A blush hatched across cheeks and noseSlanted strokes on the cheeks read as a blush. A long band across the nose marks a stronger feeling.
A cat mouth with one small fangThe cat mouth is a 3 rolled onto its side, and a fang at the corner means mischief. Pair it with wide eyes.
A giant sweat drop on an exasperated faceOne oversized bead near the temple covers embarrassment, dismay and exasperation. A teardrop, one highlight.
A narrow, sharp eye for a cold rivalSmaller, narrower eyes tend to read as cold. Flatten the top lid into one slash and shrink the iris.
A nine-panel expression sheet for one faceFix the head shape and change only brows, lids and mouth. Nine moods, and it must stay one person.
A snot bubble on a sleeping faceA balloon hanging from one nostril means asleep. One clean circle with a highlight, lids as two curved lines.
The cross-shaped anger vein on a foreheadA hollow cross of four curved strokes means anger or irritation. Each extra one means more of it.
Show all 80 ideas (73 more)
Eyes and expressions, continued
One large shōjo-style eye with two highlightsBig eyes reached manga from early 20th century girls' magazines. Keep both highlights on one side of the iris.
The same eye drawn upturned, then droopingTilt the outer corner up for fierce and down for gentle. Change nothing else and compare the pair.
Shadowed eyes under a dark fringeBlacked-out eyes signal deep anger whatever the room lighting. Tone a band over the eyes, keep the mouth calm.
Spiral eyes on a dizzy characterSpirals stand for dizziness or confusion. Wind each one from the centre outward so the two match.
Squeezed-shut eyes drawn as > and <Two arrowheads pointing at the nose cover nerves, embarrassment or excitement. Add a wobbly mouth.
Star-struck eyes with star pupilsStars in the eyes mean the character is star-struck. Swap each pupil for a four-point star, keep the iris ring.
Vertical gloom lines over a mortified faceParallel lines with shading over the head mean mortification or fatigue. Rule them down from the hairline.
Hair 13
A fringe covering one eyeManga often outlines an eye through the hair that covers it, so the expression survives. Try it both ways.
A hime cut seen from the frontStraight fringe, cheek-length sidelocks, long back hair. The style is traced to noblewomen of the Heian court.
A long ponytail whipped by windTreat the tail as one ribbon with a twist in it, then split the end into three or four points.
A shine band across dark hairLeave a ragged white band that follows the curve of the skull. Zigzag both edges and never outline it.
An ahoge standing up from a neat fringeAhoge is a strand that points a different way from the rest of the hair. One curved blade, thick at the root.
Bed hair with three stray tuftsFlatten the pillow side and let tufts escape on the other. Half-shut eyes finish the morning.
Cat ears rooted in a short hairstyleKemonomimi means animal ears and a tail on a human body. Root each ear in the hair with tufts at its base.
Drill curls hanging beside the faceEach ringlet is a stretched spring. Stack tilted ellipses down a line and join their edges.
Odango buns with a tail from eachDouble buns share their name with the dumpling. Two balls high on the head, a ribbon of hair from each.
One hairstyle from front, side and backA turnaround proves you know the shape. Line three heads up on shared guidelines for crown and chin.
Spiky hair built from overlapping conesDraw the skull first, then root every cone at one crown spot. Vary the lengths or it turns into a crown.
Twin tails swinging through a turnBoth tails trail the head's movement, so curve them the same way. The ties sit above the ears.
Wet hair clinging after rainWet hair loses its volume. Hug the skull, clump strands into points and hang a drop from two or three tips.
Uniforms and outfits 13
A blazer uniform with a loosened tieBlazer, tie, school crest, pleated skirt or trousers. A slack knot and one untucked shirt tail give character.
A gakuran buttoned to the standing collarMatching black tunic and trousers, a standing collar and five gold buttons. Keep the collar stiff and closed.
A kimono sleeve hanging from a raised armKimono sleeves are square, not tubes. The bag of cloth hangs straight down whatever the arm is doing.
A magical-girl costume built on one motifPick a star or a crescent and repeat it on bow, brooch, boots and wand. The genre began in manga in 1962.
A pilot suit for a giant robotMecha are giant machines, usually piloted. Run panel lines along the muscles and pad shoulders, knees and collar.
