5 Top Cartooning Books to Learn How to Draw Characters

Draw inspiration from great illustrators and animators for your own cartoons and comics with this list of books for artists

Do you have an amazing concept for a cartoon show or comic, and dream of bringing it to life? There are a few key ingredients that set a project apart when pitching or sharing your big idea: an engaging world, great story, and perhaps most importantly, a strong line-up of characters.

And to work out these essential details, there’s no better place to turn than history books and how-to guides from artists at iconic studios like Marvel and Disney.

The titles listed below come recommended by Butch Hartman (@butchhartman4), who has worked with studios like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon and has been nominated for several Emmy Awards for his work on iconic shows like The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom.

Butch grew up in Michigan, and spent his Saturday mornings trying to figure out “how to get into the television”. In other words, how to access the world of comics and animation on the other side of the screen! After attending CalArts he worked in storyboarding and other animation jobs, growing and expanding his skills until finally a big pitching opportunity came along, and The Fairly OddParents was born.

Part of his growth came via inspiration from the amazing animators he studied and worked with, and also from the books that filled his mind with possibilities. While you work up a pitch-perfect comic or animation idea of your own, learn from classic creators and discover the range of stories told throughout American cartoon history.

1. How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way, by Stan Lee and John Buscema

It makes sense to start with two titans of the comic world: writer and producer Stan Lee, and artist John Buscema. Covering the basics of American comic art, you’ll learn step by step from these masters using simple figures to study movement, perspective, and anatomy, all the way to producing detailed comic book art. This book has been reprinted several times and is an icon of the how-to genre for comics.

2. Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life, by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston

This book breaks down Disney’s classic animation process, written by two of the company’s most famous animators. Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston share developmental sketches for classic characters such as Mickey Mouse and Bambi, along with many other key drawings from the precious archives of Disney.

Going beyond a simple how-to, the book is a coffee-table classic, readable by anyone with an interest in art and animation.

3. Of Mice and Magic, by Leonard Maltin

Leonard Maltin was a movie critic and animation historian, and in this book he shares a comprehensive history of American cartoons from the 1920s to the 1980s. The book explores the careers of figures like Walt Disney, Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, and Mel Blanc, and is a great primer for anyone wanting to understand the context from which the current American animation scene grew.

4. Animation, by Preston Blair

Commenting on how funny this book is, Butch notes, “I wore out the pages of my copy of this book because I used it so much!” Particularly focused on comedy, this book goes step-by-step through the process of designing lively and unforgettable characters. From mannerisms to the way they walk to dialogue, you’ll learn how to make a character feel “real” and believable.

5. Tex Avery: King of Cartoons, by Joe Adamson

Tex Avery stands out as one of the greatest directors of short cartoons from Hollywood history. Creator of Droopy and instrumental to the creation of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and more, he had excellent storytelling and timing in his animation. His comics were controversial and often the polar opposite to Disney’s, with adult and absurdist themes.

This book features interviews with Avery himself, as well as contributions by other figures from the industry.

Understanding the history of comics, and studying the methods used by historical icons, can be helpful in forging your own path forwards into this competitive yet magical space.

If you dream of building your own cartoon narrative, filled with endearing characters, then take a look at Butch Hartman’s course, Cartoon Characters and Their Universe: Create Another World. To bring them to life, browse our full list of 2D animation courses. Happy drawing!

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- 10 Great Drawing Apps for the iPad
- 3 Illustration Exercises to Unleash Your Imagination
- From Hulk to Watchmen: 5 Fascinating Superhero Comic Facts
- Comic Tutorial: How to Create a Comic Strip
- Character Creation for Animation: Shapes, Color, and Expression, course by Laura Ewing Ferrer