there for, or some of the leisure books I like to browse, and other things I look at when I go there has gone down. And to top it off, a good section of many B&N stores now have had sections cleared now for toys and games – as if their Music/Video and Children’s sections weren’t big enough?  I would say they were turning into what the old Media Play stores used to be before the Musicland Group folded.  But I’m sure now with shrinking shelf space for books, (and possibly the demand?) perhaps the bookstores like Barnes and Nobel are only focusing on the books now they can get the “quick sell” on? Therefore people like myself who want more “specialized” books now have to shop more “specialized” outlets? But that’s another discussion.

Captain Picard just took the words right out of my mouth!

Just another knockoff by another cheesy publisher. They seem to think simply using any “Asian” works (no offense intended to this artist) as if “Chinese” and “Japanese” are the same thing. But I have known people from both cultures who would be grossly offended by this notion. “Manga” is a purely “Japanese” word, not Korean, not Chinese, not Malaysian, etc. While many cultures enjoy the Japanese art form, each Asian culture has their own word for it’s own comic art style and it’s own comic style. The Koreans use their own style and call their style “Manhwa”. To suggest that it’s all the same” as this book visually suggests by the use of a Chinese artist, (I guess this publisher couldn’t spend a few dollars and hire a real Japanese artist?) is the same as saying “Kung Fu” and “Karate” or “Tae Kwon Do” are the same thing. And as any seasoned martial arts expert will tell you, or anyone with a reasonable amount of knowledge on the subject for that matter, that is absolutely not the case.

But this book is Toyko Pop’s release – and that company puts out just about anything as a “manga” book.  They have even tried to do cheesy American fictional properties as so-called “Manga” titles. (what-ever!) lol!

But just as we  are using “just any old Asian to sell Manga” – and saying “All Asians are the same” – are we going to also assume Germans and Austrians are the same because they’re both European? No! There are similarities sure but I’m sure both groups of people would assert their respective differences. Are we going to assume all people in America who watch WWE and Nascar are “rednecks”? Would we dare assume Puerto Rico is the same as Mexico because both cultures speak Spanish? I’ve known a Puerto Ricans (and no doubt Mexicans) who would feed a few “knuckle sandwiches” to anyone who would dare make such an assertion! And rightly so! It’s a stupid assumption to make. So why are we doing this here with Manga and Asian culture here? These moron publishers are doing it strictly for the dollar!

Although this looks like an “authentic” book because of an apparent Asian on the cover, keep in mind “manga” is a Japanese word, originated in Japan. and if the material does not come from Japan and created by a Japanese artist then it is not true Manga, just as if Champagne does not come from Champagne, France, it is technically known as “sparkling wine” as I have been told by seasoned wine experts. (I could care less about wine, I don’t drink aged, fermented bottles of squashed grapes!) Even the so-called Christian publishing company Zondervan tried to cash in on the “Manga” craze with it’s own cheesy, crappy line of so-called “Christian manga bible” books, erroneously labeling the books as “Korean Manga” when Manga is a Japanese Art form. Korean comics as I’ve previously stated, have their own term which is called “Manhwa“, not “Manga”, try again Zondervan! (I’ll show Zondervan’s offensive attempt at “Manga” publishing in just a bit). Zondervan claims to be a Christian company yet profane the name of Christ and the Bible they claim to stand for  by offering a false manga book with poor attention to detail and gross mislabeling.

And even so, from what I’ve seen in grocery store publications such as “Yen” (using a Japanese term for its native currency) which uses “Manhwa” mixed with some “Manga” — which I don’t believe should be done- as I don’t believe the terms and/or styles are “the same thing” necessarily or “interchangeable”, and there are some differences between the art styles. I’ll show one of the phony “Christian Manga Bible” books a bit later. But I purchased this book for documentary purposes. The art again to me lacks the true essence and style of true Japanese artists who pioneered and defined the art forms of Anime and Manga over the years. Just another person cashing in on a popular craze.

The grocery store publication “Yen” attempts to cash in on the craze and only confuse the situation even further by using a Japanese word for “money” (in this case “Yen”) as the name for its Korean Manhwa-laced comic publication(with some mix-and-match use of Japanese manga). True Japanese art often pays attention to style, accuracy, technical and physical detail, and proportion. The arm on the person in profile on the front cover is grossly out of proportion, for example. The head is way too small, the hand is too big, fingers are too long, and I could go on. It looks like the drawings I used to do when I first started out trying to draw Japanese style comics and I couldn’t get my proportions right. This is not characteristic of a true Japanese Manga drawing that takes great care in paying attention to detail and accuracy. I would not buy this magazine and I would not even accept a free copy and I cannot believe some editor actually allowed this to actually go to press – he or she must not have had any kind of scruples whatsoever other than making money in my opinion. The coloring styles used on this comic cover are NOT consistent with true Japanese coloring or shading techniques. The use of these light pastel colors is not consistent with most manga or anime I’ve seen over the years. This is not to say it cannot be done, but it is not consistent with the overall style of the art form. I’ve been watching Japanese Anime since the 80s.

For those who believe “Manhwa” and “Manga” are “interchangeable” and “the same thing” since they’re both “Asian” anyways, I’d like to you go to Ireland and ask them if they think Irish and Scottish are “interchangeable” since they’re both in the United Kingdom and see what kid of answer you get because I believe the answer to that question is the same answer for this case: No! I think if you dare ask such a question you’ll be lucky if the Irishman you ask doesn’t send you home with a black eye and a few missing teeth for a souvenir along with your answer. I’m sure if you go to mainland Japan or Korea and ask the same questions about one another’s respective art forms and cultures you might get similar reactions.

Japanese are very proud people, and identify as being their own culture. As a matter of fact, Japanese even have their own words to refer to outsiders, foreigners, such as “Gaijin” for “foreigner” – or more extreme examples I’ve heard of such as “Jingai” (“gaijin” reversed) which I understand is like saying “f**king foreigner”, as well as “cocojin” for darker skinned foreigners – or so I have been told by people from Japan I have met or people more familiar with Japanese culture, just as people in the Southern United States might call people in the North “Yankees”, etc. as I learned some of them still do (that’s just a fact of life, I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, that’s just how I understand it)

For anyone to suggest that another culture, such as the Chinese or the Koreans, for that matter are “the same” as theirs would be a grave insult to a proud, native Japanese person. And by the way, I don’t doubt for a moment that native Koreans or Chinese feel the same about their own national pride. Just as even in America, people from the south still don’t like “Yankees”, or so I’ve learned.

