How to Draw Mulan: Easy Step-by-Step Guide for Kids

Bring the legendary warrior to life with this beginner-friendly drawing tutorial. Designed for young artists ages 6 and up, this guide requires only a pencil, paper, and an eraser. Follow along to build confidence in character sketching and facial proportions.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

Final colored drawing of Mulan, showcasing the completed character art.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Face Shape

A light pencil sketch of Mulan's chin and neck structure on a white background.

Draw a soft 'U' shape for the chin and extend two short, curved lines downward to form the neck. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light here; these are just guidelines that we will refine later.

Step 2: Framing the Hair

Outline of Mulan's hair with bangs and side tendrils added to the head shape.

Add a sweeping, upside-down 'V' shape across the forehead for her bangs, then cap the head with a 'U' shape. Add pointed wisps on the sides to give her hair natural movement. Tip: Use quick, confident strokes to make the hair look flowy rather than stiff.

Step 3: Drawing the Kimono Collar

Drawing the layered collar of Mulan's traditional kimono.

Extend two lines from the neck to create the kimono collar, connecting them with horizontal curves. Tip: Ensure the collar looks thick and layered to give the garment a realistic, fabric-like appearance.

Step 4: Sketching the Arms

Adding the outlines for Mulan's arms and shoulders.

Use long, smooth, curved lines to outline the sleeves and arms. Tip: Think of the arms as soft tubes; avoid sharp corners to keep the character looking friendly and natural.

Step 5: Defining the Torso and Obi

Adding the torso outline and the obi belt detail to the drawing.

Complete the torso outline and add two curved lines at the waist for the obi belt. Tip: The belt should be slightly wider than the waist to show it is wrapped around her body.

Step 6: Refining the Silhouette

Refining the silhouette of Mulan's hips and arms with overlapping lines.

Use overlapping curved lines to define the hips and arm position. Tip: Overlapping lines create depth, making the drawing look 3D rather than flat.

Step 7: Drawing the Eyebrows

Adding expressive, tapered eyebrows to Mulan's face.

Draw two curved, tapered lines for the eyebrows. Tip: Make them slightly angled to give Mulan her determined, brave expression.

Step 8: Adding the Eyes

Detailed drawing of Mulan's eyes with pupils and eyelid shading.

Draw almond-shaped eyes with thick upper lids. Add an oval pupil inside and shade it in. Tip: Leave a tiny white dot in the pupil to create a 'sparkle' effect, which makes the eyes look alive.

Step 9: Final Facial Features

Adding the final nose and lip details to Mulan's face.

Add a small curve for the nose and a gentle line for the lips. Tip: Keep these features simple and minimal to maintain the clean cartoon style.

Step 10: Bringing Mulan to Life with Color

A fully colored illustration of Mulan in her traditional kimono with cherry blossoms.

Use black for her hair, and a palette of blue, green, and red for her kimono. Tip: Add small cherry blossom petals around her to capture the iconic movie aesthetic. Remember, art is about expression—don't worry about staying perfectly inside the lines!