For many beginners, anime drawings might seem daunting. However, I’m here to assure you that’s not the case. Most of the drawings I’m sharing are quite beginner-friendly. These references are perfect for anyone looking to improve their anime character drawing skills.

Where possible, I’ve included links to the artist’s social media accounts. If you appreciate their work, be sure to support the artists by following and liking their creations.

Drawing Ideas

Dabi from My Hero Academia

If you love a good villain, you’ll appreciate this drawing of Dabi. Consider adding blue flames to the background for the ultimate Dabi vibe.

Senku from Dr. Stone

Senku, the protagonist of Dr. Stone, is a high schooler who revives after being frozen for millennia. His brilliant scientific mind is his greatest asset.

Minato Namikaze

This drawing captures Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage of Hidden Leaf Village, known for his brilliance and ninja prowess. Fans of Naruto Shippuden will appreciate this piece.

Itachi Uchiha

Itachi Uchiha is one of the coolest anime characters, and this sketch does him justice. Be sure to check out more of the artist’s anime drawings.

Haikyu Drawing

Haikyu!! fans will love this drawing. To complete your piece, add color—no Shōyō Hinata drawing is complete without orange hair!

Zenitsu from Demon Slayer

Although Zenitsu isn’t my favorite character, this sketch is a fantastic reference for fans of Demon Slayer.

Midoriya Izuku

This artist makes drawing Midoriya Izuku look effortless. The protagonist of My Hero Academia, Midoriya dreams of becoming a hero despite lacking powers.

Nezuko Drawing

Nezuko, from Demon Slayer, is a kind-hearted girl turned demon. This drawing would be stunning in color, especially her pink eyes.

Killua and Gon

Use this sketch of Killua and Gon as a reference to improve your drawing skills. Once perfected, you can finalize it with colored pencils or watercolor.

Captain Levi

From Attack on Titan, Captain Levi is known for his Titan-slaying skills and cold demeanor. This drawing captures his essence.

Katsuki Bakugou

A student from My Hero Academia’s Class 1-A, Katsuki Bakugou is training to become a pro hero.

Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen

This Sukuna drawing from Jujutsu Kaisen is stunning! I’ve started watching this anime, and it’s impressive so far.

Sukuna/Itadori

Another Sukuna piece, this drawing features the dual nature of Sukuna/Itadori.

Izuku Midoriya

“Sometimes I really do feel like I’m a failure. Like there’s no hope for me. But even so, I’m not gonna give up. Ever!” – Izuku Midoriya

Hunter x Hunter

This artwork by Tamy showcases a remarkable piece from Hunter x Hunter. Fans will enjoy this drawing of Killua.

Remarkable Art Style

I highly recommend checking out this artist for anime drawings with a fun and unique art style.

I hope this collection of cool anime drawings inspires you. If you’re looking for more ideas, be sure to explore my other drawing posts.

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As a professional anime artist who has refined my technique over years of character illustration, I’ve found that mastering the side view of anime mouths is essential for creating expressive, dynamic characters. While front-view expressions receive most of the attention in tutorials, side-view mouth drawings communicate crucial emotional nuances and add dimensional depth to your character art. This comprehensive guide will walk you through my approach to creating varied and expressive anime mouths from the profile perspective.

Positioning Anime Mouths on the Head in Profile View

When placing an anime mouth on a character’s profile, proper positioning is critical for maintaining proportional balance. I typically position the lower lip approximately 1/8 of the head’s total length up from the chin. The mouth extends slightly above this point.

For precise positioning, I draw an imaginary line from the tip of the nose down to the curve of the chin. This reference line helps establish the natural placement of the lips along the face’s profile, ensuring anatomical accuracy even within the stylized anime aesthetic.

Understanding Mouth Mechanics

Before diving into specific expressions, it’s crucial to understand how the mouth actually operates when opening and closing. The jaw doesn’t simply drop straight down like a drawbridge but rotates downward and slightly forward from its hinge point near the ear.

The upper jaw remains stationary, while the lower jaw moves. This fundamental principle applies to all mouth expressions, from subtle speech to exaggerated shouting poses. Even in stylized anime art, following this natural movement pattern creates more convincing expressions.

