How to Draw Male Anime Characters: Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re eager to learn how to draw male anime and manga characters, this comprehensive tutorial is your perfect starting point. We’ll explore eight popular anime character archetypes, each with three unique variations, to help you understand how subtle changes in facial features and hairstyles can really bring a character to life.

This guide goes beyond drawing—it’s about capturing personality and expression. We’ll delve into creating distinct facial features for each character type, helping you develop your own unique style.

Types of Male Anime Characters Covered:

• Average Guy
• Opponent / Corrupt
• Imbuka
• Henchman
• Friendly Young Man
• The Rich Young Man
• The Loner
• Psychologist

Understanding the Basic Male Anime Face Structure

Before diving into specific character archetypes, it’s vital to grasp the general proportions of a male anime face. While styles can differ, most male anime characters share these common features:

• Large Eyes: Essential for conveying emotion.
• Small Nose and Simple Mouth: Often drawn with minimal detail.

Younger male characters tend to resemble female characters, while older males often have longer faces, more pronounced jawlines, and smaller eyes—though still larger than realistic proportions. Here, we’ll focus on drawing a standard male anime face, typically resembling a high school student or young adult.

Proportions for an Anime Male Face

These guidelines serve as a reference for creating well-balanced anime-style characters:

• Eyes: Positioned below the halfway line of the head.
• Ears: Placed between the eye line and the bottom of the nose.
• Nose: Located slightly above the midpoint between the eyes and chin.
• Mouth: Positioned between the nose and chin, with the lower lip centered.
• Eyebrows: Slightly above the eyes.

Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing a Male Anime Character

• Outline the Head: Start with a rough sketch of the head’s shape using a guideline to ensure symmetry.
• Add Facial Features: Place the eyes, nose, mouth, and eyebrows according to the proportional guidelines above.
• Draw the Hair: Once the facial features are in place, sketch the hair with appropriate volume and flow.
• Refine the Details: Erase unnecessary guidelines and sharpen the final drawing to give it a clean, polished look.

Drawing Different Anime Male Character Types

1. Drawing an “Average Guy” Character

The “average guy” is relatable and easy-going, often the main protagonist in anime and manga.

• Hairstyle: Slightly messy, medium-length hair.
• Facial Features: Neutral eyebrows, large expressive pupils.
• Expression: A simple, friendly smile works best.

2. Drawing a Happy “Average Guy” Character

This cheerful version conveys warmth and friendliness, making them more likable.

• Eyebrows: Slightly raised.
• Eyes: A gentle curve to reflect a smiling expression.
• Mouth: An open-mouthed smile with minimal detail inside.

3. Drawing a Relaxed or Confused “Average Guy”

Perfect for a laid-back or slightly puzzled character.

• Eyebrows: Raised slightly at the inner corners.
• Eyes: Slightly curved upwards to create a relaxed look.
• Mouth: An “O” shape for a thoughtful or confused expression.

Drawing Opponent / Giant Anime Man Character

Typical of “mainstream people” in sci-fi shows and manga, these characters are smart, strong, and often calm and confident.

• Hairstyle: Usually long.
• Facial Features: For a more casual villain, lower the inner edges of the eyebrows. Make the irises smaller compared to the protagonist’s.
• Expression: A confident but slightly unfriendly look.

Drawing Angry Opponent / Anime Man Character

This expression is often used when the character is angry.

• Eyebrows: Lower and close together, with a slight wrinkle between them.
• Eyes: Flickering, with smaller irises.
• Mouth: Open, resembling a sideways “8” with protruding teeth.

Drawing Planned Opponent / Character of a Cruel Man

These characters often have a conspiratorial or cunning expression.

• Eyebrows: Slightly raised inner edges.
• Eyes: Drawn down with lowered upper eyelids.
• Mouth: Smiling with visible teeth, enhancing an unfriendly grin.

Drawing a Delinquent / Thug Male Character

Rebellious characters are often bullies or criminals in anime and manga.

• Hairstyle: Curly or unkempt.
• Facial Features: Natural eyebrows, smaller irises with space to the lower eyelids.
• Expression: A downward curve in the mouth, with a sharp lower lip.

Drawing a Grinning Delinquent / Thug Male Anime Character

A grin adds to the rebellious character’s mischievous aura.

• Eyebrows: Lowered inner ends.
• Eyes: Slightly narrowed with space between lower eyelids and irises.
• Mouth: Smiling with visible teeth.

Drawing “Henchman” Man Anime Character

“Henchmen” are common in anime, often serving as minor characters or security.

• Hairstyle: Buzz cut.
• Facial Features: Natural eyebrows, smaller irises.
• Expression: A downward curve in the mouth, conveying tiredness.

Drawing Awesome Anime Character “Henchman” Shocked

A “scary” look when witnessing something unexpected.

• Eyebrows: Drawn low and close together, with wrinkles between them.
• Eyes: Slightly off to one side, with one eye closed.
• Mouth: Curved downward.

Drawing a Friendly Man of the Anime Man

Often a supporting character like the protagonist’s best friend.

• Hairstyle: Short, messy.
• Facial Features: Natural eyebrows, larger eyes and irises.
• Expression: A simple smile enhances friendliness.

Drawing A Character Of A Friendly Anime Man Content

A content smile often follows a helpful gesture.

• Eyebrows: Raised.
• Eyes: Closed, with curved lines like eyebrows.
• Mouth: Wider smile than usual.

