Glenn Vilppu, one of the most influential drawing instructors of the past 50 years, will lead a two-day seminar in Shinjuku, Tokyo on September 19–20, 2026.
A former layout artist for Disney, Warner Bros., and Marvel Productions, and long-time instructor at Walt Disney Animation Studios and DreamWorks, Vilppu has shaped generations of professional artists. In this intensive seminar he will share his clear, practical approach to figure drawing—focusing on gesture, anatomy, and composition.
Open to artists of every level. Every participant receives direct feedback and personal critique.
A rare chance to study with a true industry legend.
Register Today and include the Discount Code: KICSTUDIO26 and Receive a 10% discount!
This discount code expires August 17, 2026
スペシャルオファー！
今すぐご登録いただき、割引コード KICSTUDIO26 をご入力ください。
10%オフになります！
割引コードの有効期限は 2026年8月17日 までです。
Learn Gesture Drawing and Quick Sketching from a Master
Glenn Vilppu, one of the most influential drawing instructors of the past 50 years, will lead a one day seminar in Shinjuku, Tokyo on September 27, 2026.
A former layout artist for Disney, Warner Bros., and Marvel Productions, and long-time instructor at Walt Disney Animation Studios and DreamWorks, Vilppu has shaped generations of professional artists.
In this seminar he will share his clear, practical approach to gesture drawing and how to draw human figures quickly and effectively that tells a story.
Open to artists of every level. Every participant receives direct feedback and personal critique.
A rare chance to study with a true industry legend.
November 16th from 1:00PM to 4:00PM , I will be giving figure drawing instruction at the Sokei Academy of Fine Art and Design! This figure drawing class is open to EVERYONE. Attendees range from students, illustrators, animators, instructors and even beginners. Please come and join me for a fun drawing session! Please see https://www.sokeiabroad.com/figuredrawing for details!
We are excited to have Ai Kumamoto as our guest model!
Glenn Vilppu will return to Tokyo for a two weekend drawing seminar March 24th, 30th, 31st. Glenn Vilppu has been a drawing teacher for over 50 years. He is considered one of the world's leading art instructors in draftsmanship. He has taught at the Disney Animation Studio, Dreamworks and Warner Bros. animation studios and many other leading animation studios. He is still sought by students and professionals today and considered the best drawing instructor in the industry of animation or graphic arts.
Link: https://eventregistration.ctnadmin.com/event_details.php?id=418 TIMEZONES: Friday, January 21, 2022, 6 pm - 8 pm, LOS ANGELES Friday, January 21, 2022, 9 pm - 11 pm, NEW YORK Saturday, January 22, 2022, 11 am - 1 pm, JAPAN Saturday, January 22, 2022, 7:30 am - 9:30 am, INDIA Saturday, January 22, 2022, 10 am - 12 pm, CHINA (Subject to Change)
As we launch into a new era of global creativity, collaboration and support for artists, CTN brings creative communities together from around the world to join hands to better help enrich artists in our combined communities. MASTER DRAWING JAPANhas exciting plans to share its amazing magic with CTN supporting each other in a common language that connects artists on a level that all artists can connect on. 私たちは、世界的に新しいものを生み出すクリエイティブな活動やアーティストとのコラボレーション、アーティストをサポートする時代に突入した。CTNは、世界中のそれらに関するコミュニティを結集し、あらゆるアーティストの活動をより活発にするために協力します。 MASTER DRAWING JAPANはCTNと協力して、皆さんにあらゆるレベルのアーティストとつながることができる貴重な機会を提供いたします。
DESCRIPTION: This session entitled, WUSHU - The Martial Way, will present the spirit of Chinese Kung Fu through expressive and dramatic poses. Model: Keisuke Wakita (脇田圭佑), a champion-level practitioner of Chinese Kung Fu systems known as Wushu and Tai Chi Chuan. In Japan he is dedicated to spreading the art of Chinese martial arts through his instruction, demonstrations and stage performances. More can be learned about him at: https://wackey04.wixsite.com/mylife
The poses will be 1 minute, 5 minute, and 10 minute along with moving poses. We invite the global animation industry to come draw with our Ninja Sketch Warriors for 2 hours.
