Hello, friends! Today we’re going to learn drawing facial expressions in anime characters using a professional and fun approach. We’ll dive into three important emotions: fear, crying mixed with surprise, and anger. As we all know, drawing facial expressions is not just about placing lines on paper—it’s the soul of the character. It’s what conveys emotion and breathes life into the drawing, allowing the reader or viewer to feel what your manga or anime hero is feeling. So let’s begin this lesson together.

First: Drawing Facial Expressions – Fear and Planning the Sketch

Start by drawing a circle for the head and a center line to divide the face. Set the eyes slightly lower to reflect tension, and make the eyes very wide and the mouth slightly open to express shock and fear.

Step 2: Adding the Details

Here’s where the real magic begins in drawing facial expressions:

• Enlarge the pupils to show a shocked look.
• Add simple lines under the eyes to show exhaustion and anxiety.
• Make the eyebrows raised and slightly curved toward the center.
• Add soft lines around the mouth to show trembling or surprise.
• Small sweat drops near the forehead or side of the face can emphasize intense fear.

Step 3: Shading

Add light shading under the eyes and on the forehead. A subtle shine in the eyes and shaded mouth areas adds emotional depth when drawing facial expressions.

Check Out My Online Store for All Your Art Needs

More shading under the eyes adds to the worried look.

Light touches on the lips emphasize fear.

You can also add sweat drops depending on how intense the emotion is—it’s up to you.

Now: Drawing the Crying Mixed with Surprise Expression

Step 1: Face Planning

Draw a neutral face with wide eyes expressing surprise, and a mouth slightly open or trembling.

Step 2: Drawing the Tears and Details

To depict this expression:

Draw tears slowly streaming from the eye corners, but not too much to maintain the surprise element.

Raise and tilt the eyebrows to reflect mixed emotions.

The lips can be trembling or half-open with a confused look.

Add soft horizontal lines on the nose and inner eye corners.

Step 3: Shading and Depth

Shade lightly under the eyes and around the lips. Simple lines around the eyes make the expression more realistic. A touch of sparkle in the tears makes them more appealing. These techniques enrich your skill in drawing facial expressions.

Drawing Angry Expressions

Step 1: Sketch the Face

Start with a face tilted slightly downward. The eyes are narrow, and eyebrows are tightly furrowed. The mouth can be tightly closed or slightly open in a sharp angle.

Step 2: Enhancing the Anger

To master drawing facial expressions of anger:

Make the eyebrows angle inward and downward.

Add short lines on the forehead.

Position the eyes to look slightly upward to increase intensity.

Corners of the mouth can turn downward or stretch tightly to the side.

Step 3: Shading for Anger

Add shading under the eyes for a sense of fatigue and suppressed rage. Light lines near the nose and mouth enhance the effect. Slanted background lines help emphasize tension in the scene.

Important Tips While Drawing Facial Expressions

• Look in the mirror or take a photo of yourself making the expression to understand muscle movement.
• Watch your favorite anime clips in slow motion and observe how emotions are conveyed.
• Continuous practice in drawing facial expressions will give you control over the expressions.
• Try drawing the same expression from different angles (front, side, top) to master it.

Observe people’s expressions around you or in the anime you watch and connect facial features with emotions. Try quick sketches for speed training, then redraw slowly for accuracy. That’s how your drawing facial expressions skill will improve day by day.

Today, friends, we’ve learned drawing facial expressions through three essential emotions that add depth to your anime characters—from raw fear to emotional surprise crying to suppressed anger. Don’t hesitate to try these steps and use them in your manga pages or illustrations. Frequent practice is the key to mastery. Share your attempts in the comments and tell me which expression you’d like to learn next. See you soon in more lessons.