Overview
Lessons
Reviews
Instructor
Sign in
Preview course

Draw a Manga Character from Scratch

with Andrea Cofrancesco
4.2 (126)
Follow along with master artist, Andrea Cofrancesco, as he shows his process of creating an anime/manga female character.
English English, French [Auto], 4 more Spanish [Auto], Italian [Auto], German, Portuguese
1+
hours
13
lessons
Intermediate
level
Andrea Cofrancesco

Your Instructor

Andrea works in the gaming, film, and publishing industries as a professional concept artist and character designer. He is known for his distinct anime-style cartoons.

All Courses
Get access to this course and 55+ more
$59 / year
$235 / year
+
Gift an annual membership (Free)
Get Started
  • Cancel Anytime
  • 30-Day Money-back Guarantee

Only this course
$11.99 USD
Get Single Course
  • 30-Day Money-back Guarantee
Explore the course
1+
hours
13
lessons
Intermediate
level
English
English, French [Auto] , 4 more
Subtitles
  • Spanish [Auto]
  • Italian [Auto]
  • German
  • Portuguese

What you’ll learn

  • Tips for studying references in order to use them creatively in your own artwork.
  • How to sketch dynamic and creative poses, avoiding stiff, lifeless characters
  • Understand the unique characteristics of anime / manga art: proportions and features
  • The process for cleaning up your sketch lines and inking your art like a pro
  • Choose a fitting anime-style color palette
  • Render your character fully with shadows and highlights using a simple method
+ See more

Description

Are you a fan of anime and manga artwork and would absolutely LOVE to learn to draw characters in this fun, cute style?

There are specific characteristics of anime artwork that make it so unique and loved around the world! Curious to discover what they are, and more importantly, how to use them in your own illustrations?

Well, today is your lucky day! 😀

In these awesome art demo videos, professional anime artist, Andrea Cofrancesco, will teach you tricks of the trade for drawing in the anime style. Follow along with him as he designs a manga-style girl from start to finish, teaching you valuable skills along the way, such as how to draw engaging, dynamic poses, draw heads from different angles, and cleanly ink in your sketch.

You’ll end up with a beautifully rendered, polished illustration that you will be super proud of … and acquire brand-new drawing techniques that you can use time and again!

Check out some FREE lessons below!

+ See more

Who is this course for

  • Artists wanting to learn how to draw in an anime style
  • Those looking to establish a simple but effective character design process
+ See more

This course includes

  • 1+ Hours of on-demand videos
  • Bonus video content
  • List of recommended books
  • 10 Reference images
  • Certificate of Completion
+ See more

Used in course

+ See more

What you'll need

  • Some drawing experience recommended
  • Digital drawing software such as Photoshop or similar (see examplesAffinity Photo, ArtRage, Artweaver, Astropad, Clip Studio Paint, Corel Painter, Krita, Inkscape, IbisPaint, GIMP, Rebelle 4, Photoshop, Paintstorm Studio, Procreate, MediBang Paint, SketchPad, SketchBook, TwistedBrush, Vectr...)
  • You'll learn more if you have a drawing tablet
+ See more

Lesson Plan

with Andrea Cofrancesco
Expand all sections
00

Introduction

02:32

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

Meet your anime art mentor, Andrea!

You’ll get a good overview of what to expect in this fun and informative course! Get ready to kick off your creative art process today!

01

Exploring the Anime / Manga Art Style

14:02

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

We’ll start by analyzing the main features of anime artwork that make it so distinct and memorable, such as body proportions, eyes, hair, expressions and other characteristics.

Andrea will focus on teaching you the main elements and key points for creating a unique and lively character!


1.1
Body Proportions
07:43
1.2
Facial Features
03:50
1.3
Hair
02:29
02

Tools and Brushes

03:13

Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started

In this lesson, Andrea will talk about the tools and equipment he uses in this course.

You’ll also be introduced to his favorite brushes which he uses all the time when illustrating and discover their characteristics and strengths.

2.1
Tools and Brushes
03:13
03

Creating the Rough Sketch

17:57

Now is the time to start sketching! Exciting!!! With Andrea’s help, you will experiment with different poses first and decide on one to use for your character.

