How to Draw a Chibi

Chibi characters differ from ordinary anime characters primarily in their unusual body proportions and simplified features. In this tutorial, we will show you how to draw a chibi step by step and how to convey this.

We already have many tutorials on Drawingforall.net in which we show how to draw specific characters in the chibi style. Here we will focus on the basic principles that you can use when drawing chibi.

How to draw a chibi step by step

Step 1: Sketch the chibi head and body

One of the main features of chibi is a disproportionately large head and small body. First, sketch the large head and then draw the torso below it. The torso should be approximately equal in height to the head. Connect these two parts with a pair of short lines for the neck.

Step 2: Add the limbs and face guidelines

Another distinctive feature of chibi characters is the large eyes located quite low on the face. Sketch a horizontal guideline for the lower edge of the eyes and a vertical line through the center of the face. Next, outline the arms and legs using very simple geometric shapes.

Step 3: Outline the chibi face and hair

Now add the most noticeable details to the chibi sketch. Using the guidelines from the previous step, outline two very large pupils and the upper eyelashes to form the eyes. Next, sketch the small mouth and outline the hair with simple light lines.

Step 4: Sketch the chibi clothes

Now add the details of the clothes to the torso and limbs. In our case, the chibi character is wearing a jacket, T-shirt, and jeans. Of course, you can choose completely different clothes for your character. At this stage, sketch all these details with very light lines.

Step 5: Refine the chibi head

Now proceed to the final details of the chibi head. Start by drawing the chibi eyes and trace the pupils, then thicken the upper eyelashes. Next, draw the eyebrows and small mouth. A nose is rarely depicted in this style, so we will not draw it here. Refine the hair and ears, then erase the unnecessary guidelines from the head.

Step 6: Refine the body and clothes

After finishing the head, move to the body of the chibi character. Using clear and dark lines, trace the torso, arms, and legs along with all the details of the clothes. Then use an eraser to remove the remaining auxiliary lines from the drawing.

Step 7: Add shadows to the chibi

The chibi drawing is almost complete, and now we need to add shadows. First, shade the pupils with hatching and leave small highlights inside them. Next, add shadows under the hair and chin, as well as on the lower edges of the limbs.

The principles shown in this tutorial can be used to depict many different characters in the chibi style. The main distinguishing features of chibi are a large head, a small body, large eyes, and simplified details.

These are the features you should preserve when drawing a character in this style. The hairstyle, clothes, and other details can be changed depending on the character you want to depict.

To practice these principles on other characters, try to draw a chibi boy or draw a chibi girl. You can change their clothes, hairstyles, and poses to create different chibi drawings.