There are many ways of drawing anime eyes. This tutorial illustrates how to draw anime eyes with dissimilar expressions in 1 mode from the front view.

draw anime eyes
Example of how to draw anime eyes

Step ane – Depict The Shape of The Eyes

Anime eyes line drawing
Anime eyes line drawing

One defining feature of anime eyes is that they are usually much bigger and wider than real eyes; so that is how nosotros volition draw them.

The eyes should be far enough apart that you tin can fit a third centre in between.

For a normal expression draw the iris slightly covered by the tiptop eyelid while just touching the bottom eyelid. Draw the eyebrows slightly higher up the eyes in a polish curve.

When drawing different expressions the eyebrow shape and positions and the positions of the pupils can exist different.

For cartoon different kinds of eyebrows meet:

How to Describe Anime & Manga Eyebrows

Step 2 – Describe the Pupils and the Reflections

Anime eyes reflections and pupils line drawing
Anime optics reflections and pupils line drawing

Draw the pupil in the eye of the iris.

The positions of the reflections will depend on the the position of the viewer.

In that location tin can be more than one reflection depending on how many light sources there are. In this example we have 2. One for the chief low-cal source and one from a secondary light source.

For instance if yous are drawing a character that is standing exterior on a sunny day the master reflection in the optics could be caused past the sun while the secondary could come up from the sun reflecting off of some other object.

Step 3 – Add Shading

Shading anime eyes step by step
Shading anime optics step by step

To shade the eyes as in the above example you can pretty much brand everything excluding the inner part of the iris and the reflections black.

Leave the reflections white and make the iris area grey.

Drawing Different Anime Heart Expressions

anime eye expressions
Examples of how to draw anime eyes with different expressions

The factors that determine the expression of the optics are:

  • The position and shape of the eyebrows
  • The position of the pupils
  • The position of the eyelids

One major difference between drawing realistic middle expressions is that in anime and manga the size of the pupil tin exist changed to create a more dramatic expression (actually scared eye expression for example).

Below is a breakdown of each expression.

Drawing Normal Anime Optics

Anime eyes
Anime eyes

Depict as described above in the first function of the tutorial.

Cartoon Aroused Anime eyes

Angry anime eyes
Angry anime optics

For an angry await draw the eyebrows down in a kind of inward wave shape. Draw the peak eyelids down in an inward gradient and describe the pupils slightly rolled up.

Drawing Bored Anime Eyes

Bored anime eyes
Bored anime eyes

For a bored look draw the pupils rolled up and the eyelids slightly lowered.

Drawing Shy/Embarrassed Anime Optics

Shy anime eyes
Shy anime eyes

For a shy or embarrassed look draw the eyes looking down and draw the meridian eyelids slightly lowered.

Drawing Distressing Anime Eyes

Sad anime eyes
Distressing anime eyes

For a sad look depict the eyes squinted. Draw the bottom eyelids in a slight upside downward arch. Draw the outer edges of the eyebrows lower down with less of an arch than normal or even in an upside downward arch.

Drawing Surprised Anime Eyes

Surprised anime eyes
Surprised anime eyes

For a surprised look draw the eyes wide open with the eyebrows raised. The wider yous draw the eyes and the further you raise the eyebrows the more surprised the grapheme will look.

Drawing Scared Anime Eyes

Scared anime eyes
Scared anime eyes

For a scared await draw the eyes wide open and the eyebrows raised. Y'all can also draw the pupils smaller than normal. The smaller you draw the pupils the more than scared your graphic symbol will look.

Drawing Happy/Content Anime Eyes

Happy content anime eyes
Happy or content anime eyes

For happy or content anime optics closed with the shape of the optics in an upside down arch. This is probably the easiest example of drawing anime eyes every bit there are most no details to worry about.

Placing Anime or Manga Eyes on the Head

Anime eyes placement on head
Anime eyes placement on head

Real eyes are located in the middle of the head. Anime eyes are oftentimes describe much farther downwardly the caput.

A practiced guide for cartoon anime eyes is to describe a horizontal line through the heart of the head equally shown in the above example and to draw the eyes below that.

It's important to note that if the optics are closed or squinted the top eyelashes will need to be drawn farther downward from the horizontal line in the example. If the eyes are wide open and then the eyelashes will demand to be fatigued further up.

Conclusion

There are most endless variations of anime optics but the guidelines and tips used in this tutorial tin still apply no thing what style you choose.

For more data on drawing anime and manga eyes yous tin can also check:

  • How to Draw Anime & Manga Eyes – Side View
  • How to Describe Different Types of Anime and Manga Eyes
  • How to Draw Anime Eyes From Dissimilar Angles
  • How to Draw Anime and Manga Eyes to Testify Personality
  • 4 Means to Depict Crying Anime Eyes
  • How to Draw Anime Eyelashes Footstep past Step

For specifics of cartoon male and female anime eye see:

  • How to Draw Female Anime Eyes Tutorial
  • How to Draw Male Anime & Manga Eyes

For drawing various facial expressions you can see:

  • 12 Anime Facial Expressions Chart & Drawing Tutorial
  • How to Draw Anime and Manga Mouth Expressions