Drawing “Rich Young Man” Anime Man Character

Rich characters often look down on others.

• Facial Features: Lowered eyebrows, smaller irises.
• Expression: A curved smile, suggesting confidence.

Drawing a “Rich Young Man” Disgusting Anime Man Character

For a look of disdain:

• Eyebrows: Raised inner edges.
• Eyes: Slightly glazed.
• Mouth: A thin smile with visible teeth, lower lip downturned.

Drawing a Male Loner

These characters may be shy or uncomfortable in public.

• Facial Features: Raised eyebrow ends, lower upper eyelids.
• Expression: A downward mouth curve, with bags under the eyes.

Drawing a Tired “Lonely” Male Character

Indicates fatigue, often from late-night activities.

• Eyebrows: Vertical curves raising inner ends.
• Eyes: Lower eyelids with twisted regular curves.
• Mouth: Neutral.

Drawing a Frightened / Frightened Male Character

Common in uncomfortable situations.

• Eyebrows: Raised, reversing regular curves.
• Eyes: Wide open with small irises.
• Mouth: Teeth visible in a sideways “8” shape.

Drawing a “Smart” Male Anime Character

These characters can be physically or intellectually sophisticated.

• Facial Features: Natural eyebrows, slightly smaller eyes.
• Expression: A bright downward mouth curve, suggesting delicacy.

Drawing the Character of a Concerned “Wise Man”

Reflects deep thought or worry.

• Eyebrows: Close together with wrinkles between them.
• Eyes: Slightly folded irises.
• Mouth: Vertical curve, slightly higher than normal.

Drawing an Amazing “Wise” Male Anime Character

Expresses astonishment or discovery.

• Eyebrows: Raised.
• Eyes: Wide open with smaller irises.
• Mouth: Open in an “O” shape, with the jaw slightly dropped.

Conclusion

This extensive tutorial covers some of the most popular male anime and manga character types, showcasing how facial features, expressions, and hairstyles can define a character.

While there are countless variations, this guide provides a foundation to enhance your drawing skills. For further inspiration, explore your favorite anime and manga, and experiment with combining different features to create your unique characters.

Draw a Male Anime Face – This tutorial provides a detailed guide on drawing a male anime face in a 3/4 view. This perspective can be challenging due to its complexity in capturing depth and proportion. However, by breaking down the process into sixteen detailed steps, you will be able to create a balanced and expressive anime character.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Draw the Top of the Head

• Circle and Guidelines: Begin with a circle to represent the top of the head. Visualize this circle as a 3D sphere. Within it, draw an angled slice like an apple to establish the head’s center and orientation.

Step 2: Draw the Face Center Line

• Center Line: Erase the half of the oval facing away. Extend a straight line from the front of the circle, representing the face center. This line should angle slightly backward and extend below the chin to guide facial features.

Step 3: Draw the Chin

• Face Outline: Anime faces typically have minimal chins. Draw the chin with a slight flatness at the bottom to suggest masculinity.

Step 4: Draw the Neck

• Neck and Shoulders: Though the focus is the face, add a neck and slight shoulder suggestion. The neck should angle slightly forward, visible in the 3/4 view.

Step 5: Draw the Ear

• Ear Placement: Place the ear on the side of the head, aligning its top with the horizontal midpoint of the head.

Step 6: Draw the Eyes

• Eye Frame: Sketch the eye frames, aligning their tops with the ear’s top and the horizontal midpoint.
• Perspective: The eye closer to the viewer should be wider and farther from the face center line.

Step 7: Draw the Eyebrows

• Eyebrow Placement: Position eyebrows above the eyes, drawing them thicker for a masculine look. The closer eyebrow should be wider and positioned further from the face center line.

Step 8: Draw the Nose

• Nose Detail: Sketch a simple nose with a single line or dot to maintain an anime style. Align the bottom of the nose with the lower ear level.

Step 9: Draw the Mouth

• Mouth Placement: Position the mouth so its lower lip is between the nose and chin. For masculinity, draw the mouth wider with a slight break in the line for realism.

Step 10: Clean the Drawing

• Refinement: Erase construction lines, leaving a clean outline of the head and face without hair or minor details.

Step 11: Draw the Front Hair

• Hair Sections: Divide the hair into front, sides, and back. Start with the front, drawing large, flowing tufts for a natural look.

Step 12: Draw the Side Hair

• Side Hair: Add side sections with tufts reaching near the nose. The head will obscure part of the hair in the back view.

Step 13: Draw the Back Hair

• Back Hair: Complete the hair with large clumps at the top and smaller ones at the bottom.

Step 14: Add Facial Details

• Eye and Ear Details: Erase hidden parts and add inner eye and ear details. Draw pupils, highlights, and eyelids for expressiveness.

Step 15: Color the Drawing

• Color Application: Use colors for the hair, skin, and eyes. Leave highlights in the hair for shine, and ensure the upper parts of the eyes have a darker shade for depth.

Step 16: Add Shading

• Shading: Apply basic shading to areas like under the hair, around the eyes, and beneath the nose and chin. This enhances the three-dimensional aspect and adds realism.

Conclusion

Drawing a male anime face in a 3/4 view requires careful attention to proportion and depth. By following these detailed steps, you can achieve a balanced and expressive character. Practice these techniques to refine your skills and enhance your ability to capture diverse perspectives in your anime illustrations.

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