Manga drawing class

At Apolline, we advise your children to wait until the age of 6 to start manga classes. Our courses still require the use of creative tools. Many famous mangakas started drawing at a very young age and on the contrary, it is never too late to start. If you have a passion for art and writing, you can start learning to draw manga and tell stories now, whether you are a child, teenager or adult.

Absolutely, it is possible to draw good manga without being Japanese. Many artists have created very popular ones all over the world, even outside Japan. The manga style is characterized by distinct strokes and layout that can be learned and mastered with practice and perseverance, whether you are from Japan or elsewhere. Although Japanese terms are often used in manga, it is possible to create comic book stories using your own native language. It is important to have a good understanding of Japanese culture and an appreciation for the manga style of comics in order to create quality work. Our teachers will be there to guide you.

There are many types of markers available for drawing manga, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the best markers for making the most beautiful illustrations: Copic Markers: These are alcohol markers that are very popular among manga artists for their quality and versatility. They come in a wide range of colors and have a flexible brush tip that allows for different line thicknesses. The colors can also be easily layered and mixed to create gradient effects. Sakura Pigma Micron: These inkjet markers have a fine, durable tip that creates precise detail in manga drawings. They are available in different tip sizes to suit different drawing styles. Tombow Dual Brush Pens: These pens have a fine tip on one side and a flexible brush tip on the other, making them ideal for creating precise outlines as well as shading effects. Pentel Pocket Brush: This pen has a flexible brush tip that allows you to create expressive and dynamic strokes. It is especially useful for drawing hair and clothing.

It is not necessary to have a studio to draw manga, don't imagine that you need to have a studio of a great painter like Picasso or Monet. Having a dedicated space for your practice can however help you to concentrate and fully immerse yourself in your universe. Manga drawing brings together all kinds of skills. It can also include painting, character design, visual storytelling and layout. All of these areas may require a bit of equipment, including a set of drawing supplies, pencils, markers, quality paper, erasers and rulers. You may also need a computer or graphics tablet to create digital artwork. In any case, a dedicated space for your creations is recommended!

Finding your own style can take time and requires practice, observation and experimentation. Here are some tips to help you do so: Study the manga style: To find your own style, you must first understand the basics of drawing and the elements of style that characterize manga. Learn the basics of perspective, anatomy and composition, and study the manga drawings you admire to understand their characteristics. Experiment with different drawing styles: Try different styles of manga drawing to find the one that suits you best. Try more realistic or stylized styles, or combine different styles to create something new. Develop your own technique: By working on your work regularly, you will eventually develop your own technique and drawing style. Try to focus on what you like about your work and what makes you unique, and develop that technique. Sign up with Apolline: Finding a teacher or mentor can be very helpful in improving your drawing skills and finding your own style. You can take our classes now and/or participate in drawing workshops. Be patient and persevere: Finding your own manga drawing style can take time, so be patient and persevere. Keep drawing regularly, experiment, and eventually you will find your own unique style.

Manga drawing is a fascinating art that requires patience, creativity and lots of practice. Whether you are a beginner or have some drawing experience, there are several useful tips for learning to draw manga. First, it's important to learn the basics of drawing, including perspective, anatomy, composition and shading. This will allow you to create more realistic and consistent manga drawings. If you don't know these basics yet, no worries, our classes will guide you to these first skills. Then, it is important to study the multiple facets of manga drawing such as contour lines, shading effects and facial expressions. Take inspiration from the works you like to create the effects you want. This will give you a deeper understanding of how manga drawings are created. Another useful tip for learning how to draw manga is to practice regularly. Try to draw every day, even if it's just for a few minutes. The more you practice, the better you will become at drawing manga. It can also be helpful to draw from models, whether they are photos or even videos. This will help you develop your understanding of anatomy and hone your drawing skills.

It is possible to determine if your son has a talent for drawing by observing his behavior at school, if he prefers to spend his time drawing rather than listening to lectures. If your child is often absorbed in his drawings and shows remarkable creativity, this may be a sign that visual arts are his forte. You can also talk to his teacher to get his opinion on your son's abilities. If your child shows a sustained interest in drawing and continues to improve despite difficulties, this may indicate a passion for art. Finally, if your child receives positive feedback on his or her drawings from classmates or family, it may suggest that he or she has a talent for drawing. Don't hesitate to encourage your child to pursue his or her interest in the visual arts by enrolling him or her in classes or by providing high-quality drawing materials to develop academic skills.

