Manga Mania: Chibi and Furry Characters: How to Draw the Adorable Mini-characters and Cool Cat-girls of Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Chibinate me Capin'
  • Manga Mania's Chibi and Furry Characters is really a must have for Manga Arists.
  • Awesome and Helpful BOOK!!!!
  • Great for artists' of all age groups!
  • Great Book For Aspiring Little Artists!
Manga Mania: Chibi and Furry Characters: How to Draw the Adorable Mini-characters and Cool Cat-girls of Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)
Christopher Hart
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Study & TeachingStudy & Teaching | Reference | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
DrawingDrawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
CartooningCartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Hart, ChristopherHart, Christopher | By Creator | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
How to Draw MangaHow to Draw Manga | By Series | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Cats, Dogs & AnimalsCats, Dogs & Animals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Satire, GeneralSatire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0823029778
Release Date: 2006-01-01

Book Description

Everyone loves chibi, the newest, hottest manga style out of Asia. Chibis—characters that range from hypercute miniature people to bizarrely sexy furry characters—come in all varieties, all roles, including chibi teenagers, faeries, schoolgirls, nurses, mermaids, devils, angels, and everyone in between. Now Christopher Hart, the world's best-selling author of cartoon and drawing titles, shows readers exactly how to darw chibis, infusing them with personality and creating authentic costumes for them. Cute chibi-style monsters (small yet powerful), appealing cat-girls (humanlike, but with feline traits), superdeformed manga/chibi characters (used to make funny wisecracks)—every type of chibi character is shown here in crystal clear, step-by-step drawings. Manga Mania Chibi and Furry Characters will get every manga fan in on the chibi fun.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Chibinate me Capin'.......2007-06-22

WARNING: This book is not for beginers. There are few step by step instructions, the rest you have to figure out on your own. (you lazy people)

For those who are not beginers, this book goes fairly deep into the world of Chibi characters. It shows basics in body structures and facial expressions.

It also touches bases on many catgirl body types.
I feel this book gives you a wide variety of ideas that you can use to create catgirls.

All and all this is one of Mr. Hart's better books. One of the facts is that he put less of his style into this book. Which causes it to become more manga, not americanized/manga that he usually draws.

Which is a good thing.

I really like the section in the back about stylized chibi's from Japan.

4 out of 5 stars Manga Mania's Chibi and Furry Characters is really a must have for Manga Arists........2007-06-08

I myself personally have difficulty drawing chibi character's. This book is very thorough with the basic how to's of drawing chibis. IT even teaches you to think outside out the box when creating fantastical little monsters. I highly recommend this book.

5 out of 5 stars Awesome and Helpful BOOK!!!!.......2007-03-19

OMG! This was the best how-to book i have ever READ!!!!! It is so thorough. I could draw everything, and it came out near perfection. My friends loved, I loved, and heck, my GRANDFATHER loved it! He thought it was really, really good, in terms of teaching you how to draw! I loved it, and recommend it to everyone! The book shows you step by step how to draw cat-girls (beautiful) and cute tropical girl/chibi/cat-girl and other adorable creatures. It teaches you when to use super-deformed characters, and uses cute drawings (eg, questionable little angel (my fave!) to enable you to use different, effective techniques! This is chock-full of great things!

5 out of 5 stars Great for artists' of all age groups!.......2007-01-05

Chistopher Hart has truly out done himself with this book,as well as his other book fantasy worlds. In this book, Hart gives you examples of teaching you how to draw chibi characters as well as telling you what makes a chibi a chibi. A great thing about this book is that they have a large section of how to draw a variety of cat girls!!! That was my most favorite part! I really enjoyed this book alot, and as a bonus I will give you the run down of what to expect in the book....

Chibi basics
What makes a chibi a chibi?
The chibi head
Drawing the chibi head step by step
Full figures: Standard manag versus chibi
Turn any character into a chibi
Personality pointers
The chibi size size chart
Drawing the chibi face and body step by step
full body views

Chibi characters and costumes
Costumes
Mischevious chibis!
Making eye contact
Girl costumes and popular japanese roles
Stupid chibis!
Regular chibis versus super small chibis
Super small chibis
Fantasy chibis: Angels, fairies, and princesses

Chibi Expressions, emotions, and attitudes
Emotions
body language with special effects
Magical effects

Chibi cat girls and furry characters
Furry-style ears
Chibi cat-girls:full figures
Boxing cats
Chibi cat girl types
In-space adventures

Standard-size cat girls
Standard-size cat girls: the basics
Drawing the cat-girls head step by step
Drawing the cat-girl versus human head
drawing cat-girl bodies step by step
From tame to wild
Cat-girl hand and foot markings
Cat-girl prsonalities
Cat-girl poses
Cat-girl scenes
Foreshortening
A world of cat girls!