Standard Closed Mouth – Side View

For a neutral, closed anime mouth in profile view, simplicity is key. I create a single, slightly curved line that follows the natural contour where the upper and lower lips meet. This subtle curve should complement the character’s facial structure.

For female or younger characters, I sometimes add a very slight upward curve to create a softer, more pleasant expression even in neutral positions. For more serious or mature characters, a straighter line creates a more composed appearance.

Slightly Open Mouth – Side View

When a character is speaking casually or slightly surprised, I draw the mouth partially open by:

1. Maintaining the upper lip position
2. Drawing the lower jaw slightly downward and forward
3. Creating a smooth curve for the mouth opening
4. Optionally adding a subtle indication of upper teeth with a simple horizontal line

This expression works perfectly for normal conversation scenes or mild reactions, creating natural animation-ready poses.

Wide Open Mouth – Side View

For expressions of shock or loud speech, the widely opened mouth requires careful attention to jaw positioning:

1. Draw the lower jaw significantly lower than in the partially open position
2. Position teeth slightly below where they would be in the slightly open mouth
3. Create a larger curved opening between the lips
4. Optionally indicate both upper and lower teeth with simple horizontal lines

The key difference between slightly open and wide open mouths lies in how far the jaw drops and how the lips position themselves. In a wide open mouth, the entire lower portion of the face extends downward.

Shouting Mouth – Side View

The shouting expression builds on the wide open mouth but with critical modifications:

1. Draw the lips pulled back slightly, exposing more teeth
2. Extend the mouth opening wider horizontally
3. Create tension lines at the corner of the mouth to indicate strain
4. Show more teeth than in the standard open mouth

This expression effectively communicates intense emotion, whether the character is literally shouting or experiencing extreme surprise or fear.

Serious/Unhappy Mouth – Side View

For serious or unhappy expressions, the mouth takes on a downturned appearance:

1. Draw a simple downward curve
2. Keep lips pressed together more firmly than in the neutral position
3. Optionally add a slight tension line beneath the lower lip

The severity of the downward curve directly correlates with the intensity of the negative emotion – a slight downturn suggests mild disappointment, while a more pronounced curve indicates anger or deep sadness.

Surprised/Shocked Mouth – Side View

When a character is surprised, their mouth often forms an “O” shape even in profile:

1. Draw both lips slightly forward, as if puckered
2. Create a small oval or round opening
3. Keep the jaw only slightly lowered

This expression effectively communicates sudden surprise, wonder, or realization without the extreme nature of a shouting pose.

Smiling Mouth – Side View

The smile is perhaps the most important expression to master in anime art. For a profile view smile:

1. Draw the corner of the mouth curved upward
2. Slightly raise the lower jaw
3. Create a curved line for visible teeth
4. Add a small wrinkle at the corner of the mouth where the cheek raises

A successful anime smile in profile shows the raised cheek and upturned corner while maintaining anatomical plausibility.

Frightened/Scared Mouth – Side View

Fear expressions combine elements of surprised and unhappy mouths:

1. Draw the mouth open similar to the surprised expression
2. Angle the entire opening downward
3. Add tension lines at the corner and possibly below the mouth
4. Consider showing teeth with a slight chatter effect for extreme fear

This expression creates an immediate impression of dread or terror, especially when combined with appropriately drawn eyes.

Grinning Mouth – Side View

For mischievous or confident grins:

1. Draw a wide smile similar to the standard smiling mouth
2. Add a pronounced wrinkle at the corner where the cheek raises
3. Show a clear division between upper and lower teeth
4. Optionally add a small glint or highlight for extra effect

The key difference between a standard smile and a grin is in the intensity and the suggestion of intentionality – grins often appear more deliberate and characterized.

Confused Mouth – Side View

Confusion manifests uniquely in profile view:

1. Draw the lips in a slightly pursed position
2. Create a small “O” shape extending slightly outward
3. Keep the jaw in a neutral position

This expression perfectly captures that moment of puzzlement or uncertainty, working especially well for comedic moments or reaction shots.

