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8:49 AM, Sunday August 16th 2020
edited at 8:50 AM, Aug 16th 2020

It does seem like we have opposite experiences.

My point about manga/anime is that you don't really need to know the basics of art to get started. It is its own style and has its own rules to a large extent which have little to do with real life drawing. I have done some anime stuff. I found it easy to get going with but I found it rather uninspiring over the longer term.

I would recommend Mark Crilley's books as good manga starter books. I have worked my way through them and they are nicely paced. They start off pretty basic but add more details and polish over the course.

Check out his youtube channel if you haven't already.

https://www.youtube.com/user/markcrilley

edited at 8:50 AM, Aug 16th 2020
1:08 PM, Sunday August 16th 2020

Given my experience, it seems I in particular will need to know the basics; I've actually spent ~7 years learning to draw (much of that on manga), and I... did not get very good. Several real skilled manga artists I know insist you need to know the basics, so yeah

3:49 PM, Sunday August 16th 2020

Fair enough. Most of what I have seen from Japan tends to treat manga as its own thing although good line quality is absolutely essential to both. Good luck.

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Ellipse Master Template

Ellipse Master Template

This recommendation is really just for those of you who've reached lesson 6 and onwards.

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No matter which brand of ellipse guide you decide to pick up, make sure they have little markings for the minor axes.

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