And there are even cultural pockets among Americans that differ that don’t like to be compared to one another. Go in the cities and listen to people in the cities “busting on” so-called “rednecks” — I live in the city and bust on rednecks all the time because they dog gone deserve it! And I’m sure inbred hillbilly rednecks who can’t decide if their parents would still be cousins or brother and sister if they got a divorce do their share of busting on “city folks” too while strumming their banjo, drinking moonshine, hanging their Klan hoods out to dry on the wash line, working on their pickup truck, watching Nascar and WWE all day placing actual bets if Undertaker is going to beat The Rock or whatever, and listening Garth “Vader” Brooks CDs Ad Nauseam, etc. (I’m sure a gazillion rednecks will want to fight me! And NO I won’t go on the Jerry Springer show, so go screw yourselves! I swear we can cut down the redneck population if we just ban country music and hide all their first cousins and sisters!) But it is Americans who are too lazy and often too stupid who try to blur the lines and often insult people from these cultures with their arrogance and ignorance.

BY THE WAY – on the “Redneck Comments” – I have been to flea markets, etc. out in the country and have had plenty of exposure to “country folks” over the years – I lived in a town of 1500 people in South Dakota for a time when I worked a job — so I’ve seen “both sides” of the coin and I met a lot of nice people out in the countryside and I KNOW most people in the country don’t live like the stereotypes I mentioned in my redneck comments- I’m making a point. There are actually things about “country life” I can certainly appreciate’ – the simplicity, etc. Just so you realize. I’m sure there are many stereotypes about city people to, and city life is not always what it’s cracked up to be. I moved out of my home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2001 – and have learned I can never go back because of the severe up-swell of crime there over the last decade – that town is just so gone. So I know that not all country folks are the stereotype I portrayed in my comments, and again, I’m just trying to make a point about perceptions and cultural differences — you see how they can exist even within one’s own country, that’s the point. Then contrast that to other cultures between American, China, Japan – even countries that on the surface to us can “seem” similar like Asian countries even though they do have clear differences. it is not my intention to offend anyone. Anyways, moving on…

But my point is, there are very strict cultural differences between different Asian cultures in the same way there can be very different cultural points of view even on a local level in one’s own country!

It’s just like the American use of the word “Otaku” – Japanese people I have talked to have all told me that is a very offensive word to say to someone. I explained to them that Americans use it to mean “Anime fan” that they use it to say “I am a fan of Japanese Animation” but the Japanese I have spoken to have told me the word “otaku” has nothing whatsoever to do with Japanese animation, or animation at all. It is a word used for people who are obsessive compulsive or, our equivalent words might be “nerd” or “geek” or “spaz”, etc. but in a very derogatory context. It is a shameful thing to be called “otaku”. In the anime video “Otaku No Video” the main character adapts the nickname “Otaking” – the “king of Otaku” as it were because he is tired of being called “otaku” by people critical of him over his choice of leisure and hobbies and so he takes the name to himself and makes it his own as a tool of spite to his critics. “Fine! Screw you guys!” in essence. But it STILL doesn’t mean “anime fan”. In essence’ he’s saying in his own way what I like to say to people who throw the word “nerd” at me – I simply reply “That’s ‘Mr. Nerd’ to you!”. Many guys like to go to the sports bar and guzzle gallons of fizzy yellow light beer whizwater like Budweiser, Bud Light (which is for girls), Milwaukee’s Best, or Coors or some other Redneck whizwater. (Any of these guys ever hear of REAL beer like Guinness or Weihenstephaner? Hacker-Pschorr?) I’m happy to get some unsweetened Green Tea, stop into Michael’s, Hobby Lobby,  and Games Workshop for some art supplies and come home and work on some hobbies. (All those stores have some great supplies for crafts and painting, drawing — just avoid their knockoff manga books, and I’ve just discovered Games Workshop for potential supplies that can be used for PVC and resin Figure Modification and hope to cover that in future posts) And “Otaku No Video” is a spoof anime in a sense anyways, and of course, the alleged story about the rise of GAINAX itself.

My knowledge of this is based upon my own reading and studying about Japanese culture outside of “anime” circles, in addition to talking to actual people who come from Japan about their own culture and who were flattered and rather enthused at the notion of an American like myself showing genuine interest in their culture and way of life when most make fun and ridicule it. But I like to learn about other cultures and ways of life even if I may not agree with them or live them. I have books on Japanese Animation and Anime I will also share later in this article that will help with some of this — because understanding the background of an art form will help to not only appreciate the art form but to understand it better, WHY do Japanese artists draw “9 tail fox girls”? for example. Understanding aspects of Japanese Mythology will help to understand the concepts and those types of characters.

And now it has gotten to the point where stores like Barnes & Noble no longer carry the actual Japanese “How to Draw Manga” books, and only stock the knockoffs on the shelf. Clerks at the store tell me they can “special order” but if I have to do that I’m going on Amazon or to the actual website address for the real books themselves. Barnes & Noble has lost a customer now! This is because cheap knockoffs like this and those sold by AMERICAN COPYCATS HAVE FLOODED THE SHELVES AND THE ARTWORK IS OFTEN POOR AND SUBSTANDARD.

But then, who is buying them? People who are like the people putting out the knockoff books- who know little to nothing about manga, who only hear the buzzwords and want to get in on the craze. That’s why this post has been created. To show the REAL books to get. The books those of us who know the real art form are buying. They are more expensive than the knockoffs and copycats. But if you spend the money for the right books in the first place you spend less money in the long run. It is better to spend $20 on one real book than $20 on 4 or 5 knockoffs that aren’t even showing you the true nature of the art form to begin with.

And I’ll also show you hat you don’t necessarily have to always spend $20 for one book to always get an authentic Japanese Manga Drawing book. And there are other kinds of reference materials you can get from Japan as well. Some of my books were purchased USED on the internet for less than $10. I have at least 15-20 books from the authentic Japanese “How to Draw Manga” series – some of them bought new, some used. Keep reading…

While this doesn’t necessarily relate to “How to Draw Manga” books this represents a problem for people wanting to buy “Manga” in general with companies pulling classic “Bait and Switch” schemes such as Antarctic Press, or other unscrupulous companies trying to market just about any kind of “comics” as “Manga”. In this case we have Antarctic Press with an artist name Ben Dunn. A whole series of comics like “Manga Ex”, and “Ninja High School” with drawings like this classic “bait and switch” trap to get you to spend $6 for the comic book but this character is no where in the entire book, nor does the artwork in the book in any way resemble the art form the book claims to be part of, namely “Manga”. What DO you get in this “Manga” comic book? Not “Manga” I assure you! And as I previously stated, while this has nothing to do with “How to Draw Manga” books, this same company had the audacity to release its own series of so-called “How to Draw Manga” books with art that also bore little resemblance to true Japanese Manga that would half-show you how to draw a character then bust into some highly technical drawing of military equipment or something that wouldn’t be of any use to anyone except someone working for the Pentagon!  (By the way, technically my art is not true “Manga”either since it does not originate from Japan, nor am I Japanese.)

