Guide to Drawing Basic Anime, Suitable for Beginners Who Want to Start Learning

Kapanlagi.com - Drawing anime characters is an art that combines creativity and technique. For those of you who are just starting, the process may feel challenging. However, how to draw anime is actually very easy. With the right guide, you can create interesting anime characters.

The first step in drawing anime is to understand the basics, such as facial proportions, expressions, and body shapes. Each element has its own unique characteristics and becomes a distinct attraction in anime art. With practice and the right tools, your creations will be even more satisfying.

Well, to find out the step-by-step guide on how to draw anime characters, just check out the following review.

1. Preparing the Necessary Tools

Preparing the Necessary Tools (credit: unsplash)

For practicing anime drawing, tools that support the process are needed to ensure the final result looks optimal. With the right equipment, the drawing process becomes more comfortable and the results can be satisfying. Although simple tools can be used, using quality equipment will add value to the details and sharpness of the drawing.

Pencils, erasers, paper, and drawing pens are the basic tools that need to be prepared. The quality of the paper suitable for certain mediums, such as markers or watercolors, is also important to ensure colors and lines are clear. Here are some tools needed when practicing how to draw anime:

Pencil: Use an HB pencil for initial sketches and a 2B for details. Mechanical pencils can also be a practical choice.

Eraser: Choose a soft eraser so it doesn't damage the paper.

Drawing Paper: Use good quality paper, especially that which is suitable for mediums like markers or watercolors.

Drawing Pens: Prepare pens with various tip sizes, such as 0.1mm, 0.3mm, and 0.5mm, for more detailed lines.

Ruler: This tool helps create precise guideline lines.

Although simple tools are sufficient, using quality equipment can enhance your artwork. Don't forget, these tools also need to be maintained to keep functioning well.

2. How to Draw Anime: Head and Hair

How to Draw Anime: Head and Hair (credit: unsplash)

Drawing the head and hair is an important step in creating an anime character. The head serves as the foundation for the proportions of the entire body, while the hair adds uniqueness and personality. Therefore, understanding the basic techniques for drawing the head and hair is essential.

The first step in drawing the head is to create a circular shape as the base and add guideline lines. After that, design the hair with a basic shape sketch before adding details. To clarify, here is a description of how to draw anime heads and hair.

1. Head Shape: Start with a circle as the base. Add a vertical line in the middle for symmetry guidance and a horizontal line for the eye position.

2. Face Details: Draw large eyes according to the anime style, add a small nose, and a simple mouth. The position of the jaw and chin should also be considered to ensure proportionality.

3. For the hair, start by sketching the basic shape of the hair like a helmet. Add volume with lines following the direction of hair growth.

4. Draw details such as waves, bangs, or textures according to the desired style.

5. Add highlights and shadows to give dimension.

Practicing various hairstyles will help you create unique and interesting characters.

3. How to Draw Facial Expressions

Facial expressions are key to giving anime characters life and emotion. Anime is known for its dramatic and exaggerated expressions. The right expression can convey a mood or story without the need for words. Therefore, drawing expressions in detail is an important skill to master.

Here’s how to draw anime for basic expressions:

1. Happy: Raise the corners of the mouth, narrow the eyes slightly, and add blush to the cheeks.

2. Sad: Lower the corners of the mouth, make the eyebrows slant upwards, and add tears.

3. Angry: Furrow the eyebrows, draw squinting eyes, and add a sharp line to the mouth.

4. For a surprised expression, make the eyes and mouth wide open with raised eyebrows.

5. A shy expression can be depicted with a blush on the cheeks and a small smile.

Practicing drawing various expressions from different angles will enrich your characters.

4. How to Draw Anime Body

How to Draw Anime Body (credit: unsplash)

Drawing anime bodies requires an understanding of typical proportions and postures. Anime character bodies are often depicted with unique proportions to create different visual appeal. Therefore, understanding the basic steps is essential.

A basic framework like a circle for the head and an oval for the torso helps establish the initial posture. Next, details such as arms, legs, and joints are added to create a natural pose. To clarify further, here’s how to draw anime, specifically the body parts:

1. Basic Framework: Use a circle for the head, an oval for the torso, and simple lines for the arms and legs.

2. Posture: Determine the character's position, such as standing, running, or a specific action pose.

3. Add shoulders, chest, waist, arms, and legs while paying attention to proportions.

4. Focus on joints like elbows and knees to make the posture more natural.

5. Draw hands and feet according to the character's size.

Practicing drawing the body from various angles and poses will enhance your understanding of anatomy and movement.

That’s a brief overview of how to draw anime fundamentally, part by part. Try it out now, because if not now, when else?

(kpl/psp)