CTN ARTIST ENRICHMENT ART BOOK RAFFLE At the end of this session, a lucky artist will be chosen at random to receive a surprise special art book. (NOTE: You must be present in this webinar to be eligible to participate in the art book raffle)
This is maybe is a touchy subject. However we shouldn't lie about what is true and what we "see". おそらくこれはデリケートなテーマです。しかし、私たちは何が真実で何を「見ている」かを偽ってはいけません。
What are the idea human figure proportions? 理想的な人体プロポーションとは？ "Wow, you have such a small face!" ずいぶん顔が小さいわね！
If you are a westerner living in Japan (like myself), you will hear that odd sounding compliment at least once during your stay here. 西洋人が日本に滞在すると（私がそうです）、この少し奇妙は誉め言葉を滞在中に1度は耳にすることになります。 Japanese nationals tend to think esterners have small heads to compliment their supposed "ideal looking" bodies. Small heads, long legs etc. 日本人は、西洋人は「理想的とする外観」の体に、小さな頭が乗っていると思っているのです。小さい頭、長い脚など。
I think it’s a matter of individual point of view of what is ideal. 私は、それは何を理想とするかの個人的な見方の問題だと思います。
It's important to have an understanding of the proportions of our figures so we can draw them accurately or exaggerate them if necessary. 人間の体のプロポーションを理解するのは、正確に描くためにも、必要に応じて誇張を加えるためにも必要なことです。
Often schools teaching fine art use western looking figures with generally western features and proportions. 美術学校では、一般に西洋人の特徴とプロポーションを備えた、西洋の人体を使用しています。
We should note that these proportions will differ from one ethnic group to the other. These things are determined by genetics, diet, generation and even perhaps culture. The average American like myself, might be about 7 and a half heads tall in measurement. However in Japan the average man in this generation may be around 6 and a half heads high. プロポーションは、民族によって異なります。これらは、遺伝要素、食生活、世代、おそらく文化によって左右されます。私のような平均的なアメリカ人は、約7.5頭身のプロポーションです。しかし、日本では現代の平均的な男性は、約6.5頭身のプロポーションです。
If you already have a sense on what the average proportions of humans are, then it's not so important to labor over it. However, if you don't it's very important that you do. 人間の平均的なプロポーションがわかっていれば、プロポーションについてそれほど苦労することはありません。ただし、わかっていないなら、理解すべきです。 In order to break the rules you have to know the rules! ルールを破るには、ルールを知る必要があるのです！
As I noted before, the average human proportions are about 7.5 heads high....(not so impressive)
前にも述べたように、平均的な人間は約7.5頭身です。（それほど印象的ではありません）
However, an "ideal" human would have proportions about 8 heads high. This is better, but essentially there is no "commentary" on the figure. No story.
However when we get into figures being more than 8 heads high, now we are getting into beyond what is normal. Now we are going into the figure looking dramatic and their proportions express they are more than the average or ideal human.
Please note these two examples of two people from "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" illustrated by John Buscema.
ジョン・ビュセマの著書「How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way」の2人の人物を見てください。
The figure below is a "superhero" but his physical build is supposed to be that of an "average man". However note how "heroic" he looks. He is designed 8 and 3/4 heads high. This was done for the effect of drama.
The above character's spouse is also supposed to be an "average woman" but she is also 8 and 3/4 heads tall, despite she is written as a kind of "superhero's housewife". These proportions make her more impressive and appealing to the viewer. John Buscema made a statement in her design but without departing too far from the feeling of realism.
This superhero is only 6 heads high! But he doesn't look weak does he? So what is happening here? Making him six heads high helps make the character more broad in design...implying strength and power.
This gangster named "The Kingpin" (also from Marvel Comics) is supposed to stand about 2 meters in height but he is only 5 heads tall! So imagine how massive he would be standing next to you.
Essentially where we are going is into the realm of caricature. But not in the interest of being funny.
私はつまり、カリカチュアの領域に入ろうというのです。しかし、面白おかしくするためではありません。
Artist Bill Sienkiewicz took his design of The Kingpin even further to the point of abstraction.
アーティストのビル・シェンキェヴィチは、キングピンのデザインを抽象化の領域にまで押し進めました。
Despite being absurd and surreal it's quite effective in making a visual statement The Kingpin's overwhelming presence. So effective that his designs inspired his animated film depiction.
Here is a size chart from Walt Disney's Peter Pan. Note the actual size of the children's heads are smaller than the adult's heads. Both the younger and older female measure about 5 and 1/2 heads tall.
Another note about average proportions: Generally the length people's hands and feet are about the same size as their heads. Note the sizes of the hands and feet of all the characters vary. Note how small the father's (John Darling) feet are in contrast to his head, making him look quite large. Note how small Wendy and Mary Darling's hands are in contrast to their heads. making them seem even more feminine and gentle.
Mickey Mouse is famous for measuring 2 and 1/2 or 3 heads high. Basically these are the proportions of a child. That might be the reason why he is so instantly appealing to audiences. Note Donald Duck also measures about 3 heads high but his head is smaller making him actually shorter than Mickey.
This proportion design was used over and over again at Disney as we can see with its earlier films like Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and others.
ピノキオ、白雪姫と七人のこびとなど、このプロポーションデザインは、名作映画で何度も使用されました。
Most Disney Princess type characters stand about 5 and 1/2 heads tall. This forces the design to make the body slender but the head a little larger, drawing more attraction to the face and eyes.
Here is size comparison chart from Disney's Aladdin. Note the proportions of the characters in contrast to the other characters. What do you think it says about them? Do you feel a sense of character or story about them based on their size and shape?
In closing I would like to say that how we design our figures greatly comes from how we see them. When I say "see", I am referring to our personal point of view.
What we see in American illustration, comics, art or animation greatly is influenced by what Americans see or want to see. The same goes for Japanese illustration, comics and animation as well.
