www.artist-reference.com

My Review:

Probably the best “How to Draw Manga” book ever published. It is very similar to the other book I’ve previously reviewed : “How to Draw Anime & Game Characters” in that that it is very instructional and teaches you how to draw character from all different angles and in perspective. This is one of the most important skills to have if you want to draw truly good looking characters and unfortunately many books either ignore it or treat it very lightly.

As far as I know this book hasn’t yet been translated into English but there are tons of illustrations on every page and the pictures are self-explanatory. While being very similar to HTDA&GCH in this aspect there are also differences. “How to draw better Moe characters” is focused on one particular manga style and adds more anatomy as well as computer shading and coloring on top of this.

By now it probably isn’t really obvious why I like it so much but I am sure you will understand once you check the samples in the gallery. This is definitely the best looking HTDM book obviously drawn by professionals that could be compared to (or actually are themselves) top artists in the game and manga industry.  So if you like the art in games like Disgaea or Final Fantasy 9 you will love this book. It’s so much more fun to learn to draw from a book that has great looking characters  and to be inspired and challenged by the professional and confident way they were drawn.

Short summary:

+ the most professionally drawn “How to Draw Manga” book ever published

- no English translation yet

My opinion:

This one is a must

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Price:

Last time I checked it cost ¥1,890 which is about $19 you can buy it at:

www.amazon.co.jp

Product Description:

How to bring super deformed characters to life  from sketches to coloring techniques step by step in 4 chapters. Three illustrators contributed to this book.

Popularity: 43% [?]

My Review:

I have several “How to draw Manga” books on my book shelf.  Recently I decided to start a drawing manga course so I went through all of them and tried to choose the best ones for inspiration. It seems that after the explosion in popularity of Manga in USA and Europe many non-Japanese artists published books on this topic. While this doesn’t have to be necessarily bad it seems to me that most of them didn’t catch the essence of Japanese Manga and that it wouldn’t be a good idea to use theirs books. There are few exceptions though, for example Adam Warren and Fred Perry (I will get to his video course in the next review).

Back to the review There are 2 original Japanese “How to draw Manga” books that I consider to be the best and “How to Draw Anime & Game Characters, Vol. 1: Basics for Beginners and Beyond” is the one that has been translated into English. It may be decieving that it is called How to Draw Anime… but basically the  only difference between Manga and Anime is that Manga is a static comic form while anime is a cartoon (moving picture format).  So the character design process is exactly the same.

What I like about this book most is that it really gives you all the info you need to get into drawing Manga. It starts with the basics such as drawing cubes and balls in perspective and continues by building on this with the addition of eyes, mouth and more details. After explaining the drawing of a generic anime head it goes on to show you different popular styles of current anime characters while showing each head from different angles, for example bird’s eye and ant’s view while rotating the head along a vertical axis at the same time. This is very rare in other books.

A large part of the book is focused on comparing the professional and beginners’ drawing of the same character. This is highly useful as you can clearly see the many mistakes and poor use of techniques taught in the book by beginners. On one page the finished drawings are compared while on the next one circle and stick characters are drawn representing these two drawings that are even better at pinpointing the basic mistakes in the drawings such as incorrect proportions and perspectives of different body parts. Be sure to check out the  samples from the book in the gallery bellow.

The book continues with drawing characters’ bodies, explaining different body parts and poses as well as foreshortening and clothes design while sprinkling the book with one page tips by popular young Japanese manga artists.

Short summary:

+ great and very comprehensive Manga book to start with

- no detailed explanation of anatomy, however this could actually be a good thing as it seems it work

My opinion:

Best “How to draw Manga” book translated into english. 

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Price:

This book is obviously out of print, there are some sellers on Amazon.com and the price range is surprisingly wide. From $18 to $150. WTF?

www.amazon.com/gp/product/4766111206/

Product Description

This exciting new series which may be used in conjunction with How To Draw Manga is a dream-come-true for all aspiring “Anime = Japanese Animation” artists, “Video Game” designers, as well as fans. Volume one introduces the step-by-steps involved in drawing various types of male and female characters, young and old, in the unique “Anime” style whose popularity seems to be growing by the day.

Moreover, it provides detailed explanations how to bring out certain personality traits through facial features, anatomy, wardrobe as well as accessories. This will be one “Hot” book for all “Anime” fans.

Popularity: 17% [?]

My Review:

As I already wrote in the review of  Dynamic Anatomy by Burne Hogarth I am a big collector of anatomy books. While the Hogart’s anatomy was my first ever anatomy book from 20 years ago the Human Anatomy by Goldfinger is my most recent purchase. And I have to say, I was cursing myself for not buying it sooner as I found out it is the most detailed Anatomy Book for Artists I have ever seen. (the reason might have been that this is quite an expensive book, selling for about 50 bucks)

While it doesn’t deal much with drawing whole figures, different poses or perspectives, its detailed illustrations are on a level with any medical anatomy text I have seen. Not only does it have illustrate all the muscles and muscle groups, contrary to most artist anatomy books that ignore most of them (I will return to this later in the review), it also has photos of perfectly ripped well muscled models accompanying every drawing.  Section illustrations further help you to imagine the position of muscles in between each other as well as bones and joints, see the photos for examples. I find myself referring frequently to this book as I am drawing from other anatomies if I am not sure about some detail.

Recently I found an interesting thing as I was practicing my knowledge of torso anatomy on photos. Many anatomy books don’t show group of muscles called erectus spinae or sacrospinalis in the older literature. The reason is probably that these muscles are under the latissimus dorsi but they are quite visible especially on bodybouilders.

