How to Draw Japanese Anime

Anime is a popular style of comic, and there are many artists who draw in the anime style. Despite the differences in artists, some elements of anime drawing remain the same.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Eraser
• Ruler
• Circle templates

Instructions

1. Start with the head. The head for anime characters is oval. Begin with an oval and then draw guidelines down the center and across where the eyes will be to maintain perspective. Narrow the chin to a point under the center of the eye line.

2. Exaggerate the eyes. Start with a large circle. Add single line eyelids that wrap around the circle. Anime characters have solid pupils, usually circles or squares. For female characters, add thick, extreme lash strokes. Add specular; that's the white circles or squares that represent light reflection.

3. Use bow lips or a line to show emotion. Most anime characters have a line for a mouth, but in some instances you will want to draw the whole mouth. Using the bow style of lips is best for female characters, but you can use a simplified version for male characters with less emphasis on the bow.

4. Add the hair. Using a thick single color block style with highlight is the quickest way to achieve the anime style.

5. Give your character personality. The personality of your character will dictate most of his expressions. Is the character wild or solemn? Angry or flirty? Study expressions of your favorite characters to get ideas.

Resources

• Manga tutorials
• Anime Tutorials
• How to Draw Manga