Anime and Manga Drawing Tip - Learn about Japanese Art

Ok, so it isn't a shortcut. But if you are serious about your Manga and Anime drawing, you don't want to be a pale imitator of a Japanese master. You need to learn to see the world the way they do. Japanese culture has a rich history that you barely touch on in your average Art History class. Indeed the very way the Japanese eye moves around a picture is different to the western eye.

Many conventions in Japanese animation and comics come from Japanese legends, stories and histories. Often, complete episodes of Japanese history are retold, such as . Or they may make subtle references that the ignorant will miss completely.

Find out about Japanese art history. Learn about the great Japanese painters, printmakers and calligraphers. Read their stories and history. Children's books are a great way to learn the basics, and may whet your appetite for more.

The aesthetics of modern Japan also influence the cartoonist and animator. Check out travel books and movies set in Japan. Try to imagine living there. Observe the landscape, especially the urban landscape, how people dress, the technology they use. If you are serious about your Manga and Anime, its more than about just the lines on the page. Its about the world they represent.