Traditional Anime Drawings and Its Classic Anime Styles

October 2022 in Anime Art

Introduction

Anime drawings are typically characterized by bright colors, highly stylized images, and a wide variety of themes.
 
Some popular themes include action/adventure, romance, and comedy. Anime drawings are often used in manga or Japanese comics.

Sketch by Valiant Graphics.

Anime drawings are the Japanese equivalent of cartoons. They are usually hand-drawn and computer animation, often characterized by colorful graphics, vibrant characters, and fantastic themes.

There are many different types of anime, but some of the most popular include shounen (aimed at boys), shoujo (aimed at girls), and seinen (aimed at adults).
 
There are also genres such as mecha (robots), a slice of life, and horror.

Detailed sketch by Valiant Graphics.

There are many different types of anime drawings, but they all share certain features that make them unique.
 
Anime drawings are often very colorful and full of life, with characters that are larger than life and full of personality.

Anime drawings are also known for their dynamic action scenes, which often feature characters fighting or engaging in other high-octane activities.

If you want something to celebrate your love for anime, you should check out anime drawings. You're sure to be entertained by the vibrant characters and exciting stories these anime drawings offer.

The Different Styles of Anime Drawings

Anime drawings can be broadly classified into two styles: Traditional and Digital. Traditional anime drawings are drawn by hand, using pencils, pens, or paintbrushes.

These drawings are then scanned into a computer, where they can be edited and colored. Traditional anime drawings often have a more "organic" look, as they are not constrained by the pixels of a computer screen.

@valiant.graphics Sketch to Final Render ✨ Get your own Anime Art done for you by Valiant Graphics’ top-notch anime artists! Check us out today at https://www.valiantgraphics.co #anime #graphicdesign #VG #art #illustrationart ♬ House of the Rising Sun - Lil srwg

Sketch to final render. Source: @valiant.graphics at TikTok.

Digital anime drawings, however, are created entirely on a computer. These drawings are usually made in a software program such as Photoshop or Illustrator.
 
Digital anime drawings often have a more "polished" look, as they can be easily edited and tweaked to achieve the perfect look.

Which style of anime drawing is better? That's a matter of opinion! Some people prefer the traditional style, which feels more "real" and "authentic.

Digital anime art by Valiant Graphics

Others like the digital style, as it offers more flexibility and control. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide which style you prefer.

Traditional Styles of Anime Drawings

Traditional anime drawings are often characterized by their large eyes, colorful hair, and exaggerated expressions. This style of animation is often used in manga or Japanese comics.

Manga. Photo by School Library Journal.

Manga is often serialized in magazines, and the stories are often continued in anime form. Some popular manga series adapted into anime include Dragon Ball, Naruto, and One Piece.

Characteristics of Traditional Anime Drawing

Anime drawings are typically characterized by their large eyes, colorful hair, and diminutive stature. This unique art form has been gaining popularity in the West recently, and it's easy to see why.

Source: Valiant Graphics

Traditional anime drawings are often incredibly detailed and expressive, making them a joy to behold.

If you're new to anime, you might wonder what makes these drawings so special. Here are just a few of the many characteristics that make traditional anime drawings so distinctive:

Large eyes

Perhaps the most iconic feature of anime drawings is their large, expressive eyes. This exaggerated feature helps to convey a wide range of emotions, from joy to sadness to anger.

Colorful hair

Anime characters often have brightly colored hair, which is another way to express emotion and personality. You'll see characters with different hair colors, from pink to blue to green.

Diminutive stature

Anime characters are often shorter and smaller than their Western counterparts. This makes them seem more childlike and innocent, appealing to many viewers.

Exaggerated features

Anime drawings often exaggerate certain features, such as the size of the eyes or the length of the hair. This helps to create a more stylized look that is unique to this art form.

Intricate details

One thing that sets anime drawings apart from other styles is the level of detail that goes into them. Every aspect of the drawing, from the characters' facial expressions to the background scenery, is carefully crafted to create a rich and engaging world.

Popular Samples of Traditional Anime Drawings

Traditional anime is characterized by its hand-drawn style and often includes characters with large eyes and expressive faces.

Astro Boy

If you're a fan of classic manga and anime, then you'll love the art style of Astro Boy. Osamu Tezuka created this iconic style, which is still strong today.

Astro Boy.

Astro Boy is set in a future world where robots and humans live side by side. The story follows the adventures of Astro Boy, a powerful robot always fighting for justice.

The art style of Astro Boy is unique and instantly recognizable. Its thick lines, bright colors, and dynamic action scenes are characterized. If you're a fan of classic manga and anime, then you'll love the art style of Astro Boy.