A pleated skirt mid-spinPleats fan from the waistband. Draw the hem as a wavy ellipse first, then run each fold line up to the waist.
A randoseru backpack seen from behindA firm-sided stitched backpack carried by elementary pupils. One rounded flap covers the whole back.
A sailor-style uniform collar, front and backSērāfuku copied naval uniforms in the 1920s. The collar is a V in front and a square flap behind.
A shrine maiden's red and white outfitTraditional miko dress is red hakama, a white kosode and white or red hair ribbons. Keep the shapes wide and plain.
A summer yukata with a fan in the obiAn unlined cotton summer kimono worn to festivals. The left side wraps over the right, always.
Geta sandals seen from the sideA flat wooden base on teeth, commonly two, held on by a fabric thong. Side on, it is a tiny bench.
Hakama pleats from the front, standing stillMartial-arts hakama may have seven pleats, five in front and two behind. In front: two on the right, three on the left.
Uwabaki indoor shoes in a shoe lockerWhite school slippers; a coloured stripe across the toe often marks the year group. Rule the locker grid first.
Chibi and proportions 13
A chibi asleep under a kotatsuA kotatsu is a low table over a heavy blanket with a heater beneath. Only head and arms show above the quilt.
A chibi beside its full-height versionAn average anime figure is about seven to eight heads tall. Keep hair and costume; drop jacket folds and small detail.
A chibi face with the eyes set lowDrop the eyes below the halfway line and spread them wide. Skip the nose or use one dot.
A chibi hugging an onigiri as big as itselfOversized props push the cuteness. Legs are two short sausages pointing at the viewer.
A chibi line-up of five friendsWith matching bodies, only hair shape, colour and one prop separate them. Fill each in black to test it.
A chibi sprinting with arms trailingLean the whole body along one forward line and trail both arms straight back. Feet are plain ovals.
A chibi sulking with puffed cheeksPuffed cheeks are the cute way to show frustration. Bulge both past the head outline and tilt the brows in.
A keychain-charm chibi with a bold outlineCharm art gets one thick outer contour and thin lines inside. Keep every limb joined to the body.
A teenage face and an adult face comparedYounger faces get bigger, lower eyes and a rounder jaw. Lengthen the face and narrow the eyes to add years.
A three-heads-tall chibi wavingHead, torso and legs get one head height each. There is room for elbows and knees now, so bend them.
A two-heads-tall chibi standingA super-deformed head takes a third to a half of the total height. Stub limbs, no neck, mitten hands.
One character at 2, 4 and 8 heads tallRule the head-height lines before anything else. Hair silhouette and costume colours carry the likeness across.
One hand simplified at three sizesFull fingers at eight heads, a mitten with a thumb at four, a round nub at two. Make all three a peace sign.
Action and effects 14
A fist hitting a training pad, impact starDraw a spiky star where glove meets pad and leave it empty. The white gap reads as force.
A flying kick foreshortened at the viewerThe shoe sole is the biggest shape on the page. Overlap foot, knee, hip and head in that order.
A four-panel gag strip, top to bottomYonkoma stack four equal panels: set-up, development, an unforeseen turn, then the result.
A heart-patterned tone behind a happy faceTone printed with hearts or other small icons signals a fun, jubilant mood. Vary the sizes, keep the face clear.
A kendo strike with a bamboo shinaiKendo uses bamboo swords and armour. Both hands on the grip, front foot sliding, the shinai one straight line.
A landing crouch with dust ringsThree points touch down, two feet and one hand. Flat ellipses of dust spread outward from the feet.
A long coat flapping on a rooftopWind from one side only: hair, hem and scarf all blow the same way. The figure stays a still vertical.
A pitch-black panel behind a serious faceSolid black behind a character signals a serious mood. Leave a thin white halo so the hair separates.
A shout in an explosion-shaped bubbleBubble borders change with tone, and a spiky burst means shouting. Letter it big and let it break the panel.
A sprint with speed lines behindSpeed lines run parallel to the movement. Rule them with a straight edge and vary the gaps and lengths.
A transformation pose wrapped in ribbonsOne arm up, one knee bent, ribbons spiralling round the body. The spiral tells the viewer which way she turns.