Slight Smile – Side View

For subtle happiness or contentment:

1. Draw the mouth closed similarly to the neutral position
2. Add a longer, gently upward curved line
3. Optionally include a very small wrinkle at the corner

This understated expression is perfect for gentle moments or characters with more reserved personalities, communicating happiness without exaggeration.

Professional Techniques for Enhanced Expression

Throughout my career illustrating anime characters, I’ve developed additional techniques that elevate side-view mouth expressions:

Line Weight Variation

Varying your line thickness adds dimension and emphasis:

• Use slightly thicker lines for the actual lip contours
• Apply thinner lines for interior details like teeth or tongue
• Consider a slightly heavier line at the corner of the mouth to create depth

Character-Specific Modifications

Adapt mouth styles to suit different character types:

• For younger or feminine characters, use smoother, rounder curves
• For mature or masculine characters, incorporate more angular elements
• For villainous characters, exaggerate the corners and add sharper angles

Micro-Expressions

Add subtle details that enhance emotional depth:

• Small tension lines below the lower lip for stress or effort
• Slight asymmetry in expressions for more natural, candid feelings
• Tiny wrinkles at the corners for age indication or expression intensity

Advanced Animation Considerations

When creating characters that may be animated or appear in sequential art:

Mouth Transitions

Consider how one expression flows into another:

• The neutral position serves as your base transitional pose
• Extreme expressions like shouting should visibly strain the surrounding facial muscles
• Subtle expressions might only affect the immediate mouth area

Expression Consistency

Maintain character-specific mouth traits across different expressions:

• If a character has a distinctive mouth shape in neutral position, retain elements of that shape in all expressions
• Consider how your character’s unique features (like fangs, unusually shaped lips, or scars) affect each expression
• Develop a consistent “language” of expressions for each character

Final Considerations

Remember that anime mouths, while stylized, still benefit from understanding real facial anatomy. The side view presents unique challenges but offers tremendous opportunity for communicating character and emotion.

As you practice these different mouth expressions, try creating quick emotion studies focusing solely on the profile view. This exercise will help you develop consistency while building your repertoire of emotional expressions.

With time and practice, you’ll develop an intuitive understanding of how to communicate any emotion through the side view of anime mouths, adding another powerful dimension to your character illustrations.

Draw Anime Face Marks – This tutorial provides a detailed guide on drawing various anime facial expressions and face marks, focusing on a side view (profile). Anime characters are known for their expressive faces, which convey a wide range of emotions through subtle changes in features like eyes, eyebrows, and mouths. This tutorial will help you capture these expressions, enhancing your character’s emotional depth.

Understanding Anime Face Proportions

In anime, facial proportions are often exaggerated to emphasize emotions. The placement and size of features like eyes, nose, and mouth can vary based on the character’s personality and mood. This guide outlines common guidelines for drawing facial features, which you can adjust according to your style.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Basic Face Proportions (Side View)

• Eye Placement: Draw the eye below the horizontal midpoint of the head.
• Nose Placement: Position the nose between the eye and chin.
• Mouth Placement: Draw the lower lip between the nose and chin, with the mouth slightly above it.
• Ear Placement: The ear should extend from the top of the eyes to nearly the bottom of the nose.

These are general guidelines for a typical anime look. Adjustments can be made based on character type and style.

Drawing Different Facial Expressions

Normal Expression

• Features: Position the facial features as described in the basic proportions.

Slightly Open Mouth

• Jaw Movement: Lower the jaw slightly, keeping the upper jaw in place. This indicates a gentle expression or slight speech.

Open Mouth (Surprised)

• Jaw Drop: Extend the jaw downward and slightly back, drawing the mouth open wider for a surprised look.

Screaming Expression

• Extended Jaw: Similar to an open mouth, but retract the lips further back to expose more teeth. Draw the eyes more intensely.

Frowning Expression

• Eyebrows and Mouth: Draw eyebrows in a downward wave shape and curve the mouth downward towards the neck.

Surprised Expression

• Raised Eyebrows: Draw eyebrows high and curved. The mouth should be wide open, with lips drawn back.

