How To Draw A Anime Teacher

Do you want to learn to draw anime? We can't blame you! It is a hobby that is rapidly growing in popularity worldwide. Yet, the fact that it is popular doesn't make it easy. Don't worry though! We are here to provide you with the most outstanding online resources so that you can start drawing anime like a Japanese master from the comfort of your home. In this article, we will talk about:

the features of anime and its peculiarities;
the best online resources for helping you to start drawing anime;
how an online teacher can help you achieve your drawing goals.

Before getting into learning to draw anime, let's start with some interesting facts about this art genre:

The word "anime" actually refers to Japanese hand-drawn or computer animation. It is the term "manga" that means comics. However, when "anime" is used outside of Japan, it denotes cartooning.
Anime characters' hair colors have a symbolic meaning and give a clue as to their personality.
Manga strips are supposed to be read from left to right, as is standard in the Japanese language. It is due to anime's popularity in the Western world that they are now often inverted.

Key anime features

1. Anime anatomy

The human body in anime is depicted in a cartoonish, instantly recognizable style. It could be said that, in order to draw it, one would need a fundamental knowledge of anatomy and add an element of exaggeration.

Anime protagonists normally have very thin proportions. They have slim bodies and incredibly long legs. The female body is drawn to exaggerate its femininity, with endless legs and tiny waists.

You cannot draw a typical anime-style character if you do not first learn drawing basics like how to depict the human body. For this, it is necessary to study the structure of the human body and anatomy in order to be able to illustrate realistic characters.

When you learn about bones, muscles, and how different parts of the body are connected to each other, you will be able to incorporate that into your art. Without this key skill, your work is likely to not look professional.

One of the best online resources where you can learn to draw online is Deviant Art. Check out this page that will help you study anatomy as it relates to art and, more specifically, anime.

2. Anime eyes

One of the most typical features of anime characters is their large eyes. They often include love-hearts, stars, spirals, and flames to reflect the character's emotional state.

Different types of eye shapes tend to symbolize different aspects of a character's personality. For example, rounder eyes usually mean innocence or purity, while smaller, more narrow eyes typically represent coldness or evil. This means that you should pay particular attention to it when you are drawing the eyes of your own anime characters. Remember that their eyes will have to be vivid enough to convey their feelings.

A great online resource that will teach you the best way to learn drawing anime eyes can be found on Clip Studio.

3. Anime hair

Typical anime hair is big. Most characters, especially important ones, have quite extravagant-looking hair: often unconventionally colored with a lot of movement between scenes. Spikes, ponytails, and ringlets are common hairdos in anime.

You should pay particular attention to hair drawing because not only does it need to look visually striking, it is also meant to express a lot through its movements. You must also seriously consider the color of a character's hair, as different colors are used to symbolize different personality traits (read more about that below where we discuss anime coloring).

One of the best online resources that will show you the best way to learn to draw anime hair can be found on Concept Art Empire.

4. Basic shapes

There are quite a few basic poses that anime characters often assume. These tend to be exaggerated and dramatic. To draw realistic characters, you will have to master the art of animating them and learn drawing the shapes or poses they assume to perfection. Some commonly encountered ones are:

the running pose
the ballet pose
the punching pose
the dashing pose
the kicking pose
the throwing pose
the 'flying kick' pose
the seed pose called 'tane' (an action shot in which the character is usually midair, pointing their finger in a challenging way)
the sunrise stance (which shows the character posing with a weapon at a wide-angle)

You can find the ultimate collection of all anime shapes on Anime Outline.

Learn to draw anime: infographic enlisting the basic anime shapes

5. Distinguishing between anime boys and girls

The technique of drawing anime boys differs significantly from that of drawing anime girls. For male characters, you will have to draw a rectangular face with an almost square jaw. Females have thinner eyebrows and rounder noses and eyes compared to males.

Male and female characters also have different body proportions. Female characters are smaller, with narrow shoulders and waists while males are larger.

One of the best resources for teaching how to learn drawing boys and girls is available on Anime Outline.

6. Anime coloring techniques

When it comes to the colors used, anime also has its peculiarities. Three of them are the following:

Coloring is added to the character's eyes, particularly to the cornea, to add some depth to their face.
The hair color of a character signifies aspects of their nature and reflects their role in a story (e.g. black hair usually suggests that a character is insignificant, blonde or yellow hair may be used for white Westerners, white hair can be used for an old person and pink for the love interest of the main character).
A typical Japanese animation scene can normally feature up to three levels of shadows plus a highlight.