In manga, you have probably noticed that girls and boys are not the same thing, there are for children, adults, girls and boys and, often, mangakas do not draw them in the same way. And yet, a girl is not so different from a boy, and even sometimes it is the same thing. So we have to remember that, often, manga girls are stereotypes: a very thin waist, big breasts, big eyelashes, big eyes, long hair, long thin legs, awkward postures with knees that meet... etc... a girl is not that at all and we have to be careful not to fall into the trap of confusing manga fantasy with reality, especially for children who read manga. But sometimes, some people need to make a stereotype, to draw the features that women will have more often than men, even on girls. If you want to do that, you have to imagine what women would have more often (sometimes they don't have it.): more prominent breasts, thinner waist, wider hips. If you want to exaggerate these stereotypes a bit more, which is not advisable to make a really nice character, you will add smaller hands and feet, a thinner and less muscular body, a thinner jaw, a thinner neck, longer eyelashes, less eyebrows... etc....

Drawing children in manga may seem difficult, but with a little practice and certainly some corrections, you can learn to draw them easily. Here are some exercises to help you draw children in the manga: Study the proportions: Children have different proportions than adults. Their heads are larger in relation to their bodies and their limbs are shorter. Research to understand the correct proportions and practice by drawing sketches to help you master the proportions. Observe children's character traits: Children have distinct features, such as larger eyes, rounder cheeks and smaller noses. Take time to observe these features and try to incorporate them into your drawings. Play with expressions: Children often have vivid and expressive expressions. Practice drawing different expressions, such as happy, angry or sad, to bring your characters to life. Use references: Use photos or videos of children to help you understand proportions, features and expressions. This can help you improve your drawing skills. Evaluate your drawings: Take time to regularly evaluate your drawings to identify areas for improvement. You can also ask for feedback and constructive criticism from other artists to help you improve your skills. By practicing regularly and using these tips, you will be able to draw children in manga with confidence and ease. Remember to take your time and have fun while drawing!

When you have an idea, it is sometimes not so easy to turn it into a comic strip, a cartoon or a movie. To do this, before launching into the final result, we can go through several stages that allow us to gradually specify what we would like to do. For example, if I have the idea of a sheep that skis, I need to have a sheep, skis and a camera to make a film or paper and pencil to make a comic strip. But it's useful to go through a drawing first, a sketch. Well, the storyboard is, in a way, the sketch of the comic strip or the film. It consists of drawings and sentences, placed side by side. "Story" means "story" and "board" means "guidance". The storyboard is a dashboard, a guide. So the producers, actors and production workers of the film have an overview before shooting, the designers have an idea of what it might look like, what problems they might encounter, what is worth drawing, before they go to the final board.

Kodomo Kodomo, which means "child" in Japanese, is mainly aimed at an audience between 6 and 11 years old. Most of the stories of this genre are based on the same pitch: the main character, who is still a child, lives incredible adventures in the company of friends, animals or creatures. There is often a moral message slipped into the story. Some manga of this type have succeeded in expanding the age range of their audience, such as Pokémon or Doraemon. Other popular series are Chi, a cat's life and Hamtaro. The nekketsu shônen The nekketsu, literally "hot blood" in Japanese, is the most popular manga at the moment. It is basically conceived for an audience composed mainly of male teenagers. There is usually a lot of action, the main character is mostly a boy who wants to do everything to become stronger. To do this, he will go through many trials, surrounded by his family or an entourage of close friends. Among the most famous, we find Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece and My Hero Academia. Shôjo Shôjo is the equivalent for girls of shônen nekketsu. The scenario of this type of manga mainly revolves around love stories in middle or high school. Friendship, school, leisure are also dealt with a lot, and we can also find fantasy in the "magical girl" sub-genre, like Sailor Moon. Other very popular shôjo manga are Fruits Basket, Vampire Knight, Sawako, Lovely Complex. The seinen The seinen, which means "young man", is a genre of manga aimed at men over 20 years old in general. The hero is more adult and mature than in shônen, and he goes in search of identity or truth. There is a more violent dimension and more advanced stakes, such as war, murder, power, death or manipulation. The scenarios vary enormously from one series to another, contrary to other styles of manga. Berserk, Akira, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure are similar to this genre. The josei The josei (literally female gender/sex) manga is attributed to young women over 20 years old. It also has more mature themes, often around a "slice of life" (literally a period of life), which mostly deal with the professional, love and social life of the main character. Josei is similar to shôjo, but it is more complex in the relationships of the characters, with also the presence of a love life (which remains rather light). The most famous examples of josei are Nana, Paradise Kiss, Blue and LIFE. Seijin Seijin manga is aimed at adults, mainly men. The stories are about serious subjects, like politics, complex investigations, history...

