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🎨 Art by Ancourage

Manga & Anime Art Classes

Art by Ancourage · Explorative Programme

Content reviewed: Mar 2026

Manga & Anime Art classes at Art by Ancourage teach character design, illustration, and storytelling techniques inspired by Japanese manga and anime styles in Singapore (Bishan & Woodlands). Offered as part of our Explorative Art programme, weekly 2-hour classes of 3-6 students cover pencil sketching, inking, marker rendering, and digital illustration using both traditional and digital mediums. Manga is one of the world's most popular visual art forms, with the global manga market valued at over US$13 billion in 2023 (Grand View Research, 2024). Students learn proportions, facial expressions, dynamic poses, panel composition, and background design — building a complete toolkit for creating original characters and scenes. "Manga art develops precision, storytelling, and a unique visual language that transfers to all forms of illustration," note our instructors. Classes are suitable for students aged 9 and above, from beginners to advanced — no prior experience needed. Materials provided.

Students develop their own original characters and learn to tell visual stories through sequential art, building both technical skill and creative imagination.

Manga & Anime classes are part of our Explorative Art programme — students who express interest in manga or anime-style art during their Explorative sessions can focus their projects on character design and illustration techniques. The programme follows a structured progression from basic character anatomy through to multi-panel comic layouts.

Manga & Anime Art Classes at Bishan and Woodlands studios

At a Glance

Key Details

Manga & Anime Art art course quick facts
Age RangeAges 9+
Duration2 hours
Class Size3–6 Students
MediumsPencil, Ink, Marker, Digital
LocationsBishan & Woodlands
Trial Class$18

What's Included

  • All materials provided

    Paints, brushes, paper, and craft supplies

  • Weekly progress reports

    Detailed feedback on your progress

  • 24/7 WhatsApp support

    Direct communication with the teacher

  • Take home artwork

    Keep every finished piece

  • Flexible scheduling

    Weekday and weekend sessions available

5 from 60 Google Reviews (Ancourage Academy)MOE-Registered Centre10+ Years Experience
Angie — Founder & Art Programmes Lead
“Every student has a unique creative voice. Our role is to develop strong technical foundations — drawing, painting, composition — so that voice can come through with confidence. In small groups of 3–6, we see each student clearly and guide their growth personally.”

Angie

Founder & Art Programmes Lead · LASALLE · Goldsmiths

Singapore ranked #1 in Creative Thinking — 58% top performers vs 27% OECD average (OECD PISA 2022)

Our Teaching Approach

Three proven pedagogical methods adapted for visual arts education

🧠

Ebbinghaus

Students revisit core skills like character proportions and inking techniques regularly, building muscle memory and confident linework through repeated practice.

💭

Socratic

Teachers prompt students to analyse their favourite manga and anime styles, encouraging critical observation of composition choices, expression techniques, and storytelling devices.

📈

Bruner

Lessons progress from basic character heads through full-body poses to multi-panel compositions, with scaffolding reduced as students develop independent illustration abilities.

What You Will Learn

Core skills and growth outcomes from this programme

1

Manga character design and proportions

Master manga character design including proportions, expressions, and dynamic poses.

2

Inking and marker rendering techniques

Develop confident inking and rendering skills across traditional and digital mediums.

3

Dynamic poses and facial expressions

Build visual storytelling ability through panel composition and sequential art.

4

Panel composition and sequential art

Create original characters and scenes with a personal artistic style.

5

Both traditional and digital illustration

Build a portfolio of manga and illustration work.

Manga & Anime Art Classes in Singapore

Manga & Anime art classes at Art by Ancourage teach character design, inking, and illustration techniques rooted in Japanese manga and anime traditions. These classes are offered as part of our Explorative Art programme — students who want to focus on manga and anime-style art can dedicate their 2-hour weekly sessions to character design, inking, and sequential illustration. Classes are led by a LASALLE-trained instructor and open to students aged 9 and above at all experience levels — from children learning to draw their first characters to teens and adults developing advanced illustration portfolios. Each session covers core manga skills including character proportions, facial expressions, dynamic poses, panel composition, and background design using both traditional mediums (pencil, pen, marker) and digital tools (iPad/Procreate). Students create original characters rather than copying existing ones, building genuine artistic skill and a personal creative voice. Singapore's students ranked first globally in Creative Thinking (MOE, 2024), reflecting the value placed on creative skills in education. Classes run weekly in small groups of 3-6 at the Bishan studio (152 Bishan Street 11, near Bishan MRT CC15/NS17) and Woodlands studio (Vista Point, 548 Woodlands Drive 44, near Woodlands South MRT TE3). Weekday and weekend sessions are available. All traditional materials are provided — students who wish to explore digital manga bring their own iPad. Trial classes are available from $18.

