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DRAWING MANGA

Mecha’s
Contents
Creating Simple and Cute Mecha’s........................................................................3
Drawing a single-shape body.............................................................................3
Mixing it up with a multi-shaped body................................................................4
Drawing Pilot-Operated Mecha’s............................................................................5
It’s all about the shapes.....................................................................................5
Enter the lightweights............................................................................................ 6
Lead character mecha........................................................................................6
Sidekick character mecha..................................................................................7
Here come the heavyweights................................................................................8
Lead villain mecha....................................................................................... .......8
Construction mecha.......................................................................................... .....9

Creating Simple and Cute Mecha’s


Simple and cute mecha’s serve as either companions or pets. In almost all cases, these types are either created
by their owners and move independently or they operate by remote control. The simpler, independent mecha’s
don’t play a role in any fighting or heavy-duty lifting — they just look cute and evoke that “awww” sentiment in
your readers. The more sophisticated mecha’s, on the other hand, help save the day in unexpected ways that at
first may appear to be trivial. Using geometric shapes (spheres, cubes, cylinders, and cones) makes drawing
simple mecha fun. Overall, even a simple mecha has some degree of human resemblance. Keep in mind,
though, that you don’t always need limbs and full features in order to make a mecha that has personality or that
can win over the reader’s affection. In this section, I select several mecha’s that start from a single geometric
structure.

Drawing a single-shape body


In this section, I show you how to draw a mecha with a single geometric shape as its main body structure. Follow
these steps to create a simple mecha based upon a single shape:
1. Start at the centre of your paper with a simple geometric shape (cube, sphere, cylinder, or cone); draw
your shape large enough that you can add the smaller details or embellishments in the following steps.
In my example, I use my character Java’s little spherical companion mecha called the Braid Maid. Her role is to
make sure Java’s hair (as well as the rest of her hygiene) is shipshape (because Java is kind of a big slob). This
sphere is all I need to start the basic body shape.

2. Add simple facial features


In keeping with the simplicity theme, you don’t have to draw all the features (eyes, nose, ears, and mouth). As I
show in my example with Java’s Braid Maid, I don’t even include the other eye. She’s basically a Cyclopean
droid. I use a small hatch to represent her mouth, which opens to reveal a Taser gun that the Braid Maid uses to
wake Java up in the morning.

3. Draw the simplified limbs


Limbs can include a representation of an arm, leg, or even tail. Think about how these shapes move in relation to
the body. Do they extend out from the body, or are they left exposed the entire time? How will they bend or twist
(if they even have joints to begin with)? Again, avoid the misconception that you need to draw the limbs of these
types of mecha’s with complicated parts or shapes. I use popular round lids as hatch doors on both sides for the
arms. The idea is that the mecha carries an assortment of hair braids in her body, and each time the arms come
out, she carries a brand-new braid in her claws.

4. Finalize the small droid with your own cosmetic touches


You can add a serial or model number or design stripes that are painted onto the body. Think about what kind of
accessories you can add that reflect the mecha’s role or function. I shade the spherical body and darken the
inside where the arm joints meet the body to give the image more realism and dimension. I paint mascara over
her single eyelid as a joke fashion statement.
Mixing it up with a multi-shaped body
By adding additional simple shapes together, you give your mecha more character by increasing its humanoid
functions. Follow these steps to create a simple mecha based upon multiple shapes:
1. Draw a shape for the head
Because the head is usually the largest part of the body, it’s a good place to start. This way, you have a better
assessment of how large you should make the body. Although you can stick to the basic sphere, cylinder, cube,
or cone, don’t shy away from modifying the shapes by skewing or slicing off partial segments. In my example, I
start off with a slightly squashed sphere. Think of making this shape by imagining ground beef intended for a
large meatball and squishing it to form a burger patty. I take my burger patty shape and slice it in half. The sliced
off portion is the front of my mecha’s face. For the eyes, I plunk down two large spheres on the front (like adding
coals to a snowman).

2. Draw a cylinder or cube for the neck


Use your own judgment to determine the width and length of the neck, but keep the overall width narrower than
the width of the head. Because the head is rather simple and funny looking, I use a short and narrow shape for
my cylindrical neck.

3. Give your mecha a torso


If you feel confident drawing your basic geometric shapes, begin to experiment by modifying them. You can make
one side of a cube smaller than the opposite side, or take half a sphere and slice the front off to make room for a
control panel. I use my first suggestion by taking the top side of the cube and making it smaller.

