Anime and manga are popular forms of Japanese animation and comics that have a distinctive style and appeal. Many fans of anime and manga want to learn how to draw their own characters and scenes, but they may not have the skills or tools to do so.
Fortunately, there is a simple and free way to create anime and manga art using Canva, an online graphic design platform that offers a variety of templates, elements, and features.
In this article, you will learn how to draw anime and manga in Canva, using its artificial intelligence (AI) feature, background remover tool, and comic strip maker.
You will also learn some tips and tricks to make your anime and manga art more attractive and authentic.
By the end of this article, you will be able to create your own anime and manga posters, avatars, comic strips, and more.
What is Canva and How to Use It
Canva is a web-based graphic design tool that allows you to create stunning designs for various purposes, such as social media posts, presentations, flyers, logos, and more.
You can access Canva from any browser or device, and you can sign up for free with your email, Google, or Facebook account.
To use Canva, you need to create a new project by choosing a template or a blank page. You can then customize your design by adding text, images, icons, stickers, shapes, and other elements from Canva’s library.
You can also upload your own photos or drawings to use in your design. You can edit your elements by changing their size, color, position, rotation, transparency, and more. You can also apply filters, effects, animations, and other features to enhance your design.
When you are happy with your design, you can download it as an image or a PDF file, or share it online via a link or social media.
You can also collaborate with others on your design by inviting them to view or edit your project.
How to Draw Anime and Manga Characters with Canva AI
One of the coolest features of Canva is its AI feature, which can generate an anime or manga character based on a text prompt.
You can use this feature to create your own original characters or to get inspiration for your drawings.
Here are the steps to use Canva AI to draw anime and manga characters:
- Create a new project and choose a blank page with a square or portrait layout.
- Click on the “app” tab on the left sidebar and search for “Magic Media”.
- Type a text prompt in the box, describing the anime or manga character you want to draw. For example, you can type “a cute anime girl with pink hair and blue eyes” or “a cool manga boy with spiky hair and a sword”. Then click on your favorite “style“.
- Click on the “Generate” button and wait for a few seconds for Canva AI to create your character.
- You can click on the “Generate” button again to get a different version of your character, or you can edit the text prompt to change the details of your character.
- You can also edit your character by clicking on it and using the toolbar above. You can crop, flip, rotate, or resize your character, or you can apply filters, effects, or animations to it.
- You can also add other elements to your character, such as backgrounds, stickers, text, or frames, to make it more interesting and unique.
How to Remove Backgrounds from Your Anime and Manga Drawings
If you want to draw your own anime and manga characters from scratch, or if you want to use your own photos or images as references, you can use Canva’s background remover tool to isolate your characters from their backgrounds.
This way, you can make your characters stand out more and use them in different contexts.
Here are the steps to use Canva’s background remover tool to remove backgrounds from your anime and manga drawings:
- Create a new project and choose a blank page with a square or portrait layout.
- Click on the “Uploads” tab on the left sidebar and upload your own drawing or image to Canva. You can also drag and drop your file from your computer to the page.
- Click on your uploaded image. Now you can resize or crop it as needed.
- Click on the “Effects” button on the toolbar above and select the “Background Remover” option.
- Wait for a few seconds for Canva to remove the background from your image. You can see the result on your page, with a checkerboard pattern indicating the transparent areas.
- You can adjust the result by clicking on the “Erase” or “Restore” buttons on the toolbar and using your mouse to erase or restore parts of your image. You can also change the brush size to get more precise results.
- You can also add other elements to your image, such as backgrounds, stickers, text, or frames, to make it more appealing and creative.
How to Create Anime and Manga Comic Strips with Canva
Another way to use Canva to create anime and manga art is to make your own comic strips.
Comic strips are a fun and easy way to tell stories and express your ideas using images and dialogue. You can use Canva’s comic strip maker to create your own comic strips using your own drawings or Canva’s elements.