Source: Amazon

Astro Boy has been praised for its clean, simple art style and positive, optimistic themes.
The series has been criticized for its outdated and sometimes offensive portrayal of minority groups, but overall, it is considered a classic of the manga and anime genres.

The artwork in Astro Boy is some of the most iconic and influential in the history of manga and anime.

Astro Boy's creator, Osamu Tezuka, is often referred to as the "God of Manga," and his work has profoundly impacted the medium.
 
Western comics and animation heavily influenced Tezuka, and he incorporated many of their elements into his work.

Photo from Ani-Gamers.

Astro Boy is considered one of the first manga and anime series to achieve widespread international popularity. It helped to popularize the medium of manga and anime outside of Japan, and its influence can still be seen in today's manga and anime.

Sailor Moon

One of the most popular traditional anime is "Sailor Moon." The story follows a group of young girls who transform into superheroes to fight evil. Anime is known for its colorful and creative artwork.

Photo from CBR.

Sailor Moon is one of the most popular anime series of all time, and its art style is just as iconic as the show itself.
 
The anime series, which follows the adventures of a group of super-powered teenage girls, has been a global phenomenon since it first aired in the early 1990s.

Source: Kodansha.

The anime's art is characterized by its use of bright, primary colors and its focus on the characters' expressions and emotions. Every frame of the anime is filled with intricate detail, from the characters' clothing to the background scenery.

The show's art director, Kazuko Tadano, is responsible for the show's distinctive look. She has said that she was heavily influenced by the work of Osamu Tezuka, the creator of Astro Boy.

The art style of Sailor Moon is highly stylized, with big eyes and long hair being two of the most distinctive features. 

Sailor Moon throughout the years. Source: CBR.

The characters are often drawn in very romantic poses, and the show's use of color is very striking.
 
The show's visuals are often credited with being a big part of its appeal, and Tadano's art style is considered one of the most influential in the history of anime.

The artwork in Sailor Moon is not just limited to the characters. The backgrounds and settings are also drawn in a very detailed and beautiful way.
 
Every scene in the show is drawn with care and attention to detail. This makes the show a joy to watch, even if you don't understand the language.

Sailor Moon theme song.

More than 25 years later, the franchise is still going strong, with a new anime series currently airing on Japanese television.

And, of course, with the franchise's popularity comes a lot of fan art.

There are thousands of pieces of Sailor Moon fan art out there, created by fans worldwide.
 
Some of it is amazingly talented, while other pieces are, well, let's say, not quite as polished.

But whether it's good or bad, we can all appreciate the passion and dedication of creating fan art.

Dragon Ball Z

Another popular traditional anime is "Dragon Ball." The story follows a young boy named Goku who goes on adventures with his friends to find seven magical orbs.

Photo from Amazon

The anime is known for its action-packed scenes and unique characters.

Dragon Ball is one of the most popular manga and anime series of all time, and its artwork is just as iconic.
 
The series is known for its dynamic and detailed fight scenes, and its characters are some of the most recognizable in pop culture.

Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, is a master of action-packed artwork. His characters are highly detailed, and his panels are full of energy.

Source: Bandai Namco

The fights in Dragon Ball are always thrilling, and the artwork only makes them more exciting.

One of the things that makes Dragon Ball's artwork so great is the way it captures the series' sense of scale.
 
The battles in Dragon Ball often span entire planets, and the artwork makes it clear just how big the stakes are. The series' signature Kamehameha wave is also rendered in all its destructive glory.

Goku’s signature move–Kamehameha wave.

Another key element of Dragon Ball's artwork is the use of color. Toriyama's color palette is incredibly vibrant and pops on the page. The colors are used greatly in battle scenes, making them even more visually stunning.

All in all, Dragon Ball's artwork is some of the best in all manga and anime. Toriyama's dynamic and detailed artwork brings the series to life, and the use of color adds an extra layer of excitement to the already thrilling battles. If you're a fan of manga and anime, then you need to check out Dragon Ball.

Slam Dunk

Slam dunk manga anime art is one of the most popular genres in Japan. It's a story of a young basketball player named Hanamichi Sakuragi who falls in love with a girl named Haruko Akagi.

Photo from Hypebeast.

The story follows their journey as Hanamichi tries to woo Haruko and make the basketball team at his new school, Shohoku High.
 
Along the way, he makes friends and enemies and learns the importance of teamwork and determination.

The artwork in Slam Dunk is amazing, and the characters are likable. It's a great manga for anyone who loves basketball or wants a good story.

Doraemon

Doraemon is a Japanese manga and anime series created by Fujiko Fujio, which tells the story of a robotic cat named Doraemon, who travels back in time from the 22nd century to help a boy named Nobita Nobi.