4. Draw the lower portion of the mecha


In this step, think about how this thing transports itself. Does it fly, walk, or roll? If it flies, consider adding a jet
pack on its back. If it walks, you need to design some legs. To make it roll, make some wheels. Whatever you
decide to do, keep it simple. In my example, I sketch in the outside shape for a caterpillar mechanism (similar to
the ones found on a tank).

5. Tighten up the shapes and draw the arms, hands, and accessories.
I draw the wheels for the caterpillar mechanism as well as the track lines. I create the arms by using spheres for
the shoulder and elbow joints and tube cylinders for the arms. I simplify the hands by drawing them as clamps. In
addition, I add a jet pack on the back of the mecha so that it can fly. I draw my jet pack with a flat cube and add
two small cylinders on the bottom as thrusters.
6. Finalize your mecha by adding the cosmetic designs and details.
A lot of mecha manga-ka (or manga artists) add in pipes, model numbers, and decorations (either painted on or
physically attached). Take a look at some of the popular Gundam mecha for inspiration. Although the original
series is over, its impact in the mecha world continues to thrive in spin-offs where more complicated and
sophisticated mecha’s are brought into the spotlight. For a comprehensive listing of the Gundam mecha’s, visit
the Web site www.gundam.jp. Spend time at manga/animé conventions to pick up popular manga and animé
DVDs, which feature popular mecha’s. I also recommend looking at Macross (translated as Robotech in the
United States), Evangelion, Patlabor, L. Gaim, Appleseed, and Bubblegum Crisis. To finish off my mecha, I add
some raccoon eyes as well as a spot mark for his nose. Just for giggles, I add a mechanical raccoon tail.

Drawing Pilot-Operated Mecha’s


In this section, I show you mecha’s that are large enough to be piloted by humans from the inside. Although most
of them are designed for combat, some function as transportation or construction mecha’s. Depending on the
rank or significance of the character who operates them, the mecha takes on a unique and sophisticated
appearance. Usually the pilot seats him or herself at the centre of the mecha’s torso. Unlike the simpler mecha’s
in the previous sections, combat mecha’s are more humanlike in proportion and overall look. If you haven’t drawn
the human figure, refer to Chapter 5. In this section, I demonstrate how to draw two types of combat mecha: the
lightweights and the heavyweights.

It’s all about the shapes


Before drawing the entire mecha figure, explore and get used to drawing different types of common mecha body
parts and armour shapes. These parts and shapes include shoulder pads, breastplates, forearm guards, waist
protectors, shin guards, and feet. I draw some basic shapes.

For starters, avoid drawing the shapes from a three-dimensional angle (3⁄4 angle). Although the 3⁄4 angle gives a
more realistic and dimensional look, it can be quite confusing and hard to grasp at first. For now, keep all the
angles straight on (from the front or from the side). As you become more comfortable drawing the shapes, you
can begin drawing the shapes from other dimensional angles. Now is a good time to introduce the “X” and “A”
shapes you see in mecha poses. Regardless of what types of mecha you plan to draw, they should all assume a
default position in the form of an “X” or an “A.”

Enter the lightweights


The lightweight mecha’s excel in speed, precision, and sleek looks. In general, leaner ones are usually
associated with the lead characters on the good side. While the lead character has a more slender and faster
mecha that’s usually white, his sidekick generally operates a darker and slightly bulkier mecha (to emphasize that
he plays the backup role). In this section, I use the same wire frame figure that I use to draw my human
characters to start off my mecha. I show you how to draw the mecha for the lead character, and then I show you
how to draw the slightly heavier mecha for the sidekick.

Lead character mecha


Follow these steps to draw a lightweight mecha for your lead character:
1. Pose your wire frame figure in an “X” position
Over the course of mecha evolution, proportions have grown. Although the average varies, the lightweight mecha
is approximately between 81⁄2 and 10 heads tall. Compared to older models, current popular models have wider
shoulders — typically 3 to 4 heads wide (5 to 6 if you factor in the shoulder pads). I set my lightweight combat
mecha at 9 heads tall.

2. Sketch the basic geometric shapes based on the wire frame figure
Keep the pencil marks light and loose because you’ll later go over them to refine the shapes. Start thinking about
where you want to place the specific armour, air vents (where hot air is released to cool off the mecha), or other
designs.

