Ten-Step Drawing: Manga: Learn to draw 30 manga characters & animals in ten easy steps!

by Chie Kutsuwada

Featuring illustrated tutorials for drawing 30 different manga characters and scenes, Ten-Step Manga breaks down each subject into ten simple steps. All you need to get started is a pen or pencil and a piece of paper!

With Ten-Step Manga , learn to create an array of manga characters, step by easy step. From manga , chibi , and anime-style characters and scenes to mastering proportions, props, and costumes, manga lovers will delight in the varied selection of subjects; as well as how easy it is to recreate them in ten simple drawing steps. Handy prompts help encourage artistic individuality and include helpful tips for drawing your own manga characters and scenes. Approachable text and step-by-step drawings make learning to draw fun and easy, and the portable format allows for spontaneous drawing wherever you may be.

Designed especially for aspiring illustrators, doodlers, and art hobbyists, the fun and approachable books in the Ten-Step Drawing series encourage new artists to get acquainted with the basic principles of drawing so they can learn to create art with confidence. Ten-Step Manga is sure to encourage even the most reluctant artist to break out a sketchbook and doodle to their heart’s content. So grab a pencil and start drawing!

Also available in the Ten-Step Drawing Flowers , Animals , Nature , People , and Everyday Things .

Genres: Art

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2021

About the author

Chie Kutsuwada is a member of UMISEN-YAMASEN, a group of young Japanese Manga artists that have based in London since Spring 2006. Chie's work, like that of the UMISEN-YAMASEN collective is often cute, cool, funny but always unique and original. She has contributed to many exhibitions in London including group exhibitions at the Waterloo Gallery, The London Institute Gallery, Chambers Gallery and Unit 2 Gallery. Her first solo exhibition was in 2003 at London's Window Gallery. In 2005 Chie won The Royal College of Art Society and Thames & Hudson Art Book Prize and the Printmakers Council Award. In 2007 she was chosen as a runner-up in London's Embassy of Japan – Manga Jiman national manga competition. Chie draws digitally using a graphics tablet and had an extended piece of manga published in Best New Manga 2 in 2007.

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Ten-step Drawing Manga is a step by step guide book to help you draw up to thirty different manga characters. Once you get a feel for this type of drawing and become more confident and skilled at it through the steps you follow, you can then go forward to trying to create your own unique manga art. The steps seem easy enough to follow although I haven't given it a try myself. There's some really cute designs to try and some great tips too.
Perfect for anyone looking at trying a different art style or sketching style and for beginners to try their hand at.

[Toad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun beginner book for how to draw different types of Manga, either to build off your own art, build muscle memory, or to get some practice in some easy characters. It's a really fun book and I had a lot of fun practicing with it.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good basic book on drawing manga and chibi characters. There are so many books on the topic that it's hard to find a way that this one stands out, but it's a nice collection with easy to follow instructions. There are a few animals like rabbits and unicorns included at the end too.

I do wish there was more diversity in the characters. I know that's the look, but all of the characters have tiny noses, huge eyes, thin bodies, etc. There are a few slightly darker skin tones and different hair and clothing styles but otherwise it's a very one-note view of what people should look like. Still a good guide for drawing the style.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has some really cute characters it it to draw, the steps are fairly easy to follow too.
Some good ideas here and some nice tips.
A Great book for any beginner wanting to learn a new style or polish up what they already know..


I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lanae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my fave Manga drawing book I’ve read, but it’s near the top. Super cute characters. Lots of tips. I’m not a fan of books using a x - step approach because many times one step has so much going on it should be 2-3 steps especially for beginners with zero drawing experience. This book has a little of that but overall, it’s pretty good at explaining what is happening for both visual and text learners.

I’d recommend this to folks who want to learn a manga / anime art style, as well as for beginner artists looking to try different styles.

[Caleb Kovalenko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Manga & anime have been part of western pop-culture for over two decades now, inspiring artists worldwide with interesting artstyles and ideas - but this book's artwork presented has been stuck in the early 2000's, in the days of How To Draw Manga books boom.
This book is two decades late to the party, with an artstyle and poses beyond stiff compared to more current art books for this style. I can only recommend to buy this book for a child who just got into drawing and anime, otherwise the market has much better options to consider.

Copy for review was provided by NetGalley.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and basic, nothing that is truly revolutionary— though if you’re looking for bitesized art to copy and learn with this will definitely get you started. It’s a solid starting point.