Chibi and magical creatures
Standard monsters versus chibi monsters
Creating chibi monsters from basic shapes
Creating chibi monsters from inanimate objects
Pterodactyl chibi monsters
Chibi monsters with magical powers
Magicalchibis without owners

Super stylized chibis
Little lady
Super stylized chibi boy
Super stylized chibi cat girl
Super stylized chibi rabbit girl
Chibi trouble maker
Witch in training
Little angel
Wishing on a star
Candy girl
Serious student
Chibi hero fighter
Tropical girl

The rest of the pictures are basically sample images showing you that you can use a chibi in certain scenes of regular sized characters, like when they are emabarrassed or mad. The chibi form of that person shows great expression, as well as hillarity. Plus chibis are ultra cute! This book is a perfect add on to any how to draw collection. I definitely recommend this book to any artist, whether beginner or intermediate, this book is extremely helpful. A must buy!

5 out of 5 stars Great Book For Aspiring Little Artists!.......2006-08-05

The young lady I bought this book for just loves it.
Anime Mania: How to Draw Characters for Japanese Animation (Manga Mania)
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • The worst Manga Mania book yet!
  • Missing the boat typical otaku
  • Very "Westernized"!
  • A Disgrace
  • Not for Serious Learners
Anime Mania: How to Draw Characters for Japanese Animation (Manga Mania)
Christopher Hart
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
DrawingDrawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Specific ObjectsSpecific Objects | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
AnimationAnimation | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
CartooningCartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Hart, ChristopherHart, Christopher | By Creator | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
How to Draw MangaHow to Draw Manga | By Series | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 082300158X

Book Description

There's no doubt about it: Japanese animation is hot. Television shows, films, and videos featuring the anime style of animation are wildly popular. Japanese animation is like a comic book come to life, retaining all its power but in moving form. It has a very different style from traditional western animation, incorporating heavy shading, dramatic camera angles, and beautifully rendered special effects-especially the fantastic anime depictions of ocean waves, storms, smoke, and explosions. Easier to draw than its western counterpart, anime is more limited and simpler in its execution. In Japanese anime the characters move, but their movements are generally staccato, sharp, and dramatic-not free-flowing with lots of overlapping action, anticipation, and follow-through. In Anime Mania, famous cartoonist, teacher, and best-selling author Christopher Hart demonstrates how any comic book artist can become expert in this wonderful style of animation. Step by step, he details how to draw the coolest anime characters from the widest selection of popular styles: high-tech cyberpunks who live in the world of the future; teen characters-with troubled relationships at school, home, and on the street; and mighty monsters, fantasy warriors, and giant robots. Aspiring animators will also find chapters on anime's spectacular special effects, the role of storyboarding in anime, sketching and the art of character design, and a mini-crash course in perspective. The book concludes with interviews with Scott Frazier, an American anime director working in Japan, and Mahiro Meada, a renowned Japanese animation director. Brimming with hundreds of spectacular examples, illustrations, and step-by-step exercises, Anime Mania details how anyone can become a real anime artist without having to reinvent the art of drawing.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars The worst Manga Mania book yet!.......2005-11-20

Yes millions of anime fans hate his Manga Mania because he can't do the art right and they hate his books because he hires people to do the art for him but........THIS IS THE WORST YET! Last year one of my friends showed me this book. I felt like laughing Chistopher Hart really doesn't know what anime is! He hired the worst people yet! There is like only two or three good artist (one was the one the one that did the front)and the rest of them were terrible.Most of the book is terrible mabye like ten pages are good but the rest how sad! Even if this books cover looks good don't judge a book by its cover.

3 out of 5 stars Missing the boat typical otaku.......2005-02-11

I think people are forgetting that this book is suppose to be a stepping stone to designing your original characters.
This book is supposed inspire the reader and user not teach them how to draw Goku or Sailor Moon.

I'm well aware of the book's flaws.
I recommend the book based on your learning style though.
If you're quick learner get this book if not forget it.

2 out of 5 stars Very "Westernized"!.......2004-12-27

When I bought this book, I was expecting a good "step-by-step" & "how-to" book. This book REALLY disappointed me! >.< I found that the drawings in the book were VERY "cartoony" & "western" looking. The drawings were all very generic & simple. Looking back at certain illustrations, I can hardly say that it looks like anime! I'm sure that this book will be promising for younger readers, but a failure to hardcore otakus! o.O

I own many manga comics & "how-to's", & I recommend the "HOW TO DRAW MANGA" series. They will give you a good start to manga drawing. Looking for a first manga series to read?? Try "Fruits Basket", by Natsuki Takaya. ^_^

1 out of 5 stars A Disgrace.......2004-10-10

I would never recommend this book to anyone who takes the Animee/Manga world seriously. This book is a joke. How can I possibly learn to draw these objects with such a confusing format?

If you buy this book you will be sorry. This book is a disgrace to the art of Anime/Manga cartooning.

3 out of 5 stars Not for Serious Learners.......2004-09-19

This book isn't for people who seriously want to learn how to draw animé and manga. It's obvious it was made with that in mind, but somewhere in the jumble of publication, Mr. Hart forgot that he was trying to teach the reader- not show them pretty pictures.
The book covers basic character concepts, but ones that should come intuitively to any one that has watched TV and/or gone to highschool, like the cheerleader, troublemaker, outcast, entrepeneur, farmer, and a fantasy and scifi fighters' squad. It doesn't really teach you anything you couldn't learn by going 'underground' and just buying some manga comics and teaching yourself by looking through them.
Pretty much all this book does is designate a (very general) character concept, give a brief paragraph on the type of character despite the obvious fact that all of us already understand what kind of person that character is, and then provide us with a figure and complete sketch.
I was not impressed by the main content.
On the other hand, the interviews and how-to's on working in Japan are interesting, things like equipment you may find in an animation studio and different phrases you might need to start off with if you plan to work as an artist in Japan (a rough venture).
In all, I'd say it would be best to buy a book on human anatomy and detailed character concepts, this book doesn't really make itself worth the twenty.
Manga Mania: How to Draw Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great Book
  • dont buy if you have his other books
  • Somewhat helpful!
  • SKETCH BOOK
  • Too Explicit for Fifth Graders
Manga Mania: How to Draw Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)
Christopher Hart
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

AsianAsian | Regional | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
DrawingDrawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
CartooningCartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Hart, ChristopherHart, Christopher | By Creator | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
How to Draw MangaHow to Draw Manga | By Series | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0823030350

Book Description

Take a look at the wild popularity of such shows as Pokémon, Digimon, and Dragonball Z, and you'll see the Manga style of comic-book art in action. There's no doubt about it: Manga is hot. And Manga Mania is the only guide that details step by step, how young and veteran artists alike can draw fantasy robots, diabolical monsters, mythical animals, and the other exciting characters that are part of this dynamic genre.

Manga art has many styles: the young Manga style, à la Pokémon; and the more mature style popular with teens and adults. Manga Mania covers them both. Big, splashy chapters demonstrate how to draw martial arts, special effects, and much, much more. Since the Manga style stresses character rather than anatomy, Manga comics are easier to draw. So a beginning comic-book artist can easily learn the tricks of the trade.

Chris Hart, known for his very clear step-by-step illustrations and accompanying text, details how anyone can become a real Manga artist without having to reinvent the art of drawing.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great Book.......2007-07-25

This book is really good for beginners. It's a great help if you plan on doing fantasy manga or robot manga drawings. I got this book from the library and I enjoyed it. So now I am buying it. I would recomend buying this book. If you are under the age of 10, some pictures may be not be for there age group. But otherwise, a really great book!

2 out of 5 stars dont buy if you have his other books.......2007-07-06

I am a huge fan of christopher hart;i have most of his books!The other books in the manga mania series are awesome!but this book was really bad the art was horrible except for maybe 5 pictures.I did not like the book and i regret buying it...So if you want a good manga book get another book by him like shoujo mania.Manga Mania Shoujo: How to Draw the Charming and Romantic Characters of Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)

3 out of 5 stars Somewhat helpful!.......2007-06-13

I found the book very helpful for drawing anime style cartoon characters. I'm making an anime parody! This book is helpful on how to draw a manga character's head from many angles! The art isn't all very good the later volumes in the series have better art though. Overall it's okay!

