Anime and Manga Drawing: Supplies and First Steps

If you love anime and want to draw your own characters, you only need a few good tools to begin. This Haanz Art Guide covers the anime and manga drawing supplies that matter most, from pencils and fineliners to markers and paper, and gives you simple first steps for drawing a character face and finishing it in ink.

Anime and manga drawing supplies: the basic kit

Most manga artists work in three stages: a light pencil sketch, clean ink lines on top, and then tone or colour. Your kit should cover each stage.

For sketching

• A Pentel Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm gives a fine, even line that never needs sharpening. Many artists sketch with a light lead and keep their pressure soft.
• A Tombow MONO Zero Eraser, Round Tip rubs out tiny areas, such as stray lines inside an eye, without touching the rest.

For inking

• Sakura Pigma Micron 01 (0.25mm) for faces, hair strands and fine details.
• Sakura Pigma Micron 05 (0.45mm) for outer outlines and clothes.
• Sakura Pigma Brush Tip for thick-to-thin lines, black hair and speed lines.

Pigma ink is waterproof once dry, so you can rub out pencil and add markers over it without the lines running.

For colour and highlights

• Touch Dual Tip Art Markers, 12 pack: alcohol markers with broad and fine tips that blend smoothly, ideal for skin, hair and clothes.
• Sakura White Gelly Roll 05 (Fine Tip) for shine in eyes and hair.

Paper

Use smooth paper so ink lines stay sharp. A Bomeijia Sketch Pad A4, 160gsm is a good size for full characters. Browse more in Drawing Pens and Art Markers Sets. Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price.

First steps: drawing an anime face

1. Draw a circle. This is the top of the head. Draw it lightly.
2. Add the jaw. From the sides of the circle, draw two lines that curve down to a soft point for the chin.
3. Draw guide lines. A vertical line down the middle and a horizontal line about halfway down the face. The eyes sit on the horizontal line.
4. Place the eyes. Anime eyes are large. Leave about one eye width between them. Draw the top lash line thicker than the bottom.
5. Add nose and mouth. Keep them small and simple. A short line or tiny triangle is enough for the nose.
6. Add ears and hair. Ears sit between the eye line and the bottom of the nose. Draw hair in large clumps first, then split into smaller spikes or strands. Hair should sit above the circle, not flat on it.

Inking and colouring your character

1. Ink slowly. Go over the pencil lines you want to keep with the fineliner. Use the thicker pen for the outside edge and the thinner pen inside.
2. Wait, then erase. Let the ink dry for a few minutes before erasing the pencil. Rushing causes smudges.
3. Fill dark areas. Use the brush pen for black hair, pupils and shadows.
4. Colour lightest first. With markers, lay down skin and light colours first, then add darker shades for shadows under the hair and chin.
5. Add highlights. Finish with small white dots in the eyes and a line of shine in the hair.

Always test markers on a scrap of your paper first. Alcohol markers can bleed through thin paper, so place a spare sheet underneath.

Practice tips

• Draw one face every day, turning it slightly each time: front view, three-quarter view, side view.
• Copy a panel from a manga you like to study line weight, then draw your own version.
• Keep a page of eye studies. Eyes give anime characters most of their expression.
• Learn the body with simple stick figures and circles before adding clothes.
• In humid weather, keep markers capped tightly and store them flat.

Ready for more? Read Ink Drawing for Beginners, Sakura Pigma Micron Sizes Guide and Art Markers and Posca Guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need lots of markers to start manga?

No. Start with a pencil, one or two fineliners and paper. Add markers once you are happy with your line drawings.

Which Pigma Micron size should I buy first?

A 01 and a 05 together cover most needs: fine details and stronger outlines. Add a brush tip pen later for bold black areas.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? Call / WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you put together a manga drawing kit.

More Haanz Art Guides

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