For the record, I actually own this particular issue as I do like the cover art. So I can back up the claims I am asserting about this book. There is not one single strip of Japanese-style manga comic art in this entire book for the $6.99 these crooks (in my opinion) charge! This book is 100% American-style comics and they have the balls to call this crappy book “manga” while not printing in this entire book other than the cover, one single frame of art that resembles any kind of Japanese comic art whatsoever! The only good art on this whole book is the cover itself, the rest sucks, at least to me! In my opinion, these guys are “bait and switch” crooks cashing in on the buzzword (in my opinion) and I think you should not waste your money on any materials put out by Antarctic Press!

Antarctic Press actually has the GALL to call this crap “Manga” when it is nothing more than standard-issue western-style Hanna-Barbara-esq Cartoon Network reject crap — this is from that same book with the naked elf shown above who doesn’t appear at all in the book but this doofus looking dog character does. Send this TRASH to Hanna-Barbara where it frigging belongs! And they were releasing a comic book series of their own called “How to Draw Manga”? No way, dirty Schmoes!

And I have far more contempt for Antarctic Press than I do for pretty much anyone else on this issue – they constantly release comic books labeled as “Manga” and yet they are full of sorry-arse cartoons that look just like this, and not Japanese-style at all. They have no problems taking $7 from people per comic book for this junk either, for this or their so-called line of their own crappy “How to Draw Manga” comic books.

Zondervan Publishing is even worse as an example of so-called “Christians” wanting to gobble up their market-share of the “manga” market with cheesy so-called “Christian” manga products– Using a Korean artist named Young Shin Lee, whom their own book credits as having grown up and studied in Korea, and credited with writing the “Manhwa Bible” (“manhwa” being the Korean word for comics, not “manga”) in his home country of Korea by Zondervan’s own accreditation on the inside front cover of this book, drew the artwork for this book which is Korean Manhwa style, not Japanese Manga style. But because Japanese “manga” is what is currently selling in America, marketing wigs at Zondervan no doubt slapped that title on this puppy. When you call Christians on the carpet over these kinds of errors they often cop attitude and hide behind “The Great Commission” and say “This is for the Gospel! How dare you raise that issue!” so it’s OK for them to have these errors as long as it serves a so-called “higher purpose” and not be attentive to details and give proper representation to facts. It’s called “not bearing false witness to thy neighbor” in the Bible! The Ninth Commandment!

But the Great Commission they so-called claim and hide behind when you call them on their error involves veritas – truth – and the Son of God never lied – these guys are willfully telling lies violating the Ninth Commandment “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” and committing theft by taking people’s money for a deliberately mislabeled product — “Thou shalt not steal”. Their own book outright lies and states that the Korean Manhwa they are falsely labeling as “Manga” is popular and “cutting edge” all around the world when it is in fact Japanese Manga that has enjoyed this popularity. (Like I said – doesn’t it say “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” in the Bible Hmm…? What hypocrites! By the way this site displays the Ten Commandments at the bottom with the Bible reference in full defiance of political correctness!) Many so-called “Christian manga” websites also promote Korean “manhwa” as Japanese “manga” and do not make the distinctions or do not promote the proper definitions of the art form, with the same angry rabid foam mouth defenses – “it’s for the ‘Gospel’ – how DARE you, you judgmental jerk! You will burn in hell!”

I have nothing whatsoever against a belief in God, Jesus, the bible, etc. I DO believe in God and Jesus. I believe Jesus IS the Son of God and the Messiah. I am just trying to understand all the aspects of the bible myself instead of being spoon fed by preachers. Rather than be a mindless automaton who sits in the pew every Sunday and gets told what to think – I choose to think for myself. I am reading it for myself and arriving at my own conclusions whatever they may be. I don’t practice all the aspects of ORGANIZED RELIGION and OPPOSE organized religion. Jesus did too if you read Matthew 23 – He very STRONGLY opposed the religious leaders of his day, and many of those verses very well fit the Cadillac-driving preachers living in fancy houses, wearing expensive suits, and standing behind the cloth today with their wind-tunnel-tested hairdos and shit-eating grins. I won’t mention any names like the Pop3 or B3nny H1nn or Jo31 Ol$te3n or anything like that or many other preachers I can name. But that’s another discussion for another subject.

Nonetheless, these people punch out their knockoffs just the same and bastardize the art form “in the name of God.” I think that’s blasphemy!

Here’s some more examples of that:

More alleged “Christian” manga that looks, at least to me, like those cheesy “Archie” comic books (well, depending if you like those books or not – but I wouldn’t compare them to Japanese “manga”) you find in the checkout aisle at the grocery store. Except that I’m sure “Archie” books actually sell. (I don’t buy them).  This book doesn’t look “manga” at all anywhere throughout the book that I’ve seen. The girl on the cover is drawn in a half-ass “Anime” style while many of the rest of the characters just look like plain comics.  Just another Christian artist, that like many other bait-and-switch and other opportunists, is cashing in on another “passing fancy” but in this case “for the Gospel” right? “How dare you! Heathen!” It’s for the “Gospel” so that makes it “OK” – or at least this is how I’m seeing this thing.

This has to be the worst example yet I have ever seen, aside from the garbage offered by Antarctic Press.

In the 20 years I have watched anime and been into Japanese Manga, I have never seen any Japanese artist in the vein of Manga use any art style of this kind. This is not Japanese-style by any means, nor is it deserving of the title “manga”. This is yet just another hack weeaboo cashing in on, and trading on a name, buzzword, and label they apparently know nothing whatsoever about from what I can see by this cover. There is no way you would get me to buy this book.

And before any Christians decide to cite the Great Commission to me – the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Holy Bible,  and the Great Commission is based on Veritas – Truth, as I said before. This cover is a bold-faced lie. The label is a lie. The use of the term “manga” to describe this non-Japanese art style is a lie. Call it anything you want, but this is not a “manga” book.

“Tempted Forty Days” – a drawing I did of Christ tempted in the desert as recorded in the Gospels. (I will not attempt to show His face out of respect, in any drawing or depiction that I do. You’ll have to be satisfied with the “suggestion”).

