How to Draw Japanese Looking Cartoon Faces

Draw frequently to achieve perfection.

The Japanese cartoon style, also referred to as anime and manga, is popular in many parts of the world. There are sub-genres within anime ranging from realistic renderings to child-like cartoons. Constructing a cartoon face differs from drawing a more realistic-looking face. Proportions for your Japanese-looking cartoon will depend on the makeup of the particular character. The basic technique of sketching an anime face can be adjusted and used for other cartoons.

Instructions

1. Sketch a circle. When drawing a realistic face, you use an oval, but cartoon anime faces can be more squat.

2. Add guidelines by drawing a horizontal line, splitting the circle in half vertically and then a second horizontal line splitting the bottom half of the circle equally.

3. Use the top horizontal line as a position guide to draw anime eyes. Make the eyes much bigger than normal to match the Japanese cartoon style.

4. Draw a smiling mouth, using the bottom horizontal line as a position guide. For female characters, you can add full lips.

5. Put ears on both sides of the head. Ears should be placed where the top horizontal line intersects the original circle.

6. Erase your guide lines and add details such as hair and earrings.

Tips & Warnings

• Draw with a loose hand to achieve a more natural style.

• Use a softer lead pencil for easier sketching.

References

• Drago Art: How to Draw Cartoon Faces
• Drawing Now: How to Draw Manga