Anime Drawing Tutorial: Get Down the Basics!

Anime, or Japanese cartoons, is an art form known for its distinctive characters and vibrant storytelling. Furthermore, anime consists of many artistic styles for you to explore. Although having a basic understanding of anatomy is helpful, you can dive into anime art even if you’re a complete beginner to art. This blog will guide you through fundamental techniques and concepts to help you get started with anime drawing.

Understanding Anime Style

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Before you start drawing, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the anime style. Anime is characterized by its unique visual features, including:

• Exaggerated Features: Characters often have large, expressive eyes, small mouths, and distinctive hairstyles.
• Simplified Anatomy: While body proportions are simplified compared to realistic drawings, anime characters still adhere to a general anatomy structure.
• Dynamic Poses: Anime art frequently depicts characters in dynamic and dramatic poses to convey emotion and action.
  

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Gather Your Supplies

To start your anime drawing journey, you’ll need some basic supplies:

• Pencil and Eraser: For sketching and refining your work. A mechanical pencil can be handy for precise lines.
• Paper: Use a sketchbook or drawing paper suitable for your medium.
• Inking Pens: Consider types of pens to outline your sketches with clean, definitive lines. Use inking pens with different nib sizes for variety.
• Coloring Tools: You can choose to blend colored pencils, use alcohol-based markers, or draw with digital tools if you’re working on a tablet.

Start with Basic Shapes

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Drawing anime characters begins with simple shapes. These shapes form the basic structure of your character and help maintain proper proportions:

• Head: Start with a circle for the head. You can then divide it into sections to place facial features accurately.
• Body: Use an oval or rectangle for the torso, and add lines for the limbs. Basic shapes like circles and rectangles help in constructing the arms, legs, and torso.
• Guidelines: Draw light lines to indicate the character’s posture and the direction they are facing. These lines will guide the placement of facial features and limbs.

Drawing the Face

The face is a crucial element of anime characters. Here’s how to approach drawing it:

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• Eyes: Anime eyes are often large and expressive. Start by drawing the basic shape of the eyes, then add details like the iris, pupil, and highlights. The shape and positioning of the eyes significantly affect the character’s expression.
• Nose and Mouth: The nose is usually small and simplistic, often just a small line or triangle. The mouth is typically a small, curved line, though its shape and position can vary based on the character’s mood.
• Hair: Anime hair is often styled in exaggerated and dynamic ways. Start with basic shapes for the hair and then add individual strands or locks.

Constructing the Body

With the basic shapes and face in place, you can now construct the body:

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• Proportions: The typical anime character’s body is proportioned differently from real life. For instance, the head is usually larger in relation to the body. A common guideline is that the character’s body is about 6-7 heads tall. There are also small versions of anime characters called “chibis” they are around 3-4 heads tall!
  

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• Limbs: Draw the arms and legs using cylindrical shapes. Use circles for the joints (shoulders, elbows, knees).
• Clothing: Add clothing details based on the character’s design. Start with basic outlines and then refine them with folds, creases, and accessories.

Inking Your Drawing

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Once your sketch is complete and you’re satisfied with the proportions and details, it’s time to ink your drawing:

• Outline: Use inking pens to carefully trace over your pencil lines. This step gives your drawing clean, definitive lines and prepares it for coloring.
• Details: Add finer details during the inking process, such as textures and additional lines to enhance the character’s design.

Coloring and Shading

Coloring and shading bring your anime drawing to life:

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• Base Colors: Apply flat colors to different areas of the drawing. Choose colors that complement each other and match the character’s design.
• Shading: Add shading to create depth and dimension. Consider the light source and apply shadows.
• Highlights: Add highlights to areas where light hits the character. This step helps enhance the character’s features and make them stand out.

Practice and Improvement

The key to mastering anime drawing is consistent practice:

• Study Other Artists: Analyze the work of other anime artists to understand different styles and techniques. This will provide inspiration and insight into various approaches to anime art.
• Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try different styles, poses, and character designs. Experimentation helps you discover your unique artistic voice and improves your skills.
• Seek Feedback: Share your work with peers or join online art communities to receive constructive feedback. Learning from others can accelerate your improvement and refine your technique.

Conclusion

Learning anime drawing is an exciting and rewarding journey that allows you to express your creativity and storytelling abilities. By mastering the basics, from understanding anime style to practicing anatomy and inking techniques, you can build a strong foundation for creating captivating and dynamic anime art. Remember to stay patient, practice regularly, and keep experimenting with new ideas. With dedication and effort, you’ll find yourself improving and developing your unique style in the world of anime drawing.