How to Draw Manga Samurai

The Manga samurai

Manga is an art form that originated in Japan as far back as the 18th century. Over the years Manga has evolved from large storytelling and whimsical pictures to the more structured comic book form it is known by today. A recurring character archetype in many of these comics is the Samurai, a noble sword-wielding warrior and iconic hero character of Japan. This article will show you how to draw a Manga samurai using a basic frame and gradually adding details until your picture is ready to swing its sword off the page.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Eraser (preferably a kneaded eraser)
• Black ink pen

Instructions

1. 

   Create the basic frame of the samurai using simple shapes. Draw an oval that comes to an angle at the bottom for the head. Make a cross or "T" shape on the head oval. Add two dashes below the middle of the cross. These guidelines will allow you to draw the eyes, nose and mouth in later. Draw a slightly curved rectangle for the chest. Below this, add a triangular shape for the pelvis.

2. Connect the pelvis to the chest with a guideline. Draw the arms with simple lines extending from the top sides of the chest rectangle. Add small circles for the elbows and larger circles for the hands. Complete the leg frame the same way with lines for the legs and circles for the knees. Create the frame of the sword hilt with a rectangle below and to the left of the hand. Add to this a long thin rectangle for the blade.

3. 

   Mark out the clothing of the samurai by drawing over the frame. Draw a line running off each shoulder. Swoop inwards once this line travels about one fourth of the way down the arm. Add the large sleeve on the left side by making a reverse "L" shape attached to the shoulder cloth. On the right side, make the outline of the sleeve with a diamond shape. This will make the sleeve appear to be hanging off the upturned arm . The bottom half of the samurai's kimono is outlined by simply drawing two lines extending down from the hips and gradually widening.

4. 

   Punch up the details of the samurai's kimono. Draw the overlapping folds of the kimono with diagonal lines that cross the chest. The right side line should extend all the way to the waist. Stop the left side lines when they intersect with the right side lines. Add the cloth belt (known as an "obi" in Japan) by drawing a rectangle on the waist that tapers out slightly at the top and bottom. Place a small square under the hilt of the sword.

5. 

   Create the details on the frame. Add the hair by making a jagged umbrella shape over the head oval. On top of this, create the samurai's top knot with a tapered cylinder. Draw a clump of jagged hair extending out from the cylinder. Add a goatee to the face of the samurai with a small clump of jagged hair extending down from the chin.

6. 

   Make the eyes with a circle connected at the top to a larger half circle. This will form the pupil and eyelid. Draw the stoic eyebrows of the samurai with bold sideways "L" shapes above the eyes. Form the nose with another "L shape in the middle of the face. Draw a rectangle under the nose with a line splitting the right side of it . This will be the samurai's gritted teeth. On the "obi" or belt, add some intersecting diagonal lines to show the folds of the cloth belt. Add to this a pentagon shape for the belt's knot. Extend two rectangular shapes from the belt knot to show the fabric hanging form the belt.

7. Add fingers to the samurai's hands by drawing rounded off cylinders. This will show that his hands are both clenched in a fist. Inside the top of the kimono, add intersecting diagonal lines to show the second, inner layer of the samurai's clothing. Draw a line coming down the middle of the lower half of the kimono to show that the samurai is stepping forward.

8. 

   Ink the drawing. Add in shadows under the folds of fabric for added realism and depth. Darken under the chin of the samurai, the inside of his left hand kimono sleeve and under the belt. Create blended shadows by adding dark lines that gradually space further and further apart. Do this only where you already have some dark shadows. Wait for the ink to dry. Erase all of the pencil. Now you have completed your own illustration of a Manga samurai. You can create your own back story for your character, color him, or leave him in black and white. Perhaps this drawing will spark your imagination enough to create your own Manga samurai comic.

Tips & Warnings

• Folds of fabric can be created to make cloth look more realistic with simple straight lines that end with an abrupt curve.

• Wait for all the ink to dry before erasing any pencil lines.

Resources

• A istory and background information on the samurai
• The wikipedia entry on Manga
• The IFC page for "Samurai 7," a Japanese anime based on "The Seven Samurai"