This step by step tutorial shows how to describe male anime and manga characters. It includes a full eight examples of some of the more popular character archetypes with three variations of each.

Anime male characters drawing
Anime male characters drawing

The main focus of this tutorial is on personality. It shows how you lot tin take the same anime style male face and transform it into different characters past tweaking the facial features and hairstyle. It also shows how to draw some of the facial expressions these characters are likely to have.

The graphic symbol types covered in this tutorial are:

  • Boilerplate Guy
  • Antagonist/Villain
  • Runaway
  • Henchman
  • Friendly Guy
  • Wealthy Guy
  • Loner
  • Intellectual

For drawing female person characters run across:

How to Draw Anime Characters Tutorial

Male person Anime Face Shape Breakdown

Before going into drawing specific character archetypes it's a skilful idea to starting time analyze the feature features of male anime faces. While there is quite a chip of variation in the anime and manga manner generally all anime characters tend to have large eyes, small noses amd simplified mouths with no lips.

Younger anime and manga male characters are often drawn with virtually the exact same faces equally females. Older male person characters are more likely to accept longer faces, wider chins, and smaller/narrower eyes (though still larger than normal). For this tutorial we will apply a very generic male face that tin be either a high schoolhouse student or a younger adult.

Shape of male anime face breakdown
Shape of male anime face breakdown

The generic shape of this blazon of male anime face can basically be broken down into the three simple shapes in the example above.

Anime Male Character Face Proportions

Anime male character face proportions
Anime male graphic symbol face proportions

These are the "default" proportions that the characters in this tutorial volition refer to. So when you read something like "draw the eyebrows lower downwardly" or "make the eyes narrower" it volition usually mean in relation to this example.

Please go on in mind that they are just a guideline for getting male anime style looking characters. As already mentioned in that location is a lot of variation in the anime/manga style so this cartoon template may not e'er use.

For a detailed guide on cartoon a male anime face encounter:

How to Draw Anime and Manga Male Caput and Confront

If you just want a quick breakup of the placement of the facial features and drawing steps you tin can read below:

  • Optics – make a horizontal line through the middle of the head and draw the eyes below that
  • Ears – make another horizontal line between the get-go line and the lesser of the mentum and draw the ears betwixt these ii lines
  • Nose – position the nose with its bottom at the line used for the lesser of the ears
  • Oral fissure – draw the mouth with the lesser lip between the bottom of the nose and the bottom of the mentum and the mouth itself slightly higher up it

Draw the eyebrows slightly in a higher place the eyes.

Anime Male Grapheme Step by Step Drawing

Male anime character face drawing step by step
Male person anime character face drawing step past step
  1. Describe the basic shape of the head starting with a vertical line to help yous brand certain both halves are fifty-fifty
  2. Position the facial features as described before
  3. Draw the hair after placing all of the facial features
  4. Erase the parts of the face and caput hidden by the hair and apply some shading

For more than details on drawing anime male facial features also come across:

How to Draw Male person Anime & Manga Eyes

For drawing the hair for these characters see:

How to Draw Anime Male Hair Step by Step

Drawing an "Average Guy" Anime Male Character

Anime guy face drawing
Anime guy face cartoon

The "average guy" graphic symbol is ordinarily meant to be someone the viewer can chronicle to or cheer for. These are often the protagonists of anime shows and manga or the lead male graphic symbol if the protagonist is a female.

Somewhat messy medium length hair is very common for these types of characters.

Anime male character face drawing
Anime male person grapheme face up drawing

To draw a male "protagonist" character with their normal expressions depict the eyebrows in their natural position and draw the eyes with fairly big pupils/irises.

If you want a friendly looking character draw the mouth with a lite smile.

Drawing a Happy "Boilerplate Guy" Anime Male Graphic symbol

Anime guy happy face drawing
Anime guy happy face drawing

A happy grinning can be i of the expressions this type of grapheme is likely to accept. Usually this is a expect the principal male character can requite to a character they like such equally the female protagonist.

