You've researched your character extensively, tailored her to your audience, sketched hundreds of versions, and now you lean back content as you gaze at your final character model sheet. But now what? Whether you want to use her in an animated film, television show, video game, web comic, or children's book, you're going to have to make her perform. How a character looks and is costumed starts to tell her story, but her body language reveals even more. Character Mentor shows you how to pose your character, create emotion through facial expressions, and stage your character to create drama. Author Tom Bancroft addresses each topic with clear, concise prose, and then shows you what he really means through commenting on and redrawing artwork from a variety of student "apprentices." His assignments allow you to join in and bring your drawing to the next level with concrete techniques, as well as more theoretical analysis. Character Mentor is an apprenticeship in a book. Professional artists from a variety of media offer their experience through additional commentary. These include Marcus Hamilton (Dennis the Menace), Terry Dodson (X-Men), Bobby Rubio (Pixar), Sean "Cheeks" Galloway (Spiderman animated), and more. With a foreword by comicbook artist Adam Hughes, who has produced work for DC, Marvel Comics, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros. Pictures, and other companies.

A young immigrant girl's story and a battle between a fantastical kingdom and earth collide in this first book of the Tomo graphic novel series, where thirteen-year-old orphan Hana must leave Japan for a new life in America. Her arrival complicates not only her life, but that of a group of animal-like beings who are searching for an ancient sword. Winner of the Moonbeam Award bronze medal for comics and graphic novels Following the death of her mother, Hana is forced to move to San Francisco to live with a grandfather she has never met. While her grandpa is kind and welcoming, and has a cute raccoon named Tomo, the only place Hana feels at home is in his dojo, where she further hones her martial arts technique. Then she meets Brittany, a girl who could become a good friend ... but Brittany also has friends who want to see Hana fail at any cost. At the same time, in the kingdom of Argon Falls, the bull-like Lord Ardath and his fox warriors search for a sword that will cement Ardath's rule and give him ultimate control ... and a special portal has led him directly to San Francisco. I Was an Eighth-Grade Ninja: is perfect for readers 10 and up was created by veteran animators from Disney Animation Studios features diverse characters, including an Asian main character contains kid-friendly, anime-like illustrations and a relatable plot will appeal to fans of Studio Ghibli, Jen Wang, and graphic novels

Discoveries about the past, deceptions at school, and divisions in the kingdom---what a day Hana finds out she s more than just a good fighter and a true friend---she learns how her coming into Argon Falls fulfills a prophecy. Tomo reveals Hana s past to her, telling about her parents and the mysterious stranger responsible for the warfare in this other dimension. And while Hana deals with Argon Falls, Brittany covers for her at school, setting out to clear Hana s name."

Hana may have settled into her new life in America, but in this second volume of the Tomo graphic novel series, she must face challenges at school and at home when her two rivals seek to frame her for cheating and fox warriors arrive to find the sword she is tasked to keep hidden. And once her grandfather reveals more of the prophecy linked to the sword, Hana learns she must train in the dojo like never before. Things have stabilized since her move from Japan and the attack on her grandfather's dojo in San Francisco, and thirteen-year-old Hana is enjoying time with her new friend Brittany, martial arts training, and getting to know her grandfather's quirky raccoon "pet," Tomo. But little does she know what lies ahead. Brittany's old friends are still angry at Hana for "stealing" Brittany away, and have plans to get their revenge by framing Hana as a cheater. At the same time, fox warriors from the fantastical world of Argon Falls have returned through the portal and are intent on getting the spirit sword for their master, no matter the cost. And when her grandfather reveals Hana's role in a prophecy that links Argon Falls and Earth, and one of Tomo's secrets is revealed, Hana realizes her problems may have just begun. My Double-Edged Life: is perfect for readers 10 and up was created by veteran animators from Disney Animation Studios features diverse characters, including an Asian main character contains kid-friendly, anime-like illustrations and a relatable plot will appeal to fans of Studio Ghibli, Jen Wang, and graphic novels

You've researched your character extensively, tailored her to your audience, sketched hundreds of versions, and now you lean back content as you gaze at your final character model sheet. But now what? Whether you want to use her in an animated film, television show, video game, web comic, or children's book, you're going to have to make her move. Sure, there are mechanics involved in that movement, but what's most important is the emotion and drama you convey through her motions. How a character looks and is costumed starts to tell her story, but her body language reveals even more. Character Motion Mentor shows you how to pose your character, create emotion through facial expressions, and stage your character to create drama. Author Tom Bancroft addresses each topic with clear, concise prose, and then shows you what he really means through commenting on and redrawing artwork from a variety of "animation apprentices." His assignments allow you to join in and bring your drawing to the next level with concrete techniques, as well as more theoretical analysis. Character Motion Mentor is an apprenticeship in a book. Professional artists from a variety of media offer their experience through additional commentary. These include Marcus Hamilton (Dennis the Menace), Terry Dodson (X-Men), Bobby Rubio (Pixar), Buck Lewis (Disney/Dreamworks), and more. With a foreword by comicbook artist Adam Hughes, who has produced work for DC, Marvel Comics, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros. Pictures, and othe companies.

Having entered Argon Falls, Hana meets her spoiler and grieves for people suffering under oppression. The time arrives to employ her skills and the Spirit Sword as she and Tomo pursue deadly assassins returning to earth to remove the source of protective prayer. As the struggle against evil and oppression continues in book five, Hana learns that, because of the power of prayer, not all warriors fight with fists and swords.

Hana would be like any other thirteen-year-old immigrant trying to fit into life at an American school, but she also battles hostile, animal-like warriors from the dimension of Argon Falls. In discovering secrets about her identity and her past, Hana bravely faces her enemies and realizes her divinely-given purpose. As secrets come to light in this world, darkness ensnares another. After fending off assassins, Hana reveals the story about Argon Falls to her friends in San Francisco. But Pastor James teachers her and Tomo about something even more important---forgiveness and new life. Hana s time here will get cut short, however, when the enemy encircles her family members in a trap back in Argon Falls."

The action moves from San Francisco to Argon Falls, where Hana learns that the enemy wants to steal the Spirit Sword from her to completely enslave the citizens. In preparing for battle, she will learn that, even after one s training is complete, there are still lessons to be learned."