5 out of 5 stars SKETCH BOOK.......2007-01-09

MY SON LOVES THESE BOOKS. THEY GIVE HIM IDEAS HE NEVER THOUGHT OF. HE HAS TO TURN IN A SKETCH FROM HOME EVERY WEEK TO HIS ART TEACHER. THE BOOK MAKES IT EASIER FOR HIM TO FIND SOMETHING TO DRAW. WE ARE VERY PLEASED!!

2 out of 5 stars Too Explicit for Fifth Graders.......2006-12-29

I bought Manga Mania for my 12-year-old niece for Christmas as she's getting into Japanese cartoons (she's started watching Robotech!). I decided to thumb through this title before wrapping it up and was disturbed by chapter 7, "Drop-Dead-Gorgeous Manga Babes."

Hart's publishers state it's appropriate for 5th graders (10-year-olds) and up but I decided not to give my niece this book based on this chapter. The females are scantily clad and the descriptions that accompany them are explicit (e.g. "Her bathing suit is a great costume because it's skin tight and wet"). I know this is a part of the genre but I think the content is too suggestive for young teens.

I ultimately went for Hart's other title, "Anime Mania" which did a good job of describing illustration and character development without focusing so much on sexiness.
Manga Mania Fantasy Worlds: How to Draw the Enchanted Worlds of Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Another Collection of the Work of Christopher Hart
  • SKETCH BOOK
  • I really like this book
  • Not All Its Said To Be..
  • Very Nice Artworks but somewhat Westernized.
Manga Mania Fantasy Worlds: How to Draw the Enchanted Worlds of Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)
Christopher Hart
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Study & TeachingStudy & Teaching | Reference | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
DrawingDrawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
CartooningCartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Hart, ChristopherHart, Christopher | By Creator | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
How to Draw MangaHow to Draw Manga | By Series | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0823029727

Book Description

Manga fantasy is the swords-and-sorcery Japanese animation style featured in the most popular video role-playing games on the market. Best-selling author Christopher Hart's latest tutorial reveals the secrets and techniques that go into building these worlds of wonder. An increasingly fashionable style among both digital and traditional animators, manga enjoys unrivaled popularity among the game players themselves, allowing them entry into fabled worlds of startling beauty, terror, and adventure. Manga Mania Fantasy Worlds throws down the gauntlet for people interested in creating these scenes for themselves. Artists will learn how to illustrate detailed backdrops and landscapes, rugged weaponry, and, of course, fearsome creatures-aliens, faeries, ogres, and much more. In the straightforward style that is his trademark, Christopher Hart teaches the basics and the intricacies of creating manga fantasy illustrations that practically jump off the page.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Another Collection of the Work of Christopher Hart.......2007-06-21

"M.M. Fantasy Worlds" displays hundreds of illustrations by Christopher Hart, and is a good showcase for his approach to Manga. I agree with the reviewer who identified his style as westernized, although this shouldn't discourage a Hart fan.

I don't think that this book lives up to the claim, "HOW TO DRAW THE AMAZING WORLDS OF JAPANESE COMICS" that appears on the cover. Mr. Hart pays ample attention to the steps in creating a selection of character types in his style, but relatively little to the worlds that these characters exist in.

That's not to say that his drawings aren't fun to view, and even to study. For example, on page 44 he points out the on-off switch in a medievaloid dungeon's torture device. The astute reader will also find anachronistic lighting fixtures in that illustration. The point being made is that mix-and-match technologies and architectural styles are creative opportunities.

However, Mr. Hart seems to offer his opinions as generally accepted principles. On page 65, he says "Faeries have wings and elves don't. Faeries also may have antennae, whereas elves never do. And, faeries can be very tiny in size, while elves, ... are not so tiny that they can be held in the palm of the hand...." Without going into the 19th century's effect on western culture and the stature of elves, I've got to point out that making undersized elves isn't a universal principle: and probably isn't in the free-wheeling world of Manga.