3. Rough in the specific shapes for the armour over the geometric shapes
Use some of the shapes that you find interesting in Figure 13-10. Don’t draw the shapes too wide (remember,
you’re drawing a lightweight mecha). Avoid drawing the thick armour — you want to save the bulkier stuff for the
heavier mecha models. With my mecha, I vary the shapes. I make some shapes (such as the biceps and lower
legs) rounder and keep the forearm and torso shapes fairly square. I also block in the basic head shape and
features.

4. Tighten up the shapes


Determine which shapes you want to be rounder as well as which shapes you want to be more angular and
pointed. As a general rule of thumb, rounded edges imply sleekness and elegance as opposed to angular edges,
which suggest sturdiness and aggressiveness. You’re not right or wrong in making either decision — leave it to
your personal taste. In my mecha, I add a bit more angular edges. At certain sections, such as the hip protectors
and sides of the legs, I let the edges come to a fine, sharp point. Note how I draw the bottom section of the legs
narrow to show the slenderness.
5. Draw the details, such as antennas, arm shields, or pipes
Don’t overburden the mecha with too much bling. Make sure you keep the midsection between the upper torso
and the hips slender. Popular places to add extra designs and small parts include the front of the torso, the back
(improvise the rucksack), the forearms, and the shoulders. Be mindful of physics when drawing your mecha. If
you decide to add heavier items, such as thrusters, make sure you place them where there’s enough mass so
that the items don’t look like they’re going to break off. Based on the “X” shape I sketched in Step 1, I draw large
radar equipment and two beam sabres (swords) protruding behind the mecha’s back from the rucksack. In
addition, I add some decoration marks, such as the model number on its right shoulder.

Sidekick character mecha


Follow these steps to draw the supporting backup mecha for the sidekick character:
1. Pose your wire frame figure in an “A” position.
The average proportions of backup mecha have grown to approximately 81⁄2 to 10 heads tall in recent years.
Compared to older models, current popular models have wider shoulders that come in at 3 to 4 heads wide (5 to
6 if you factor in the shoulder pads). You should draw the width of the shoulders wider than the lead character’s
mecha because the overall shapes are thicker. I set my sidekick combat mecha at 9 heads tall.

2. Sketch the basic geometric shapes based on the wire frame figure
Keep the pencil marks light and loose, thinking about where you want to place specific armour, air vents, or other
designs.

3. Rough in the specific shapes for the armour over the geometric shapes
When creating these shapes, you want to be sure they reflect the durability, rigidity, and strength that this mecha
needs to back up the lead character. Shapes can be wider and without the curves that the lighter weight mecha
has. With my mecha, I keep most of the shapes except the biceps square. I also block in the basic head shape
and features. I add angular edges, unlike the straight, plain shapes I use on the mecha in the previous section. I
block in a pair of large cannons (one larger for long-distance targeting). On the left side, I sketch in a radar
device.

4. Tighten up the shapes


I clean up the lines. Because this mecha needs extra armour to withstand enemy fire, I also sketch thicker
shoulder armour for the sides of the hips. I imagine that this mecha is fairly heavy, so I add some extra thrusters
to help it move around.

Here come the heavyweights


In this section, I demonstrate how to draw the heavier mecha that the antagonists or heavy-duty labourers (such
as construction and transportation workers) usually use. The combat heavyweights typically have extra-thick
armour and gear and usually don’t fly under earth’s gravity. But in space, depending upon the pilot, the combat
mecha’s have enough boosters and power to make flying and manoeuvring easy enough to take on an entire
fleet. In contrast, the noncombat heavyweight mecha’s have wide features with solid construction, but they don’t
necessarily look human.

Lead villain mecha


Although the type of mecha that lead villains use isn’t as graceful as the lightweight mecha, it makes up for
everything with power. Most of these mecha’s are equipped with large bazookas or cannon weaponry that has
enough kick to destroy an entire cruiser with a single blast. Follow these steps to draw the villain’s heavyweight
mecha:
1. Pose your wire frame figure in an “X” position
Note that because the armour adds so much bulk to this mecha’s build, the approximate proportions stand
between 8 and 13 heads tall. Draw the width of the shoulders wider than the lightweight mecha because the
overall shapes are thicker. The shoulders also extend wider, to around 4 heads wide.
I set my heavyweight combat mecha at 81⁄2 heads tall.