Content/Smiling Expression

• Smiling Features: Raise eyebrows and draw closed eyes with curved eyelids. The mouth should be smiling, showing teeth.

Angry Expression

• Aggressive Features: Draw low, wave-like eyebrows and narrow eyes. The mouth should be retracted, showing fangs for emphasis.

Fearful Expression

• Wide Eyes: Draw smaller irises to indicate fear, with raised eyebrows and wide-open eyes. The mouth should be slightly open.

Plotting/Grinning Expression

• Mischievous Features: Draw eyebrows angled down, sharp eyes, and a sly, toothy smile.

Confused Expression

• Raised Eyebrows: Draw eyebrows slightly raised, with an “O” shaped mouth for confusion.

Simple Smile

• Gentle Features: Draw a slightly wider, gently curved mouth.

Relaxed Expression

• Closed Eyes: Draw closed eyelids, mimicking a peaceful state.

Smug Expression

• Confident Features: Draw eyebrows with an upward tilt and a confident, toothy smile.

Sad/Tired Expression

• Droopy Features: Draw eyebrows raised at the inner edge and eyes half-closed. The mouth should curve downward.

Annoyed Expression

• Frustrated Features: Draw raised eyebrows and sharp eyes, with a longer, slightly downturned mouth.

Conclusion

Capturing a variety of facial expressions in anime involves understanding how subtle changes in facial features convey different emotions. By practicing these expressions, you can add depth and personality to your characters, enhancing your storytelling through visual cues. Use these guidelines to explore and experiment with different emotions, refining your style and technique.

Anime Face Painting: Drawing an Older Male Character – Welcome to this detailed tutorial on drawing an anime or manga-style face for an older male character. In this guide, we’ll cover the essential steps and measurements to create a sophisticated and realistic anime face, focusing on a man in his 30s or 40s. This character will have defined facial features and a muscular build, exemplifying the complexity and depth of adult anime characters.

Step 1: Draw the Head Shape

Begin by sketching the overall shape of the head. For a front view, the top of the head should resemble a circle, transitioning to an oval in the side view. Older male characters typically have elongated faces compared to the rounder faces of younger characters.

• Front View: Draw two vertical lines descending from the top circle, angling inward to form a broad chin. This gives the character an aged appearance.
• Side View: Outline the lower part of the face, focusing on the contours without detailing the nose and mouth. Avoid straight lines; instead, suggest the natural curve from the nose to the chin.

Step 2: Position and Draw Eyes

Establish the eye placement by drawing a horizontal line across the middle of the face. For older characters, eyes are positioned closer to realistic proportions.

• Front View: Maintain a one-eye-width distance between the eyes. This spacing helps achieve realism in older characters.

Step 3: Place and Draw Eyebrows

Before drawing the eyebrows, determine where the hairline will fall, slightly below the top of the head. Divide the face into three equal segments from the hairline.

• Draw the eyebrows along the line below the hairline.

Step 4: Draw the Ears

Position the ears within the middle section of the three divisions you created earlier. This placement aligns with realistic anatomy.

Step 5: Draw the Nose

Sketch the nose with a tip near the bottom line of the middle section. Unlike typical anime noses represented by a simple line, this character’s nose should have more definition.

• Draw the tip and one side of the nose to add dimension.

Step 6: Draw the Mouth

Position the mouth by placing the lower lip between the bottom of the nose and the chin, with the upper lip slightly above.

Step 7: Draw the Hair

For a mature look, draw the hair starting from the hairline determined earlier. Use small, natural-looking “teeth” in the outline to create a realistic texture.

Step 8: Line Drawing

At this stage, refine and clean your sketch by erasing any unnecessary guidelines. Add small details like wrinkles around the forehead and under the eyes to enhance the character’s age.

• Consider using black ink to outline your drawing for a bold finish.

Step 9: Color

Fill in the large areas with appropriate colors. For paper drawings, leave the eyes white or add highlights digitally if working on a computer.