To end on a positive note, Christopher Hart's Manga world is a charming place. The wildly improbable castle and tributary town on page 42 still helps lift my spirits, when I remember how much I paid for the book.

5 out of 5 stars SKETCH BOOK.......2007-01-09

MY SON WAS VERY PLEASED. THESE BOOKS ARE VERY HELPFUL WITH ART STUDENTS. NOW HE HAS THE BOOK TO SHOW HIM HOW TO DRAW, BUT ALSO HIS ART TEACHER AT SCHOOL.

4 out of 5 stars I really like this book.......2006-11-28

Christopher Hart's book manga mania fantasy worlds is awsome! The book has alot of characters for different genres that would be helpful in giving your characters a special ability and a sense of personality with each power/ability. I love how the book has difference in each race, and gives you a variety of worlds. This book is a must have for those seeking to create a manga in a certain genre background and for ideas of what kind of race they would want their character to be.

2 out of 5 stars Not All Its Said To Be.........2005-07-11

Quiet honestly the one thing that makes Chrisopher Hart's books on Anime and Manga "less" than others is the fact that he isn't very good at it. Oh, he makes some good points, especially when comparing American comic drawing with manga style drawing, but there are better books out there.

If this is all that is available then you won't be to dissapointed in buying it, but being as they are usually around $20 (at least where I am) then you might want to get your moneys worth and stick around for one of Hikaru Hayashi's many How to Draw Manga books as they are usually more detailed and better drawn.

4 out of 5 stars Very Nice Artworks but somewhat Westernized........2005-01-26

I had mixed reviews about this book, but I had to admit that the reason why I bought this book was because of his fantastic cover art. :)

First of all, there’re some really good references on the fantasy, science fiction and medieval world. For example, you can find knights, faeries, monsters, dragons and even aliens in the book. Plus, topics on evolving medieval weapons, differences between elves and faeries, special effects and even the turnaround section (which tells you how a person looks like when “turned around) are covered. There’s also a section telling you what’s a weak and dynamic drawing looks like, which helps if you’re interested in honing your manga-drawing craft. Another great section I would like to point out is the “Castle” section. The book also covers some different places within the castle, such as the dungeon and drawbridge, and I find this really helpful when drawing the inside of the castle.

Unfortunately, there are only one example for most creature, beast or place, which can be rather limiting if you’re trying to draw the same creature in a different way. However, I think this is where your imagination will come in. Also, I noticed that some of the artworks have a certain “American” style (instead of Japanese) to it, but many of the artworks are very nice and attractive.

For the serious mangaka-wannabe though, you are better off getting more “technical” & "Japanese style" books such as the “How to Draw Manga” Series, but overall, this book will make a great reference or resource book for people interested in fantasy and drawing cartoon/manga.
Manga Mania Shoujo: How to Draw the Charming and Romantic Characters of Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • ANOTHER RATHER INSPIRATIONAL AND HELPFUL WORK.
  • ehh
  • Terrific Anime Drawings
  • One of Chris Hart's better items
  • Helpful
Manga Mania Shoujo: How to Draw the Charming and Romantic Characters of Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)
Christopher Hart
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
CartooningCartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Hart, ChristopherHart, Christopher | By Creator | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
How to Draw MangaHow to Draw Manga | By Series | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0823029735

Book Description

Shoujo manga is one of the most popular styles of Japanese animation, featuring the most recognizable characters in manga-seen everywhere in comics, books, toys, television, film, and video. Since shoujo is based on stories that focus on peer pressure, romance, and friendship, it initially appealed to young females, but today more and more boys are attracted to this genre, which inevitably includes young male heroes. Best-selling author Christopher Hart once again reveals the secrets and techniques that go into building all the basics of the shoujo style-the big eyes, the miniscule noses, and the cute or angst-ridden expressions. Teen body language is explored. In addition, artists learn to draw teen clothing styles and also different character types, from school kids and cuddly creatures and cute pets to heartthrobs.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars ANOTHER RATHER INSPIRATIONAL AND HELPFUL WORK........2007-09-15

While this book was quite helpful in my case, I suspect that it would not be suitable for the absolute beginner. A bit of expierence is probably needed to glean the full benefits of this work. Now that being said, I feel there is a great amount that can be learned from this books. As with all of Christopher Hart's book, it is quite detailed and their is an abundance of text to go along with the actual drawing and coloring. The techniques Hart illustrates actually work. I like to work on individual aspects of figures, isolating different areas such as eyes, mouth, nose, etc. This works well for me and with this work, the author has given us plenty of information. No one book can do it all and the serious student of this art form will want many. This is just another valuable work to add to your collection. I find that young folk, in particular, like this one and actually do quite well with it. I do highly recommend this one.

