Speed Lines & Motion
📋 What it is
Speed lines and motion effects show movement and direction, making a still drawing feel fast and full of action.
🗣️ Coach says
How do you show speed in a frozen picture? Speed lines. Streaks trailing behind a character, focus lines bursting from an impact — these motion effects tell your eye “this is moving FAST.” Manga makes a still page race.
🧠 Memory hook
Speed lines = drawn motion. Streaks say “fast,” focus lines say “impact.”
😂 Giggle
Why are manga eyes so big?
Because they're trying to take in the whole story at once!
😲 Whoa!
Focus lines that burst outward from a single point instantly tell your eye where the most important, dramatic action is.
✅ Quick check: What do “speed lines” do in a manga panel?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
They show movement and direction — streaks and focus lines make a still drawing feel fast, dynamic and full of action.
Motion effects are how manga conveys speed on a static page.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Imagine a running character and “draw” the speed lines trailing behind them.