BOOK REVIEWS/ANIMATION
- Anime Mania: How to Draw Characters
for Japanese Animation, by
Christopher Hart. Illustrated. New York, Watson-Guptill Publications, July
2002, 144 pages, $19.95. ISBN: 0-8230-0158-X.
Thanks to the swelling popularity among American
amateur cartoonists of Japanese cartooning in both comic book (manga) and
animated (anime) form, there has been a growing demand for "how to
draw in the Japanese style" art books. Most of these new manuals have
been translations of Japanese books; or even untranslated imports, since
the graphic lessons are often mostly self-explanatory. The majority of these
manuals have been "in the manga style" since most young cartoonists'
immediate goals are to create their own comic strip or comic book rather
than an animated cartoon. Anime Mania is one of the few intended
for the aspiring animation artist. (Hart has already written Manga Mania:
How to Draw Japanese Comics.)
Many of the rules of cartooning are the same for
both comic books and animation, and in any nation or culture. Hart covers
those aspects in some basic "how to draw" lessons on character
construction and perspective; and animation basics like storyboarding and
how to use an animator's desk. What is unique to "the anime style"
might better be described as the type of anime most popular with Americans;
that is, fast-paced action-adventure dramas featuring young-adult protagonists,
usually with science-fiction or fantasy trappings, and showcasing complexly
detailed machinery, especially "giant robots." Hart therefore
concentrates on those, showing how to design and draw computer technicians,
drivers and pilots of fast vehicles, ancient, modern and futuristic warriors,
lots of sci-fi type big machines (especially those that can transform into
humanoid forms) and the like. Action poses are emphasized. In keeping with
the anime theme, Hart shows the need to learn the artistic details of ancient
Japanese rather than Medieval European costuming and locales for fantasy
and historical scenes. He notes nuances of the anime style, such as that
where Western artists working in limited animation tend to make a character's
eyes blink occasionally, anime artists are more likely to give a character
a head of long hair and show it occasionally swirling in a breeze. The most
frequently-asked question by young anime-artist wannabe's is probably, "How
can I apply for a job at an anime studio?" Since this is about as hopeless
a question as, "How can I win the lottery?," Hart tap dances around
it by advising the reader to learn the basic phrases of polite conversation
in the Japanese language and the etiquette of a Japanese job interview,
without providing any Tokyo animation studio addresses which would just
result in the young American applicant's disappointment.
Almost every page is about 3/4 illustration (often
in full color) and 1/4 text. Most of the lessons are only two pages long.
All things considered, Anime Mania is a nice gift for an anime fan
in early adolescence with a dilettante's desire to learn to draw anime cartoons
himself. One of the final lessons is the advice to pick and enroll in an
art school (preferably one with specialized classes in animation art), learn
life drawing, and look for entry-level jobs in freelance art work. Not anime
art classes or work, but basic drawing. It's a practical beginning.
-- Fred Patten |
