How to Draw an Anime Head: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Part 1: Why Learn About Head Structure and Proportion?

Before drawing eyes, hair, or expressions, you must understand the head structure. Anime may look simple; however, it still follows basic rules. When you know the head's structure and learn the correct proportions, your drawings look balanced and clean. Moreover, good head structure helps you draw faces from any angle. Furthermore, once you know the rules, you can break them to create your own unique style. As a result, your anime art improves faster and looks more professional.

Part 2. Understanding Anime Head Basics

Before we grab our pencils, let's look at what makes an anime head special. As it is not exactly like a real human head, its making is different, and that is what makes it fun!

1. What Makes an Anime Head Different from Realistic Heads

Anime heads are not drawn like real human heads. Realistic heads feature tiny details, such as cheekbones, chin dimples, and skin folds. Anime heads, however, use simplified proportions and stylized features.

• Simplified proportions

Anime heads are usually larger compared to the body. The face is smoother, and details are reduced. Therefore, beginners find anime easier to learn than realism.

• Stylized facial features

The eyes of anime characters are often very large to show emotion. Meanwhile, the nose and mouth are usually very small; sometimes just a tiny dot or a short line. As a result, emotions look clearer and more expressive.

2. Common Anime Head Shapes

Not every character has the same face shape. Depending on the style and character type, anime heads come in different shapes, for example:

• Round Shapes: Usually used for younger characters or "cute" (moe) styles. It gives a soft and friendly look.
• Oval Shapes: Oval shapes are the standard face shapes for anime, and most main characters have this kind of face. Such a face looks natural and balanced for anime characters.
• Sharp Jaw Styles: Thesoft jaw style is often used for cool or serious characters. In this style, the chin is pointier, and the jawline is very defined. This gives the character a stronger and more mature look.
• Male vs. female anime head shapes: Male heads usually have longer faces and broader and more squared jawlines. Female heads, on the other hand, are softer with smaller chins. However, styles may vary depending on the anime genre.

3. Front View vs. Side View Anime Head

The front view is when the character is looking directly at you. This is the easiest way to start because here the face is symmetrical (the same on both sides), and features are easier to place. This is perfect for a beginner to start. The side view, on the other hand, shows depth and shape. This is a bit harder because you have to draw the nose's shape and the curve of the lips.

Therefore, beginners should start with the front view to get used to the spacing of the features first.

Part 3. Anime Head Proportions Explained

"Proportions" is just a fancy way of saying "where things go." If you know the "map" of the face, you will never get lost.

Basic Anime Head Guidelines

We always start with a circle and jaw method. The circle represents the top of the skull. Underneath the circle, we add the jaw.

• Center Lines: We draw a vertical line down the middle. This helps us keep the nose and mouth centered.
• Symmetry: We also draw a horizontal line across the middle of the circle. This is where the eyes will live. Consequently, your drawing will look balanced and professional.

Placing Facial Features on an Anime Head

• Eyes Position: Anime eyes usually sit slightly below the center of the head. This makes the face look youthful and expressive.
• Nose and Mouth: The nose is placed halfway between the eyes and chin. The mouth sits slightly below the nose. However, anime noses are often tiny.
• Ear Alignment: The top of the ears usually lines up with the top of the eyes. The bottom of the ears lines up with the bottom of the nose. This rule helps keep the head realistic, even in anime style.

Adjusting Proportions for Different Anime Styles

As different shows have different looks, it is important to adjust accordingly.

• Cute (Chibi): In this style, the head is enormous, and the body is tiny. The eyes are placed very low on the face to make the character look like a baby. This style seems playful and adorable.
• Semi-realistic: These characters look more like real people. The eyes are smaller, and the nose is more defined. Many modern anime use this style.
• Sharp and Edgy: Eyes are narrower, and jaws are sharper. This style is often used for action or dark anime.

Part 4. How to Draw an Anime Head Step by Step

Step 1: Draw the Basic Head Shape

Start with a clean circle. This represents the skull. Then, lightly draw a vertical center line. This helps guide facial symmetry.

Step 2: Add the Jaw and Chin

From the bottom of the circle, draw two lines going down to form the jaw. Connect them with a soft or sharp chin, depending on the character style.

Step 3: Draw Guidelines for Eyes, Nose, and Mouth

Add a horizontal line slightly below the center of the eyes. Then, mark small points for the nose and mouth. These guidelines help keep everything aligned.

Step 4: Sketch the Facial Features

Draw the eyes along the eye line. Add a small nose and a simple mouth. Keep the lines light at first so you can make corrections if required.

Step 5: Add Hair and Final Details

Draw hair around the head shape, but make sure it doesn't float above it. Besides this, add eyebrows, a neck, and small details. Finally, erase guidelines and darken clean lines.

Part 5. Bonus Tip: Create Anime Head Drawings with HitPaw FotorPea

If you want to create anime head drawings without spending hours sketching by hand, HitPaw FotorPea can be a helpful tool. It is an AI-powered photo editing and image generation tool that helps beginners and creators get realistic drawings. The best thing is, even if you are not confident in your drawing skills, you can turn your simple ideas, rough sketches, or reference images into polished anime-style artwork.

Main features of HitPaw FotorPea:

• AI Image Generation: You can generate anime-style head drawings by simply entering a text prompt.
• Image Enhancement & Cleanup: If you have drawn an anime by hand but it looks rough and unclear, HitPaw FotorPea can sharpen it, reduce noise, and improve details.
• Style Customization: You can also adjust styles, colors, and effects to match different anime looks.
• Beginner-Friendly Interface: The tool is easy to use, making it ideal for beginners and creators who want quick results.

Part 6. FAQs About Drawing Anime Heads

Conclusion

Learning how to draw an anime head is the foundation of anime art. When you understand head structure and proportions, everything else becomes easier. Remember, every artist starts as a beginner, so it is normal if your first drawings do not look perfect. With regular practice, your skills will improve over time. However, if you are new to drawing or prefer a faster option, you can use HitPaw FotorPea. Powered by an advanced AI algorithm, this software helps you create clean and stylish anime head drawings with the help of AI.