Anime male character happy face drawing
Anime male character happy face up drawing

For the happy expression of the "average guy" draw the eyebrows slightly raised and the optics slightly squinted. Describe the mouth with a grin. Get out the inside of the oral fissure white to indicate that its the teeth that are showing but don't actually depict any hint of them, this will make the character look more friendly.

Drawing a Relaxed "Average Guy" Anime Male Character

Anime guy realaxed face drawing
Anime guy relaxed face up drawing

This is another expression that this type of character tin can have. A sort of relaxed/wondering expression like "What am I gonna accept for dinner tonight?".

Anime male character relaxed face drawing
Anime male character relaxed face drawing

For relaxed and slightly puzzled expression draw the eyebrows with their inner ends slightly raised and depict pupils in a higher place (to make the optics appear rolled upward).

Add the mouth in an "O" like shape. Since the mouth is open y'all tin draw the jaw lower down simply this is optional. Often the jaws of anime characters are fatigued in the same place fifty-fifty with the mouth open.

Drawing an Antagonist/Villain Anime Male Graphic symbol

Anime villain guy face drawing
Anime villain guy face up drawing

The type of expect shown in this example is common to the "main villains" of fantasy and sci-fi shows and manga. They are usually intelligent and strong and thus also normally calm and confident.

These guys ofttimes tend to have long pilus.

Anime villain male character face drawing
Anime villain male person grapheme confront drawing

For the villain's normal await draw the inner ends of the eyebrows slightly lowered (for a more ambitious expect). Make the irises of the eyes slightly smaller than those of the "protagonist" character with the pupils even smaller in relation to them.

Describe the oral fissure and the hint of the lesser lip in low-cal upside downwardly curves.

The combined effect of the facial features drawn in such a way will give the "villain" a slightly confident yet unfriendly/stuck up expect.

Drawing an Angry Antagonist/Villain Anime Male person Character

Anime villain guy angry face drawing
Anime villain guy angry face up drawing

This is an expression the villain tends to brand when they are ticked off/aroused/upset.

Anime villain male character angry face drawing
Anime villain male character angry confront drawing

For an angry wait draw the eyebrows closer together and very low down on the face (especially the inner ends). Give a hint of wrinkles between the eyebrows to further indicate they are being squeezed together. Depict the eyes squinted and draw the irises of the eyes smaller and then normal with tiny pupils and no reflections.

Not drawing reflections will make the eyes appear more than cold and uncaring.

Draw the mouth open and shaped similar to the number "8" that'southward been flipped on its side with the teeth showing. Y'all can as well brand the mouth slightly wider on one side and give a hint of the split between the top and bottom rows of teeth with curved lines on each side.

For more on cartoon anime teeth see:

How to Draw Anime & Manga Teeth Tutorial

Drawing a Scheming Adversary/Villain Male person Anime Character

Anime villain guy scheming face drawing
Anime villain guy scheming confront cartoon

A scheming/plotting type expression is some other one a negative anime/manga character is likely to have. This is a face they can make when anticipating the success of their plans.

Anime villain male character scheming face drawing
Anime villain male person character scheming face drawing

To draw a scheming expression position the inner ends of the eyebrows to be very slightly raised, depict the eyes looking downwards with the top eyelids lowered. Describe the mouth with a grin (teeth showing) and again add a hint of the divide between the top and bottom rows of teeth. These will brand the grin look less friendly and more like a grin.

Drawing a Delinquent/Thug Male Anime Character

Anime thug guy face drawing
Anime thug guy face up cartoon

The "delinquent" character tends to be a bully or a thug. Usually these are negative characters that give other characters in the anime or manga a difficult time.

Spiky and messy pilus along with a goatee can be a adept fit for the delinquent.

For a tutorial on cartoon anime facial hair see:

How to Depict Anime Facial Hair – Beards & Mustaches

Anime thug male character face drawing
Anime thug male graphic symbol face up drawing

For the runaway's normal look draw the eyebrows in their natural position. Draw the eyes with the bottom eyelids curving much further down then normal and draw the pupils much smaller so normal. There should be a good amount of space between the irises and the bottom eyelids. You can also give a hint of bags under the optics with a pair of small-scale curved lines.

