How to Draw a Confused Anime Face: Easy 10-Step Guide

Capturing complex emotions is the secret to great character design. This tutorial is perfect for budding artists ages 8+ to practice expressive anime features using just a pencil, eraser, and paper. Follow along to learn how to construct a 'confused' look by focusing on brow placement and mouth shape.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A vibrant, finished illustration of a confused anime girl, serving as the final goal for the tutorial.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Expressive Eyes

Line drawing showing two spiral anime eyes and two angled eyebrows meeting at a point.

Start by drawing two spiral-curved lines for the eyes. Above them, add two thick, angled lines that meet at a point to form the eyebrows. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light here so you can easily adjust the angle if the 'confusion' doesn't look quite right yet.

Step 2: Defining the Emotion

Close up of an anime face with furrowed brows, a small nose, and an open, confused mouth.

Add small curved lines above the eyes to represent a furrowed brow. Place a short dash for the nose and a downturned, open mouth shape. Tip: Draw the mouth slightly asymmetrical to emphasize the feeling of being puzzled.

Step 3: Framing the Face

Outline of an anime character's chin, cheeks, and initial hair strands framing the face.

Sketch the chin and cheeks using soft, curved lines that meet at a gentle point. Add a few locks of hair falling across the forehead. Tip: Use long, sweeping strokes for the hair to keep the flow natural.

Step 4: Adding Hair Volume

Anime face with additional hair bangs added to the forehead area.

Layer more hair strands across the forehead. Ensure the lines meet at sharp, clean points. Tip: Don't worry about erasing overlapping lines; it helps you find the perfect shape for the bangs.

Step 5: Building the Hairline

Drawing showing the progression of hair volume on top of the anime character's head.

Continue adding hair locks, making sure some strands tuck behind others to create depth. Start sketching the top of the head. Tip: Think of hair as 'clumps' rather than individual strands to make it look more professional.

Step 6: Developing Side Hair

Detailed sketch of hair strands extending down the side of the character's face.

Use overlapping curved lines to build out the hair on one side of the head. Keep the points sharp. Tip: Vary the length of your lines to make the hair look dynamic and realistic.

Step 7: Balancing the Hair

Symmetrical hair style completed for the anime character with added texture lines.

Complete the hair on the opposite side, mirroring the style of the first side. Add a few internal lines to show texture. Tip: Use a lighter touch for the texture lines so they don't overpower the main outline.

Step 8: Adding the Neck and Collar

The character's neck and shirt collar added to the drawing.

Draw the neck and the collar of the garment using a 'U' shaped line. Finish the hair at the back of the neck with jagged points. Tip: Ensure the neck isn't too thin, or the head will look unbalanced.

Step 9: Finalizing the Outfit

Completed line art of the anime character including shoulders and clothing details.

Complete the collar, shoulders, and sleeve. Add a small circle for a button. Tip: A clean, bold outline around these final details will make your character pop off the page.

Step 10: Bringing it to Life with Color

Fully colored anime character with a confused expression.

Add your favorite colors to your anime character. Tip: Use soft shading under the chin and hair to add dimension to the face.