How to Draw Anime Ears

Completed anime ear drawings shown from two slightly different angles.

In this drawing guide, we will tell you how to draw anime ears. We created this tutorial as one of the basic guides for those who like to draw anime characters.

We tried to make it as simple and accessible as possible for everyone who wants to try this popular art style.

When we talk about drawing an ear, we usually mean the outer ear. In reality, the ear has many small details and complex contours. In anime, this structure is greatly simplified to just a few lines.

So, here we’ll show you two ways to draw anime ears: from the side and from the front. Each version will consist of just a few simple steps.

How to draw an anime ear from the side

Step 1: Outline the outer ear

This is actually a very simple tutorial. Here we want to show how to draw an ear using three simple lines. First, outline the outer contour of the auricle. It looks a little like half of a heart, but with a more vertical curve.

Outlining the anime ear with one smooth curved outer contour.

Step 2: Add the inner details

Add two simple lines to indicate the inner details of the ear, including the tragus. The tragus is the small projection of cartilage in front of the ear canal. You can see many other details if you look at your ear in a mirror, but we will simplify them as much as possible for the anime style.

Adding two curved inner lines to complete the anime ear.

How to draw an anime ear from the front

Step 3: Sketch the overall ear shape

If we view the ear from a slightly more frontal angle, repeat the same basic shape, but make it narrower and more compressed horizontally. You can adjust the shape of the ears to your taste. For example, if you are drawing an elf, you can add a pointed tip.

Outlining an anime ear viewed from a more frontal angle.

Step 4: Finish the inner lines

Again, repeat the inner details from the second step, but place the lines closer together. Additionally, you can draw light anime-style shadows, first outlining their contours and then filling them with light, even hatching.

Finishing the anime ear from the side with two closely spaced inner lines.

We tried to keep a balance between the necessary information and simplicity in this guide. We are always open to your comments and look forward to your feedback. We welcome any questions you may have.

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