Here are the steps to use Canva’s comic strip maker to create anime and manga comic strips:
- Create a new project and choose the “Comic Strip” template from the template gallery. You can browse through different themes, styles, and layouts, and choose the one that suits your story and preference.
- Click on the template you like and start customizing it. You can change the page size, color, and orientation, or you can add or delete pages as needed.
- To edit the panels, click on them and use the toolbar above. You can resize, crop, rotate, or flip them, or you can apply filters, effects, or animations to them. You can also change the panel shape, border, and color, or you can add or delete panels as needed.
- To add images to your panels, you can use your own drawings or images, or you can use Canva’s elements. You can drag and drop your images to your panels, or you can click on the “Elements” tab on the left sidebar and search for “anime” or “manga”. You can find a variety of anime and manga characters, scenes, and objects that you can use in your comic strips. You can also edit your images by using the toolbar above, or by using the background remover tool as explained above.
- To add text to your panels, you can use the “Text” tab on the left sidebar and choose from different fonts, sizes, colors, and styles. You can also use the “Speech Bubbles” option to add dialogue to your characters. You can drag and drop your text or speech bubbles to your panels, or you can click on them and use the toolbar above to edit them. You can change the text alignment, spacing, and direction, or you can change the speech bubble shape, color, and tail.
- To add other elements to your comic strips, such as stickers, icons, shapes, or frames, you can use the “Elements” tab on the left sidebar and search for the ones you want. You can also use the “Photos” tab to add photos to your comic strips, or the “Music” tab to add sound effects or music to your comic strips. You can edit these elements by using the toolbar above, or by using the background remover tool as explained above.
- When you are happy with your comic strip, you can download it as an image or a PDF file, or share it online via a link or social media. You can also collaborate with others on your comic strip by inviting them to view or edit your project.
Conclusion
Drawing anime and manga in Canva is a fun and easy way to create your own original and creative art. You can use the various tools and elements that Canva offers to draw anime and manga characters and scenes, without any prior drawing experience or expensive software.
You can also use the Animator tool to animate your anime and manga art, and make it more engaging and interactive. You can also share your anime and manga art with others, or download it as an image or a video file. With Canva, you can unleash your imagination and express your passion for anime and manga.
FAQs
How to draw anime/manga eyes in Canva?
To draw anime/manga eyes in Canva, you can use the illustrations that Canva offers, or you can upload your own images. You can choose from the different styles and colors of anime/manga eyes that Canva offers, or you can customize your own eyes. You can adjust the size, position, and rotation of the eyes to create the expression and personality of your character. You can also use the Flip and Crop tools to modify the eyes.
How to draw anime/manga hair in Canva?
To draw anime/manga hair in Canva, you can use the illustrations that Canva offers, or you can upload your own images. You can choose from the different styles and colors of anime/manga hair that Canva offers, or you can customize your own hair. You can adjust the size, position, and rotation of the hair to create the hairstyle and shape of your character. You can also use the Flip and Crop tools to modify the hair.
How to draw anime/manga clothes in Canva?
To draw anime/manga clothes in Canva, you can use the illustrations that Canva offers, or you can upload your own images. You can choose from the different styles and colors of anime/manga clothes that Canva offers, or you can customize your own clothes. You can adjust the size, position, and rotation of the clothes to create the outfit and style of your character. You can also use the Flip and Crop tools to modify the clothes.
How to animate anime/manga in Canva?
To animate anime/manga in Canva, you can use the Animator tool that Canva offers. You can choose from the different types and speeds of animation that Canva offers, or you can customize your own animation. You can apply the animation to your whole design, or to specific elements of your design. You can preview the animation and adjust the settings as needed.
How to save and share anime/manga in Canva?
To save and share anime/manga in Canva, you can use the Download and Share tools that Canva offers. You can download your anime/manga art as an image or a video file, in different formats and qualities. You can also share your anime/manga art with others, by sending them a link or an email, or by posting it on social media platforms. You can also print your anime/manga art, if you want to.
Last modified: January 25, 2024
