Anime and Manga Drawing Paper

Which drawing paper should you use when drawing cartoons and animation?

Once you have chosen the Anime and Manga Drawing Kit, you will need the right Anime and Manga drawing paper in the form of sketch books, art boards, and canvas pads so you can create your anime and manga drawings.

Each of the drawing options (books, boards, pads, etc.) will give you a different finished result. While choosing the surface you would like to draw on consider how the finished artwork will be displayed or duplicated, for example for prints or comic books.

Beginners may want to try smaller quantities to get a feel for each of the surfaces and how the completed drawing feels. Also it is a good idea to practice using different types of pens and markers on each type of paper.

While you are here don’t forget to watch the videos for drawing techniques and instructions.

CANSON 65 lb/96g Comic/Manga Sketch Pad Pad, 8.5 x 11

Bee Paper Bleedproof Marker Pack – Very high quality

This is the best quality comic paper because it is bleed proof. The other features to take note of are acid free, smooth surfaced sheets, natural color (in this case natural white), and approved for use with ‘copic’ pens. This Bee Paper is also suited for water base, technical drawing tools, ink and permanent markers. This is a loose sheet pack of 50 sheets.

Bee Paper Bleedproof Marker Pack, 11-Inch by 17-Inch, 50 Sheets per Pack

This is the best quality for anime and manga drawing paper because it is bleed proof. The other features to take note of are acid free, smooth surfaced sheets, natural color (in this case natural white), and approved for use with ‘copic’ pens. This Bee Paper is also suited for water base, technical drawing tools, ink and permanent markers. This is a loose sheet pack of 50 sheets.

What is anime and manga drawing – characteristics

Manga is Japanese cartoon art and anime is short for animation or more precisely Japanese animation drawing. It started in Japan after the second world war although it is thought to have been around much longer than that in the form of line and stylised drawings. The literal translation of manga is “whimsical drawing” which really says it all – these are generally cute characters drawn in graphic form.

It is now immensely popular in the U.S. especially among teenagers who have adopted it as an art form through which they can express themselves. Unlike the early U.S. comics which concentrated on super heroes with good battling evil, manga depicts everyday characters and the story or cartoon builds around the character. There are as many different styles of manga as there are people, from teen stories, fantasy and romance to perverse. If you are interested you can learn much more from these links –> What is Anime? –> What is Manga?

Here though are some common characteristics that make anime and manga drawing unique.

Anime is graphic drawing
Characters generally have large heads
The eyes of the characters are huge with big irises that make them quite distinctive
Other features like noses and mouths tend to be small or represented only by a dot or simple lines
Hair styles are BIG unruly and unusual and often covers one eye
In the face shape, the chin tends to be pointed coming from the cheekbones down to a pointed chin
Bodies are smaller in proportion to the head
When depicted older characters often the body is bigger than the head by proportion

Art Boards – Sketch Books – Comic Paper – Different papers give a unique result

It is important to use the right paper to get the results you want. Try out different papers until you find the one you like the best. These sketchbooks are made specifically for drawing graphic and comics and are a good place to start.

Deleter Comic Book Paper U.S. Art Supply 9″ x 12″ Premium Manga-Marker Paper Pad Bienfang Young Artists Marker Pad, 40 sheets, 9-Inch by 12-Inch Royal & Langnickel Manga Artist Pack, 9-Inch by 12-Inch Canson Comic – Manga Hardcover Sketch Book 8.5×11 Inch CANSON 150 lb/250g Manga Art Boards Pad, 10 x 14.25

Canson Foundation Pad 16×20 – Acid free and archival

This pad contains ten (10) sheets of triple primed for a canvas sheet suitable for ink and marker drawing. When choosing a paper or canvas sheet be sure to look for terms like “acid free” and “archival” as these are quality terms that will ensure your work will last a long time.

Many artists keep a pad or bound paper with them at all times for drawing when inspiration strikes. These examples below are a good place to start when searching for the one that fits you best.

Canson Paper Canvas Pads

12 x 16 Paper Pads – Works well for character development

12 x 16 is easy to carry with you and get your ideas down. It works well for character development, a little too small for scenery. I often use this size for painting or drawing ideas, then expand them into at least a 16 x 20.

Canson Paper Canvas Pad, 12 x 16 in, White, 10 Sheets/Pad Fredrix 3501 Canvas Pads, 12 by 16-Inch Strathmore 300 Canvas Paper Pad, 12 x 16 Inches (ST310-12)Sargent Art 90-4000 12×16-Inch Canvas Pad, 100% Cotton

6 Pack Illustration Board 11×14 18 sheets per pad – One of the most popular choices by artists in the field

When you are looking for paper to draw illustrations, you want to find quality acid free styles. The color and weight you want will depend on the type of drawing you are doing and the type of drawing tools you are using. This paper is in “the best” section because it is suitable for all pens, pencils and markers generally used in creating illustrations.

Crescent Cardboard Hot Press Marker Value Pack, 11 by 14-Inch, 3-Pack CANSON 150 lb/250g Manga Art Boards Pad, 10 x 14.25 Crescent Cardboard Hot Press Marker Value Pack, 9 by 12-Inch, 3-Pack Helix Manga Comic Illustration Board, 9 x 12 Inch, Double Sided Pad of 18 sheets, White (37965)

Demos and Tutorials

It helps to watch other artists draw and develop ideas to further your own. There are often tricks to getting features just right on characters or getting the style of drawing right for the genre.

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