If you're creating your own manga (Japanese-style comics) or maybe just writing fanfic (fan-fiction, fan fiction writing) from your favorite anime or manga, you can create an interesting character so people will want to read your story. But of course, this unique character doesn't have to be a perfect figure, which is an ideal figure for both the reader and you as a writer. WikiHow can show you how to create interesting characters, as well as how to draw them. Please refer to Step 1 below or see the list of available content for specific information regarding anime or manga character creation.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Finding Your Character's Personality
Step 1. Determine your character's blood type
In Japan, blood type is considered a general determinant of a person's personality. You can use your blood type as a reference to find out what kind of character you want to create. Personality related to blood types can be explained as follows:
- O - self, optimistic, and strong willed, but also cares too much about oneself so often indifferent to the environment and unpredictable
- A – creative, introverted, and responsible, but also stubborn and easily anxious
- B - active and passionate, but also selfish and irresponsible
- AB - easily adaptable and has a rational mindset, but also forgetful and overly critical
Step 2. Determine your character's birthday
The western zodiac and eastern zodiac (such as the Chinese zodiac) can be used to determine the age or year of birth of your character, as well as the date of birth. In addition, the zodiac can also be used as a reference in determining your character's personality.
Step 3. Use the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator (MBTI)
The Myers-Briggs personality test can help you get information about more complex personality types. The personality types in the MBTI are the result of psychological research and you can use as a reference to make the personality of the character you create stronger and more complex.
Step 4. Balance your character's personality
Of course you want a character that has a balanced personality, so that your character becomes interesting and makes sense. Count how many good traits and bad traits your character has and then try to make your character have more bad traits than good traits. This way, as the story progresses your character's personality can develop and at the end of the story, your character has left his bad traits. Some examples of bad traits are:
- Manipulative
- Often lie
- Likes to insult other people
- Does not care about the impact of his actions on others
- Thinking only of his own interests
- Can't control myself well
- Easily angered, even over small or unintentional things
- Being reckless or reckless
Step 5. Give your character a great name
Many people believe that names can affect a person's personality. There are several studies that show that someone with an unusual name can be a victim of bullying (bullying) and personality problems that stem from bullying. There are also those who believe that names can define a person's overall personality (these people are Kalabarians). Regardless of whether or not the name's ability to influence personality, you can use these beliefs as a reference to determine your character's name.
Try to avoid using unusual names, especially if you are using a realistic setting for your story. This can make your character seem out of place with your story
Part 2 of 4: Make Interesting Stories
Step 1. Find out your character's ultimate goal
Where will your character end up? What lesson or message do you want to convey from your story? What kind of changes would you like to see in your character? By looking at the state of your characters at the end of the story, you can describe how they appeared at the beginning of the story.
Step 2. Determine the starting point for your character to appear
Once you know your final destination or ending like your character in the story, you can decide at what point your character will appear and how it will appear. Of course, the appearance of the characters must be appropriate and logical with the ending of your story. For example, if you want to create a character who learns to respect others, you could present that character at the beginning of the story as someone who has no respect for others. You might also be able to come up with reasons why the character doesn't feel like they need anyone else.
Step 3. Determine how your character reaches its end point (its transformation)
Think about your character's origin and final destination. Now, think about what caused your character to change so that he can reach his ultimate goal. In this step, you can come up with some interesting ideas for your story because the things that happen to your characters (which make them change) can form a great plot or sub-story.
Step 4. Avoid shallow story plots
Whether the character's lover is killed, or your character loses his parents at a young age, or your character is constantly a new student at different schools, such plots are shallow plots that actually accelerate the character's development. Because such plots are shallow, they usually make your story boring. As much as possible avoid selecting shallow plots. Make the character development as original as possible. This can make people interested in your character and want to keep following your story
Part 3 of 4: Drawing Your Character
Step 1. Choose your drawing style
Different types of anime and manga are often created using different drawing styles. You can use your own drawing style or you can follow the drawing styles that artists (such as mangaka, a term for manga creators) use for other types of anime and manga. Among the types of anime and manga that exist, the most common are shojo and shonen.
Step 2. Draw your character
You need to know that cute characters usually have big eyes, while cool characters have small, slanted eyes. Below are some articles that you can use as a guide to find out how to draw anime and manga characters:
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How to draw anime characters:
- Male anime characters (article in English)
- Anime character face
- Anime character eyes
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How to draw manga:
- Manga character head (article in English)
- Female manga characters (article in English)
- Faces of female manga characters (article in English)
- Manga character hair (article in English)
Step 3. Use your character's personality and past story as a guide in designing your character's appearance
Give your character clothes and accessories. It's good that the clothes and accessories that you choose for your character can reflect the personality and maybe the character's past story. For example, if you have a female character who tends to be a little less fussy, portray her in sneakers instead of heels. If you want to give a clue about your character's past, think of something your character can wear that would be valuable to your character. For example, in The Legend of Korra, Mako's character appears to always be wearing her father's scarf. Get out your creative ideas to create impressive character designs!