Source: Japan Times

The Doraemon manga series was first published in 1969, and the anime series was first broadcast in 1973.
 
Since then, Doraemon has become one of the most popular manga and anime series in Japan and has been translated into many different languages.

From Japan Reference

The manga and anime series has inspired many art pieces, including paintings, sculptures, and tattoos. Some of these art pieces are created by professional artists, while fans of the series develop others.

No matter who creates them, these pieces of Doraemon-inspired art are always impressive and show the love and dedication of fans for the series.

Doraemon and Nobita. Photo fom Screen Rant

Doraemon is one of the most popular manga and anime characters in Japan. The blue robotic cat has been a mainstay in Japanese pop culture for decades, and its popularity has only grown recently.

Doraemon's art style is unique and instantly recognizable. The character is often drawn in a "chibi" or super deformed style, with a large head and small body.
This gives him a cute and childlike appearance that is beloved by fans.

Doraemon Wiki.

Doraemon's manga and anime art are some of the most iconic and instantly recognizable worldwide. It's no wonder that he's so popular! His art is simple but effective, and his character is so lovable.

If you're a fan of Doraemon, then you'll want to check out some of his amazing manga and anime art. It's sure to put a smile on your face!

One Piece

If you're an anime and manga fan, you will love One Piece's art. The series is known for its unique and vibrant art style, which has been praised by fans and critics alike.

Source: We Got This Covered.

The Japanese manga series One Piece was created by Eiichiro Oda.
 
Since July 1997, it has been serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and as of April 2020, 86 tank-bon volumes have been published from the chapters.

The plot centers on the exploits of Monkey D. Luffy, a young man whose unintended consumption of a Devil Fruit left him with a body made of rubber.

In order to become the next Pirate King, Luffy traverses the Grand Line with his motley band of pirates, the Straw Hat Pirates, in pursuit of the world's greatest treasure, known as "One Piece."

Photo from Recommend Me Anime

In 1998, Production I.G created an original video animation (OVA) based on the manga, and in 1999, Toei Animation created an anime series that debuted on Japanese television.

In addition, Toei has produced one live-action movie, thirteen television specials, and fourteen animated feature films.
 
Several businesses have created a variety of products, including trading card games and numerous video games.

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One Piece Fan Art by Valiant Graphics.

Viz Media in North America and the UK obtained the rights to publish the manga series in English.

The One Piece series has received recognition for its comedy, characterisation, art, and storyline. Numerous manga volumes have broken print run records, including the largest one for a Japanese book.

The manga series had sold over 460 million copies as of 2020, making it the most popular manga series.

Photo from Collider.

For the eleventh year in a row, it was the best-selling manga in 2018. One Piece is one of the all-time top-grossing media franchises.

The Process of Creating Traditional Anime Drawings

Creating traditional anime drawings is an incredibly involved process that requires a great deal of skill and experience.

First and foremost, artists need a strong understanding of human anatomy and proportions to create believable characters. They also need to capture subtle expressions and emotions in their drawings.

Detailed sketch by Valiant Graphics.

Next, the artist must sketch out the basic outline of the drawing. This is typically done with a pencil on paper.

Once the sketch is complete, the artist will begin adding details. This includes the character's features, clothing, and background.

Creating traditional anime drawings is time-consuming and requires a great deal of skill. However, the results are truly beautiful and unique.

Where to Find Anime Artists

With the popularity of anime in recent years, it's no surprise that there is a growing demand for anime artists.

Valiant Graphics, a team of Anime artists.

While some may think that anime is a niche market, the truth is that there is a large and passionate fan base for this type of animation.

Anime artists are not hard to find if you know where to look. Many online communities and forums are dedicated to anime and manga, and many have sections where artists can showcase their work.

Conclusion

As the popularity of anime grows in the West, more and more companies are looking to hire traditional anime artists.
 
As the demand for traditional anime art continues to grow, so does the need for talented artists who can bring these characters and stories to life.

Sketch done by Valiant Graphics.

While there are many ways to get into the anime industry, hiring traditional anime artists is still a popular and effective method for many companies.

A traditional anime artist is someone who specializes in creating 2D anime art. This can include anything from character designs and illustrations to background art and animation.

If you're a traditional Anime drawings fan or looking for classic Anime fan art, hire Valiant Graphics for your needs! Our team of skilled artists can create beautifully made traditional Anime drawings for you in sketch form. Contact Valiant Graphics for more information!

About the author 

Valiant Graphics

What started out as a dream has turned into reality—since 2013, Valiant Graphics is built on both passion and purpose, with the aim to bring only the best quality of work when it comes to graphic design and illustrations. Our team of high-caliber Graphic Artists together with friendly and communicative Project Managers will surely kick up the notch when it comes to your design needs. 

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