How It Works

  1. 1

    Try a Session

    Book a $18 trial class to experience manga-focused instruction within our Explorative Art programme.

  2. 2

    Learn Foundations

    Master character proportions, facial expressions, and dynamic poses through guided projects each week.

  3. 3

    Develop Style

    Create original characters using pencil, ink, marker, and optional digital tools. Build a personal portfolio.

  4. 4

    Advance Skills

    Progress to sequential art, panel composition, background design, and polished illustration techniques.

Manga Art Classes vs. General Drawing Classes

General drawing classes in Singapore typically focus on observational drawing, still life, and Western art traditions — valuable skills, but not what manga-enthusiast students are most excited about. Manga art classes at Art by Ancourage are specifically structured around Japanese illustration conventions: exaggerated expressions, dynamic action poses, stylised anatomy, panel storytelling, and screen-tone techniques. Students learn to create original characters with distinct personalities rather than copying from references — building genuine creative authorship. Unlike self-taught approaches (following YouTube tutorials or tracing), instructor-led manga classes provide structured progression from basic character design to advanced sequential art, with real-time feedback on proportion, composition, and inking technique. Both traditional mediums (pencil, pen, marker) and digital tools (iPad/Procreate) are available within the same programme. For students considering DSA art portfolio submissions, manga and illustration work can be a compelling component — our instructors can advise on portfolio strategy alongside skill development.

What Manga & Anime Art students commonly work on

Challenges we frequently help students overcome

1

Character proportions

2

Dynamic poses

3

Consistent style

4

Inking confidence

5

Original creation

Your Art Journey

📚

Builds On

Basic drawing skills or complete beginner interest in manga and anime

🎨

This Course

Original character creation unlocks at this stage — students move from copying favourites to designing their own unique characters with personality and backstory.

🚀

Prepares For

Advanced illustration, comic creation, digital art, and portfolio development

Related Programmes

Explore other art programmes that complement your creative journey

Explorative Art Classes

The parent programme — explore all art styles at your own pace

View Programme

Digital Art & Procreate Classes

Expand your manga skills with digital illustration techniques

View Programme

Professional Fine Art Classes

Build strong traditional art foundations alongside manga skills

View Programme

Ready to Start Your Art Journey?

Small groups of 3–6 students, all materials provided, experienced instructors. Trial class $18.

References: LASALLE College of the Arts · MOE Art Elective Programme (AEP) · OECD PISA 2022 Creative Thinking · NAC-Arts Education Programme · MOE Refreshed Primary Art Syllabus 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

9 questions

No prior experience is needed. We teach manga-specific techniques from the basics — starting with simple shapes, proportions, and expressions before progressing to dynamic poses, inking, and panel composition. Complete beginners learn foundational drawing skills through the engaging lens of manga and anime art.

Our Manga & Anime classes welcome students aged 9 and above. Younger students focus on character design and simple storytelling panels, while teens and adults explore more complex compositions, inking techniques, and digital illustration. Each student progresses at their own pace in our small groups of 3-6.

Yes! Our programme covers both traditional and digital manga illustration. Students learn pencil sketching, pen inking, and marker rendering alongside digital techniques. Students who wish to explore digital tools can bring their own iPad with Procreate for digital illustration portions of the class.

While we study professional manga and anime for technique and style analysis, our programme emphasises original character creation. Students learn the principles behind manga art — proportions, expressions, composition — and apply them to design their own unique characters, stories, and worlds. This builds genuine artistic skill rather than copying ability.

Manga and illustration skills can complement a DSA portfolio by demonstrating range and creative storytelling ability. Students who combine manga techniques with traditional drawing and painting skills present a versatile portfolio that shows both technical proficiency and personal artistic voice — qualities that DSA admission panels value.

Both. We start with character design fundamentals — face proportions, expressions, body poses — then progress to panel layouts, speech bubbles, and sequential storytelling. Students create their own short manga stories with original characters.

We primarily teach Japanese manga conventions — the proportions, expressions, and panel flow that define the genre. Advanced students can explore manhwa and manhua styles as well.

Not at all — passion for anime is a powerful motivator. Manga and anime art teaches proportion, anatomy, perspective, and composition. These core skills transfer directly to any other art form.

Yes, and many students do. Combining manga with our Explorative or Professional Fine Art classes builds a strong foundation in both illustrative and traditional art — especially valuable for DSA portfolios.

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