Keeping things very simple at the onset, he’ll demonstrate how to loosely sketch the character’s basic form, ensuring it looks 3D with a sense of volume. Andrea will then show you how to easily tweak your sketch and clean it up to get it ready for the inking stage.

And finally, the best part!!! Adding all the fun details, like belts, shoes, jackets, glasses, hats … or whatever else you fancy!


3.1
Rough Sketch
08:45
3.2
Cleaning the Sketch
09:12
04

Ink and Color your Character

33:23

In this section of the course, Andrea will teach you his method for digitally inking his sketches: a rough, loose style to keep the lines looking natural and flowing.

He also shares tips for keeping your lines crisp and smooth and maintaining the liveliness of the original sketch. You’ll then learn how to set up your inks properly for the coloring stage.

In the coloring stage, you go through all the steps to make your line art come alive. This process includes:

  • Blocking in initial flat colors from midtones
  • Color in some of the lines (a nice trick for an interesting look!)
  • Organize your layers and various colors to avoid confusion
  • Render your character with shadows and highlights
  • Add final touches for more pop!

4.1
Inking
09:22
4.2
Setting Up the Lines
01:46
4.3
Flat Colors
10:35
4.4
Rendering
11:40
05

Export your Work

01:21

It’s time to export your awesome illustration and show it off on social media! Andrea will show you which formats to use so that no quality is lost and your work is displayed in its full greatness!

As a final piece of advice from your instructor: Collect the art you like most, to help you build your own style. And above all: be one of a kind!

5.1
Export your Work
01:21
06

BONUS Timelapse: Facial Features

11:12

Enjoy this extended timelapse of Andrea drawing various expressions on two different manga characters: male and female.

6.1
BONUS Timelapse: Facial Features
11:12

Student Feedback

126 customer reviews & ratings

4.2

Course rating

Log in to leave a review or rating.
5 star
62 %
4 star
17 %
3 star
10 %
2 star
8 %
1 star
5 %
Best Suited for
Intermediate
The level is determined by a majority opinion of students who have reviewed this class. The teacher's recommendation is shown until at least 5 student responses are collected.

(Based on 126 reviews)

Most Liked
Inspiring 77
Helpful Examples 65
Clarity of Instruction 64
Showing 10 reviews of
126
reviews & ratings
NS
Nirdesh S.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
It was great!
I recommend it for All levels
2 people found this helpful
HJ
Hyeong J.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
What I like about this particular course is how easily you can understand the instructions and lessons taught by Andrea Cofrancesco. Everything is very simplified, but it still holds firm with a strong foundation and knowledge on creating a believable character. The steps are self-explanatory and
+ Show more
easy to understand. It starts from the rough sketch to the rough & clean line/ink-drawing process. It may be simple but holds a firm cell-shading painting process to show that you don't need an overly-complicated rendering process. Along the way, it explains how Andrea Cofrancesco's influence shaped his process of creating a character with anime/manga influences. The course says it's for intermediate-level, but I beg to differ and say that it is suited for every level, from wanting to learn new things to refreshing yourself with the knowledge you already knew but forgetting over time. So please, to those wanting to take this course, I would highly recommend and jump into Andrea Cofrancesco's class for wanting to see how manga/anime-influenced character design and simplified the working process to your artworks!
I recommend it for All levels
2 people found this helpful
AK
Adam K.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
I love drawing anime so this course helped me with ideas on how to approach anime style from a different perspective, I love the simplicity and eye catching style Andrea has. Loved the course!
I recommend it for Intermediate
Lynsea A.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
Loved this quick course! I picked up some great little extra things to try out that I would have never known about otherwise!
I recommend it for Intermediate
BK
Bill K.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
Very educational and interesting class. Enjoyed every moment
I recommend it for All levels
Anas S.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
I like his style drawing but the course was very small
I recommend it for Intermediate
2 people found this helpful
Huyen B.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
Very useful tips and clear instruction, easy to follow.
I recommend it for All levels
Gilmar D.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
Cool
I recommend it for Intermediate
TG
Therese G.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
Inspiring, engaging, fun, and lots of helpful tips when drawing your own manga character from scratch.
I recommend it for Intermediate
SB
Shelsea B.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
This was great for me
I recommend it for Intermediate
See more reviews

About the Instructor

Andrea Cofrancesco
Concept Artist and Anime Character Designer 1 course

Andrea works in the gaming, film, and publishing industries as a professional concept artist and character designer. He is known for his distinct anime-style cartoons.


