How to Draw Anime Swords

A typical anime style sword

Anime swords have huge personalities all their own. Many swords in anime are characters themselves, with their own names.Swords are often central to the storyline as well. Swords like Tetsusaiga, from "InuYasha," Dragonslayer wielded by Guts in "Berserk," and the iconic Blazing Sword wielded by Voltron are all linked intimately with the main characters of their particular anime. Follow along with this simple step by step process to create your very own powerful and dangerous anime sword.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Kneaded eraser

Instructions

1. 

   Begin by drawing the frame of the Anime Sword. Draw a simple diagonal "t" shape. This will serve to mark out the hilt, pommel and blade of the sword.

2. 

   Create the shapes of the sword. Add a long rectangle on the handle of the sword. Add the pommel at the end of the handle with a small rectangular shape. Add the hilt with a wide pentagon shape. Add two small rectangular shapes near on top of the hilt. Create the blade by drawing parallel lines going down from the hilt. Make the blade come to a point at the end with a triangular shape.

3. 

   Draw some more details on the frame of the sword. Add a hoop shape on top of the pommel at the end of the sword. Attach a tassel to this by drawing a flame-like shape coming off the hoop. Create details on the hilt by drawing some curved angles coming off the outside edges of the hilt. Draw some jewels on the sword with small circles on the top of the blade.

4. 

   Create the final details on the frame. Add some lines on the tassel to create the look of individual strands of hair or rope. Add some leather wrapping on the handle with diagonal lines. Create more details on the frame by drawing some small circles inside it. Add to this by drawing parallel lines inside the hilt.

5. 

   Erase all of the guidelines. Create shadows by adding dark lines around where the hilt meets the blade. Darken in the start and end of the tassel. Add more detail to hilt with some dark lines inside the inner shapes of the hilt. Now you have the basic techniques you need to draw any anime sword that you want. You can use this example as a template to construct your own powerful and original anime swords for your own characters.

Tips & Warnings

• Anime swords have bold personalities and designs. They do not need to appear realistic. Don't be afraid to create huge blades, long handles or other unorthodox shapes.

Resources

• A website where anime style swords have been made into real weapons