Which of this Character Makers is better or flexible?

[SFC - Kuragari299]

Hello everyone!
I like to write novels with Office Word, but I'm writing a new novel and I'd like to do it different from the others I've written. I saw the TyranoBuilder and I decided to make my novel like a visual novel. The problem is that I have no idea how to draw in paper or computer, so I'm looking for a program that allows me to create my characters. I want an anime style 'cause I think it's the most easy in other words (I can't use 3D and anime in the same visual novel). That is a problem that I can solve with many programs, but the real problem is that the main characters are from the Dead Or Alive games and most of the secondary characters are, for example, from Metal Gear Rising, NekoPara, Naruto, Bleach and many other series and games (PD: I'm not thinking of publish my visual novel when finished due to copyright, of course, its only for me and maybe my friends).
I have a list of programs that I can use, but don't know which is the most flexible, easy or simple:
-CharacterManaJ
-IIcharacter
-Manga Maker
-Fuse
-Manga Studio
-Daz Studio
-3D Girl
-KHmix
I'd like to know which of these has more assets, customization options, etc. And if I can edit those assets on my own (for example, to make Raiden from Metal Gear Rising; maybe anyone did it).
Also, I'd like to know if any of those programs allows me to make CGs and backgrounds.
Thanks!

Note: I know there is a post where I can find links for assets and others.

[Sgt. Pepper]

Fuse was bought out by adobe so its future is yet unknown. Its not bad software but I would not use it for anything long term

Are you looking for real look, anima toon 2d 3d

I notice some of your options require drawing (Manga studio) while others are modeling software Which do you perfer

[SFC - Kuragari299]

Publicado originalmente por nmargie21122:

Fuse was bought out by adobe so its future is yet unknown. Its not bad software but I would not use it for anything long term

Are you looking for real look, anima toon 2d 3d

I notice some of your options require drawing (Manga studio) while others are modeling software Which do you perfer

Well, I'm new on this, so I don't know which I'm gonna use.
Like you said, maybe I will draw some parts on my own, but I'll need a pre-made asset. That's why I'm asking for which of those have more pre-made assets (besides, I know that I can search for more).
Do you think is a good idea use a modeling software and then the Manga Studio for get what I want?
By the way, how works the Anima Toon that you said?

[Sgt. Pepper]

Let me break this up - starting with 3d software
When I say anima toon I mean animating a 3d model so it looks like a cartoon
If you want to use 3d models you have

Da3d
Pros
Free
offers easy character creation
Iray render gives life like resaults
Creating content (hats and other things is easy to do with tools like blender)
Characters are pre rigged so posing them is simple
Cons
Da makes it money selling add ons (characters, clothig and such) if you do not want to make your own stuff (it does come with a few free things including base characters) it can cost alot

Blender
Pros
Free
A large number of resources and training
Plenty of free models online
can do toon rending without any add ons
Unlike daz, makehuman and Fuse Blender is a modleing tool so you can make anything with it

Cons
Blender is not a character creator so if you want to make one, you start from scratch
Blender does not auto rig so you will have to rig if you want to pose your character


Fuse
Free
Character creator with a lot of free things (clothing for example)
Free auto rigging from the website
(until the adobe take over is complete) you get 20 free animations as well

Cons
It is a pain to make items to add. Unlike Da and blendeer fuse has set requirments on uvs and such
Not sure what will happen with the Adobe take over
Unlike Blender or daz you can not render your character in fuse- meaning you will need to import them into blender, daz or any other tool so you can render the image for your game

With that
If you want quick realistic look go with Daz
If you want the standerd quick basic go with Fuse
If you need something that you cna make anything and may want that hand drawn toon look go Blender (NOTE daz has toon shadding but not as simple as blender)

What you could do is download fuse (it is free) see if it got the assets you need. That may be enough for you

[Sgt. Pepper]

OK 2d Art programs

Manga studio is a 2d program used for much more than writing (drawing) manga
(Note they are on manga studio 5 right now. Up to version 4 they had two types manga studio debute (basic) and Manga studio EX (which was the professional edition) With 5 the pro edition only has a few etra things over the standard (they dropped the name debute)
The reason I bring this up is because manga studio 5 basic is about 40, you can buy manga studio 4ex for 20 on Amaon.com. You wil have to decide which would be best for you)

