How to Create Manga: Drawing Facial Expressions. NextCreator Henshubu

      Joy

      The basic expression of joy, the smile, lifts the corners of the mouth and firms up the cheeks.

       It’s an expression that communicates good will, a sense of security and an absence of animosity.

      When you think of a smile, what comes to

       mind is the eyes forming a crescent moon

       shape and the mouth forming a half moon.

       To start, let’s look at this facial expression as

       one of the basic expressions of joy.

      Symbolic expressions

      Flow of expression

      When the cheeks firm up, the lower eyelids

       and the corners of the mouth lift. Think of the

       lower lids as being pushed up by the cheeks.

       Usually when blinking, both the upper and

       lower lids move toward each other, but the

       movement is different when smiling.

      The cheeks lift higher and the lower

       lids and corners of the mouth lift

       up. Once the corners of the mouth

       are raised this far, it is easier for the

       mouth to open in terms of the flow

       of expression.

      When the eyes are closed, the ends

       of the brows are lowered and a

       smile forms. Draw the character’s

       mouth wide open for a cheerful look,

       making sure at the same time that

       the overall appearance isn’t affected.

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      A smile and a laugh

      A smiling face can depict a smile or a laugh. Refer to the explanation “The difference between smiling

       and laughing” in the Discussion on Page 25.

      A smile is used for communication with other people

       and conveys an absence of animosity and a sense of

       security. It can also be said that an open grin works to

       dispel a conversation partner’s wariness.

      If laughter continues, it can become painful and cause

       an agonized expression. Adding in the movement of the

       body, such as doubling over with laughter and holding

       the stomach, renders the expression more effective.

      Various expressions of joy

      While “joy” is an all-encompassing term for expressions of happiness, it takes various forms.

       Two examples are “a slowly lifting mood” and “a brave smile.”

      This smile expresses the pause of a few seconds

       between a happy occurrence and recognition that

       it has occurred.

      This smile is an expression of self-confidence while looking

       someone squarely in the eye as a display of power.

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