How to Draw a Manga Face (Male)

Last Updated: September 14, 2021 References

Drawing a male Manga face requires skill and a great deal of practice. This guide contains step-by-step instructions with pictures on how to draw a male manga face. So what are you waiting for?

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Side View

1
Draw an outline of the face. Start with a circle, and then add an angular shape below the circle for the jaw line. Determine the position of the parts of the face using crossed lines as guide.^{[1]
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2
Draw the neck and shoulders. You can add details like the collar bones to make your character more realistic. Remember to make the shoulders and neck curve into each other naturally.^{[2]
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3
Using the crossed outline on the face as guide, draw the eyes.^{[3]
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Research source} Take note that in most manga, male characters have more linear shaped eyes compared to females whose are usually drawn using more rounded shapes. Add the nose and lips.
4
Sketch the shape of the face and ears. You can add little details to the ears to make them appear more realistic.^{[4]
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5
Using small random strokes, sketch the hair. Compared to anime characters, manga characters are usually more detailed, so be sure to apply this to the hair.^{[5]
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6
Accessorize your manga character by adding clothes, etc.^{[6]
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7
Erase unnecessary lines.
8
Color your drawing.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Expressions on a Front View

1
Draw a line art of the face. Leave the facial features blank.
2
First, draw a happy face. This expression can be achieved with the mouth drawn using a curved upward line.^{[7]
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3
Sad face. This expression can be drawn with the mouth curved downwards. Draw the eyebrows slightly slanted downwards.^{[8]
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4
Angry face. Draw this face with the mouth opened using a circle as if shouting. This expression can also be drawn with the mouth curved downwards. The eyebrows should be angled upwards to make the face look fierce.^{[9]
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5
Tired/depressed face. Draw the mouth slightly curved down, the eyebrows can be a little horizontal and the eyes half-opened. You can add a few short strokes below the eyes suggesting dark eye bags from stress.
6
Bewildered face. Draw the mouth slightly dropped open and the eyes fully opened with the eyebrows raised.
7
Color your drawing with the expression you like.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I keep my work from looking like a girl?

Community Answer

Make sure your character has a thicker face and more masculine features than a girl would. You can also design the clothing and hair to reflect male features rather than female.
Question

How do I draw better manga eyes?

Community Answer

First, check the spacing in between your eyes. If your eyes are too close, it may look disfigured. If you eyes are too far, that'll have the same affect. Next, check how big your eyes are. You want them small enough that you could one in between the two eyes. You can also add more detail, like highlights, reflected light, pupils, and different colors. If your character is female, try to make her eyes wider than a male's would be.
Question

How do I draw a crying manga face?

Community Answer

Draw a bubbly, watery mass in the bottom of each eye. Then, draw teardrop shapes down the cheeks of the face. You can also give them a frown.