Part 4 of 4: Improve Your Drawing Skills
Step 1. Study the anatomy of the human body
To draw a character well, you need to start by knowing the basic knowledge of human anatomy. Of course you don't want to draw characters that look weird, such as having too much/little muscle, too many/few joints, disproportionate body shape, and so on. Get a book on human anatomy and learn about the structure of the human body, such as where the bones are, the shape of the bones when the limbs are bent, and the points of joints.
Step 2. Draw from real life
Drawing manga requires basic knowledge of the human body. The more often you draw humans, the easier it will be for you to draw manga. Try starting to draw your friends or even drawing yourself while sitting in front of a mirror as an exercise.
Step 3. Practice drawing different dynamic poses
To draw your character in certain poses, try taking a photo of yourself posing and then drawing your character in the pose you did, with a photo of yourself as a reference. You can also use sites like posemaniacs.com as references.
You need to keep drawing your character's poses according to the anatomy. Of course, you don't want your character drawings to look like Rob Liefeld's drawings
Step 4. Keep practicing
The more you practice, the better your drawings will be.
Tips
- If you feel that your character seems mundane (or maybe boring), that's okay. You don't have to worry too much. Ask people around you or people who do share the same interests to rate the character you create. If you're creating a character for publication, ask readers for criticism and suggestions.
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Below are blood types and their meanings:
- O - Cheerful, open, caring and passionate
- A - Calm, relaxed, caring, positive attitude
- B - Calm, relaxed, negative, but occasionally cheerful
- AB - Moves a lot, funny, positive thinking, passionate, relaxed. Overall a pleasant person.
- Try drawing your character over and over again to see what fits and what doesn't fit your character. The more familiar you are with your character, the easier it will be for you to draw your character in different situations. The more often you draw your character, the more your drawing skills will improve and develop. Therefore, you don't have to worry if at first your character seems silly or weird. Also, try to draw your character from different angles.
- Try to practice drawing as often as possible. All the fatigue and boredom you get when you practice will pay off when you get praise for your work.
- If you're having a hard time coming up with ideas for your character, think about the anime or manga you've seen and pay attention to the characters. You can use these characters as a reference to create your own character. You can select or combine the personalities, abilities, or appearances of these anime or manga characters and apply them to your own.
- Pay attention to the people around you. They can be an inspiration for your character.
- You can make your character look more unique by adding birthmarks or scars to their appearance.
- When designing your character's appearance, don't immediately add or apply special effects to your character's appearance. Of course you don't want your character to look weird, like with too many knick-knacks or items like three cool belts, five cute bracelets, and eight weapons. Just keep it simple. You need to remember that the appearance of a simple character (not adventurous) can actually make the character attractive and likable.
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Lighting and shadows in your character images can make your character look more attractive. Shadows need to be given to indicate the direction the light is coming from in your character. Shadow under your hair, between strands, under your neck, and on your character's clothes. On the inside, the shadow is made thin and on the outside the shadow is thicker (darker). Although shadowing is highly recommended, you need to keep in mind that you don't need to immediately cast shadows, even a lot of shadows on your character.
Follow this method to create the eye – Draw a circle then draw two curved lines, one at the top and one at the bottom with each line touching the circle line. Add a small black circle in the center of the circle you previously created and draw a bubble or two in the large circle (the bubbles stick to or squeeze the small black circle in the center of the circle). Draw a thin line coming out of the black circle. The line is approximately half the distance between the black circle and the larger circle. Give it a slumber (shadow) as the final step and you've succeeded in making eyes for your character
- Create a character that you are related to, or may share interests with.
Warning
- When sketching, draw in thin lines. If it is too thick, it will be difficult for you to remove it when you make a mistake.
- Be careful not to plagiarize other people's works, whether anime or manga
- If you give your character a weapon, don't make a weapon that is very large. Of course you don't want your character to always carry a 1.5 meter long sword with him wherever he goes. Make a simple weapon design, but big enough to use when he has to protect himself.
- Try not to make the eyes too big for your character.
- Escape to a fantasy world tends to keep us away from social interactions in the real world. If you decide to get into the world of anime or manga, try joining an anime or manga fan club to ensure that you keep social interactions in the real world with the club members.