This is my own attempt to draw some “Inspirational” Bible Art loosely borrowing some techniques used by Japanese artists.

NOTE: I DO NOT consider this a “Manga” drawing for many reasons. Though I used borrowed some techniques, primarily: I am an artist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, not anywhere in Japan. Also the figure of “Christ” was drawn by me and colored in Photoshop. However, I did the background in KPT Bryce. Although Japanese artists are now starting to use more CG in their animation, this is not consistent with Japanese styles. Therefore, this is not “Manga” style.

This is another drawing I did, used the same drawing of Christ with “glow” effect – arrival at the “New Jerusalem” as described in Revelation 21 of the Holy Bible (which I have studied for over 20 years on the side though I don’t practice like I should – hey, I admit it!)

Once again- even though I have borrowed some techniques from Japanese styles – even giving the girl a joyous, “kawaii” face (to use a term), I do not consider this “Manga” for the same reasons as the previous picture – and it’s just not up to par with artwork from Japan.

The girl is a character I created, I named “Sheila Greenfield” who there is a short story about – dies a martyr during the “Great Tribulation” when she is brutally butchered (beheaded) by “Babylon the Great” – the evil government of the Antichrist. (Antichrist, 666, “Mark of the Beast, but I do not believe in the “pre-trib rapture escapism” BS!) and gets to Heaven for her faith. But the drawing sucks, and she looks too much like the girl from “Vocaloid” to me even though that was not intended.   I actually want to completely redesign my character.

Again, the background is Photoshop CG – the grass sucks. But the “New Jerusalem” I created with the 12 Foundations described – I used actual texture samples of the 12 stones described in Revelation 21 for this creation. Real texture samples of sardonyx, amethyst, topaz, sapphire, etc.

Some of the books I have shown merely use some techniques of Japanese artists but just don’t cut it as “Manga” books. My art is not “Manga” either.

(Can be “Manga-style”, just not “Manga” – at least not “technically”.  I’ve already covered that.)

This is a REAL Anime picture by one of the guys who help shape the art form – the character “Lemnear” from “Legend of Lemnear” by Japanese artist Satoshi Urushiara – one of the artists whose art and style I have studied extensively along with a few others. When the guys I’ve just featured start making material that looks more like this they can give me a call.

I’ve never been too fond of this particular series by the way, the “Let’s Draw Manga” series — they try very hard to look like the original books again- but at least unlike the books I’ve cited so far, these books have a much better grasp on the Japanese style and are, as it appears, authored by actual Japanese artists with Japanese-sounding names. Names such as “Lin” or “Lee” as shown on one of the previous books (someone who thinks they can get one over by just using an Asian artist, right?) would be Chinese or other Asian names. But the name on this book is much more clearly that of a Japanese author. Still in this case “Aster Noriko” could very well be an American with a Japanese last name. (I frequently read name credits on Japanese products – “Aster” sounds more Western to me). I have seen one or two other books in this series with more authors who have more authentic Japanese-sounding names. For those asking “What difference does that make?” – keep in mind that part of the conditions for true “Manga” is that it must be from Japan produced by Japanese artists, etc. However, I would sooner buy this book than the any of the false Manga books I’ve previously shown so far. And I actually have this book. It’s not too bad but I don’t necessarily recommend these – this book actually wastes page space on “western styles” instead of 100% of the book on drawing Japanese style which is what “Manga” is.

For a little more “piss and vinegar” here since I’ve already poured it on – the art brochure I picked up from a Hobby Lobby store for Prismacolor pencils and markers has a hell of a lot better “Manga-style” art (notice my word usage) than the people I’ve been picking on so far. And this is just a company selling pencils and markers – very good ones for that matter and I have used them myself – and am considering doing so again for some projects to supplement my digital works – particularly for multi-character scenes of secondary characters and backgrounds to place primary digital characters into the way Japanese animators do.

Inside the Prismacolor brochure – a 4-page full color spread – 8 1/2 x 11″ folded, glossy with spectacular art. I think all the people I have been picking on in this article should take note here from the artist who drew the artwork in this pamphlet who has a much better grasp of the Japanese style than anyone I’ve “busted on” so far does. The artist for this brochure is Kriss Sison who even has a page on the Prismacolor website and whose work is very much on par with top-notch Japanese Animators and artists. The website for Kriss Sison is http://www.prismacolor.com/artists/kriss-sison

In fact, Kriss Sison’s name turned up several links when I did a Google search, so he appears to be well accomplished.

FOR THE RECORD:

I DO NOT HATE ANY OF THE ARTISTS I HAVE BEEN CRITICIZING IN THE BLOG ARTICLE,  despite the SEEMING “piss and vinegar” I’ve poured out on these people in this article stating my opinions.

For years I have been a die hard fan of Japanese comics, manga and anime, and I’m tired of all the “bandwagoning” that has come along with the popularity of the fad. And my comments about these people is simply my venting towards people I see who are bandwagoning on a fad who never touched this medium before (I never saw any  books about Manga by ANY American artists prior to the year 2000 when it started to get popular to put out those kind of books). Up until then artists like this were merely putting out their own little cartoon and comic books. But bandwagoners always have to cash in on the fad and release substandard materials and books and represent their materials as if they are the real thing and I think these people have highly questionable, dishonest, and shoddy business practices. They may have the legal right to do what they do – “this is America’ but it doesn’t make them right for doing so. So that’s my beef, and that’s my opinion. And just as they have a right to put out their materials I have a right voice my opinion and say “they’re bullcrap”. And that’s exactly what I’m doing. And then I’m saying “here’s the real Japanese Manga books” — books that originated in Japan originally in Japanese, from Japanese authors and publishers, translated to English, and imported to the United States, and that is the point of this article.

The Captain Jean-Luc Picard Facepalm for Ultimate FAIL best represents my feelings now every time I walk into the art book section of Barnes and Nobel or my favorite art stores. I figure getting the kind of art books I want, in terms of TRUE Japanese “Draw Manga” or Japanese Manga art books period is a lost cause now.

OK, folks, you’ve seen the fakers and the takers, now time for the real thing. (Like Satoshi Urushihara, Johji Manabe, and others…)

My own character “Nyrva Dragonwood”

I do not consider myself a “professional” artist by any means. I still rank myself “amateur” and a hobbyist in spite of any skills I may (or may not depending on the perspective viewer) have. And by the way – this drawing of mine is NOT “manga”. I am not Japanese and this is not produced in Japan. This is Western comic art at the end of the day – done using Japanese styles perhaps? But it is still not “Manga” just as only sparkling wine produced in Champagne, France can truly be called “Champagne” — or so I have been told. (I’m a beer-drinker, not into wine.) I consider myself an “aspiring Manga artist” but I am not a “Manga” artist. I am an American comic artist, and I respect that boundary. My work could be possibly labeled “Japanese-style” or “Japanese-inspired” or “Japanese-influenced” comic art but it is not “Manga”. This is not a game of semantics, it is the correct use of words and definitions.

