If you guys don’t know who Mark Crilley is, you should really visit his website and Youtube page!

He’s an awesome artist/illustrator/cartoonist/author and the creator of the manga series Miki Falls and Akiko. His Youtube page currently has 100 videos that give advice to artists on how to draw manga, including topics like “How to Draw ‘Realistic’ Manga,” “How to Draw a Female Body, Manga Style,” and “Manga Boby Proportions.” His “How to Draw a Realistic Eye” video has almost ONE MILLION VIEWS! If you’re looking for advice or inspiration, watch one of his (free!) video tutorials.

And if the words “Miki Falls” and “Akiko” mean nothing to you, here’s a summary of each of the series. Anyone out there a fan?

Miki Falls is about high school senior Miki Yoshida who falls for Hiro Sakurai, the new boy in school at Fukuyama Har Dand High in Fukuyama Har Dand, Japan. At first Hiro rejects Miki’s attempts to become his friend, so Miki spends most of her time following him around. Their eventual friendship gets the duo into several complicated situations. Turns out he’s a “Deliverer,” a being sent to earth to try to preserve love, which seems to be dying. Rumor is that Paramount Pictures and Brad Pitt’s Plan B have acquired the rights to adapt Miki Falls into a feature film.

Akiko follows the adventures of a Japanese-American girl and her life on planet Smoo. Originally an Eisner-nominated comic series, Akiko has been adapted into a children’s book series. The series has been described as a blend between The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars.

Although Mark’s from Michigan, the series are truly inspired by Japan. Mark’s time spent teaching English in the Far East (in Japan and Taiwan) after graduating from Kalamazoo College in 1988 led to the invention of Akiko. He also drew heavily on the beauty of the Japanese countryside to illustrate Miki Falls.

Found these ohsocute zodiac characters via Lindsay Cibos’s blog and DeviantArt page–be sure to check out her DeviantArt page to find out about her latest contest centering around her December 09 IMPACT book, Draw Furries. Enjoy!

Jim Pavelec and Chris Seaman’s upcoming IMPACT book Ink Bloom is featured in the current issue of Imagine FX. Check out the article and don’t forget to follow Jim and Chris’s progress on their blog. Ink Bloom will be available in April 2010.

Have a great weekend!

mary

Astro Boy opens in theaters tomorrow. Check it out!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8H6j6afuOM

The yearly New York Anime Festival starts this Friday, September 25, in Manhattan. The show runs through September 27. According to its website the festival “features exclusive and extensive anime screenings, guests from America and Japan, manga, cosplay, video games, live-action Japanese cinema, fashion, food, and the cultural treasures that gave birth to Japanese pop culture.” So, basically there’s something for everyone there.

But, if that’s not enough to tempt you to the Big Apple this weekend, one of the festival’s guest of honor is Yoshiyuki Tomino who worked on Astro Boy—AWESOME!

Check out Jen’s piece on Vintage Manga—there’s a link to review some vintage Astro Boy.

I keep talking about Shojo Fashion Manga Art School because it just can’t be stopped. Author Irene Flores filled the book with every fashion style you can dream of, and shows you how to deck out your characters no matter what the season. It’s so much fun!

For even more fashion inspirations check out this new site where you can dive into a huge wardrobe and dress your choice of models. Find a cool look then jump back into Shojo Fashion Manga Art School to draw it on your character. So, put on your best designer hat, and pick up that pencil!

The quickest way to make your characters recognizable is with clothing. Give them their own individual style and they come to life on the page, and stand out from the crowd. Irene Flores, author of Shojo Fashion Manga Art School (IMPACT Books) is a manga artist and fashionista extraordinaire with a knack for teaching others how to draw.

In eager anticipation of Shojo Fashion Manga Art School’s November release, here’s Irene’s 3 easy steps for drawing a scarf:

1 Create the Basic Shape: Determine the path of the scarf using a ribbon as a model.

2 Develop the Shape: Make the band wider.

3 Refine and Add Detail: Draw the fabric using the band as a guide, and drape the fabric as it wraps around itself. Add darker areas to indicate folds and overlaps in the scarf.

In the mood for death, destruction, maybe even the apocalypse? Check out the trailer for the Tokyopop’s Deadman Wonderland here.

If you’re looking for something a little more cheerful, why not create your own manga? Check out Shojo Fashion Manga Art School by Irene Flores or Draw Furries by Jared Hodges and Lindsay Cibos. Both are available for preorder now.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg7pG40FoI8

This just in from TOKYOPOP, Domo to make his grand english-language debut today in his very own Manga. Now you can follow his adventures in print. Enjoy!

Read a preview of Domo: The Manga here.

Click here for all the scoop on Domo.