For students in grades 5 – 12
Mondays, 4:30 – 6:00pm. September 29, 2025 – May 11, 2026
No class on 12/22/25, 12/29/25, 1/19/26 & 2/16/2026
Financial Assistance Available: Headwaters Financial Assistance Application
Unlock your child’s imagination with the only Manga and Animation program in the Bemidji area. The Manga & Animation Art Club immerses students in the dynamic world of Japanese-style comic art while introducing the exciting fundamentals of animation. Students will grow as illustrators, storytellers, and character designers while building confidence and community.
What Students Will Learn
Through engaging lessons, participants will:
Develop illustration skills with line work, shading, and composition
Create original characters and manga stories
Share and critique their work in a supportive, creative community
Animation Skills
In addition to drawing and storytelling, students will explore the art of animation, including:
Frame-by-frame basics – how drawings create motion
Timing and spacing – giving movement rhythm and flow
Squash & stretch – making characters feel alive and expressive
Facial expressions & emotions – bringing characters’ personalities to life
Storyboarding & scene design – planning out animated sequences
Digital animation tools – layering, special effects, and exporting short clips
Students are encouraged to bring tablets if available, though they are not required. Those who do will gain hands-on experience animating digitally.
✨ By the end of the program, students will not only build technical skills but also the creative confidence of seeing their stories and characters come to life.
For students in grades 5 – 12
Mondays, 4:30 – 6:00pm. September 29, 2025 – May 11, 2026
No class on 12/22/25, 12/29/25, 1/19/26 & 2/16/2026
Financial Assistance Available: Headwaters Financial Assistance Application
Unlock your child’s imagination with the only Manga and Animation program in the Bemidji area. The Manga & Animation Art Club immerses students in the dynamic world of Japanese-style comic art while introducing the exciting fundamentals of animation. Students will grow as illustrators, storytellers, and character designers while building confidence and community.
What Students Will Learn
Through engaging lessons, participants will:
Develop illustration skills with line work, shading, and composition
Create original characters and manga stories
Share and critique their work in a supportive, creative community
Animation Skills
In addition to drawing and storytelling, students will explore the art of animation, including:
Frame-by-frame basics – how drawings create motion
Timing and spacing – giving movement rhythm and flow
Squash & stretch – making characters feel alive and expressive
Facial expressions & emotions – bringing characters’ personalities to life
Storyboarding & scene design – planning out animated sequences
Digital animation tools – layering, special effects, and exporting short clips
Students are encouraged to bring tablets if available, though they are not required. Those who do will gain hands-on experience animating digitally.
✨ By the end of the program, students will not only build technical skills but also the creative confidence of seeing their stories and characters come to life.