Follow Andrea on

Full bio

Bonus Offer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 21 Draw?

21 Draw is an online learning community where students of all skill levels can learn how to be a better artist. Our contributing artists and instructors are the best in the world.

Our streaming platform on www.21-draw.com makes it possible for anyone to watch hundreds of video lessons by industry legends who have worked for Disney, Marvel, DC, Dreamworks, Pixar & more. A membership gives full access to our streaming platform.

On books.21-draw.com you can buy our popular learn-to-draw ebooks and physical books, separate from the courses, and they too are also delivered to you by the heavyweights of the art industry.

159 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

What is included in the membership?

Membership includes unlimited access to all 55+ courses taught by the world’s best artists PLUS new courses as they are released.

Each class includes 10-20 video lessons that are 7 minutes long on average. Most classes include exercise sheets, assignments, and layered PSD or PNG files.

Some classes include the ability to chat with the instructor in a public forum, e.g. if you want feedback on your artwork.

226 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

Do I receive a certificate after I complete a course?

Yes! When you complete a 21 Draw course, you will receive a certificate of completion, which you can download and share with your friends, relatives, co-workers, and potential employers!

170 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

Are these online or offline courses?

21 Draw courses are on-demand (pre-recorded) video tutorials that you can watch online with any digital devices anytime and for an unlimited number of times! This means you can easily watch (and rewatch) them at your own pace and convenience.

433 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

Can a beginner follow along?

We have classes for all levels, even for those with zero drawing experience. In general, artists at all levels can benefit from these courses—whether beginner, intermediate or advanced.

308 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

Do the courses teach digital or traditional art?

Many lessons in our courses apply to both digital and traditional art. In a few tutorials, digital drawing software, e.g. Photoshop or Procreate for iPad is required. However, for the majority of lessons it is more about the underlying concepts and all that is needed is a pen and paper.

275 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

Can I download the course videos?

You can download the course resources (exercise sheets, assignments, PSD files, etc.) from the site, but you cannot download the video lessons to your computer.

283 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

How much does a membership cost?

Normally it costs $235/year. However, there is a special sale running now for a limited time: Save 75%! This means you can get an annual membership for just $59 USD/year.

If you purchase the annual membership at a discounted price, it will remain at that price for each consecutive year, so long as your membership is not cancelled.

503 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

How does the 30-day guarantee work?

If for any reason at all you are unhappy with our courses or feel it isn’t what you are looking for—then just fill out this form or email us at [email protected]. We’ll be more than happy to give you a full refund within 30 days of your first purchase. No questions asked. Just a guarantee you can trust.

238 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

How do I cancel my membership?

You can easily cancel your membership renewal on your My Account page. Follow the prompts to cancel (Billing > Change Plan > Cancel Membership) and your membership will immediately be terminated. Please note: Refunds ONLY possible within 30 days after the date of purchase.

If you have more questions, please check out our Knowledge base or write to us here. We’re happy to assist in any way we can!

203 people found this helpful
Was this answer helpful?
Yes
No

More from 21 Draw

About 21 Draw

21 Draw offers online courses and books on how to be a better artist for students of all skill levels. Our contributing artists and instructors are the best in the world.
Explore Courses & Books
Preview course
Watch the trailer
Access to all courses
Get access to this course and 55+ more
$59 / year
$235/ year
+
Gift an annual membership (Free)
Get Started
(including this course)
OR
$11.99 USD $19.99 Single Course
Lifetime access
No commitments
Cancel Anytime
30-Day Money-back Guarantee
Still not sure?
Check out our FAQ
Start your Subscription to continue watching
Start your subscription to get access to this class and 55+ more on 21 Draw
Get Started
Andrea Cofrancesco Draw a Manga Character from Scratch
Get all-access
Save 75% on annual membership + Give one for FREE. Get started