How to Draw Female Anime Figures for Beginners

An example of the female figure.

Japanese anime tends to portray female characters as well-endowed people with delicate personalities. Large eyes, small hands and feet are recurring traits in drawings rendered of females anime characters. Hairstyles range from simple bob haircuts, to elaborate headdresses with the hair intertwined. Draw the female anime by beginning with a rough set of guidelines and slowly adding more refinement. The technique is similar to figure drawing, but the details used in finishing your drawing set it apart as anime.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper

Instructions

1. Draw a circle for the head. Add a small triangle pointing down at the bottom of the circle as a guide for the chin.

2. Add skeletal guidelines for the limbs of your character. Create a dainty pose for your character. Erase and redraw lines as necessary until you are pleased with the results.

3. Add a trapezoid that is wider at the top to outline the rough shape of the shoulders and chest. Sketch rough circles near the bottom of the trapezoid to delineate the breasts.

4. Draw an upside-down pentagon to show the shape of the abdomen and hips. The top of the pentagon should be the same size as the bottom of the chest trapezoid. Together they will start to show the hourglass shape of the female figure.

5. Flesh out your character by sketching the arms and legs. Use cylinders or long ovals to rough out the shape of the arms and legs.

6. Use the structure you have created to guide you while rounding out the shoulders waist and hips. refine the lines in your character. Remember to add the shape of the ribcage and the extra bump in the hips created by the pelvic bone.

7. Sketch a horizontal line in the center of the head to show the position of the eyes.

8. Draw big eyes with large pupils in the common anime style. Make reflection highlights in the eyes to bring your character's expression to life.

9. Add the nose and mouth. Draw a "C" shape to make a button nose. Make the mouth open in an "o" shape to show surprise.

10. Add final details. Draw the hair and add clothing to your character as desired. Make the hair short and spiky by tracing the rough shape of the head with a jagged line.

Tips & Warnings

• Study pictures of hair styles for inspiration completing the look of your character.

• Add some asymmetry to the female form to make it look more natural.

References

• Drago Art: How to Draw Anime Females