There are particular reasons my characters don’t look exactly like conventional “Japanese Anime” style – the first is that I don’t want to imitate other artists. I’ve always done my own thing. Like Leiji Matsumoto — another artist I consider to be influential for me, who does famous anime like Captain Harlock, Queen Emeraldas and the CLASSIC (not the new ones) Galaxy Express 999 (of which I own videos from all of those and am a fan) I chose to develop my own style based on the Japanese model. And also in the case of Nyrva, she is an adult character and not a child or teen as is the case with most popular Anime where many of the protagonist characters are either teenagers or young college-age adults — I wanted Nyrva to look (at least to me) like someone who is more of a “20-something” – mid-20s appearance. 24-28 age range. I use larger eyes for younger characters. I use really large eyes for children – but then I also draw the bodies accordingly as well because of course there are different styles. Just because an adult character is drawn “child body” style or “chibi” doesn’t mean you’re drawing a “child” and there is also “SD” or “Super Deformed” as well.

Taena Woodshade (Taena – like “Dana” but with a “t”) a Female Forest Elf of the Woodshade Forest Elf Tribe. She is a younger adult female I created that I draw in the more conventional “Japanese Anime” styles. I could have spent a bit more time on this. However this was a second draft of a conceptual sketch. This character is still somewhat under development – this overall design however is probably what I’m going to go with. I plan to spend a bit more time on the details for her future drawings so they come out a bit better.

But I would say I have a better grasp of “Anime” or “Manga” art skills than any of the people I’ve listed so far. That’s only because I’ve studied from authentic Japanese sources over the years, not to mention watching actual anime since my youth, as opposed to people who only paid enough attention to it long enough to cash in on a popular buzzword (or some idea of what it meant) just to sell a few books, just barely grasping the definition and depth, form, and idiom. That’s what I’m going to share next. It’s time to get the “Coca-Cola” of anime/manga how-to books; or as the once-popular Coca-Cola tagline once put it, “The Real Thing.”

NOW FOR THE REAL BOOKS

These books are out of print for a long time, but there were three of them. If you can find them on eBay or a used book shop, get them, they’re well worth the price and effort to have them. A lot of reference poses in these books for drawing characters. This book covers basic poses.

This second book in the series covers animals of various types, such as dogs, cats, horses, lions, tigers, various zoo animals, etc. Even if you are drawing fantasy animals, many fantasy animals are based on real ones. Unicorns for example– are of course based on the horse, dragons on lizards or reptiles, etc. Even so, if you just want to draw a dog or a cat or a panda for Pete’s sake this will give you some ideas.

This third and final book in the series covered Action poses.

A sample of the manga pose book poses.

The Manga Pose books from the original publishers of the original Japanese How to Draw Manga books even cover anatomy – samples of naked, clothed, different kinds of poses, action, fight scenes, men, women, adults, children, etc.

The pose books have adults, children, teens, animals, clothes, nude, love scenes, action, fighting, death, injury, people in kimonos, guns, knives, even hand gestures. Well worth it! Get these books if you don’t have them.

This is a sample page scan from the book “More How to Draw Manga Vol 4: Mastering Bishoujo Characters” by Go Office. This scan shows one of two pages showing 12 different character types.

This is a scan of the cover of the book “More How to Draw Manga Vol 4: Mastering Bishoujo Characters” by Go Office. This is released by the same publishers as all the other books features of course on howtodrawmanga.com. This is the book the above sample of the “12 Character Types” is featured in. This goes into great detail on that subject and shows different ways and methods of portraying those different styles.

NOTE TO PARENTS:  I am writing this blog as an adult with an interest in art and cartooning for individuals who fit the same paradigm. Because these books contain nudity, and while they provide useful examples of how to draw the anatomy, PARENTS may want to consider whether or not these books may be appropriate for children.

My unicorn character “Shadowmere” — at the end of the day he’s just a horse with a horn. It helps to have some books of horses laying around. Or in this case, the Manga Pose reference book had some ideas for horses as well.

NOTE:  My character “Shadowmere” as I created him was conceived and created in 2001, and has nothing whatsoever to do with any kind of video game  or role playing game of any kind whatsoever (and I can legally prove it if the game company wants to make it a legal issue!) Period! Paragraph!

I must have at least 20 different editions of these. the original “How to Draw Manga” books originally from Japan itself. I accept no imitations. Buying manga books like these are a great investment to help you draw authentic Japanese-style Manga. Manga is a Japanese art form. If you want to learn the true dynamics of the art form then it is best to invest in true Japanese books that teach the art form instead of cheap knockoffs simply cashing in on a fad written by artists who are using buzzwords and who little to nothing about what it is their books are supposed to be about.  You don’t have to pay top dollar for new books. If you know how to look for USED books on eBay and Amazon you can also find these USED for relatively reasonable prices, some exceptions for any of the more obscure, rare, and/or out-of-print titles of course.

Some of the manga books on my bookshelf.

This picture was 2008. My collection is much BIGGER now.

None of it is any of that crap I was “crapping on” earlier!

It’s ALL Japanese stuff

Some of my collection is actually imported from Japan itself. While I don’t read Kanji, in many cases you might see a picture you like of a character in say, a Japanese version of “NewType” magazine. In many cases, magazines like NewType, Animage, or other Japanese Anime magazines will have English subtitles of the names of manga books, anime, characters, even words like “DVD”, “MP3″, “CD”, or “VTR” (video tapes), etc. or whatever. And of course, there is no need to read Japanese Kanji to look at cool pictures of Japanese characters.

Here is a more recent shot of all the “How to Draw Manga” Books I have. I have these because I didn’t waste my money on cheap knockoffs. The Japanese books might cost more but it’s like anything else. “Cheaper” doesn’t mean “better”. And there’s no substitute for the real thing!

Here are a couple more of my “How to Draw Manga” books – the REAL ones — I must have at least 15 books from this series. These are some of the basic skills books for basic compiling and drawing of characters and so forth. Very good for beginners.