Finally depict the rima oris in a fairly abrupt upside downwardly curve and draw the bottom lip in a like fashion.

This combination of facial feature adjustments will requite the runaway an unfriend, slightly crazy and dumb look.

Cartoon a Grinning Delinquent/Thug Male person Anime Character

Anime thug guy bullying face drawing
Anime thug guy bullying confront drawing

A smiling is one expression that the delinquent/thug is likely to make when they spot someone they desire to pick on.

Anime thug male character grinning face drawing
Anime thug male grapheme grinning face drawing

For grinning expression for the delinquent character draw the eyebrows with their inner ends lowered, describe the eyes slightly squinted but yet leave some space between the bottom eyelids and the irises.

Describe the mouth smiling only with a hint of the teeth (same as for the villain).

Drawing a Bullying Delinquent/Thug Male Anime Character

Anime thug guy grinning face drawing
Anime thug guy smile face up cartoon

The "bullying confront" is another expression the delinquent/thug is likely to brand especially when they corner their target.

Anime thug male character bullying face drawing
Anime thug male character bullying face up cartoon

For the runaway's/thug'southward "bullying face" draw ane eyebrow lowered and one raised. The eye under the lowered eyebrow should be squinted and the 1 under the raised countenance opened slightly wider than normal.

Draw the with a grin/smile tilted to one side and depict the height portion of the mouth in an upside down bend (compared to previous example).

Drawing a "Henchman" Male Anime Character

Anime henchman face drawing
Anime henchman face cartoon

The "henchman" is pretty much the most generic looking character type in anime and manga. If there is more than one of them they all tend to look almost the same. These are normally not-of import characters that tend to be something similar security guards or a villains pocket-sized minions.

A "buzz cut" may be advisable for these types of characters.

Anime henchman character face drawing
Anime henchman character face cartoon

For the normal expect draw the "henchman" grapheme with the eyebrows in their normal land. Draw the eyes with the bottom lids slightly lower down and the irises much smaller than normal. You can brand the eyes wait less "caring" past only drawing one tiny reflection in each. Requite a hint of bags under the eyes with a pair of curved lines.

Finally draw the oral cavity in an upside downwardly bend.

These combined features will requite this character a fairly non-caring unfriendly and slightly tired look. For example like a guard that's been on a long shift.

Drawing an Alarmed "Henchman" Male Anime Character

Anime henchman alarmed face drawing
Anime henchman alarmed face drawing

The "alarmed" look is one that the "henchman" type characters are especially likely to get when they are guarding something and notices a interruption in.

Anime henchman character alarmed face drawing
Anime henchman character alarmed face cartoon

For an "alarmed" looking face up draw the eyebrows low down on the caput and closer together merely with i slightly higher than the other. You tin can likewise draw some wrinkles between the eyebrow to show that they are squeezed together. Depict the eyes looking slightly to one side with one eye squinted and one opened wider.

Draw the mouth with even more than of an upside downward bend than normal.

Drawing a Scared "Henchman" Male Anime Character

Anime henchman scared face drawing
Anime henchman scared confront drawing

The scared face is one the "henchman" tin get following the previous "alarmed face" later they see that whoever/whatever broke in is also much for them to handle.

Anime henchman character scared face drawing
Anime henchman graphic symbol scared face cartoon

For the scared face draw the "henchman" with their eyes wide open and the eyebrows raised. Draw the irises smaller than normal with some white space between the them and the summit and lesser eyelids.

Draw the mouth similar to an "viii" flipped on its side with the teeth showing and the lesser lip in an upside down curve.

Drawing a Friendly Male person Anime Character

Anime friendly guy face drawing
Anime friendly guy face drawing

The "friendly guy" is usually a positive supporting character such as the protagonists best friend.

A short and messy hair can be a proficient fit for the "friendly guy" as information technology can reinforce a down to world and slightly carefree personality type.