Step 10: Add Shading

Apply basic shading to enhance depth and realism. Focus on areas typically in shadow:

• Under the chin (casting shadow on the neck)
• Inside the ears
• Beneath the nose (including slight shading on one side)
• Under the lower lip
• Around wrinkles

Conclusion

This tutorial provides a comprehensive approach to drawing an older male anime character. By following these steps, you can achieve a mature and refined anime style, capturing the intricate details of age and personality. Practice these techniques to bring your characters to life with depth and expression. Happy drawing!

Draw an Anime Female Face 3/4 View – This tutorial provides a detailed guide on drawing a female anime face in a 3/4 view, focusing on a slightly more realistic style with well-defined features. The 3/4 view is a popular angle in anime and manga, offering depth and a dynamic perspective. This guide will help you accurately place facial features and capture the character’s essence.

Understanding the 3/4 View

The 3/4 view presents the face at an angle, allowing for a more three-dimensional appearance. This perspective requires careful attention to proportions and symmetry, as features closer to the viewer appear larger. This tutorial breaks down the drawing process into manageable steps, ensuring a balanced and expressive result.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Draw the Top of the Head

• Guidelines: Start by sketching a circle for the upper part of the head. Visualize this as a sphere, drawing a curved line to indicate the center. This line will help align the facial features.

Step 2: Draw the Facial Center Line

• Center Line: From the top center, draw a vertical line slightly angled inward. This line represents the center of the face, guiding the placement of features.

Step 3: Draw the Lower Face

• Chin and Jawline: Extend lines from the circle to the bottom of the center line, forming the jaw and chin. The face should taper slightly towards the chin.

Step 4: Draw Facial Features

• Eye Placement: Position the eyes below the horizontal midpoint of the head.
• Nose Placement: Place the nose between the eyes and chin, aligning it with the center line.
• Mouth Placement: Draw the mouth between the nose and chin, with the lower lip slightly above the chin.
• Ear Placement: Position the ears between the top of the eyes and the bottom of the nose.

Step 5: Draw the Hair

• Hair Sections: Divide the hair into front, sides, and back sections. The hair should flow naturally, slightly away from the head to add volume.
• Details: Sketch the hair with gentle curves, ensuring it complements the face’s shape.

Step 6: Clean the Line Drawing

• Refinement: Erase construction lines and any overlaps, leaving a clean outline of the face and hair.

Step 7: Add Color

• Color Application: Fill each area with appropriate colors, leaving highlights in the eyes and hair white if working on paper. For digital art, add highlights afterward.

Step 8: Apply Shading

• Shading Areas: Add shadows under the hair, around the eyelids, and on the neck. Use shading to emphasize depth and dimension, particularly in areas where light is less likely to reach.

Conclusion

Drawing a female anime face in a 3/4 view involves capturing the depth and angles that define this perspective. By focusing on the placement and proportion of facial features, you can create a balanced and expressive character. Practice these techniques to refine your skills and enhance your ability to draw dynamic and realistic anime faces.

Shade an Anime Face – This tutorial provides a detailed guide on shading an anime or manga-style face to depict various lighting conditions. Anime and manga often use “Cel” shading, a technique that creates distinct areas of light and shadow without gradients. Cel shading is efficient for quickly shading multiple animation frames or manga panels, offering clarity and style.

Understanding Cel Shading in Anime

Cel shading simplifies the shading process by using clear, defined shadows, making it ideal for dynamic and expressive artwork. By understanding where to place shadows based on different lighting conditions, you can enhance your character’s depth and realism. This tutorial explores several common lighting scenarios and how to apply Cel shading effectively.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. General Lighting Anime Face Shading

In general lighting, there is no single strong directional light source, resulting in balanced shadows.

• Forehead: Shadows are cast by hair, creating a subtle shade on the forehead.
• Eyelids: Small shadows appear due to the eyelids’ recessed position.
• Nose: A slight shadow is cast on one side of the nose.
• Neck: A large shadow is placed beneath the chin, cast by the head.

2. Side/Top Lit Anime Face Shading

When light shines from above and to one side, shadows are cast at an angle.

• Face: One side is illuminated, while the other is in shadow, with a highlight on the cheekbone.
• Eyelid: A slight shadow is present on the illuminated side.
• Neck: The shadow is angled according to the light source.