Some I bought new, some used. If you choose to buy used, you can look on places like Half.com or Amazon.com and sometimes score these books for $5-10 if you’re lucky depending on title, condition and demand. I recommend Amazon since Half.com dicks around too much and if the person doesn’t send the book on Half.com it’s harder to get your money back. On Amazon if that happens, as long as you use the “One Click” purchase through Amazon you have their “A to Z Guarantee” and it’s easier to get the refund if the used seller “stiffs” you on the book or doesn’t send it. I’ve been buying on Amazon for 3 years and have had no trouble- have only had to claim the “A to Z” twice. On Half.com it was more times than that where I had to claim for people who didn’t send books. I find Amazon usually has the better deals for these books anyways. Sometimes you can find these books for a good price on eBay as well. Of course watch the ratings on your sellers. This is just my opinion based upon my experience. I’ve had the better luck with using Amazon or Half Price Books or some other used book online store. I DO NOT recommend Half.com! Half.com’s refund policy is a pain in the butt if the seller screws you on your purchase!

There are also more advanced books in the series such as bodies an anatomy, costumes, fighting poses, etc. Depending on what you want to draw. Even books involving couples, love scenes, etc. (CERTAIN AMERICAN ARTISTS WHO HAVE EXTENSIVE LINES OF THEIR OWN “MANGA” BOOKS have tried to rip off every single one of these books with a cheap knockoff)

Another book from the “How to Draw Manga” series howtodrawmanga.com – the authentic books – these books are smaller in size and more detailed and focused, for somewhat more advanced styles. These books are getting harder to find, not to mention very expensive if you do, but if you can score them, they are well worth the price for the reference material offered, not to mention the bragging rights to any of your friends who, like idiots, bought the Christopher Hart books! (or “Christian Korean Manhwa” books posing as “Manga”)

Even if these books go out of print, keep your eyes open – they do seem to get reissued from time to time. That goes for all of the “How to Draw Manga” books.

These were among the first of the original “How to Draw Manga” books to be released in the late 1990s/early 2000s that I bought and the very first two books I bought. My first one was “How to Draw Female Manga Characters” – which is extremely useful to the beginner – the title is self-explanatory. Everything including basic anatomy, even including the proper way to draw breasts. While that might seem “pornographic” to some, even if you want to draw clothed characters, they won’t look right if you don’t have a proper grasp on anatomy. These are drawings or characters, this is not “Hustler” magazine here! (Get a grip!) Considering the content I say “18 and up” just for obvious reasons. To be frank – this is NOT an art form for children to begin with.

More books from the “How to Draw Manga” series from Japan — one book dealing with effects and the other actually teaches the techniques of “Making Anime” — I actually had the Japanese version of the “Making Anime” book, sold it on eBay but I wish I had kept it now just for the novelty of having it. These books used to be available stateside in both English and Japanese, and I’m sure through sites like eBay can be had in Japanese for the right price. Nonetheless, there are many subjects covered in the series. And the “Making Anime” book even shows the cel techniques involved in the process. There is theoretically nothing to stop you from the techniques shown in this book from making an amateur-grade animation.

In this case we have books dealing with Effects and a book heavily ripped off by many American hacks, “Bishoujo” – great books. Don’t settle for the wanna-be hack books. And avoid some of the books that even try to look just like these in appearance! There are some of those out there too. “Get the real Japanese books!” If the book comes from Japan by Japanese artists, it’s a real Japanese book.

These are more books I got early on and that came out earlier in the series. “Illustrating Battles” is a great books for battle poses, mostly one on one combat scenes, martial arts, etc. I think it is or may be out-of-print – but if you find it and have the means, definitely grab it. On the right is essentially another “Bishoujo” book – originally came out in Japanese and that’s how I bought it. I didn’t care either, I wanted the illustrations to observe the technique and style from. That book has since been released in English as well. I think it was called “More Pretty Gals”. Even shows women eating, wearing lingerie, etc. Wearing more formal clothes, gowns, etc.

Another great way to learn to draw manga from authentic Japanese sources is to go to the source — Japanese artists. In this case one of my favorite Japanese artists, and one of the people who helped shape the very artform itself, Satoshi Urushihara, who created “Legend of Lemnear”, “Chirality”, “Plastic Little”, did the anime art for the “Growlanser Generations” RPG on Playstation 2, etc.

The cover for Growlanser Generations for Playstation 2 – released in the USA under Working Designs (Patrick Ireland’s long since defunct company) featuring cover art by Japanese artist Satoshi Urushihara, who designed the character art for this game.

“VENUS” was an Art Book by Satoshi Urushihara, now long out-of-print, featuring his original artwork and characters. I didn’t care that this version was in “German” – I saw it on eBay and grabbed it. “It’s about the art, silly!”

The key with respect to art books is to find artists you like from Japan and then to buy authentic art books from Japan itself. This can be done through sites such as J-List, Mandarake.co.jp, Anime Corner Store, etc. or other authentic Japanese web distributors, who sell authentic Japanese anime and manga art books.

So if you’re a fan like I am of a classic such as “Legend of Lemnear” you’re going to go on eBay and hunt down those rare out of print art books by Satoshi Urushihara that are now harder and harder to get. Or, artists such as CLAMP, you might look up studios like GAINAX (Evangelion, Otaku No Video, etc.), or if you like “Onegai Sensei” or “Galaxy Fraulein Yuna” or “Slayers”, some of the newer titles such as “Queen’s Blade” or “Shining Tears”, looking up those artists and then searching for art books – sometimes you can find art books of a popular title. But if you look for art books of an artist you can also find other works they do as well, and sometimes even discover new Manga or Anime that may not necessarily be available in the USA or other Western countries yet.

Even if you like stuff like “One Piece” or “Naruto”, again, the best way, besides the latest issue of “Shonen Jump” out of the grocery store magazine section is to hunt down art books by the artist (and perhaps score yourself a rare “treasure” from Japan your friends drooling over their latest pack of “Dragonball Z” trading cards or whatever just don’t have!)

This right here was the picture that made me really want to start drawing anime catgirls, even moreso than the sexy, sleezy “Pink” from “Dragon Pink” – Johji Manabe’s “Battia” from Outlanders. I bought this comic just for this cover. Before you knew it I had the “Outlanders” anime and started collecting the comic books. Pissed me off, they kill off Battia in the comic book series! But she was the inspiration for characters I now draw such as Mychelle Blackwood and some of my other catgirl characters. I added tails to make my catgirls a bit more “cat like” however.