3 out of 5 stars ehh.......2007-05-13

I book this book as a set with another one thinking i would use it. But after going threw it a few times haven't used it or cracked it open since. It's just about glamorizing you drawings up. Not very informative.

5 out of 5 stars Terrific Anime Drawings.......2007-04-27

This book is a class act. Bought for my son who is quite an accomplished anime artist. He enjoys all the books written by Christopher Hart. I enjoyed looking through the pages and seeing the ideas for my aspiring artist. Would buy additional books from this author.

4 out of 5 stars One of Chris Hart's better items.......2006-12-17

All art books are faced with striking a balance between how much space to devote to 'the basics' ( figure ,perspective, shading, color theory ,etc) and the specific aspects of a narrowly focused subject. (what are the proportions of a typical manga 'bisho' boy? What is a good creative process for designing a tranforming mecha?).
This title winds up with four stars because of what it DOESN'T try to do. It doesn't try to take you from stick figures to Masamune Shirow in one book like his first two titles. And yes this IS a lousy book for beginners, because beginners need a focus on 'the basics' and 'the basics' are worth a lot more than one book.
This book is for intermediate+ amatuer artist who want a solid sourcebook for the design elements of the shoujo manga genre. Even a professional aritst who wanted a 'instant expert' guide would find it useful.
As for the quality of the art in the book, yeah, they don't do it like Clamp, but that may be to the good. If they did, the relative beginners might be a bit intimidated! I find the style of the books art give the whole thing an air of 'Hey I can do that', which makes you want to wade right in. Especially since they show a lont of the art with the multi-stage construction drawings with it.
So I would say the book is well worth it. As long as you know what it's trying to do.

5 out of 5 stars Helpful .......2006-08-11

IT SHOULD BE THREE INSTEAD OF FIVE STARS, MY MISTAKE.

With everything there are always pros and cons this book is no exception.

The pros is that it goes through about every little thing that you can thing of. From facial angles to foreshortening (which I had no idea how to do before I purchased this book. It also helped with shadows and clothing folds.

It contains a section on the beloved chibis and it covers male characters. It even had Bishies(beautifully drawn male characters)

Some of the art work is great!


The cons are that it doesn't go into great detail and a few of the pictures look like they were done by a first grader.


All in all I like this book very much and for a 144 pages it's a steal.
Manga Mania Villains: How to Draw the Dastardly Characters of Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • It was partly ok.
  • more or less useless
  • As an instructional volume...it's pretty mediocre.
  • Helpful if you Already Know How to Draw Anime/Manga
  • Mainly American Style Art though...
Manga Mania Villains: How to Draw the Dastardly Characters of Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)
Christopher Hart
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

AsianAsian | Regional | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
DrawingDrawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Specific ObjectsSpecific Objects | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
CartooningCartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Hart, ChristopherHart, Christopher | By Creator | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
How to Draw MangaHow to Draw Manga | By Series | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
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  2. Manga Mania: How to Draw Japanese Comics (Manga Mania) Manga Mania: How to Draw Japanese Comics (Manga Mania)
  3. Anime Mania: How to Draw Characters for Japanese Animation (Manga Mania) Anime Mania: How to Draw Characters for Japanese Animation (Manga Mania)
  4. Mecha Mania: How to Draw Warrior Robots, Cool Spaceships, and Military Vehicles (Christopher Hart Titles) Mecha Mania: How to Draw Warrior Robots, Cool Spaceships, and Military Vehicles (Christopher Hart Titles)
  5. Manga Mania Video Games (Manga Mania) Manga Mania Video Games (Manga Mania)

ASIN: 0823029719

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars It was partly ok........2007-08-17

Ok, Christopher hart is not the best in the manga business. I think this book is more for expanding your horizon of villians, not teaching you how to draw them. I have to admit though, it showed me some things I didn't think of before. It also showed that some of the harder aspects of drawing are not so hard if you break them apart. Three stars.

