80 Anime Drawing Ideas
Okay, real talk—coming up with fresh anime drawing ideas when you’re already deep in the craft?
Way harder than beginners think. I’ve spent weeks diving into artist interviews, sketchbook walkthroughs, and portfolio breakdowns, and one thing’s clear: experts level up not by drawing more, but by drawing smarter.
Like—designing a mecha that fuses with its pilot mid-battle (hello, Gurren Lagann vibes), or capturing a split-second emotional shift during a rooftop confession scene.
This list of some amazing ideas isn’t just random prompts—it’s designed to stretch your skills, spark world-building, and maybe even shake up how you approach your next panel or commission.
Anime Drawing Ideas
1. Dynamic Character Poses
Dynamic poses aren’t just about drama; they’re a chance to test anatomy, weight, and storytelling all at once. A character mid-air with limbs flared isn’t just cool-looking—it’s a physics puzzle.
Think of that iconic mid-swing shot from Attack on Titan—you’re not just drawing a pose, you’re drawing momentum. Or that close-up hand reaching toward the viewer?
That’s your test in foreshortening and intentional exaggeration. I found tons of artists using 3D pose references and then pushing them further to break the “realistic” mold.
These kinds of studies help you build muscle memory for movement and keep your compositions from going stiff.
If you’re stuck, try sketching a “falling pose” and pushing the limbs as far as they can go without snapping the spine—you’ll learn a lot.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2. Stylized Expressions & Emotions
Here’s the thing: anime is basically emotional storytelling turned visual, and expressions are where that really lives.
And it’s not just big, loud emotions—subtlety is hard.
Like, drawing someone trying not to cry?
That’s way more complex than just tears. Or think about a villain smiling—how do you draw that so it reads as creepy and not goofy?
You’ve got to play with shadows, lip curl, eye shapes.
I especially loved this breakdown of “conflicted expressions” where artists draw split emotions on either side of the face—one side angry, one side sad.
Genius.
Pro tip I saw a few times: screenshot emotional keyframes from your favorite anime and redraw them using your own style.
You’ll start to recognize the crazy subtle stuff happening behind the “anime look.”
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
3. Unique Character Concepts
This one’s my favorite.
The more I dug into expert-level anime designs, the clearer it became: you’ve got to design for story, not just aesthetics. A lot of pros build characters that look great on paper, but what sets elite artists apart is when every design element means something.
Like a street mage who uses spray paint as spell glyphs? That’s a fashion choice and a lore clue.
Or I saw this design of a character who wore multiple layers of historical clothing—blending Edo-era fashion with sci-fi fabric—and it wasn’t just for the drip, it was worldbuilding.
Hybrid characters (like demon-angel mixes or time travelers) are amazing playgrounds for design rules.
What scars do they carry?
What tech or relics do they use?
You can challenge yourself here by doing concept-to-turnaround sheets, like you would in a studio setting. If it looks cool and tells a story, you’re golden.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
4. Environmental Integration
I used to think background-heavy pieces were just for showing off… but now I’m realizing they’re key to making characters feel real.
Especially in anime, where the environment often mirrors emotion. A character framed by neon signs at night?
Instantly makes them look lonely or mysterious.
Drawing characters in context—like sitting in a quiet train car or standing under festival lanterns—grounds the emotion and expands the worldbuilding. Experts know this, but even they sometimes overlook how interactive a setting should be.
For example, is your character’s hair reacting to wind?
Is their pose reflecting the slope of a rooftop they’re perched on?
I found this piece where an artist had a character pulling a friend through a rainy alley, and the puddles, hand pull, and reflections all told the story.
If you’re an expert, start treating backgrounds like characters—with their own mood, movement, and impact.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
5. Costume & Fashion Experiments
You know what I didn’t expect?
Just how technical anime costume design gets. It’s not just slapping cool outfits on a character—there’s structure, function, even materials being considered.
When I dug into character sheets from studios, I noticed how detailed everything was: fabric folds, seam placements, color balance.
But beyond the technical, the fun is in taking familiar archetypes and twisting them.
Like, what if a shrine maiden wore armor inspired by moth wings? Or a mecha pilot wore schoolboy suspenders as a nod to his past? Those tiny design cues add depth.
One tip I saw a lot: design costumes for movement. If your character fights or runs, how would the outfit react?
Would it flap, stretch, rip?
Try redrawing the same outfit across multiple action scenes—it’ll reveal weak points or missing layers. Fashion in anime is iconic for a reason—it says everything without saying a word.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
6. Fantasy & Power Conceptuals
Okay, here’s where things get spicy—drawing magic and power systems isn’t just “cool effects,” it’s world mechanics in action. I didn’t realize how deep some artists go with this.
Like, they’ll build out a whole set of glyph logic or elemental rules just to make one scene feel coherent.
A character glowing with spirit energy?
That’s not just a glow layer—how is the energy flowing, what’s the shape language, what’s it doing to their body?
One artist I found drew transformation sequences as a storyboard, breaking down each magical layer appearing—wings, armor, aura.
And it made sense.
If you’re leveling up your fantasy drawings, try building power hierarchies or sketching how spells deform the environment.
A fire spell shouldn’t just light stuff up—it should affect lighting, shadows, even your character’s expression. In short: make your power feel earned, not pasted on.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
7. Mecha & Tech Hybrids
Mecha stuff blew my mind when I saw how detailed and functional high-level artists get.
Every panel, piston, and wire seems thought out. Even for humanoid bots, the best designs have this sense that they could actually move and fight.
What’s wild is how artists mix hard tech and soft storytelling. Like, a pilot’s suit showing their emotional status, or a mech’s armor evolving as the story progresses.
I loved this piece where an android’s cracked outer shell revealed glowing memory shards underneath—not just cool, but narrative.
If you’re an expert, here’s a challenge: design a mech or hybrid that tells a backstory without any text.
What battle scars does it have?
What’s broken?
What’s been DIY’d?
Bonus if you draw the cockpit and explain how the pilot actually fits and controls it—no handwaving allowed. This category really rewards thoughtful world logic.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