But before you consider “Tokyo Pop” for all your “one stop manga” needs, consider this– comic book companies such as Dark Horse were releasing comic books like this back in the mid to late 1990s long before manga and anime got real “big”. So in addition to drawing reference material, not to mention more “manga” for your collection to make your friends drool (especially if you crave “oldschool” like me) a few trips to some local comic book shops who specialize in selling ALL the old books might be on your “to do” list – I’m talking those independent comic book and booksellers that stash EVERYTHING in their store no matter what it is and have it all in their bins. Before “Tokyo Pop” it was companies like “Dark Horse” and “Central Park Media” who were putting out a lot of comic book-sized Japanese manga books and graphic novels. Many of those titles have included (but certainly not limited to – and you’ll have to do some searching):

• Outlanders
• Chirality
• Drakuun
• Legend of Lemnear
  
• Caravan Kidd
• Inu Yasha
• Record of Lodoss War
• Macross
• No Need for Tenchi/Tenchi Muyo series
• Starblazers
• and many more!

And many of these also had full graphic novels released by the same companies releasing the comic books. So check your comic shops for those old, out-of-print books!

Yes! Even now and formerly popular titles such as “Inu-Yasha” came into the country through standard comic books like this in the late 1990s before companies like Tokyo Pop got involved. (I thought the main character was a catgirl, I ignored the series when I found out the character was a freaking GUY!)

The point is, don’t limit your searches for great and awesome anime and manga reference materials — not to mention awesome collectables for your personal collection as well for those of you who like myself are die-hard collectors! The point of this article is to highlight some of the possibilities. Don’t settle for the cheap knockoffs!

One of the few companies at the time who was cashing in on “Manga” who could say “Manga” because they were selling “Manga” — in this case art actually created by a Japanese artist – Johji Manabe, of Studio Katsudon, creator of “Oulanders”, “Drakuun” and several other rather “steamy” manga titles. Dark Horse Comics’ release of “Drakuun” – I collected several of these too. Again – raid those local comic shops who sell the older books!

And actually, Dark Horse Comics is still producing it’s own line of Manga comic books today so you don’t have to settle for “Shonen Jump”.

And since Dark Horse is actually importing actual Japanese manga titles by actual Japanese artists, they have the actual right to call their product “Manga” as opposed to the hacks who are barely scratching the surface of what the art form truly is and merely trying to cash in and profit from a fad. (especially those doing it in the name of God which to me is an act of blasphemy)

This is why I give a big happy, hearty “UP YOURS!” to all the anime cons — A lot of so-called “Anime” cons are owned and controlled by the “big anime distributors” (who sponsor the cons and “set the rules” and most cons agree to them or else the sponsors withdraw and the con doesn’t exist… so… ‘screw ‘em’) and will charge you $25-50 to let you come in and pay ridiculous prices in their vendors rooms for what you can buy much cheaper online, even from Japanese sites directly (because of what vendors have to pay to rent the table space, travel costs, etc.) and you can’t even get Doujinshis, garage kits, etc.

I got this off the internet. A Doujinshi by Studio Katsudon, Johji Manabe featuring his original art, and even more graphic than what is offered in his “Dark Horse” comics.

Sites such as “Mandarake.co.jp” often feature doujinshi like this or sometimes a stray seller on eBay here or there if you know how to look. Screw the cons! They are certainly a “con” alright!

Once again I spoke of manga comics and graphic novels. These are a couple in my collection, namely from Legend of Lemnear and Outlanders. Again, never underestimate what can serve as viable Japanese art. Since these are authentic works of art that originate from Japan created by Japanese artists, they are true “Manga”.

(By simple definition, my own art is not true Manga, I’m a “wanna-be” at the end of the day. I am an American artist. I use Japanese style but I am not a true “mnga” artist. I am not Japanese, and am not from Japan).

I got these neat little “gems” from Japanese sellers off eBay. Both of them for the game “Chrono Cross” for Sony Playstation. One is the Japanese version of the strategy/walkthrough (on the right) and on the left “Missing Piece” is a really neat art book of all the characters in the game. It shows each character with full color sketch, their name, information in Japanese and even sketch and conceptual art. Very nice things to have. When you can see how they designed their characters it gives you ideas how to create your own.

These are extremely rare finds. I was lucky to get them. If you find them and have the means, especially the “Missing Piece” book, I highly recommend it. The one on the right is simply, in Japanese “how to play Chrono Cross“. It’s still a visual treat however. Again, never overlook the idea of books from your favorite anime shows or Japanese video games. Hell, many anime shows and games are one in the same anymore aren’t they? Shining Tears for example has an anime series and is a video game as well. I believe the same is true for Queen’s Blade and a few others but other than having a figure or two from Queen’s Blade I’m not really a fan. (Doesn’t Queen’s Blade have some kind of trading card game to it too? Not sure.)

Just to show a shot from the Chrono Cross: Missing Piece book – character illustrations and sketches of the popular characters from the game. Again, getting books like this is a great tool to observe sketching technique for character design.

Here’s a lookup on Amazon.com – just to show – and this book series by the way on Anime and Game Characters was produced by the same people as the “How to Draw Manga” Japanese books -they have been issued twice so each book has two different cover variants depending if you get the old or reissue – if you buy it used. I think it was THIS book that the original version had an elf girl looking like “Deedlit” from “Record of Lodoss War” on the back cover but I don’t remember – there are only 5 in the series so if you get all 5 original issues you’d get that original cover! But these are great books also. And as you can see, I’ve circled to show you can get these used for reasonable prices. So no excuses! I’d say shoot for “good” to “like new” conditions. After all, you get what you pay for. And of course, avoid and former “library book” sellers or ones claiming to be “former” library books –they could be “hot” (stolen!) you know.

Sometimes you can find good reference shots on the web itself such as Tumblr or Google Images. But try to use original sources, and if you borrow someone else’s ideas, be ready to give credit to your sources. But be careful about stealing other people’s work. Be supportive of other people’s material. Don’t be an art-stealing, plagiarizing hack.

Image searches of your favorite anime will always help. Sometimes you can also freeze frame anime you like to watch for reference. In this case , “Battia” from Johji Manabe’s “Outlanders” Anime as originally released on VHS. This was an actual screen capture I got from that video, one of several.

I already showed this – but again – a scan of official Shining Tears artwork featuring Elwing. I originally thought they had brought back Record of Lodoss War when I first saw this elf girl since she reminds me a lot of Deedlit the way she is drawn. I got this off the internet but this artwork also comes on a collectable card for example with the actual Shining Tears video game for Playstation 2. And the actual guidebook is worth collecting for the hints and tips, but more importantly again, the character art. Never pass up on good potential reference material. Even the game books for your favorite video games might have artwork of characters you like that could serve as a reference. Can’t afford new? Sites like Amazon.com always have a used option and as long as you use their “one click” purchase option you have their “A-Z” guarantee for returns. So it’s hard to lose there.