Anime friendly male character face drawing
Anime friendly male grapheme face drawing

For the "friendly guy'due south" normal wait describe the eyebrows in their natural land. Depict the eyes wider (taller) and make the irises and everything inside them larger than the base example at the start of the tutorial.

Give the mouth a light smile.

Larger optics will make for a friendlier looking character and a calorie-free smile will further reinforce this expect.

Drawing a Content Friendly Male person Anime Character

Anime friendly guy content face drawing
Anime friendly guy content face drawing

A content smile is something that a friendly character is likely to have, often later they help someone.

Anime friendly male character content face drawing
Anime friendly male character content confront drawing

For a content/happy look depict the "friendly guy" with the eyebrows raised and the eye closed. Describe the closed eyes as pretty much simply a hair of dark curves similar to the eyebrows.

Draw the oral fissure in a wider smile than the previous example.

For cartoon anime optics in different states come across:

How to Describe Closed, Closing & Squinted Anime Optics

Drawing a Surprised Male Anime Character

Anime friendly guy surprised face drawing
Anime friendly guy surprised face up drawing

This is a lightly surprised face like them meeting their friend somewhere unexpectedly.

Anime friendly male character friendly face drawing
Anime friendly male character friendly confront drawing

For the "lightly surprised" expect draw the eyebrows raised with the optics open a tiny chip wider than normal.

Draw the mouth open with the jaw position the chin slightly lower down and just the acme row of teeth showing.

This will give the character a kind of a "happy to bump into yous" expression.

Drawing a "Wealthy Guy" Anime Male person Character

Anime wealthy guy face drawing
Anime wealthy guy confront cartoon

The "wealthy guy" characters tend to exist rich and successful. They can ofttimes expect down on those around them of lower status.

Anime wealthy male character face drawing
Anime wealthy male person character face drawing

For the "wealthy guy's" normal face describe the eyebrows slightly lower down. Describe the eyes with the inner ends of the pinnacle eyelids slightly lowered and draw the irises a little scrap smaller than normal.

Draw the oral cavity with a hint of a smile but instead of drawing the grinning with i curve describe it as a prepare of to curves (one for each side of the mouth).

These features combined will give this character a confident and slightly sly look.

Cartoon a Disgusted "Wealthy Guy" Anime Male Graphic symbol

Anime wealthy guy disgusted face drawing
Anime wealthy guy disgusted face up drawing

The disgusted await is ane the "wealthy" character classic tends to brand when they look at someone or something they consider beneath them.

Anime wealthy male character disgusted face drawing
Anime wealthy male person grapheme disgusted face up cartoon

For a disgusted look draw the "wealthy guy'south" face with the eyebrows in contrary of their normal curves. Make the inner ends of the eyebrows raised and draw them merely slightly closer together. Make the eyes themselves slightly squinted.

Draw the mouth like an upside down grin, narrower at the top and wider at the lesser with the teeth showing. Flip the bottom lip upside downwardly as well.

Drawing a Smiling "Wealthy Guy" Anime Male Character

Anime wealthy guy smiling face drawing
Anime wealthy guy smile face drawing

A false smiling is another expression this character type tends to make. For case if the character is famous they tend to exercise it in front of their fans.

Anime wealthy male character smiling face drawing
Anime wealthy male grapheme smiling face drawing

For this expression draw the eyebrows raised and the eyes closed (similar to the friendly guys content look). Describe the airtight optics with a pair of curves similar to the eyebrows.

Draw the mouth with a smile but to make the it seem slightly less friend add together a hint of teeth on each side.

Drawing a "Loner" Anime Male person Character

Anime loner guy face drawing
Anime loner guy face drawing

The male person loner character tin either be shy or socially awkward or may just plain dislike people. These types of characters can be both positive and negative depending on the story.

Anime loner male character face drawing
Anime loner male person character face drawing

For the "loner's" normal wait describe the eyebrows with their ends slightly raised. Depict the top eyelids slightly lowered and draw the bottom eyelids with wider curves. Make the irises fairly small. Underneath the eyes add a few curved lines to evidence numberless under the eyes (similar the character has no slept in a while).

