Emotions and expressions in anime are larger than life.
Anime is known for having characters with many different emotions and expressions. Learning to draw human expressions in anime style is key to developing your anime characters. Emotions and expressions in anime are larger than life, much like the plot lines and characters of the genre.
Instructions
1. Draw an oval to create a basic anime head. Add the neck with parallel lines under the head.
2. Draw the eyebrows pointing down diagonally to create an angry expression. Draw the eyes smaller than normal and add diagonal lines to the top of the eyelids. Draw the mouth with a rectangular shape to show that the teeth are gritted.
3. Create an annoyed look by drawing the basic face as above but make the eyes normal (for anime) size. Place the pupils and irises turned to the side. Draw one eyebrow in a normal relaxed state, but have the other curved and slightly lifted. Draw the mouth with a slightly diagonal line that curves at the top. Add a line under the mouth to show the lower lip.
4. Draw the expression of contentment by sketching out a basic face and keeping the eyes at the normal size. Draw the eyebrows so that the inner brow is higher than the outside. Create the mouth with a small upturned line. Add a shadow under the mouth with a small upside-down triangle.
5. Draw a flirtation expression by turning the mouth up slightly on one side to create a smirk. Thicken the eyelashes and lower the eyelids on each eye slightly. Have one turned upward and the other tilted downward.
6. Draw a laughing expression by drawing a large mouth with a rectangular shape. Add the tongue with a small circle inside the mouth. Draw the eyes closed and add small diagonal squint lines on the top and bottom of the eyelash. Draw the eyebrows with wide curves above the eyes.
7. Make a mischievous expression by placing the pupils and irises in the upper right-hand corner of the eye. Raise the outer side of one of the eyebrows. Create a smirk with a mouth line that turns up at one end. Add a shadow under the mouth with an upside-down triangle.
8. Create a sad or crying expression by drawing the eyebrows upturned on the inside of the face. Draw a well of tears in the eyes with a bubble-like shape at the bottom of the eye. Add a stream of tears with two parallel lines running down the side of the face, starting at the eyes.
9. Draw the expression of surprise by drastically upturning the inside edge of each eyebrow. Draw the eyes slightly large and open, just a bit wider. Draw the mouth open with a circular shape. Draw the tongue with a small circle inside the mouth.