Anime Outline is a great online resource that will tell you how to learn how to draw and allow you to study the details of anime coloring further.

More online resources

7. PDF books

If you learn best by reading, then a PDF book may be the answer for you! If you are looking for the best PDF book on anime drawing, try "How to Draw Anime for Beginners". You can download this fantastic resource online.

8. Anime bloggers

Anime is designed to be visually appealing, and it is a lot of fun to look at. As such, it has fans of all ages all around the world. This fascination has led to a rapid growth in numbers of people who learn how to draw anime themselves. Drawing anime is a fun hobby and there are many people sharing their experience on how to learn drawing online on their blogs.

It can be very helpful to read those blogs and learn about other people's mistakes and practical experience. People learn best by learning from each other, and you will benefit greatly from finding out about the experience of others.

By reading blogs and following bloggers' journeys in real-time, you can learn all sorts of things: from what techniques and what tools work best to the best secrets on how to learn to draw! An example of such a blog is Angie's Blog. Check it out!

9. Personal YouTube channels

One of the most popular YouTube channels managed by an anime artist is Shinigami Arts. This channel is one of many which feature videos on how to draw specific characters, tell you how to draw male vs. female anime protagonists, and provide Dos and Don'ts videos about anime drawing for amateur artists.

10. Anime drawing tutorials in social networks

Did you know you can also make use of your social media networks to perfect your anime art? Three good tutorials on different social networks that are particularly useful for beginner anime artists are the following:

How to Draw the Female Head on Pinterest
How to Draw Eyes for Beginners on YouTube
How to Draw Different Expressions on Instagram

Following anime accounts on different social networks can be very helpful when it comes to improving your own drawings. Not only can you learn how to draw online from them, but they can also inspire you and connect you to individuals with a passion similar to yours.

11. Anime drawing software

You can also use special drawing software to learn to draw anime. The best free program that allows drawing in a convenient manner is offered by Clip Studio Paint and it is bound to have you drawing anime like a pro in no time! Try its simple tools which will teach you how to create unique artwork from scratch.

12. Online drawing lessons

If you learn best traditionally, i.e. with someone by your side guiding you, you can also try taking drawing lessons online on an e-learning platform.

3 advantages of learning to draw anime with an online tutor are the following:

Studying online gives you flexibility of schedule and environment: you choose when and where.
It is cheap: Your teacher will provide you with many learning resources, which would otherwise be costly.
It gives you someone to be accountable to: You are more likely to make progress when an expert is monitoring your learning.

You will find many art tutors available for drawing classes online. When choosing a drawing tutor, consider these factors:

Do they have positive references and feedback from previous students?
Are they open, friendly, and communicative?
Do they offer a free trial lesson, where you can confirm if you are a good match?

Eurekly is your best bet for finding an expert online drawing tutor. By choosing Eurekly, you could have lessons with talented teachers such as:

Darla, a working Fine Arts student living in the Philippines who has a huge passion for teaching that comes across in her online lessons. Having worked as a private tutor and a freelance art assistant for over a year and being TESOL certified, she can teach people of all ages.
Beatrice who is a practicing artist with many years of teaching experience and exceptional qualifications in Painting and Fine Art. Having lived in London, Paris, and Rome, the biggest art hubs of the world, she has an excellent understanding of the international contemporary art world. Her expertise lies in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video, photoshop, installation, and textile art.
Angelika who is a young artist specializing in drawing, sketching, charcoal portraits, painting, and digital art. She can help you improve your techniques and gain confidence in yourself as a creator.

Futuristic anime girl on blue background

Unleash your talent!

Anime has been popular for several decades now, and its appeal is unlikely to fade anytime soon. More and more people are showing interest in taking anime a step further and looking for ways how to learn drawing at home so they can create it themselves.

Contrary to a popular belief, not only can drawing be learned but it can also be learned online! Today there are many resources available on the internet for those who want to learn to draw their own anime characters. From video tutorials to private lessons offered by experienced online teachers, learn to create your favorite Japanese art in the way that suits you best!

To find the tutor best suited to your needs, use Eurekly. The online drawing tutors on Eurekly are experts in their fields, and they will create customized lessons for your abilities at a bargain price.