How to Draw Manga Volume 7: Amazing Effects v. 7 (How to Draw Manga (Graphic-Sha Numbered)) [Paperback]

This is very informative book that goes into great detail regarding composition and creating dynamic and interesting panels for your manga! Easy to read with the topics covered mostly in manga story format. It offers lots of examples between non-interesting layout and interesting manga layouts throughout the book. More specifically: composition, character portrayal, voice portrayal, panel design, and manga portrayal.

The information in this book about composition of your drawing can translate to when you draw pin-up pictures. Otherwise, this book is for the person interested in perfecting their manga story-telling techniques. There's tons of info in this book. If you've paid attention to whats in this book, I have no doubt you'll be chucking out interestingly laid-out manga in no time.

All in all, this book focuses only on creating dynamic and interesting scenes and if you want to learn anything else like toning, this book won't help you. The artwork isn't exactly the prettiest but it's the info the matters. I wouldn't exactly call this edition a keeper book as once you know the info, you can't use the book for anything else even for reference. So I suggest you check it out in the bookstore first and determine if it's for keeps before buying. Otherwise, great info, and a recommended must-read for those who are already familiar with creating their own manga and want to add a little more "oomph".

Contents:

Ch1 The basics in composition

1. A well-planned composition brings the characters to life

make the composition move

2. A well-planned composition creates space

creating space in manga

3. A well- planned composition results in skillfully rendered artwork

Ch2 The basics in character portrayal

1. Exaggerating reatures: Rounded forms

2. The eyes speak more than the mouth

3. Contrasting the eyes and the mouth to reveal emotion

practicing facial expressions

4. Giving the readers a sizzling glance

5. Winning hands

Communicating through the hands

Using the hands to Portray the character

6. Charming idiosyncrasies

Assorted habits

The impact of habits

Using a habit to design a character

Using body types and props to design a character

7. Using close-ups to increase impact

The expressiveness of close-ups

8. Exaggerate and make it fly!

Ch3 The basics in voice portrayal

1. Portraying volume

2. Sound and voice

Sample speech balloons

Sample special effects

3. Balancing speech balloons with dialogue

Dialogue length

Forbidden speech balloons

4. Avoid having the charcter talk to him or herself as a narrative

The pros and cons of monologues

The pors and cons of narration

Ch4: The basics in panel design

1. Maintain a balance in spreads

2. The panel's shape affects movement

3. Use the bleed to add to the composition

4. Use panels to suggest the passage of time

Suggessting the passage of time

5. Use open doors to reveal a key panel

The psychology behind opening a door

6. Use the layout to create key scene

Layouts that create a key scene

Ch5: The basics of Manga portrayal

1. Step into the characters shoes

2. Have romantic encounters begin with impact

The appeal and purpose of romance manga

Portraying romantic encounters in manga

All of what you see above is what this book contains...

This book contains 5 awesome chapters in showing you some strong ways to draw your panels in your manga to give it that edge. It also has some sample dialogue ballooons as well as sound effects that you can use in your manga. This book teaches you the do's and dont's on how to correctly put your speech balloons and the results that you get in a successful portrayal in your panel designs. Not only does it tell you about panel desings, but how to use facial expressions without the characters having to say what they feel. It is also helpful in helping you understand some habits that we all do in life that can be portrayed to your characters to get them their own personality. This books is very informative and fun to read. It is funny and helpful at the same time, so you won't loose interest while reading through this captivating how to book. I would definately recommend this book for those starting out with their manga's and need help on how to correctly use their panel designs, speech balloons,sound effects, and character design. This is definately a must buy!!!

How to Draw Manga Volume 7.....

Wow. I've bought my fair share of this series--and although I am self-taught, after so many years of studying Manga it seemed like everyone kept shoving the same information in my face. 'Amazing Effects' however, blew me away. It is very informative, and explains in great detail about composition, dynamic & panels from creation to perspective and how to use it to create interesting manga.

It had examples of 'bad' and 'good' manga. Even if it's not the prettiest style I've ever seen, it gets the point across and is extremly helpful to beginners and intermediate-advanced artists alike, especially if you like me have trouble with perspective! This book has a lot to offer, and was the best find amongst the books I have bought recenlty. I know I will be using it time & time again.

Only problem I had with the book:
- The book reads left to right,
- The manga examples read right to left

And there are a few instances where the examples are characters/text who read right to left. So it took me a few reads on certain pages to gain my bearings. But this book is still a great opportunity!