[Mechthild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only for Manga
Manga creator and illustrator Chie Kutsuwada is presenting her book "Ten-Step Drawing: Manga. Learn to draw 30 manga characters." It is one of the "Ten-Step Drawing..." series published by Quarto Publishing group – Walter Foster that covers topics such as nature, people, flowers, animals, ... After the introduction the book contains seven chapters: 1) Facial Features, 2) Manga Faces, 3) Chibi Style, 4) Manga Body, 5) Whole Body Poses, 6) Characters, and 7) Animals. Kutsuwada shows how triangles, e .g., can be used as a basis for eyes and noses or circles can be used as a starting point for a head. She is also using circles as a starting point for the human body.
I really like that the step-by-step instructions often also advise the reader "to use further circles or other shape outlines as guides for placing heads and limbs. This will enable you to get the proportions of your characters right" (p. 6). Kutsuwada has also included notes that will help artists further with their drawings. In my opinion, Kutsuwada's approach for the manga drawings can also be used for characters that are not "manga-style characters". In reality the drawings for the animals can be used without adjustement. The book is not only for aspiring manga illustrators, it can be also useful for other artists. I can recommend it for those who want to learn to or improve their drawing skills. Nevertheless, it is important to note that there are no step-by-step instructions for the coloring but it shows which colors were used.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TenStepDrawingManga #NetGalley

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Ten-Step Drawing: Manga is a tutorial and style guide for manga by Chie Kutsuwada. Due out 7th Sept 2021 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The book includes 30 tutorials for animals and characters arranged thematically by style and features: facial features, manga faces, chibi style, manga bodies, whole body poses, characters, and animals. As shown on the cover, each tutorial includes 10 steps with each refinement numbered sequentially and shown from start to finish. I liked that this guide shows several different styles and includes both "straight" manga style and ultra cute chibi style drawings. This is mostly aimed at beginning to early-intermediate artists and will provide a lot of good practice sessions.

This would make a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gift giving (perhaps bundled with some basic drawing supplies). I would also recommend this book to babysitters, grandparents, parents, and basically anyone who spends a fair bit of time with small kids in order to up their 'draw with me' game.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Angeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy drawing but I am not that good at it, so I was excited to be able to review this drawing book. Ten-Step Drawing Manga by Chie Kutsuwada was a great drawing book. I liked the format of the book and I felt as if I could follow the instructions easily. The drawings were definitely not for beginners but I was able to draw some manga eyes. The faces were definitely harder and I am still working up the nerve to try to draw them.
However I think that this is a great drawing book, it starts off with the features of the face and then it shows you how to draw faces, and then you get to graduate to drawing the whole body. This drawing book even shows you how to draw different poses with different outfits, and animals. Overall, I would recommend this book if you enjoy drawing and you want to strengthen your skills in drawing people.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn how to draw manga, beginners or more experienced artists, anyone could pick this up and have a go, I say this as someone who only doodles for joy and hasn’t done much art since school. It’s right and well presented, easy to follow, really encourages you to pick up a pen and have a go. That’s the best recommendation I can give to be honest, any book that makes you want to try something is a success. It’s really colour and draws you in too. Highly recommended to everyone who loves manga or drawing, or both, this will have you creating great characters of your own in no time. Maybe creating the next Rumiko Takahashi or Hiromu Arakawa.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Randi | altid.laesende · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received as an ARC from NetGalley.

I've always liked to draw, and I was especially interested in learning more about how to draw cute chibi-style drawings. The book fulfilled that purpose perfectly. I would definitely recommend it to everyone who likes to draw, and I would say that this is a good beginner's book. Beautiful illustrations and great tutorials.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for those wanting to start drawing Manga and Chibi Styles.

It covers the facial features, moves onto the body, and poses. Also, it includes characters such as mermaids, vampires, and more alongside animals.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

[Sinead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This was great and really inspires the reader to give manga drawing a try. Fun, helpful and easy to follow. Highly recommend to anyone interested in art or drawing.

[Amanda Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always wanted to learn to draw but have never been successful. This book was very easy to under and made it easy to learn with step by step instruction. I have even taught my eleven year old daughter a few of these techniques!

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for a beginner. The instructions are fun and easy to follow with some adorable Manga characters. If your interested in giving Manga a try this is a great book to start.