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Design · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Anime & Manga-Inspired Design

This course explores the distinctive aesthetic of Japanese animation and comics, teaching students how to adapt this globally popular style for commercial illustration and character design. Students will study the history of the genre, master the technical rules of manga anatomy and “Cel Shading,” and learn to apply these techniques to posters, merchandise, and narrative media.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master the specific facial proportions and expressions of anime styles
  2. Create dynamic character designs using the "Turnaround" method
  3. Apply "Cel Shading" and digital coloring techniques common in the industry
  4. Understand the visual language of manga (speed lines, paneling, sound effects)
  5. Adapt anime aesthetics for Western commercial branding and advertising
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01History of Anime/Manga & Visual Culture
  2. 02Head Structure: Eyes, Hair, and Emotions
  3. 03Anatomy & Proportions: Heroic vs. Realistic
  4. 04Dynamic Posing & Action Lines
  5. 05Clothing, Drapery, & Costume Design
  6. 06Character Archetypes (Shonen vs. Shojo)
  7. 07The Turnaround: Front, Side, Back Views
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Chibi & Super Deformed (SD) Styles
  10. 10Mechanical Design (Mecha) Basics
  11. 11Monster & Creature Design
  12. 12Digital Coloring: The Cel Shading Workflow
  13. 13Visual Effects: Magic, Fire, and Speed
  14. 14Composition for Posters & Covers
  15. 15Preparing Art for Merchandise
  16. 16Final Project: Character Bible & Key Art

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: Character Bible & Key Art

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. The Master Guide to Drawing Anime by Christopher Hart
  2. How to Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style by Hikaru Hayashi
  3. Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storytellers by Marcos Mateu-Mestre
  4. Japanese Comickers by Comickers Magazine
  5. Anime Architecture: Backgrounds of Japan's Classic Anime by Stefan Riekeles
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