Manga for the Beginner Kawaii: How to Draw the Supercute Characters of Japanese Comics    by Christopher Hart Order:  USA  Can Watson-Guptill, 2012 (2012) Softcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Bob Walch If you are a kawaii fan, this guide will show you how to draw a whole range of manga style figures from squeezable, lovable monsters and animals to chubby chibis, fantasy pets and elegant teen girls. You'll also find irresistible foods like pastries, ice cream cones and other sweets that you can draw with the iconic kawaii-style charm and personality. The simple instructions and visual examples Christopher Hart provides will make it possible for the beginning artist to fashion his or her own characters and scenes. This easy-to-follow guide offers a wide variety of character tutorials that not only let you create your own characters but also color them. After explaining the basics (proportions, eye types, full figures, positioning a character) there are chapters on essential kawaii types (cute girls, animal cuties, fantasy characters, gothic cuties), adorable anthros (Tiger Boy, Wolf Girl, Trendy Rabbit, Goth with Bat Wings) and the dark side (evil dolls, grim reapers, skeleton critters). Other sections include cute animals and fantasy creatures, good mood food, moe style and putting it all together in scenes or greeting cards. Full color examples of each finished character illustrate exactly what a completed character should look like and these images alone are worth the price of the book. In Japan, kawaii not only refers to supercute characters but also to a genre of elegantly drawn older teen girls. Called moe, these characters are drawn with a high level of femininity and you'll find examples of this art form here as well. Artists and those who love Japanese comics will find this book fascinating. Even if you don't plan to try drawing these characters, this is still a book you'll enjoy reading and sharing with friends. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews