With AI-generated Ghibli art flooding social media, many are forgetting the joy of actually drawing these whimsical characters by hand. If you’ve ever wanted to learn the authentic Studio Ghibli art style, this guide will break it down into simple, beginner-friendly steps—no prior artistic experience needed!
Whether you’re using pencil and paper or a digital tablet, follow along to create your very own Ghibli-inspired character.
Why Learn to Draw Ghibli Characters?
✔ Develop fundamental drawing skills (shapes, proportions, shading).
✔ Create personalized art (draw friends, family, or original characters).
✔ Step away from AI—handmade art has more soul and creativity!
Step 1: Sketch the Basic Head Shape
Ghibli characters have soft, rounded features. Start with:
- A circle (this will be the cranium).
- A curved jawline – Draw a line down from the side of the circle, tapering to a soft chin.
- Connect the jaw back to the head – Avoid making the chin too sharp or lopsided.
Pro Tip: For a 3/4 view (slightly turned head), angle the jawline gently.
Step 2: Add Facial Guidelines
- Eye Line – Draw a horizontal line across the middle of the face (align with the top of the ears).
- Nose Line – A short vertical line from the eyebrow down.
- Mouth Line – Midway between the nose and chin.
Step 3: Draw the Eyes (Key Ghibli Feature!)
Ghibli eyes are large, expressive, and slightly almond-shaped.
- Sketch two circles on the eye line.
- Add curved top eyelids over each circle.
- Draw the iris & pupil – Keep them aligned (so the character isn’t cross-eyed!).
- Add eyebrows – Simple curved lines above the eyes.
Step 4: Nose & Mouth (Keep It Simple!)
- Nose: A small curve or L-shape (no detailed nostrils needed).
- Mouth: A soft line with a slight curve (subtle expressions work best).
Step 5: Refine the Face & Add Hair
- Adjust the jaw – Soften edges for a youthful look.
- Draw the ears – Simple C-shapes near the jawline.
- Hair – Think big, flowing shapes (not individual strands!).
- Start with the hairline, then add volume on top.
- Use loose, wispy lines for a natural feel.
Step 6: Coloring & Shading (Ghibli’s Secret Sauce!)
Ghibli art uses minimal shading but maintains depth.
- Flat Base Colors – One color for skin, hair, and clothes.
- Simple Shadows – Use a slightly darker shade on the opposite side of the light source.
- Example: If light comes from the right, shadow the left side.
- No Overcomplicating! – Avoid excessive details (Ghibli art thrives on simplicity).
Final Touches: Clothing & Personality
- Clothing: Soft folds, simple shapes (e.g., loose sweaters, flowy dresses).
- Expression: Slight smile or neutral look (Ghibli characters are often calm).
Why Hand-Drawn Art Beats AI
- Unique & Personal – AI art lacks the human touch.
- Improves Your Skills – Drawing builds real artistic ability.
- More Meaningful Gifts – A hand-drawn portrait > AI-generated image.
Practice & Keep Improving!
- Try Different Characters (Totoro, Chihiro, Howl).
- Use References – Study Ghibli films for inspiration.
- Experiment! – Add your own twist to the style.
Tags:
Studio Ghibli art, how to draw Ghibli characters, anime drawing tutorial, hand-drawn art, beginner drawing, Ghibli style shading, digital art tutorial
Hashtags:
#StudioGhibli #HowToDraw #AnimeArt #DrawingTutorial #GhibliStyle #HandmadeArt #LearnToDraw #ArtForBeginners #NoAI