An energy ball charged between two handsThe ball is the light source, so shade the backs of the fingers. Short strokes converge on the glow.
Focus lines bursting round a shocked faceConverging lines act like a camera rushing in. Aim every line at one point and stop short of the face.
Running late with toast in the mouthThe stock school-morning gag. Lean far forward, bag flying behind, one slice clamped in the teeth.
Food and props 13
A classroom window seat in the back rowOne-point perspective: desk rows converge on the blackboard. Afternoon light cuts window shapes across the desks.
A glass fūrin wind chime with its paper stripA small bowl-shaped chime hung in summer. The paper strip, a tanzaku, catches the breeze and rings it.
A railway crossing at sunsetStriped barrier arms, paired warning lights, overhead wires. Silhouette all of it against a graded orange sky.
A ramen bowl from above with narutomakiNarutomaki is a cloud-edged white slice with a pink spiral, named after the Naruto whirlpools.
A ramune bottle with the marble in its neckRamune comes in a Codd-neck bottle sealed by a marble. The pinched neck and the marble are the drawing.
A two-tier bento with the lid set beside itA packed single-portion meal, often in a box with dividers. Rule the compartments before any food.
An onigiri with a nori strip, close upUsually a triangle or a cylinder wrapped in nori seaweed. Dot the rice surface; never draw every grain.
Hanami dango, three colours on a skewerPink, white and green balls, eaten at cherry-blossom viewing. Three circles and a stick.
Kakigōri shaved ice with syrup soaking inShaved ice with syrup and often condensed milk. Let the colour fade as it sinks into the mound.
Melonpan with its crisscross crustA sweet bun under a crisp cookie layer scored in a grid. Named for its look, not traditionally its flavour.
Omurice with a ketchup doodle on topFried rice under an omelette. The egg is one smooth rugby-ball shape and the ketchup line holds the personality.
Taiyaki held in a paper sleeveA fish-shaped cake modelled on red sea bream, most often filled with sweet bean paste. Scales are rows of U shapes.
Takoyaki in a paper boatBall-shaped batter snacks with octopus inside, brushed with sauce and topped with curling bonito shavings.
These things to draw anime style are 80 exercises, not fan art: an eye shape, a named hairstyle, a uniform collar, a two-heads-tall chibi. Each hint says what the convention means or how the shape is built, checked against Wikipedia. Press the button for one, or run a timed round.
Read the full guide
The symbols are a shared alphabet, so copy them exactly
Manga and anime use a fixed set of marks that readers decode at a glance. A hollow cross on the forehead is anger. A balloon from one nostril is sleep. Spirals for eyes mean dizzy. The Eyes and expressions group holds 14 ideas, and nine are easy because a symbol is only a few strokes. Put one in the wrong place and the joke stops reading.
Six topics, three levels, no series names
Every idea sits in one topic and one level: 30 easy, 31 medium, 19 hard. Nothing copies a show or a character, and that is deliberate. A hime cut seen from the front and A gakuran buttoned to the standing collar are building blocks every studio shares. Topic and Level combine, so Hair plus Easy deals only easy hairstyles.
Draw the skull before the hair. Anime hair floats a finger's width above the scalp, and spikes drawn without it slide off the head.
Build a ladder: choose Easy and draw what comes up, then Medium, then Hard.
Let line weight do the work: a thick outer contour, thinner lines inside, the thinnest for hair strands and cloth folds.
Questions and answers
I never know what to draw anime style. Where should I start?
Start with a symbol, which is only a few strokes: Spiral eyes on a dizzy character, or Hanami dango, three colours on a skewer. Easy holds 30 like them. Then try a whole head: eyes set low, a small L-shaped mark for the nose, one line for the mouth.
Why are there no characters from real shows on the list?
Character names and designs belong to their owners, and this site has no connection to any studio or publisher. Copying a finished character also teaches you that one design, while eye shapes, head heights and uniform parts carry over to anything you invent.
How many heads tall is an anime character?
An average anime figure stands about seven to eight heads tall. A chibi's head takes a third to a half of its height, so the whole figure is two or three heads. Deal One character at 2, 4 and 8 heads tall to feel the change: detail drops away as the figure shrinks.