How to Draw in the Disney Style

Last Updated: February 11, 2023

You may cry during Frozen, laugh hard in every single minute of Tangled, or get a thrill from the excitement of Big Hero 6. If the Disney animations are near and dear to your heart, you may want to learn how to draw like them.

Steps

1
Start with the head. As you can see, the head is big, the neck is thin, the head back is a little bit pointy, and the face is somewhat long.
2
Add "the Disney nose." It's the size of a real baby nose, and it has long bridge and points up. It can be drawn any size as long as the style won't be changed.

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3
Draw the eyes. In the most of Disney movies, the main character often has large eyes with big iris and big pupils. The eye shape is more like rounded-square, with a big side and a small side, and the big side always in front, for the eyebrows. The brows are perfect, tidy, full of hair and longer than the eye shape area. Add thick, tidy eyelashes, too.
4
Draw the mouth. Most of Disney animations have normal lips, meaning that the lips are not too thin or full, and are equally sized. The more the mouth is stretching, the more the lip gets longer and thinner. Lips in Disney animations don't necessarily have one style, so feel free to pick your own.
5
Get creative with the hair. In all Disney movies including the animations, every single character had her own hair style, color and length, so pick any hair style you like, whether from a Disney character, a celebrity, or just from your imagination.
6
Add colors if you like.
7
Try to think 3D while drawing your animation. Add all details that you need, including shadows and shiny or darker hair tufts. Add any finishing touches to make it more realistic.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I draw a full body?

Community Answer

I have been drawing for a long time and I always find it helpful to look up a picture on the net and try to freehand it. It might take a few tries, but it will get easier if you practice.
Question

How do I teach other people to draw if I'm not good at drawing?

Community Answer

Don't try to pass yourself off as being better than you are. You might end up teaching them something that's wrong. Instead, try to learn together. Look up articles and watch YouTube tutorials and try to help each other improve.
Question

How do I draw the lower part of the body? My main struggle is drawing the legs and/or pants. Any advice?

Community Answer

You could buy a wooden manikin -- they are pretty cheap and good for anatomy practice. Also, you could use software or apps like Design Doll (for PC). Remember to keep practicing, and you will slowly improve.