Drawing small and cute chibi or mini versions of your characters is fun. Chibi, originating from Japan, is a stylized drawing of characters. It’s generally used in anime series, but the chibi’s distinct facial expression makes it fun and cute. Let’s learn how to draw them with the help of this tutorial.

Things to Remember While Drawing Chibi

1.      Uniform shape and size

The shape and size of the chibi characters are almost the same, regardless of the age of the original character, gender, height, face size and body shape. Learning the main points of drawing a chibi allows you to draw any character you want.

2.      Find unique points

Although the shapes and sizes are uniform, you have to know how to emphasize the unique and essential features of a character’s personality. Usually, this is done through hairstyle, eyes, and clothing.

3.      Focusing on Balance

Chibis can be two to four heads tall. While there is no rule of proportions, you should begin with drawing a particular proportion. Once you learn the technique, you can easily apply the same rules to slightly different body proportions.

How to Draw Chibis- Step-by-step Guide

Drawing the head

Remember, the chibi’s head is a sphere, not a circle. Think in a 3D shape. Draw a rough outline of a circle first. Outline a head around it. Unlike human faces, there is no sharp edge around the jawline in chibis. There will be a smooth curve instead of the sharp jawline.

• Draw guide lines following a ball’s shape for placing the eyes and mouth. Because chibi eyes are quite large, you have to place the horizontal lines a little lower.
• The eyes are most important, as they express the emotions of the character. Draw very large eyes. Not drawing the nose is very common for a chibi character. You can just use a small dot for it. The mouth should be small.
• The eyes should be neat, and adding some detail to them looks better. They must also be full of feelings.
• For drawing the hair, you can give it a voluminous shape around the outline of the head. Have a simple hairstyle, and give soft tips to the ends of the hair.

Drawing the body

The cutest chibis have simple faces without any extra component while maintaining all the key features.

• Focus on softness and avoid usual rules of drawing bones and joints while drawing a chibi body.
• There should be a 1:1 balance between the chibi’s legs and torso to shape a well-balanced body.  
• A two-head tall chibi won’t need a neck. If you draw it, keep it thin and short.
• Don’t draw broad shoulders, it spoils the cuteness. Sloping shoulders look good.
• If it’s not for a specific character, draw a simple, soft, and round torso. Make the arms and legs a bit thicker.

Also read:

• Painting with a Twist: How Breaking the Rules on Canvas Keeps Art Alive
• Fun 10 things to draw when bored: Beginner-Friendly Instant Inspiration
• A Beginner’s Guide to the loomis method – Creating Lifelike Faces
• lippan art design and Its Evolution: A Heritage of Reflection and Creativity
• Modern texture paint designs: The Fusion of Art and Innovation

Final Words

Ignoring realism and detailed body shape while focusing on softness and cuteness is the fundamental for drawing a chibi character. Maximize unique features and make the character as full of expressions as possible.