2/27/08

How to Draw Manga: Bishoujo Pretty Gals



One of the secrets to the great anime out there is in their beautiful characters.For one to be able to succeed in the anime and manga industry,one must know how and what elements to combine in order to create some interesting and original characters.And that is the goal of this book.


Chapter 1 - Bishoujo Character Drawing Theory

In this chapter you'll learn the basics of drawing bishoujo characters and how to implement their key traits.
You'll also learn how to draw different types of eyes,ears,mouths,noses,hair and faces on different positions.


Chapter 2 - Bishoujo Bodies

If you want to be able to draw some nice looking girls you must master drawing their bodies too.
Covered in this section is how to draw different body types (slender,athletic,average) and how to give them a sense of depth with angles and perspective.
Finally you'll learn how to balance heads and bodies.


Chapter 3 - Situations and Techniques of Expressions

Covered in this chapter are everyday life activities like changing clothes,dressing clothes,taking a shower,etc.
This section shows examples of japanese dressing gowns and the usual jeans,blouses,shirts and pajamas.


Chapter 4 - Every Day Life Bishoujo

This is a very interesting section showing different accessories used by girls like hairbands,tiaras,ribbons,hats and plaits.
Maid,bunny girls and nurse costumes are also covered in this topic.




Chapter 5 - Out-Of-This-World Bishoujo

Personally this is my favourite section of this book.
It teaches you,like the title says, to draw characters "out-of-this-world" ranging from mermaids to fairies,bionic cyborg to tiny tot characters going into depth on different tyes of clothing.


Chapter 6 - Learn From the Masters

This is a small chapter where artists show their amazing artwork,where each artist has is own unique style.


2/26/08

How to Draw Ninja & Samurai Supersize


From anime publisher Antarctic-Press,How to Draw Ninja and Samurai Supersize guides you through the process of how to draw ninjas and how to draw samurais and their distinct characteristics.


Chapter 1 - Fundamentals:

As in most anime drawing books,this 1st chapter covers drawing materials from pens to erasers,brushes,nibs,rulers,etc.
It also has a few pages on how to draw a character from front and profile.


Chapter 2 - Ninja Basics:

As the title says,you'll learn how to draw a ninja character, starting from the basic rough shapes to a complete,clean drawing.
This chapter teaches you how to draw ninja hand signs,how to draw ninja hairstyles and how to draw ninja garments.
You'll also learn how to complete a drawing of a female ninja much alike the male ninja one.


Chapter 3 - Samurai Basics:

Different samurais and their characterisitcs are covered in this drawing,ranging from the typical samurai to the ronin(wandering samurai who failed to protect his master from being killed),toseinin(gamblers) and a female samurai.


Chapter 4 - Weapons:

Samurais and ninjas are very famous for their weapons.Samurai's katana and ninja shuriken and kunai are "copyright brand" of those characters.As so,you'll learn to draw those weapons and what composes them,as well as many other weapons and elements characteristic of those individuals.


Chapter 5 - Modern Twists:

This is a simple section covering some elements you can add to samurais and ninjas to make them look more modern.Features Cyber Ninja,Urban Samurai,Technological Ninja,among others.


Chapter 6 - Action:

A ninja wouldn't be a ninja, and a samurai wouldn't be a samurai as well, if they just stood there in the paper looking stiff like a rock.So,to aid in your quest of giving life to your characters,this chapter features different action poses and fight scenes that are characteristic of samurai and ninja.


Chapter 7 - Scenery:

On this section you're introduced to the world of perspective and landscapes.Those drawing elements are very important,as they help to improve the quality of a drawing substantially,bringing it into life.


Chapter 8 - Advanced Concepts:

This small chapter covers how to draw an advanced piece from start to finish.


Dugeon Keeper review



Another gamer published by now extinct Bullfrog,Dungeon Keeper is one of the most original and funniest games I've ever played.

Contrary to the games out there were you're supposed to kill the bad guys and restore peace and happyness,in Dungeon Keeper you're the bad guy!

Dungeon Keeper is divided into levels,and those levels are the lands you have to conquer in order to unleash the doom.As so,you have to kill each Lord of the Land responsible for mainting the peace on each land.

As a Dungeon master you have to attract minions to combat for you and conquer the lands.To attract creatures,which are specific of each room you buy, you must build rooms and ,to build rooms, you must dig for gold.
Gold is not only necessary to build rooms but also to pay for your creatures work.Without gold your creatures become annoyed and will eventually leave your dungeon.

If you never played Dungeon Keeper,I suggest you do so,as it will give some hours of pure enjoyment!I'm sure you'll feel that being evil never felt so good...

Theme Hospital review


A few years ago,about late 99's, there was a company,the now extinct Bullfrog,that was responsible for some of the most original and entertaining games ever made.

Theme Hospital was and is certainly one of them.

On Theme Hospital you're an hospital manager that has goals to lead a - at start - small hospital into a thriving business.To accomplish that goals,you have to construct different rooms and facilities to cope with the patient's needs.General office's,psychiatry,bathrooms,farmacies are amongst some of the existent rooms.

But,how can an hospital be driven into success if you don't have any employees?You can't!So,you have to employ some nurses and doctors to deal with the patients diseases.

Handyman are also very important in maintening the overall good function of equipment and cleanliness of the hospital.

The success of your hospital depends on how successfully you balance all those elements and the level of patients' satisfaction together.Unhappy clients and poor management go a long way to putting the hospital's reputation into the pit, and by consequence throw you into debt.

One of the best features of Theme Hospital is definately the humour.I find it so funny to see a couple of "head-balloon" patients hanging around and waiting to be "popped" by a strange machine!

If you like oldies and are into hours of fun,Theme Hospital is definately something worth trying!

A mix of originality,good graphics and loads of humour makes Theme Hospital a "jewel" to keep for years to come!