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Draw manga

Learn to draw a manga character step-by-step: sketch basic face shapes, add expressive eyes, hairstyles, clothing, then practice inking and simple shading.

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Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to draw a manga character

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How to Draw your FIRST Manga with NO Experience | Total Beginner Manga Tutorial

What you need

Blending stump or tissue, colouring materials, eraser, fineliner pen, paper, pencil, sharpener

Step 1

Lightly draw a circle or oval for the head.

Step 2

Draw a vertical center line down the face to show which way the head turns.

Step 3

Add a horizontal eye guideline halfway down the head to place the eyes.

Step 4

Sketch the jawline and chin to shape the face.

Step 5

Draw two large manga-style eyes on the eye guideline and add bright highlights.

Step 6

Add a small nose and a simple mouth under the eyes.

Step 7

Sketch the hairline and block in the hairstyle using big chunks or strands.

Step 8

Draw the neck shoulders and simple clothing outlines.

Step 9

Choose the pencil lines you like best and darken them lightly with your pencil.

Step 10

Carefully ink over the dark pencil lines with your fineliner pen using steady strokes.

Step 11

Wait until the ink is completely dry.

Step 12

Gently erase any leftover pencil lines to clean up your drawing.

Step 13

Add simple shading with light hatching or soft smudges using your blending stump or tissue.

Step 14

Share your finished manga character on DIY.org so everyone can see your creation.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

Complete & Share

Help!?

We don't have a fineliner pen or a blending stump; what can we use instead?

Use a fine-tipped gel pen or a sharpened marker to carefully ink over the dark pencil lines and use a soft tissue, cotton swab, or fingertip to add simple shading with light hatching or soft smudges as a substitute for a blending stump.

My ink smudged or my pencil lines got erased when I cleaned up; how can I fix that?

Prevent smudging by waiting until the ink is completely dry as the instructions say before you gently erase any leftover pencil lines and rest your drawing hand on a scrap sheet, and if smudges happen, lightly redraw the dark pencil lines and re-ink them once dry.

How can I adapt this manga drawing activity for different ages or skill levels?

For younger kids simplify steps 1–4 using big shapes and thick pencils or washable markers and skip fine inking, for middle graders follow all steps but keep shading simple, and for older kids refine the jawline, add more hair strands in step 8, and deepen shading in steps 11–13.

What are some fun ways to enhance or personalize my finished manga character?

After gently erasing pencil lines, add color with colored pencils or markers, change the vertical center line and mouth in steps 2 and 6 to alter expressions, add highlights with a white gel pen, or create a character sheet and share it on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to draw a manga character

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How to Draw Your Original Manga Characters as a Beginner

4 Videos

Facts about manga drawing for kids

✒️ Many mangaka (manga artists) start with pencil sketches, then ink with pens or brushes and use screentone for shading.

📖 In Japan, manga is usually read right-to-left — panels and speech bubbles flow the opposite way from most Western comics.

🎨 Manga originally means “whimsical pictures” — Katsushika Hokusai’s 19th-century “Hokusai Manga” helped popularize the word.

🎭 Manga spans many genres — shōnen, shōjo, seinen, josei and more — so there’s a manga for almost every interest.

👀 The iconic big, expressive eyes in modern manga were popularized by Osamu Tezuka, who was inspired by early animation styles.

How do I teach my child to draw a manga character step-by-step?

Start with simple shapes: draw an oval for the head and light guidelines for the centerline and eye level. Sketch basic facial proportions, then add large, expressive manga eyes (place highlights), a small nose and mouth. Block in hair with big shapes, then add clothing and simple folds. Ink over confident pencil lines, erase guidelines, and finish with basic shading or hatching. Break into short sessions and demonstrate each step slowly so the child can copy and practice.

What materials do I need to draw manga with kids?

You’ll need a good sketchbook or plain paper, an HB pencil plus a softer pencil (2B), eraser and sharpener. Add fine liners (0.1–0.5 mm) for inking, a ruler for guidelines, and blending tools like a stump or cotton swab for shading. Optional: colored pencils or markers, reference images, and masking tape to secure paper. Keep materials non-toxic and age-appropriate for younger children.

What ages is learning to draw manga suitable for?

Drawing manga can start around ages 6–7 with adult help for basic shapes and guidance. Ages 8–12 often handle facial features, hair, and simple clothing independently, while teens can focus on anatomy, perspective, inking, and shading. Adapt tasks to attention span and fine motor skills: very young kids do simplified characters, and older children tackle more detailed practice and storytelling elements.

What are the benefits of children learning to draw manga?

Drawing manga boosts creativity, fine motor skills, and visual-spatial awareness. It encourages patience, observational skills, and storytelling as kids design characters and poses. Regular practice improves confidence and concentration, and drawing together fosters social connection. It’s also a low-cost, screen-free hobby that can lead to portfolio building or collaborative comics projects as skills grow.

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