How to Draw a Manga in Black and White

Hello artists! Today, we're going to talk about manga, those Japanese comic books that have become a staple of global popular culture. Thanks to their unique characters and captivating stories, mangas have inspired not only readers, but also artists from around the world, influencing cinema, animation, music, fashion, and contemporary visual language.

The word manga comes from "man" (whimsical or impromptu) and "ga" (pictures). From everyday or imaginary stories, the Japanese have created vast narrative universes, populated by unforgettable characters.

After the Second World War, manga gained international popularity, blending Eastern and Western narrative traditions. Works like Astro Boy, Dragon Ball, and My Neighbor Totoro paved the way, until manga became one of the most appreciated means of storytelling.

In this article, we will show you the basics of creating a manga character, and give you tips to start practicing. We will talk about the structure of the face, eyes, body, and how to customize your character based on their history and personality.

Step-by step guide to drawing a manga in black and white

First of all, look for references of characters you like. Observe the size of the eyes, the shape of the face, nose, and mouth. Ask yourself which features you like most, and which ones you would like to try in your own creations.

Begin by drawing a circle.

Draw a vertical line in the center and a horizontal line crossing the circle: this will serve as the basis for the proportions.

Add a longer line below the circle (a bit wider), and a small line at the end: they will help you define the jawline.

Connect the ends to form the outline of the head. You can adjust the width of the jaw according to the personality of the character.

Draw guide lines to place the eyes, nose, and mouth. Manga faces are usually symmetrical.

Draw the eyes of a manga character

The eyes are one of the most expressive elements in a manga character. You can vary the sizes, shapes, and positions of the pupils to convey different emotions.

Draw a square.

Inside, draw an upper curve and a shorter lower curve.

Add a semi-circle that touches the top line.

Then draw a large circle (iris), a small circle (light reflection), and an oval (pupil) inside.

Experiment with shading and lighting.

Tip: draw inspiration from real people, artists, or celebrities, and practice drawing their eyes in manga style.

With these basics, you can start building your character. Use geometric shapes to help you.

For example, an equilateral triangle going from the jaw to the eyes can help you position the pupils.

Erase the guide lines, then add the hair, accessories, or change the expression based on the emotion you want to convey.

Before shading, ask yourself the following questions:

What does my character like?
What do they do every day?
How do they want to be perceived?
What do they feel?
Where do they live?
What is their lifestyle?

This will help you determine if they are wearing makeup, their eye expression, facial features, etc.

    

Then start adding details: the reflections in the eyes are also part of the personality.

Add more volume to the hair with shadow lines, add eyelashes and the typical lines on the cheeks that we often see in manga.

With a darker gray, draw shadows on the skin, hair, and eyes to give depth to the face.

Finally, add highlights to the eyes, hair, nose, and the lower part of the face to emphasize certain areas.

Draw a manga character's body in black and white

If you prefer to focus on the face, that's fine. But if you want to create entire characters, it is important to practice basic anatomy.

Standard body proportions

A body is approximately 7 to 8 heads tall. This measurement helps you to construct the rest of the body.

Approximate distribution:

1 head: from the top of the head to the chin

1 head: from the chin to the chest

1 head: from the chest to the waist

1 head: from size to pelvis

1 head: from the pelvis to the middle of the thigh

1 head: from the middle of the thigh to the knee

2 heads: from knee to feet

This is only a general guide. You can adapt it according to the age, personality, or role of the character. Create varied body shapes to better understand the body and its movements.

Draw the style of a manga character in black and white

Once the face and personality are defined, you can start adding clothing to your character.

Choose a reference image to inspire the style and clothes you want to represent.

Pay close attention to the folds of the clothes and construct each piece on your model. Be mindful of proportions: hips, navel, shoulders, etc.

Add even more personality to clothing: patterns, shoes, accessories according to the tastes and world of the character.

To add volume and depth, add dark shadows in the folds. You can also use shading to create patterns on the clothes, which gives more clues about the character's personality.

Finally, add highlights to contrast the shaded areas: this will bring movement and realism to the outfit.

Creating manga characters is a creative process that improves with practice. Observe, copy, invent, and experiment with different styles, shapes, and expressions. Remember that each character tells a story, and through drawing, you can bring them to life.

Create a unique manga character

Drawing manga is an exercise in creativity, observation, and visual storytelling. Each panel tells a vital part of the story, and with practice, you will learn to choose the sizes, angles, and details that best express what you want to convey.

Use references from manga and the real world.

Do some quick sketches every day.

Experiment with different eye shapes, body types, and hairstyles.

Do not be afraid of making mistakes: you learn something from every error.

Play with emotions and poses to tell stories in a more vivid way.

Editor and illustrator: Valentina