I would recommend you look at two other apps (both on steam)

Open canvas is a nice drawing progam- they offer a demo that is 120 days long from their website (also check before oyu buy, they are on open canvas 6 but not long ago if you by open canvase 5.5 you got 6 for free)
One really cool thing about open canvas it records as you draw and people sometime upload those recordings so you can watch in real time to see how the person created the artwork


Artrage is a drawing program but also offers more realistic painting

if you do not need advanced drawing features you can always sue gimp which is free
(so manga maker 4 or 5 or artrage or Open canvase or Gimp)

When you say Manga maker I take it you are tlaking Camipo (hope I said that right) that is not a drawying application as much as it is a asset manager/ manga book creator. Like Tyran it is more for people who hae the assets and are ready to put them to work.
To compare manga maker to manga studio

In studio you have a blank page that you draw on
In maker you have a blank page that you drag and drop your assets onto

[SFC - Kuragari299]

Ok, after hours of thinking, I decided this:
I'll use MikuMikuDance to get the characters, position them, give them expressions and get the images I want.
And DAZ3D and Fuse to create my own characters and do the backgrounds and CGs.
But then, I realize that sometimes a character will have a costume from another and I can't swap the default by the new in MMD (I think...).
If I can't do that, maybe I should do all in anime style using the Manga Studio to get the positions and draw all the characters (I'll have to make an effort and draw them on my own; my problem is draw the proportions and positions, not the details I think XD).
Man, I don't know how I will do it... >_<
Thanks for helping me anyway! :D

[The Gat]

I dont know if someone mentioned this, but there is a anime 3D game called artificial academy 2 (its hentai, so be careful), it has a lot of customization options, and mod support, thus expanding the possibilities.
In case that you want to make both male and female models, give it a try, it might be hard to install, but the game itself is quite easy to understand

[Sgt. Pepper]

manga maker 5 allows you to import a 3d model

So what you can do is pose a model (any model) in daz blender and import it into manga studio as a guide to drawing

Manga also has tools to help with prespectivel

[Sgt. Pepper]

Publicado originalmente por Emilioski:

I dont know if someone mentioned this, but there is a anime 3D game called artificial academy 2 (its hentai, so be careful), it has a lot of customization options, and mod support, thus expanding the possibilities.
In case that you want to make both male and female models, give it a try, it might be hard to install, but the game itself is quite easy to understand

I seen people talk baout that over on the manga maker forums. Not a bad tools but I was not sure of the terms or licensing of them

[The Gat]

Publicado originalmente por nmargie21122:

Publicado originalmente por Emilioski:

I dont know if someone mentioned this, but there is a anime 3D game called artificial academy 2 (its hentai, so be careful), it has a lot of customization options, and mod support, thus expanding the possibilities.
In case that you want to make both male and female models, give it a try, it might be hard to install, but the game itself is quite easy to understand

I seen people talk baout that over on the manga maker forums. Not a bad tools but I was not sure of the terms or licensing of them

The game was meant to be only sold in japan, so i dont really know if it affects

[SFC - Kuragari299]

Publicado originalmente por Emilioski:

I dont know if someone mentioned this, but there is a anime 3D game called artificial academy 2 (its hentai, so be careful), it has a lot of customization options, and mod support, thus expanding the possibilities.
In case that you want to make both male and female models, give it a try, it might be hard to install, but the game itself is quite easy to understand

Well, more than a character maker, its a game itself...
But thanks, another game to my list XD

Publicado originalmente por nmargie21122:

manga maker 5 allows you to import a 3d model

So what you can do is pose a model (any model) in daz blender and import it into manga studio as a guide to drawing

Manga also has tools to help with prespectivel

Yeah, I saw that option, but didn't know that I can import a model.
Thanks for that!

[Sgt. Pepper]

I beleive 4 and 5 both have that option

pose it and import it into manga studio as a reference

[SFC - Kuragari299]

Oh, yes, I have 1 last question:
Which is the easy way to do the facial expressions without re-draw the character again?
I was thinking on save the character without eyes and mouth like a base, then draw them and save the character with another name to not lose the base.
Is there another easy way to do it?