How to Draw an Anime Elf

A beginner-friendly guide to learning how to draw a great-looking Anime Elf with easy, step by step drawing instructions and video tutorial. Great for beginner artists!

Anime Elf step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 7
Complete Anime Elf drawing

Jump to the step-by-step instructions.

Though the legends of these mischievous forest spirits originated in Europe, elf characters have been adopted into many manga stories. You can master this easy anime elf drawing by following the steps below.

Did you know? Mythical elves were small beings, identified by their pointed ears (see the Elf Ears drawing) and unusual clothing.

The anime and manga elf is often human-sized, human in every way except for its ears and supernatural abilities.

Step-by-Step Tutorial for Drawing an Anime Elf

Anime Elf drawing - Step 1

Anime Elf step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 1

1. Begin drawing the anime elf man by sketching his face in 3/4 perspective. Use curved lines to outline the head, chin, ear, and neck. The outline is similar to those we have done before, with the exception of the pointed nature of the ear.

Draw a grid across the face to help you place the features in the next step.

Anime Elf drawing - Step 2

Anime Elf step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 2

2. Center the nose and mouth over the bottom half of the vertical grid line. Center the oval of the crown near the top of that same line. Contour the ridges of the ear and the cheekbones with curved lines.

Anime Elf drawing - Step 3

Anime Elf step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 3

3. Center the eyes and arched eyebrows over the two halves of the horizontal grid line. Draw curved lines to indicate the lower lids below the grid line.

Anime Elf drawing - Step 4

Anime Elf step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 4

4. Erase the grid lines from the face. Then, use curved lines to sketch the crown, the hair on top of the head, and that above the ears.

Anime Elf drawing - Step 5

Anime Elf step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 5

5. Extend curved lines below the ears and allow them to meet in sharp points, forming long locks of hair. Use pairs of curved lines to sketch the collar of the garment and additional curved lines for the shoulders.

Anime Elf drawing - Step 6

Anime Elf step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 6

6. Complete the outline of the hair using long lines. Texture the hair with shorter lines.

Anime Elf drawing - Step 7

Anime Elf step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 7

7. Color your masculine elf.

Drawing idea: pointed ears have also been used to demarcate certain alien species. That makes this character suitable for a fantasy or a science fiction manga.

What to draw next?

In this tutorial, we learned how to draw an elfin male. But many anime elves are female. If you want to try this out, you can take a look at the female anime elf drawing guide we've created for you.

How would you adjust the facial features to gender swap this character, making him a female? Pay attention to the shape of the face, eyes, nose, and lips.

You can keep the long, straight hair and the crown, or you could give your new elf a cute kawaii hairstyle like odango buns or twin tails.

You can also practice the details of drawing an anime elf ear by turning your other characters into elves! Why not draw a sweet elfin little girl or a sexy anime elf.

Learn how to make your own manga characters with our collection of over 100 different anime and manga drawing tutorials.

Easy, step by step Anime Elf drawing tutorial
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