How to Draw 90s Anime Style: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

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The 90s anime style is making a huge comeback. That hand-drawn charm, bold outlines, expressive anime eyes, and nostalgic color palettes just hit different compared to modern, glossy anime. Over the years, the 90s anime style has changed, with later decades like the 2000s and 2010s introducing new artistic trends and techniques that set them apart from the classic look. Whether you grew up watching Sailor Moon, Cowboy Bebop, or Neon Genesis Evangelion, learning how to draw 90s anime is one of the most rewarding art skills you can pick up today.

Here’s a simple tutorial to help you understand the basics of 90s anime drawing, from sketching characters and lineart to shading and coloring. Many people love the 90s anime style for its nostalgic and emotional appeal, as it reminds them of beloved shows and the unique atmosphere of that era.

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Introduction to Anime Drawing

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Anime drawing has captured the imagination of artists for decades, with each era bringing its own unique flair to the world of illustration. Among the most iconic is the 90s anime style, instantly recognizable for its bold lines, expressive faces, and nostalgic charm. If you’re wondering how to start drawing in this style, it’s important to first understand the basics of anime and manga character creation.

The 90s anime style didn’t appear overnight—it evolved from the vibrant, experimental look of 80s anime, refining the way characters were designed and emotions were expressed. When you draw 90s anime, pay close attention to the fundamentals: how facial features are simplified yet full of personality, how expressions are exaggerated for dramatic effect, and how stylistic choices like color palettes and outlines set the mood.

By studying classic manga and anime from those years, you’ll learn how to break down complex characters into simple, effective shapes. Mastering these basics will help you create your own 90s anime illustrations that feel both authentic and fresh. Whether you’re sketching on paper or working digitally, understanding the roots of the anime style is the first step to bringing your characters to life.

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Step 1: Start with the Basics

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Before you dive into full illustrations, practice the core drawing elements of the anime style.

• Use a pencil or tablet brush with a soft edge.
• Keep your lines clean but imperfect—it adds that retro hand-drawn feel.
• Study manga panels and anime frames from the 90s to understand how artists simplified forms but emphasized expression.

If you’re using software like Clip Studio Paint or Photoshop:

• Choose the correct brush settings or project properties before starting to match the 90s anime look.
• Create a new layer for your sketch.
• Use a reference layer to guide your character’s proportions and pose.

Remember, in 90s anime, less is more. Focus on gesture and personality over perfection.

Practice regularly to improve your skills in drawing 90s anime style.

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Step 2: Draw the Face and Eyes

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The face defines most 90s anime characters. The key features are:

• Large, oval anime eyes with a single white highlight and visible outlines.
• Small, simple noses (often just a line or dot).
• Thin lips or no lips at all.

When sketching the face, carefully connect the jawline to the chin and cheeks to create a cohesive and balanced face shape.

To draw 90s anime eyes, use thick outlines for the upper eyelid, add one or two reflections, and fill the iris with a gradient of two colors. The eyes carry emotion, so make them expressive even if the rest of the face is minimal. Take your time with the eyes and facial features—patience and attention to detail will help you achieve the classic 90s look.

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Step 3: Work on Hair and Outlines

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Once you've started with the basic face, you can move on to drawing the hair.

Hair in 90s anime drawings tends to be voluminous, often with sharp sections and solid shadows.

• Use clean outlines to define chunks of hair, and ensure the outlines are precise for easier coloring.
• Avoid modern airbrush gradients—stick to solid shading.
• Leave white highlights on hair for light reflection.

Once the lineart looks solid, lock that layer and move on to color and shading.

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Step 4: Add Color and Shading

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Use flat, slightly desaturated colors for that retro vibe. Modern anime tends to overuse lighting effects, but 90s illustrations rely on shadow and contrast instead.

Steps to follow:

1. Fill each layer (skin, hair, outfit) with flat color. You can also drag colors onto the canvas or layer for a faster workflow.
2. Add shadows using darker tones instead of opacity brushes. Experiment with different types of shading to achieve various effects.
3. Use a new layer on multiply mode for depth.
4. Keep highlights minimal and blocky.

The goal is to make the drawing feel like an animation cel—simple, bold, and nostalgic. These techniques are good for achieving the authentic 90s anime look.

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Step 5: Polish the Details

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At the end of the drawing process, make any final adjustments to achieve your desired look, such as applying subtle blurring effects or refining outlines for an old anime style.

Once the paint is done, zoom in and adjust small things:

• Clean up stray lines.
• Slightly blur shadows for softer lighting if needed.
• Add faint texture to the paper or background for an authentic 90s finish.
• Check what's left to polish or adjust before considering the drawing finished.

Finally, once you are satisfied with the end result, save your file as a high-resolution PNG if you plan to post it online.

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Digitizing Your 90s Anime Art

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Once you’ve finished your traditional 90s anime drawings, digitizing them opens up a world of creative possibilities. Using digital art software like Clip Studio Paint or Procreate, you can easily transform your sketches into polished digital illustrations that capture the essence of the 90s anime style.

Start by scanning or photographing your drawing, then import it into your chosen program. Create a new layer for your lineart, and set it as a reference layer—this makes it simple to keep your outlines crisp and your proportions accurate as you work. With digital tools, you can experiment with different brush settings to mimic the look of pencil or ink, ensuring your lineart stays true to the retro anime style.

Layering is key to achieving that classic look. Use separate layers for flat colors, shadows, and highlights, and don’t forget to use a clipping group to keep your colors neatly inside the lines. When painting, adjust your outline colors in bright areas to make them less prominent, just like in authentic 90s anime cels. This subtle change helps your illustrations pop and gives them that nostalgic, hand-painted feel.

Digitizing your 90s anime art not only makes it easier to edit and share your work, but also allows you to experiment with colors, shading, and effects that would be difficult to achieve on paper. With the right techniques, you can bring your favorite anime style into the digital age—while keeping all the charm of the originals.

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Bonus: Use starryai to Generate References

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If you’re stuck or need visual inspiration, try using starryai. It’s an AI art tool that helps you generate images in specific styles using text prompts. You can also use starryai to find inspiration for your own drawings by exploring a wide variety of art styles and ideas.

You can enter prompts like:

“90s anime character illustration, soft shading, retro colors, expressive eyes, cel shading, 1990s style.”

Use the generated images as references for your drawings. You’ll quickly see how different styles, shadows, and colors interact—and you can recreate them by hand.

Many artists now use AI tools like starryai for concept development or to learn composition and lighting faster. It’s a great way to experiment while still mastering traditional techniques. Don’t forget to capture the moment of inspiration when experimenting with new styles or compositions.

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Final Thoughts

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Learning how to draw 90s anime style is about studying simplicity, not chasing realism. The charm lies in its flat colors, clean outlines, and expressive characters that feel alive even with limited detail.

This tutorial aims to teach the basics of the 90s anime style, helping beginners and hobbyists understand the key techniques.

Start small—draw faces, experiment with shadows, and slowly move to full illustrations. Remember, many people started as beginners, but with practice and dedication, you can progress and create impressive artwork. Try drawing a variety of people and characters from different angles, and share your work with others to stay motivated and inspired.

Mix that old-school craft with modern tools like starryai, and you’ll capture the timeless look of 90s anime with your own twist.

If you want to deepen your skills, consider taking an online course that covers digital illustration or anime drawing techniques for step-by-step guidance.

It’s nostalgic, fun, and a perfect reminder that great art doesn’t need complexity—it just needs style. We hope you’ll try these techniques and enjoy drawing in the 90s anime style!

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