Here you will find a small but not exhaustive list of outstanding animated films, from all eras and styles of manga, in order to satisfy the largest audience. Tomb of the Fireflies (1988) Studio Ghibli This film is aimed at a more informed audience, because of the dramatic side of the story. It takes place in 1945, at the end of the Second World War, a young boy and his little sister find refuge in a bunker inhabited by fireflies, until the day when they run out of food. Akira (1988) Tokyo Movie Shinsha This film is the adaptation of the book with the same title. It is also intended for a slightly warned public, because there are some scenes that could be considered violent. We follow the story of a boy, Tetsuo, in a city of an apocalyptic future. Having been scientifically experimented on by people who had once abducted him, Tetsuo is endowed with superhuman abilities that he uses to take revenge. His story coincides with a prophecy, that of Akira, a child like no other who will be able to save Neo-Tokyo. Ghost In The Shell (1995) Production I.G. The film is also an adaptation of a manga released a few years earlier. It tells the story of a cyborg with the features of a young woman, who belongs to a very powerful cyber police. Tired of being interrogated about the nature of her existence, she takes advantage of having found a hacker who will help her find the answers she is looking for. Metropolis (2001) Studio Madhouse Based on the 1927 film of the same name, the story takes place in the futuristic city of Metropolis, divided between the rich who live above ground and the poor who live below. The main characters are investigating organ trafficking when they meet a humanoid destined to restore order to the city. Piano Forest (2007) Madhouse A young boy from a good family is destined to become a pianist. He learns from some of his friends that there is an abandoned piano in the forest and that they have heard a haunting music played with it...

Painting and illustration are two visual art forms that share some similarities but also have some important differences. Here are some of the main differences: Purpose: Painting is often created to be a stand-alone work of art that is designed to be viewed in its own beauty, while illustration is created to serve a specific purpose, such as to accompany a text, story, message or communication. Medium of execution: Painting is often done on traditional media such as canvas, paper, wood or stone, while illustration can be done on a variety of media such as paper, cardboard, fabric, etc. Content: Painting can be a representation of anything that can be seen, imagined or expressed, while illustration is often related to specific content, such as a story, article, advertisement, etc. Target Audience: Painting is generally intended for a broader audience, while illustration is often intended for a more specific target audience, such as children, professionals, or enthusiasts in a specific field. In summary, the main difference between painting and illustration is their purpose and context. Painting is often created to express a personal vision, while illustration is often created to meet a specific need or to accompany a text or story.

Teaching manga drawing can be beneficial for students, but it depends on the school context. If a school wishes to integrate the teaching of manga drawing into its curriculum, this could be an opportunity for students to develop their creativity and visual communication skills. However, it is important that the teachers who teach manga drawing are qualified to do so, and that they have the appropriate training and experience to teach this technique. It is also important that the teaching of manga drawing is not considered a substitute for teaching the fundamentals of drawing. Students need to learn the basic techniques before they can explore more specific styles. In addition, it is important that students understand that manga drawing is an art form specific to Japanese culture, and should not be used as a universal representation of visual art. If manga drawing instruction is added to the school curriculum, it could be offered as an additional training or workshop, rather than a required course. It could be offered to interested students as part of a club or a special week of training for the visual arts. Ultimately, the decision to incorporate manga drawing instruction into the school curriculum depends on the school's educational goals and its ability to provide adequate training. Otherwise, you enroll your child with us!

Unfortunately, it is not possible to follow our illustration courses online or via webcam. Since the classes are in groups, attendance is essential to the progress and smooth running of the class. The children exchange with their teacher who immediately corrects them. Giving the lessons online, in this context, is therefore of no interest.

Yes, we do! Visit our website to discover our vacation camps, workshops and courses. Based in several cities in the French part of Switzerland, Apolline offers comic book/manga drawing courses during the school vacations in your canton. This is not a vacation camp as such, as the children do not sleep on site. The activity focuses on 3 hours of intensive classes per day from Monday to Friday. The courses can be taken in the morning from 9am to 12pm, or in the afternoon from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. Cities where we organize our drawing courses : Geneva - Etoy - Lausanne - Montreux - Yverdon - Sion - Neuchâtel - Delémont - Fribourg - Bienne