The thing I don’t like about newer anime these days is the lack of a pupil in the eyes which is why I still put one – it makes the character look soul-less to me. I only would use the lack of a pupil to suggest possession or death. Of course for death I would also remove the shine in the eyes to help further that suggestion and enhance the “empty” look of the eyes. I guess I just think of that saying about the eyes being “the window to the soul”. (That’s from the Bible I think.) But it suggests to me to use an empty eye for a dead character. So I put a pupil and shine in the eyes for someone whose alive and living quite well no doubt.

Skies the limit on reference materials from Japanese resources. This is the album cover scan from an actual “Record of Lodoss War” soundtrack album I bought on CD at Gen Con in Milwaukee, Wisconsin years ago with Deedlit on the cover. (Gen Con 2000 – when they were yet still in my home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin – no thanks to Wizards of the Coast for moving it to Indianapolis! I haven’t been to Gen Con since it moved.) But you can use anything as a reference – just cite your references!

Another scan from my acquired Lodoss War soundtrack CD of Parn and Deedlit. Once again just to illustrate the kinds of things that can serve as both reference materials, not just your collectables.

One might also question a lot of the older anime, the seeming emphasis on nudity and such, but those guys weren’t afraid to draw that stuff unlike the more politically correct stuff of today. And I think half of it is because of what the “censors” at American anime distributor companies allow people to see – they want to keep it politically correct, feminist, compatible with the queer agenda, or whatever, (People can do whatever the hell the want with themselves in their own personal lives because I think that is an issue each person has to settle with God for themselves one way or another, good or bad, right or wrong. And what people choose to do behind their own closed doors is none of my damn business and I don’t give two rips. But I’m so fucking fed up with these little social groups in this country trying to make entertainment platforms all about THEIR little agendas whether it’s about their deviant sexual orientations or their paganism or whatever! Can’t entertainment just be freaking entertainment for Pete’s sake?) and even though this stuff is not for young children, corporate pigs at big American companies who want to mass-market this stuff to the youngsters will also “censor” things just so they can put it on cartoon network and sell dumbed-down, watered down versions of this stuff. So they all elect to cut out the “big busty girls” and have “yaoi/yuri” even though most anime fans when I was into this “back in the day” were guys who liked giant robots, cyberpunk anime like Bubblegum Crisis and Ghost in the Shell, and big busty nudie girl anime (whether they openly admitted it or not). I swear, what ever happened to Macross and Dominion Tank Police, and Hyper Police, and stuff like that?

This is my character again, Nyrva Dragonwood shown here reading the “Sacred Texts” to the Unicorns attending her here. – still requires figure drawing skills and good reference materials to draw a pose like this one. So between Japanese anime and manga books for the manga style and anatomical reference books for acquiring anatomical skills, both of them will help, along with consistent practice, any would-be artist with desire and passion, who wants to learn to draw great anime and manga style. It has taken me years to reach this point and no doubt I still have a ways to go. But it’s been a fun hobby along the way– and I didn’t do it using cheap, crappy knockoff books!

IN CONCLUSION

Get reference pictures anywhere you can, off the web, (be considerate about not stealing people’s work) buy books, magazines, shoot yourself nude or clothed – you can be your own model too. Especially if you are drawing a character, you draw the character. This is not too far fetched an idea. Famous artists who I admire (aside from Anime artists) such as Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell often model for each other and for their own pictures. But you can provide the model for that character, the end product people will see will not be you but what you draw or paint. Think of this way; If the character is based on your own appearance and features it can be truly your own unique individual character to which you own exclusive rights.

The next time you dress up to go to a convention dressed up as your favorite character, or just period, even photos of yourself can help you be a reference in creating great art.

Keep your eyes peeled…

Coming soon:

The Comprehensive Guide to Anime Books

Not sure if it will be anything special – just some of the books I have in my collection discussing anime, especially some of the older books from the 90s for die-hard fans who want to brush-up on more classic titles, or just reminisce.

Well that’s all for now! Thanks for dropping by.

Until next time…

God bless!

Jade Dragon

P.S. I do not hate any of the people I was “bashing” in this article. I’m just tired of people cashing in on a popular buzzword truing to make a fast buck offering people a cheap, cheesy knockoff and like the Hollywood remakes of recent years, bastardizing an art form all for the sake of a fast buck. Any views expressed in this article are opinions simply based upon my knowledge of the art form and years of experience.

Once again – I can’t stress enough – I DO NOT hate the artists and people I’ve been “bashing” in this article. I do not know them personally, have never talked to them, etc. My comments are based on their materials I have seen and/or purchased, etc. I simply don’t like what they do. This is an opinion commentary on the subject and also to promote the books I believe are authoritative and correctly teach the subject of “How to Draw Manga” – in this case, books from the source – purely Japanese manga books. “Go to the source!”

I actually have far more contempt for American Anime distributors than I do the artists I’ve been “ranking on” here in this article, such as Funimation, ADV Films (Good riddance to them!), and other companies who only import titles like Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, etc. and titles they can bring 500 episodes of, (If you like those titles I just mention, great, fine! More power to you! But if you want to expand and find new stuff, more obscure titles and “undiscovered” anime you haven’t seen before, companies like Funimation are NOT going to help you do it because they are only going to release the titles that give them guaranteed fast profits and quick returns on their investments! They do not give a SHIT about what the good anime is!) and we can’t get OVAs and classic titles like back in the day such as Vampire Hunter D, Record of Lodoss War, Ninja Scroll, Macross, Ikku Tousen, Burn-Up W, Golden Boy, Dominion Tank Police, The ORIGINAL Ghost in the Shell, All-Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku, Bounty Dog, Legend of Lemnear, Macross II, Macross Plus, Plastic Little, Variable Geo, MAPS, Moldiver, Fight! Iczer One, Iczelion, Dragon Half, Dragon Pink, Hyper Police, Outlaw Star, Bastard!, Outlanders, Otaku No Video! and other good titles like that anymore.

Those days are gone forever. The only hope you have sadly to get those is eBay, Amazon (used), or PIRACY because companies like Funimation are working very hard to make sure you can’t have them Cartoon Network and “Anime Network” keeps you fully ignorant of them and the Anime cons are in bed with them too making sure you don’t know about things like garage kits, figure mods, and other cool things like that. All you’re supposed to do is buy the latest DVD release, watch Toonami and Adult Swim, read Shonen Jump, buy “Otaku USA” and think you’re an “Anime Fan” because you do all that instead of searching deep and hard for new and different material like a true die-hard fan should. Well here’s your cookie!