Got a Pencil? Let Us Guide You in Drawing Anime!

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Got a Pencil? Let Us Guide You in Drawing Anime

by Jamie Lee
Updated: Dec. 7, 2021
Originally Published: Sep. 2, 2021

Drawing can be quite a challenging skill to master. It can be incredibly frustrating to make sure that eyes are the same size (and positioned correctly) and that fingers don’t end up looking like oversized sausages. Many people struggle to develop this skill, often producing art that resembles a child’s work. Therefore, we deeply admire anyone who aspires to be an artist and takes on the challenge of drawing. If you’re interested in learning how to draw anime, even more respect to you! It’s a fascinating art form that allows for creativity and pays tribute to Japanese culture.

Before you embark on your anime drawing adventure, there are a few key aspects to consider. Anime features a distinctive style with certain hallmark characteristics. To effectively illustrate in this style, you should master these specific elements. For example, anime characters typically have heads that are slightly oversized in comparison to their bodies, and their eyes are often much larger than what’s considered normal. Hair is usually depicted in unique styles and sometimes in vibrant, unnatural colors, especially in Kawaii culture, where girls often adopt pastel-colored hairstyles reminiscent of anime characters. While mouths in anime are generally small and simple in about 90% of images, they can also be exaggerated at times. Additionally, the emotional expressions of anime characters are often amplified; for instance, a humorous character might transition from a subtle smile to an enormous grin that dominates their face, while tears can be as large as their eyes.

So, how do you start drawing anime?

Following a few straightforward guidelines can significantly enhance your ability to achieve the anime look.

Begin with the Head

As mentioned earlier, anime heads tend to be slightly disproportionate to their bodies. It’s advisable to start with a large circle or semi-circle for the head, then taper down to a point for the chin. You can also add loops for the ears about two-thirds of the way up from the bottom of your circle. When drawing hair, remember that simplicity is key; even with a wild, towering mohawk, focus on minimalism rather than realism or excessive line detail.

Emphasize Eye Size

The eyes play a crucial role in conveying emotion for animated characters. Disney’s Moana exemplifies this with her large, expressive eyes. If they were smaller, the emotional weight might not be as apparent.

Simplify Facial Features

What action is your character performing? Unless you’re illustrating a significant emotional moment, keep the nose and mouth small and uncomplicated, often just a line or two. For dramatic moments, be sure to amplify the size of the mouth.

Anime Lips Illustrations

While expressive eyes are vital, lips are also important for conveying emotion in anime. This video tutorial can guide you in creating various mouth shapes that enhance your character’s expression. Drawing lips may seem simple, but this video will show you specific techniques to make them more nuanced.

Sketch the Body

When you move on to the rest of your character, keep the oversized head in mind; this is a fundamental aspect of anime drawing. The tutorial below provides an excellent guide for creating basic male and female anime anatomy. Mastering this will give you a strong foundation for developing future characters.

Learn the Details

The guidelines above are merely general rules for sketching typical anime characters, but they don’t cover everything. Like any art style, there are numerous nuances to explore before you can truly identify as an “artist” in this technique.

Anime encompasses a wide range of genres, including josei, kodomomuke, seinen, shojo, and shonen, each catering to different audiences and storytelling styles. These distinctions will naturally influence the artwork.

Need Additional Guidance?

Sometimes, following instructions can be challenging to fully grasp. If you’re looking for help, this instructional video on how to draw anime is particularly user-friendly.

Did you follow along? How did your drawings turn out?

Utilize Anime Drawing Apps

Once you’ve grasped the basics of this unique Japanese art form, consider elevating your skills with specialized apps. These software options can help you enhance your drawings by adding features and more authenticity. Some popular options include Adobe Fresco, Adobe Photoshop CC, Clip Studio Paint, Corel Painter, MediBang Paint, PaintTool SAI, and Procreate.

Tips for Drawing Anime

Watching episodes of your favorite anime can help you study the art style, making it easier to draw characters on your own.
Avoid tracing; this practice will help you develop your own skills.
Don’t shy away from constructive criticism.
Practice drawing a variety of characters, including men and women.

This article was originally published on Sep. 2, 2021.

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Summary:

This guide provides an overview of how to draw anime, emphasizing key characteristics such as oversized heads, exaggerated eye sizes, and simplified facial features. It covers initial steps like sketching the head and body, as well as the importance of learning specific details about different anime styles. For those looking to enhance their skills, the article suggests using various drawing apps and watching anime to study styles.