2. Sketch the basic geometric shapes based on the wire frame figure
Keep the pencil marks light and loose, and think about where you want specific details in the overall design.
Regardless of its bulk, don’t draw the waistline, arms, and upper legs too thick. You can make the torso, hips,
lower legs, and shoulders wider. Remember, this thing is still pretty darn fast in combat and must be able to twist
and turn fast enough to engage its enemies. I exaggerate the torso of my mecha by omitting the neck shape.
This technique gives the impression that this thing has armour that’s at least twice as thick as the lightweight
mecha’s.

3. Rough in the specific shapes for the armour over the geometric shapes
When creating these shapes, you want to be sure that they reflect the durability, rigidity, and strength of the
combat mecha. I give my mecha plenty of armour to protect the shoulders, waist, and legs. I avoid adding the
thick armour at the waist and joints where he needs to move.

4. Tighten up the shapes


Determine which shapes you want to be rounder and which shapes you want to be more angular and pointed. To
counterbalance the bulk of the armour, don’t draw too many straight edges and lines. Otherwise, your mecha is
going to look like a brick! Instead, consider adding curves to the overall structure. I block in a large blaster on the
side of each forearm. To give this mecha a menacing appearance, I draw some spikes on both shoulders that it
can use to ram into the enemy. Similar to the sidekick’s mecha, this one needs extra boosters to move around
quickly.

5. Draw the details.


I draw in the beam sabres behind the mecha’s back. My evil mecha has simplified features for the head. Just for
kicks, I give it that classic single eye camera (a single lens mounted at the front of the head that slides left to right
for vision and target acquisition). For the final touch, I draw decorative arrow symbols around the shoulders,
torso, and legs.

Construction mecha
Unlike the previous heavyweight mecha, the construction mecha is more of a giant tool. Its primary function is
limited to lifting and transporting heavy objects from point A to point B. Follow these steps to draw the villain’s
heavyweight mecha:
1. Pose your wire frame figure
The lower legs should be the largest part of the measurement. To keep the mecha from toppling over, the height
proportions should be considerably shorter than the other mecha’s in this chapter; the construction
mecha is approximately 5 to 7 heads tall. Draw the shoulders wide to give it strong balance and reach. Shoulders
also extend around 5 to 10 heads wide. Because this kind of mecha isn’t as humanlike as the lead villain mecha,
the “X” and “A” shapes don’t apply. I set my heavyweight construction mecha to 7 heads tall.

2. Sketch the basic geometric shapes based on the wire frame figure
Draw the wide simple shapes to resemble smooth bubbles and lima beans. The domelike head structure is
tucked into the thick torso, similar to how a turtle pulls its head into its shell. Having the head tucked in ensures
that it’s protected against any accidents that happen on the construction site. Having the torso way in front of the
head gives the image that this mecha is meant to withstand a lot of abuse. To protect the feet from damage, I
sketch large guards on each foot. In order to support all the upper-body weight, the mecha’s legs have to be
large and wide so it doesn’t trip and keel over from walking through debris. I draw large ball bearings at the hips
to connect with the legs. Although this additional weight slows down the mecha’s movement, it strengthens the
leg support and balance.

3. Rough in the specific shapes for the armour over the geometric shapes
In addition to defining the armour, I add smaller design shapes, such as the squares and ovals at the centre of
the body, facing toward the sky. This section bulges outward so that the pilot can fit into the torso cockpit. I define
the hip section by drawing metal plates on top and covering the sides of the legs. This protects the legs from any
large, falling debris. I complete this step by adding the smaller shapes and detail to the feet. Toward the back of
the heels, I sketch the large pin screw that secures the ankles. When drawing the feet, which are larger and
wider than the average combat mecha’s feet, make sure to take the time to draw them in correct perspective. In
addition to getting the perspective right, I draw the “toes” in the foreground larger and the “heel” toward the back
smaller to give the mecha feet additional dimension.

4. Tighten up the shapes


I clean up the image by darkening the lines and erasing any that are extraneous. I define and build up the arms
by drawing metal guards around the biceps and forearms. I draw individual finger joints for the hands, and I make
them elongated because the mecha needs to be able to perform intricate functions such as pressing buttons and
turning dials (in addition to performing heavy-duty construction work).

5. Draw in the details, such as antennas, arm shields, and pipes


With heavyweight mecha’s like this one, I always make sure to add four large pipes that connect from the
mecha’s rucksack to the back of the head. I think large pipes give mecha’s the appearance of a walking giant
factory. I also draw two antennas on each side of the shoulders for communication, and headlights right above
the hips for clear vision in dimly lit areas. Finally, I draw cosmetic details, such as seam lines between the
metallic plates and small notches on the lower legs and feet.

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