Lesson Plans

Japanese 98/198 (1 unit)

Here we'll be posting links to scanned images of our lesson plans.
So if you missed a class, or just want to learn, here's what we're offering!

1/31/06 - storyboarding
every good story needs a begining, middle, and an end. story boarding is a good way
to map out ideas, actions, events for anime or manga. It is usually made up of a square
that will show the visual shot while there is some space left to the side or on the bottom
(outside of the box) to write commentary on what is happening. very simple. can be stick figures.
Assignment: what would you like to learn this semester?

2/7/06 - History of Anime and Manga (part 1)
Practice:proportions, body, face, hands and feet.
References/notes:
body/proportions
the female and male bodies
side views, back views, chibi
expressions

Reading/References:how to draw anime + PolyKarbon Tutorials
Assignment: Draw one male and one female character. one page each.

2/14/06 - History of Anime and Manga (part 2) +genres
Practice:proportions, body, face, hands and feet... part 2!
REFRENCES/LEC NOTES COMING SOON = faces, hands, feet
Assignment: write a 2 page paper analyzing your favorite anime/manga.
what characteristics does it have? what genre is it? analyze characters, character development, plot,
music, etc etc.

2/14/06 - Identity in Manga and Anime. The Anime Body.
Archetypes, Stereotypes and their distinguishing qualities/characteristics.
Practice:joints/poses, hair, clothing (folds), variations, props.
REFRENCES/LEC NOTES COMING SOON
Assignment: Draw 2 different stereotypes that we might of mentioned in class (perferably one girl and one guy)
take up one page per character. (examples: school girl, mage, nerd, etc. etc.)
(Recommended) Reading: Nerd Heros: The Phenomenon of Loser Protagonists in Modern Japanese Games
+ A look at the Hidden Japanese Soul

2/28/06 - Perspective
Practice:1, 2, 3, (4 &5) point perspective.
References/notes:
page 1
page 2
page 3
page 4
page 5
page 6

Assignment: Draw one landscape in 3 point perspective. remember to have buildings,
trees, and at least one person in the drawing. should be around 8.5x11 inches or so (1 page).

3/7/06 - Architechture
Practice: buildings (past, present, future. European, Japanese, Fantasy)
References/notes:
architecture notes/history/lecture
page 1
page 2
page 3
page 4

Assignment: Draw another landscape composed mostly of buildings.
(try to have different types.) make sure it is in perspective.
Include at least one person and at least one tree (or shrubbery). Have fun with it.
What kind of city or town or village would you like to create?
Should be around 8.5x11 inches or so (1 page).

3/14/06 - Layout
Practice: drawing out the antecdote that was presented in class.
References/notes:
history of american comics
scott mccloud's big triangle theory
some quick notes: bigger pannels= more important
smaller pannels can zoom on important details (did a motor turn on?, etc.)
or details about a character's personality (ex: anxious sweating twiddling fingers, etc)
avoid the 4 same square model at all costs. (example)
avoid drawing the same panel/close up over and over again. play around with perspective, angles, zoom in and out. etc.
setting up a scene in the first pannel is often used because it provides background info. can be very useful.
(i forgot to mention this in class >__<:) make sure there is something that compels the reader to turn the page/keep reading.

framing:
page 1
page 2
page 3

speech bubbles/etc:
page 1
page 2
Assignment: draw one page of a manga. make sure you think
about layout, size, spacing, borders, speech bubbles, etc.
(can someone read this with ease? can they tell which panel comes next?
is it visually engaging and interesting to read/look at?) .
as for the contents pick one of the two words in each group:

subject: girl or robot
verb: kill or yell
object: bat or pillow

example: a girl yells at a bat or kills something using a bat. use any combination
of words as long as you only chose one from each catergory.
Should be around 8.5x11 inches or so (1 page).

3/28/06 - Conveying Moods, Expressions, and Details
Practice: one page layout with speedlines, blood spatters, shojo bubbles, etc.
References/notes:
coming soon

Assignment: draw one page of cecilia. alfred, and/or naomi duking it out
(since alfred was late and cecilia was furious).

4/7/06 - Tools of the Trade
Practice: inking and screentones
we also talked about the final project and broke up into groups of 3 to 5 people.
References/notes:

ink/inking:
page 1
page 2
page 3
page 4
note: for ink we usually use india ink rather than china ink because that's what's available.
same for pen tips. use what's available.

whiteout:
page 1
page 2

pencils:
page 1
page 2

erasers:
page 1
page 2
note: since mono erasers are a japense brand, I recommend using staedtler mars plastic eraser.
(avoid the pink erasers! they don't erase well and smudge!)

screentones:
page 1
page 2
page 3
page 4
note: you can buy these online or in Japan Town's Kinokunia Bookstore in SanFran.
Or you can wait a week and I will show you where you can get
some digital screentones for photoshop for free.

Assignment: draw one of the characters from your group final project.
(a "character sheet", if you will.)
and practice inking using traditional methods such as: dip pen and inkwell
or using sakura micron pens. (1 page)

note: we recommend buying art supplies at Utrecht. They're cheaper and don't forget to ask
about the 10% student discount/artsmart card! it's on MLK a few blocks from the university.

4/11/06 - Changing Technological Advances in Production
In-Class Demo: Using Photoshop (cs2)
References/notes:
websites with digital screentones/brushes:
screentones #1
screentones #2
tutorials with step by steps coming soon: (until then.. here are the basic commands)
cleaning up lineart: image>>adjustments>>brightness/contrast. then set layer to multiply.
(window>>channels>>load channel as selection >>delete>>lock layer>> color over)
fill selections quickly: magic wand tool. (tolerance 50, anti-alias, contiguous) click selection.
hold down shift key for mutiple selections. select>>modify>>expand (2-3 pixels).
go onto a different layer and use the paintbucket tool to fill.
quickly changing color/explore the possibilites!: image>>adjustments>>hue/saturation
use digital screentones: brushtool>>(go the edit size window near the top) pull down and
click on the little triangle on the right>>load brushes...
gradients and textures: layer>> layer style>> blending options. click on the appropriate
boxes on the left and adjust accordingly.
undo!: edit>>undo brush tool (quick keys= pretzel z)

Assignment: continue working on final projects.