1 out of 5 stars more or less useless.......2005-08-01

However unfairly, I believe that it is necessary to be able to draw manga before publishing a book instructing others how to do it.

Unfortunately, the art in this book is very westernised (not to mention ugly) and most of it does not even approach a "manga" style, and threfore is pretty much useless to most aspiring manga artists.

Avoid this book (and all other members of the same series by Chris Hart) at all costs.

2 out of 5 stars As an instructional volume...it's pretty mediocre........2005-06-15

I've been hosting anime drawing workshops at local libraries, and I've always been on the lookout for books I can recommend to kids interested in continuing to draw in the anime and manga styles. So I checked out this book at a library recently with the intention of compiling a new list of drawing books that I would recommend to the people attending the workshops this summer.
This book will not be on that list.
Quite frankly, despite the fact that there are several very talented artists who contributed to this book, it's lousy. Most of the artwork featured is either mediocre or *not* done in the manga style Hart claims the book revolves around; in fact, seeing how Mr. Hart's art numbers among the worst in the book, I'm skeptical as to whether or not he is a credible source regarding non-Western artistry at all. (His Western-style cartooning is really quite good, so I'm rather surprised at his ineptitude in this field, myself.)
As I said, there are some very good pieces in this book as well--they really stand out when you see them--but they simply make for good references, as most of the "step-by-step" diagrams are about four steps long, adding up to a pretty useless instruction method overall. The proposed "villains" in the book, in fact, are rather one-dimensional from a character perspective, but I can understand how it would be far easier to resort to stereotypical black-and-white personalities than to flesh out a really interesting villain (because, well, that wasn't what this book was supposed to be about, so I can't really hold it against him.)
Most, if not all, pictures were colored digitally--something that most people won't have access to--and a number of them were printed with rough and jagged edges as if they had been drawn with the pencil tool in a Photoshop (or even paint. Strangely enough, these rougher works are actually some of the better ones in the book, if I recall correctly.)

Please, if you're interested in drawing in the anime or manga style, find another book. If you're interested in Western comics, check out Hart's other work (or the Marvel/DC instructional books, which are quite good.) But if it's manga style you're looking to learn about...then this is NOT the book for you.

4 out of 5 stars Helpful if you Already Know How to Draw Anime/Manga.......2005-05-05

I'm a manga artist myself. I don't make them, but I do a lot of fan-based art and such.
Anyway, I do a lot of evil characters. Since I've already developed a talent and a style, I just use this to perfect my villains. Books by Hart like the Fantasy one he did (helped me do dragons an' demons better. And I learned how to make gnolls ^_^) helped a lot. As did this one. Only buy if you know what you're doing. Otherwise, How To Draw Manga series is right up your alley.

3 out of 5 stars Mainly American Style Art though..........2005-01-26

I had mixed reviews about this book, but I had to admit the reason why I bought this book was because of the title. Afterall, no one has drawn a book totally dedicated to villians.

First of all, the book starts off by introducing you to drawing villian’s eyes, which is rather helpful since eyes are one of the important aspects when drawing villains. There’re also the “Good” vs “Bad” expressions and some explanations to go along. Then, there’re various types of baddies, from fighter chicks to medieval villains, and not to forget villains such as monsters, demons and aliens.

Unfortunately, there are mostly one or two examples for most villains, which can be rather limiting if you’re trying to draw the same type of villain in a different way. However, I think this is where your imagination will come in. Some of the arts also strike me as rather kiddy (or perhaps, it's meant to be more for children), although some of the full-page color artworks are very nice.

In addition, I’ve also noticed that most of the examples have a certain “American” (instead of Japanese”) style to it. For the serious mangaka-wannabe though, you are better off getting more “technical” and “Japanese-Style” books such as the “How to Draw Manga” Series, but overall, this book will make a nice reference or resource book for people interested drawing American cartoon.
Manga Mania: Chibi and Furry Characters: How To Draw the Adorable Mini-people and Cool Cat-girls of Japanese Comics
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Manga Mania: Chibi and Furry Characters: How To Draw the Adorable Mini-people and Cool Cat-girls of Japanese Comics
    Christopher Hart
    Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill Publications
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
    Hart, ChristopherHart, Christopher | By Creator | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
    How to Draw MangaHow to Draw Manga | By Series | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: B000N6CS4M

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