For those of us who are really into anime or manga, drawing is almost a rite of passage. Even if you failed every art class you ever attended, like yours truly, there’s something about the exaggerated expressions, mesmerizingly large eyes, and stress marks that draws you in.
The good news is it’s not as intimidating as it looks. Once you break it down, you’ll actually be surprised by how approachable it is, and this guide will take you from blank paper to anime magic in no time.
Before we dive into the steps, let me introduce you to a handy resource. This anime face drawing tutorial is a much more comprehensive version of what I’ll present below, packed with practical tips that complement everything we’ll go through here.
Now, let’s get started with the absolute basics.
Step 1: Gather Your Tools
Before you start, make sure you have the right tools. Here’s a quick list:
- Pencil: A simple HB pencil will do. You want something that’s easy to erase and doesn’t leave too dark a line.
- Eraser: You’re going to need this a lot, especially when starting out.
- Paper: Any kind of paper works, but a sketchpad is ideal.
- Ruler (optional): If you want those lines to be extra precise, a ruler will help you keep things proportionate.
Got your tools? Let’s move on to the fun part.
Step 2: Start With a Simple Circle
Every masterpiece starts somewhere, and for anime faces, that “somewhere” is a circle. Just draw a nice, clean circle in the middle of your paper. It doesn’t have to be perfect (we’re not trying to be Miyazaki here) but try to make it as round as possible.
You can even grab a cup or lid and trace for that perfect circle if you need to, but I’d recommend free handing to get a feel for it.
This circle will act as a guide for the head. But as you probably noticed, anime heads aren’t perfectly circular, so we’ll need to tweak this in the next step.
Step 3: Add the Jawline and Chin
Now, it’s time to turn that circle into an actual face shape. From the bottom of the circle, draw two lines angling inward toward each other. These will form the jawline. Then, connect them with a small, soft curve to create the chin. Depending on the style of the anime, you can make the chin pointier or more rounded.
Female characters typically have softer, rounder jawlines, while males often have more angular features.
Step 4: Divide the Face With Guidelines
This part may seem a little too technical, but it’s essential for getting the proportions right. Just imagine you’re cutting the face in half, both horizontally and vertically.
- Vertical line: Draw a straight line down the middle of the face. This will help you place the eyes and nose symmetrically.
- Horizontal line: This line should sit slightly below the middle of the circle and help you figure out where to place the eyes.
These are your guiding lines. Don’t press too hard with your pencil so you can erase them later.
Step 5: The Windows to the Anime Soul
Anime eyes are the defining feature of the style, and they can be as detailed or as simple as you want. For beginners, let’s stick to a basic style.
- Positioning: The eyes should sit on the horizontal guideline we drew earlier. As you know, anime eyes are often large, taking up a good chunk of the face. Draw two ovals or circles above the horizontal line on each side of the vertical line. Leave a gap of about an eye’s width between them.
- Shaping the eye: Anime eyes are typically almond-shaped. From the ovals or circles, start outlining the top and bottom eyelids. The top lid will be thicker, while the bottom is a thin, curved line.
- Adding detail: Now, it’s time to bring those eyes to life. Draw a large circle for the iris, then another smaller one for the pupil. To make the eyes appear shiny and expressive, add two small circles to represent highlights, one at the top of the iris and one near the bottom.
- Eyelashes: This is where you can get a bit creative. Anime eyes often have exaggerated lashes. For female characters, you’ll want to draw several thick lashes extending from the upper eyelid. Male characters usually have fewer or less prominent lashes.
Step 6: Draw the Eyebrows
The eyebrows play a big role in expressing emotion in anime, like in all other animation styles, so getting them right is crucial. For now, let’s go with a neutral expression. For female characters, draw thin, slightly curved eyebrows above each eye. For males, you can draw thicker, straighter eyebrows.
Step 7: Add the Nose and Mouth
Anime noses are understated — sometimes, they’re barely there at all. For a front-facing anime face, a simple vertical line or a small “L” shape will suffice. The nose should touch the underside of the vertical guideline, just below eye level.
For the mouth, draw a small horizontal line below the nose. Anime mouths are typically simple, especially when the character isn’t speaking. But if you want to show some emotion, experiment with the curve of the line (a slight upward curve for a smile, a downward curve for sadness).
Step 8: Draw the Ears
The ears can be tiny and subtle or more pronounced, depending on the style you’re going for. Generally, they should start at eye level and end around nose level. A simple curved line on either side of the head will do.
Step 9: Create the Hair
Here’s where you can really let loose. From gravity-defying spikes to flowy locks, anything goes. Start by outlining the basic shape of the hair. For beginners, it’s easiest to draw hair as a bunch of simple, spiky clumps.
- Layer in the hair: Remember, hair has volume! So, start at the roots near the top of the head and work your way outward. Add layers to give it more depth.
- Don’t worry about every strand: Anime hair doesn’t need to show each individual strand. Focus on the overall shape and flow.
Step 10: Final Touches – Shading and Refining
Now that you’ve got the essential features in place, it’s time to add some life to the drawing through shading and refining.
Lightly shade areas of the hair where the light wouldn’t naturally hit. You can also shade in the pupils, leaving the highlight circles unshaded. To refine the face, go over your lines again and clean up the drawing. Erase any guidelines that are no longer needed.
Step 11: Practice Makes Progress
This is your first anime face, but don’t stop here! The key to getting better at drawing is to practice. Draw different facial expressions, try different hairstyles, and experiment with face shapes as you develop your own style!
It’s easy to get discouraged at first, but you’ll notice improvement with every face you draw. Keep practicing; before you know it, you’ll be designing original anime characters.