Describe the mouth in an upside downward bend.

Thee combined features will give the "loner" a somewhat uncaring and unfriendly look.

Drawing a Tired "Loner" Anime Male Grapheme

Anime loner guy tired face drawing
Anime loner guy tired face drawing

The tired face is some other expression that can be quite mutual to loner characters. For example they may spend the nighttime playing online games and be tired in the morning.

Anime loner male character tired face drawing
Anime loner male graphic symbol tired face cartoon

For a tired wait for the "loner" depict the eyebrows in upside downwardly curves with their inner ends raised. Draw the pinnacle eyelids in reverse of their normal curves lower down on the eyes.

Keep the mouth the same as the normal expression.

Drawing a Scared/Nervous "Loner" Anime Male Character

Anime loner guy scared face drawing
Anime loner guy scared face drawing

This is a scared/nervous expression anime/manga loners tend to make. This can be when they are being bullied or simply when they are in an uncomfortable state of affairs (like having to socialize with others).

Anime loner male character scared face drawing
Anime loner male character scared face drawing

For a scared/nervous await for the loner draw the eyebrows raised (especially the inner ends) and in contrary of their normal curves. Depict the eyes fairly wide open up with smaller than normal irises. Leave the top of the irises covered by the eyebrows but just barely.

Depict the mouth with the teeth showing an a number "8 on its side kind of shape" (similar to previous example). Add together a hint of the lesser lip in an upside down curve

Drawing an "Intellectual" Male person Anime Grapheme

Anime intellectual guy face drawing
Anime intellectual guy face drawing

The "intellectual" character type in anime and manga does not necessarily mean a shy or weak male character. On the contrary quite often these characters can exist both physically though and intelligent. Often these tend to be the school council president or some blazon of leader.

Anime intellectual male character face drawing
Anime intellectual male grapheme confront drawing

For the "intellectual'due south" normal look draw the eyebrows in their natural country with the eyes slightly narrower than the default grapheme example at the start of the tutorial. Make the irises slightly smaller also. Smaller/narrower optics will both brand the grapheme look more serious and hint that they may have impaired vision.

Depict the oral fissure in a light upside down curve to once more make the grapheme look more serious.

Drawing a Concerned "Intellectual" Male Anime Character

Anime intellectual guy concerned face drawing
Anime intellectual guy concerned face drawing

The concerned or "thinking" expression is one that the "intellectual" grapheme is likely to make.

Anime intellectual male character concerned face drawing
Anime intellectual male person graphic symbol concerned face drawing

For the concerned expression draw the eyebrows lower down and closer together with some wrinkles in between them. Describe the irises slightly rolled up and slightly closer together.

Draw the mouth in an upside down curve but slightly higher up than the normal expression.

Drawing a Surprised "Intellectual" Male Anime Character

Anime intellectual guy surprised face drawing
Anime intellectual guy surprised face drawing

The "intellectual" may make a surprised confront like the one in the example when they make some sort of a discovery.

Anime intellectual male character surprised face drawing
Anime intellectual male person character surprised face drawing

To draw the surprised look for the "intellectual" character draw the eyebrows raised (especially their inner ens) and describe the optics broad open up with pocket-size pupils. Draw the mouth open in an "O" type shape. Since the mouth is open up you tin besides optionally draw the jaw slightly lower down.

Conclusion

This tutorial covers drawing some of the more popular male anime and manga character archetypes past showing examples the of facial features, expressions, and hairstyles they are probable to accept. While there is a lot more variety out there it's very difficult to embrace too much in a single tutorial. For more examples you tin e'er look at your favorite anime and manga and see how the characters are most interested are drawn. Yous can as well experiment with the personalities in this tutorial by combining the facial features of i graphic symbol with another and seeing what you get.

For more tutorials on male person anime character meet:

  • How to Depict Male Anime Face 3/iv View Footstep by Step
  • 12 Anime Male person Facial Expressions Chart & Drawing Tutorial
  • How to Draw an Anime Male child Full Body Stride by Step
  • x Footstep Anime Human's Face Drawing Tutorial