3. Side Lit Anime Face Shading

With light coming directly from one side, the face is evenly split between light and shadow.

• Face: Half of the face is bright, while the other half is dark.

4. Low Light Anime Face Shading

In low light, the face is illuminated from below, creating unique shadow patterns.

• Chin: A small shaded area is present at the top of the chin.
• Upper Lip: Casts a slight shadow due to its protrusion.
• Nose: Shadows form on the underside of the nose.
• Cheeks: Shadows appear due to the slight prominence of the cheekbones.
• Forehead: The upper area is darker as it turns away from the light source.

5. Top Lit Anime Face Shading

With light from above, most of the face is shaded, except for areas facing the light.

• Forehead: Fully illuminated as it faces the light.
• Nose and Cheeks: Upper areas are lit.
• Upper Lip and Chin: Light touches the protruding areas.

6. Back Lit Anime Face Shading

Backlighting creates a “frame” of light around the edges of the face.

• Cheeks and Neck: Light highlights the sides.
• Nose: A small light spot appears at the tip.

Conclusion

Cel shading offers a straightforward approach to depicting shadows and highlights in anime and manga. By understanding different lighting scenarios and their impact on facial features, you can create dynamic and expressive characters. This tutorial provides foundational techniques for shading anime faces, enhancing their visual appeal and depth.

How to Draw Anime Eyelashes – Eyelashes play a crucial role in defining the expressive nature of anime eyes. From simple to semi-realistic styles, each type of eyelash adds a unique character to your drawings. This tutorial will guide you through different styles of anime eyelashes, offering tips and techniques to enhance your artistic skills.

1. Drawing Simple Anime Eyelashes

Simple anime eyelashes are characterized by their clean, bold lines without individual lash details. This style is often used for quick sketches or characters with a minimalist design.

• Outline the Eyelashes: Begin by outlining the shape of the eyelashes. The upper eyelashes should be noticeably thicker than the lower ones.
• Avoid Overdoing Lower Lashes: Be cautious with the lower lashes to prevent them from resembling dark circles.
• Fill with Black: Once the outlines are complete, fill the eyelashes with black to finish the look.

Example: The eye with simple eyelashes will appear clear and stylized, emphasizing the eye’s shape and expression.

2. Drawing Normal Anime Eyelashes

These are the most common type, featuring a few individual lashes that add depth and detail.

• Outline First: As with the simple style, start with a basic outline without individual lashes.
• Add Individual Strokes: Include a few pointed lashes extending from the main outline, especially towards the outer corners.
• Vary Lash Length: The outer lashes should be longer, tapering towards the inner eye.

Example: When fully painted, these eyelashes create a balanced and detailed appearance, enhancing the character’s expressiveness.

3. Drawing Semi-Realistic Anime Eyelashes

Semi-realistic eyelashes require more effort and detail, often used in manga or standalone artwork.

• Draw a Unified Outline: Begin by sketching the outer shape of both upper and lower lashes as one form.
• Add Density: Create a dense appearance by drawing multiple individual lashes with thick bases and tapered ends.
• Vary the Arrangement: Avoid uniformity by slightly varying the direction and length of each lash to maintain a natural look.

Example: The eyes appear more lifelike with realistic lashes, adding sophistication and depth to the character.

4. Drawing “Light” Anime Eyelashes

Light eyelashes are suited for characters with a softer, more delicate appearance, often in light colors.

• Draw Thin Outlines: Start with a thin outline to maintain a delicate look.
• Add Sparse Lashes: Integrate a few light strokes to mimic individual lashes without overpowering the overall look.
• Use Light Colors: Fill the eyelashes with a light shade, complementing the character’s eye and hair color.

Example: These lashes give the character a gentle and ethereal look, often used for characters with softer traits.

Conclusion

Anime eyelashes, while varied in style, are integral to defining the unique expressions of characters. By mastering these different styles, you can enhance your ability to convey emotion and personality through your artwork. Remember to practice and experiment with different techniques to find the style that best suits your artistic vision. Happy drawing!