I did some research and compared diferent anatomies as far as these muscles go. (see the pictures). As far as the detailed information goes Bridgman is the worst, Hogarth is 2nd and Goldfinger is definitely the most detailed anatomy for artists. So if you are really into details and you want to make your life easier and not to use medical anatomy  books as these frequently deal with many things we as an artists don’t really need and most of the times don’t provide photos of muscles with skin on top, be sure to get this one

Short summary:

+ definitely the most detailed and easy to understand anatomy book for artists comparable and even exceeding medical anatomy books

- high price tag

My opinion:

Highly recommended. 

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You can buy this book on Amazon.com:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0195052064/

Last time I checked it cost $51.20

Product Description

The power of the image of the nude–the expressivity of the flesh–has inspired artists from the beginning. An understanding of human form is essential for artists to be able to express themselves with the figure. Anatomy makes the figure. Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form is the definitive analytical work on the anatomy of the human figure.

No longer will working artists have to search high and low to find the information they need. In this, the most up-to-date and fully illustrated guide available, Eliot Goldfinger–sculptor, illustrator, scientific model-maker, and lecturer on anatomy–presents a single, all-inclusive reference to human form, capturing everything artists need in one convenient volume. Five years in the making, and featuring hundreds of photos and illustrations, this guide offers more views of each bone and muscle than any other book ever published: every structure that creates or influences surface form is individually illustrated in clear, carefully lit photographs and meticulous drawings.

Informed by the detailed study of both live models and cadavers, it includes numerous unique presentations of surface structures–such as fat pads, veins, and genitalia–and of some muscles never before photographed. In addition, numerous cross sections, made with reference to CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging, and cut cadavers, trace the forms of all body regions and individual muscles. Information on each structure is placed on facing pages for ease of reference, and the attractive two-color format uses red ink to direct readers rapidly to important points and areas. Finally, an invaluable chapter on the artistic development of basic forms shows in a series of sculptures the evolution of the figure, head, and hands from basic axes and volumes to more complex organic shapes. This feature helps place the details of anatomy within the overall context of the figure.

Certain to become the standard reference in the field, Human Anatomy for Artists will be indispensable to artists and art students, as well as art historians. It will also be a useful aid for physical and dance therapists, athletes and their trainers, bodybuilders, and anyone concerned with the external form of the human body. With the renewed interest in figurative art today, this will be an especially welcome volume.

About the Author

Eliot Goldfinger, a renowned sculptor and illustrator, developed the anatomy program at The New York Academy of Art and has been an instructor at The Art Student’s League in New York City.

Popularity: 48% [?]

Dynamic Anatomy Book Cover

Burne Hogart’s Dynamic Anatomy was my first anatomy book. I got it 20 years ago, at the age of 13. Since that time I have collected many more anatomy books and “how to” books, however when I recently decided to finally start drawing I chose this one.

The reason is that this book has the cleanest and easiest to read illustrations together with enough detail to draw perfect comic heroes. That’s probably the reason the latest updated edition has high praise from such comic artists as Todd McFarlane, the creator of Spawn.

It has 256 pages and 400 illustrations. The new version also has some previously unpublished pictures and several illustrations are re-done in color, which doesn’t really change anything but it looks nice

Overall I believe this is the best anatomy book to start with if not the absolute best in general if you want to learn male anatomy. On the other hand avoid it if your goal is to learn how to draw women. The few illustrations he has are not very flattering and kind of vague. Another con would be the 52 pages at the beginning about the art history of the human form. Its just my personal opinion but it’s a waste of paper. If I wanted to know something about history I would buy an art history book.

BTW: I am practicing my anatomy skills 2 hours per day and I started with this book. You are welcome to join me on CGtalk.com

Short summary:

+ probably the best anatomy book for comic book artists wanting to draw superheroes

- get another book if you want to learn how to draw women

My opinion:

Fantastic, highly recommended. 

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You can buy this book on Amazon.com:

www.amazon.com/Dynamic-Anatomy-Expanded-Burne-Hogarth/dp/0823015521

Last time I checked it cost $16.47

Product Description

Praised by critics and teachers alike for more than 40 years, Burne Hogarth’s Dynamic Anatomy is recognized worldwide as the classic, indispensable text on artistic anatomy. Now revised, expanded, and completely redesigned with 75 never-before-published drawings from the Hogarth archives and 24 pages of new material, this award-winning reference explores the expressive structure of the human form from the artist’s point of view.

The 400 remarkable illustrations explain the anatomical details of male and female figures in motion and at rest, always stressing the human form in space. Meticulous diagrams and fascinating action studies examine the rhythmic relationship of muscles and their effect upon surface forms. The captivating text is further enhanced by the magnificent figure drawings of such masters as Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Rodin, Picasso, and other great artists.

Dynamic Anatomy presents a comprehensive, detailed study of the human figure as artistic anatomy. This time-honored book goes far beyond the factual elements of anatomy, providing generations of new artists with the tools they need to make the human figure come alive on paper.

About the Author

Burne Hogarth’s (1911–1996) remarkable career spanned over 60 years. He wore many hats in the worlds of fine art, art education, and art publishing. He is most famous for his internationally syndicated Sunday newspaper color page feature “Tarzan” (1937–1950) and for his illustrated adaptations of the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels Tarzan of the Apes and Jungle Tales of Tarzan. A co-founder of the School of Visual Arts in New York City, Hogarth remains one of the most influential figures in art education today.

Popularity: 46% [?]