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mayshing — Anime Face Subtlety tutorial
Published: 2013-03-25 23:50:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 34236; Favourites: 983; Downloads: 324
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Description
Permission:Spread it anywhere you like, twitter, facebook, social sites, it's for everyone.
You are allowed to print it for your own use, just don't sell it or take off my credit.
Disclaimer:
There's actually far more subtlety in an anime face, in a very smooth way, that's why when it goes wrong it's hard to correct without explaining a ton.
I am explaining part of it that's critical to 2D drawings, when it comes to sculpture/3D modeling there are even more rules.
For that you'd better pick up a sculpture/figurine maker's book.
Disclaimer 2:
"Why study the anime figurines, not the real anatomy? Everyone needs to study real anatomy."
A: They both need to be studied.
It's a default every anime artist should study real anatomy.
PLUS, You need to study anime anatomy if you want to do anime correctly just like you need to study how Disney does their drawings to do Disney style correctly.
(in fact Disney is one of the toughest client around the industry on their rules on construction and style adaption.)
Disney style has its own unique construction that people who never practiced it need to get. It's the same with anime.
Disney has perfected their teaching to public, anime industry has not.
They are both based on real anatomy, but they are both constructed for their own purposes.
The real anatomy does not equal to stylized anatomy, both need to be studied.
Feedback:
Let me know if you don't get something, I will try to make it clearer and add to the tutorial. I want EVERYONE who does anime to GET IT.
-------- Rambling:
I made this tutorial so that IwontlooseitoverhavingtocorrectpeopleoverandoveragainontheSAMEPROBLEMForYEARS!
I hope no more.(I often have to do it from ppl asking me for crits, and directing animation.)
OK I lost it. Pardon me.
That's why this tutorial is now here.
Most tutorials out there does not really mention this kind of small details, they just cover the basics, they are not wrong, they just don't always explain everything.
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Comments: 60
I know what you mean. What I wanted to say is that studying other styles and anatomy based on other characters isn't very healthy. It's just copying and it teaches you nothing. I have done this in the past, biggest mistake of my life. What I mean is, you should base on your real anatomy skill and experiment on your own! Honestly, there isn't such a thing like "anime antomy". Every mangaka has it's own unique style with it's own anatomy. For example in "Dragon Ball Z" proportions are very rare xD but that doesn't change the fact it's anime 
Make your own anatomy, like all mangakas! Do not copy it from figurines - you're an artist, not a scanner
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Every artists style has a bases of growth, and every set of style has its own rules. I agree!
I just find it annoying that I have to keep correcting people on the same problems over anime style that's so basic.
It's like trying to correct someone doing disney style "Belle needs to have her cheek a certain way"
And keep correcting it over and over because I have to get the job done. To get someone else to draw the proper anime style for a project/anime whatever.
This tutorial is not to promote originality in any way, maybe that tutorial is for you to make.
"Make your own anatomy, like all mangakas! Do not copy it from figurines - you're an artist, not a scanner"
And... not all mangakas made their own anatomy, but that's another subject.
In reply for that: (because you used "you are" I will assume it's talking to me as well)
As for me, I don't always have to draw this way either.
Sometimes I do, but I also do any style that I like to learn from and develop my work that way.
There are two ways to develop style: One is study references closely as accurate as possible and take from them, another is by impression and do personal takes.
Here's what I know: Every style is developed with some bases, a palette of styles. Like colors. It can be inspired by master paintings, it can be inspired by anime, it can be inspired by Warner bros, by final fantasy, by Guild Wars. To me they are all equal. It's a completely personal choice what the artist want to be influenced by. I can say this: the wider the range of influence, the more knowledgeable the artist.
Realism vs anime somehow tie to originality in our discussion.... so here's how I see it:
Any work related to realism, whether its hyper realism, realism, or naturalistic fantasy, require just as much copying if not more, knowing more and more rules.
Until one knows the rules, and then break the rules of a certain genre, I wouldn't consider doing realism more original than anime. But realism is indeed, much harder to study than anime, therefore its a bases for all art studies. (cuz it has the most rules I would consider, also the most variation.)
If someone combines realism with anime in their own way, like some ppl combined disney/marvel with anime in their own way, then the so-called original style is born.
Throw originality out for teamwork sake:
Now You made an original style, great.
Now try to get 200 people to do exactly the same for animation, so what if your style has some anime in it?
Now people who only studied Disney style is out of the window, cuz they don't know the rules.
What if your style has some Disney in it? Now people who only studied anime is out of the window because they never tried Disney.
Try and get these two groups of people to learn a style they never EVEN bother to learn because they despised each other, now you have a REALLY BIG HEADACHE. Cause you can only pick people who learned BOTH styles and LOVE both style and then is willing to adapt yours.
Then you would love those people who can copy exactly as you draw it without "trying to be original."
One can only promote originality so far until you get to "teamwork situation."
When you want everyone on the team to get it right, it's not the matter of originality but construction. (Which I believe you know.)
I don't think its a crime to get someone else's style right, especially if that's the person's goal and that's what they like, and especially for team work collaboration on a particular animation style. What is sad is the lack of information that cause them to get it wrong and can't collaborate, we lost another talent to collaborate with as a result.
However, I am not saying to people "they need to stay in this box" and that's it. In fact if they do I will tell them its time to move on.
I will always champion for development of personal styles and study many different things/style before they settle down. Real life stuff is good, but sometimes you do need to see how other artists take on the same subjects. Hence style references.
If people want to learn anime and use that as jump base, let them learn it right.
The reason I made this tutorial is because I saw the fact: A lot of people who's trying to learn this particular style I know completely missed this! And it doesn't matter where their skill levels are, a professional painter can't do cartoon or anime if he doesn't observe the rules. (which I have seen a few)
They can move to realism and dump anime if they want to. I don't care.
I did realism, just never dumped anime like it's a "child's play" as many people think. I think the style deserves more respect. The target of "child's play style" used to be "cartoon" now it's suddenly anime.
The wrong way kills and give anime a bad name other than it's iconic features.
Every iconic, well known style has it's successful points, its important to know them if one wants to have the ability to switch styles and be more employable than other artists.
u_u gosh this turned into an article....
I get where you are coming from, I am trying to state where I am coming from. Believe me, I am VERY familiar with your point of view, I have seen it about nearly 100 times before, it's a very common view in the academics of arts, and I just happen to disagree with it.
I hope you can understand mine.
ok i am done. -____-
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Having more guidelines to work with and thinking in 3D shapes is a great exercise and skill to have, and it makes a drawing that much better. Thanks for making this
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let me know if there's anything else to add that you want to know.
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I think overall I just want to improve anatomy (at least for anime standards) so any subtle body part would be great to know.
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Other than faces...
Anime anatomy focus particularly on smaller area on the wrist of the hand, knee, and ankles.
Those I advise just study the real thing and apply it to your drawings. It won't hurt to copy a few.
They exaggerate other parts and simplify the waist, eyes and especially nose...
Body wise, others have explained it well: [link]
They mentioned manga characters there... lol 5.5-6.5 heads tall covers most manga characters and why it makes them all look more teen or younger.
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Yeah, I'm looking around and taking references. I restarted the way I draw things (for animation purposes, breaking things into shapes) and now I think I have the basics fairly well. I'm working on detailing now, and to do that I'm gradually studying the skeletal and muscular systems more. Any help is greatly appreciated and thank you for your advice just now.
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