Lesson #1: General Anatomy by Kylee Henke

Finally! After many requests, I'm starting a few tutorials on how I draw my anime. Nothing step-by-step though, because nobody learns anything that way. I would know. So! We'll start off with some general samples of undetailed male and female anatomy (>3 and I rather enjoy our male specimen...who seems to have sprouted a few inches for the sake of this lesson).

Mainly looking at the upper body, notice the differences in the curves. The anime male is more boxy (and in this case, has toned muscle. You can take or leave the abs depending on how muscular you want to draw the guy), while the female is curved, rounded and soft. Notice that the female body is not a perfect hourglass, but there is a suggestion of the ribcage and the abdomen protrudes just slightly. Nor are bubbies perfect circles, a solid w-shape or half circles. They have a longer, steeper slope at the top, and curve more tightly at the bottom. Notice the female also has limited or no suggestions of muscle. This is just an unspoken rule of anime girls, unless you are aiming for a more skin-tight spacesuit-boasting, gun-slinging superheroine type. But eh.

Now a short word on the butt, because regretfully it must be said; the males have again, squarer, more muscly buns that don't protrude so much, and the females are awlays a rounded, soft shape and are more prominent. Hey don't look at me, nature made it that way!

Generally the males will have thicker necks, arms and legs than the females as well, unless you like the thin, weak girly type guys. The funny thing is, I'm sure some of you do. XD

Female hands and wrists are thinner and more pointed, but not sharp. They maintain a smooth, delicate shape. Male hands and fingers are again more square, and are thicker and are more often than not placed in more tense, clenched positions, while general female hands flow and imply gentleness (Unless dealing with certain female antagonists...but that will be further explored in the lesson on hands).

Don't be afraid to make obvious curves and turns with your pencil lines. It's better than a confused, semi-straight line. Like remember trying to draw a muscly man in like, 4th grade? You don't need to draw like that any longer! You are above it, I say! I, Kylee, officially free you from it from this point forward. It may seem hard, but think of how many years have passed since you first picked up a pencil. We all have the potential to draw like pros, we just don't let ourselves because of doubt and dissatisfaction with our drawings. If you let yourself believe you can do it, you will be amazed at your results. Maintain this state of mind as we move through these tutorials. It's also wise to add your own flair to your practice doodles, other than copying what you see. Rather than imitating what I've drawn, take what you see and rotate it on paper, change the poses, and make the images your own. Try using other characters or even your own! That is the best way to improve as an artist! Remember that these lessons are just suggestions, and based on how I draw anime. How you want your anime people and drawings to look, and not to mention how quickly you improve, will be entirely up to you. =3