How to Draw Anime Noses: Step-by-Step Artistic Guide

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Anime noses are among the most stylized and simplified features in Japanese illustration, yet they can express a surprising range of personality, mood, and depth. Unlike realistic noses that demand anatomical accuracy, anime noses are often portrayed with minimal lines—or sometimes not shown at all. But drawing the nose correctly is essential to anchoring your character’s face and enhancing their identity.

How to Draw Anime Noses

This step-by-step artistic guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to draw anime noses. From simple front views to more dynamic side angles, from chibi noses to detailed semi-realistic styles, this guide covers both beginner basics and more advanced artistic decisions. Whether you’re working digitally or traditionally, the techniques here will help you build confidence and versatility in your anime and manga drawing style.

Contents

Why Drawing the Anime Nose Matters

The balance of realism and stylization

Anime noses often go unnoticed because they are so simplified—but they’re key to maintaining facial proportion and balance. A well-drawn nose guides the placement of other features like the eyes, mouth, and eyebrows. Even a small shadow or dot can dramatically change the expression or aesthetic of a face.

Creating character identity

Some characters have distinctive noses—sharp, long, wide, button-shaped, or even exaggerated—especially in comedic, fantasy, or villainous styles. The nose plays a bigger role than most artists realize in shaping a character’s age, personality, and emotional range.

Tools for Drawing Anime Noses

Traditional supplies

  • Pencil (HB or 2B for sketching)
  • Eraser (kneaded for precision)
  • Smooth drawing paper
  • Fineliners or ink pens for clean outlines
  • Shading tools like graphite, colored pencil, or blending stumps

Digital tools

  • Drawing tablet or iPad with stylus
  • Apps like Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, Medibang, or Photoshop
  • Layers for sketching, inking, shading
  • Adjustable brush size and opacity for refined detail

Understanding the Structure of the Nose

The anatomy beneath the stylization

Before simplifying, it’s helpful to understand basic nose anatomy:

  • Bridge: the top ridge from between the eyes
  • Tip: the round or angular point
  • Nostrils: the lower sides
  • Septum: the line or shadow between the nostrils
  • Nose wings (alae): the outer curves around the nostrils

In anime, some of these parts are omitted entirely depending on the style, but understanding their placement will guide more accurate drawings.

How anime distorts and simplifies the nose

  • Minimalistic: one dot, dash, or shadow
  • Semi-realistic: full shape with highlights and nostrils
  • Stylized: angular, exaggerated, or even animal-like forms
  • Chibi: barely visible or completely absent

Basic Nose Placements and Face Guidelines

Step-by-step facial proportions

  1. Draw a vertical centerline for facial symmetry
  2. Divide the face horizontally into thirds:
    • Top third for hairline to eyebrows
    • Middle third for eyebrows to nose base
    • Bottom third for nose base to chin
  3. The nose usually falls halfway between the eyes and the chin
  4. Align nostrils with the inner corners of the eyes

Tilted or dynamic head angles

For ¾ views, the nose shifts slightly to the side. For upward or downward angles, you’ll see more of the nostrils or bridge depending on direction.

How to Draw a Basic Anime Nose: Front View

Step 1: Draw a face guide

Start with a circle for the head and divide it vertically and horizontally. This helps keep the nose centered and in proportion.

Step 2: Sketch a small vertical line

A light, vertical line can represent the nose bridge or just a hint of structure. Keep it very subtle.

Step 3: Add a small shadow or dot

Beneath the bridge, draw a tiny curved or angled shadow to suggest the nose tip. This can be a simple triangle, a short dash, or even just shading.

Step 4: Refine with nostrils if needed

For more detail, add small nostril marks or shadows flaring out slightly to each side.

Step 5: Clean and finalize

Erase guides and keep only the essential marks that fit your desired style. Finish with light shading if needed.

How to Draw a Side View Anime Nose

Step 1: Start with the profile guide

Draw a side-facing head shape and add a line from forehead to chin. This vertical guide sets up your facial angle.

Step 2: Sketch the nose shape

Anime noses in profile are often triangular, hooked, or curved. Start with a small outward triangle or bump for the bridge and curve it downward to the tip.

Step 3: Add the nostril

Draw a small oval or angled line near the bottom to suggest the nostril. Keep it minimal but in line with the tip.

Step 4: Add depth or shading

You can optionally add shadow beneath or behind the nose bridge. Some anime styles use full outlines, while others just use contrast or grayscale.

How to Draw a ¾ View Anime Nose

Step 1: Use ellipse and curve guides

Sketch an oval face tilted at a ¾ angle. This means one side is slightly more visible than the other.

Step 2: Place the nose off-center

The nose should curve slightly outward and be offset toward the visible side of the face.

Step 3: Draw the visible structure

Include the tip, a curved bridge, and one nostril or nose wing. Less of the far side is visible due to the angle.

Step 4: Add shadow to balance

Since this view adds more depth, use shading or tone to define the nose without overlining.

How to Draw Different Anime Nose Styles

Minimalist nose

This is the most common style for school-life, shoujo, or comedy anime. Use a single dot, dash, or light shadow. No nostrils are needed.

Triangle nose

Draw a tiny upside-down triangle under the centerline. This adds structure while remaining cartoonish.

Realistic anime nose

Include the bridge, nostrils, nose tip, and soft highlights. Add shading to indicate shape. Use this for older characters or dramatic scenes.

Sharp or angular nose

Draw a V-shape or narrow triangle pointing down. This gives a serious or edgy vibe.

Round button nose

Use a small round shape with a circular highlight and light nostrils for cute or youthful characters.

Drawing Noses for Different Anime Character Types

Male noses

Tend to be sharper, longer, or more structured. More shadow or definition is common. Often triangular or angular shapes.

Female noses

Smaller and softer. Often minimal outlines, just a shadow or subtle curve under the eye.

Child or chibi noses

Usually just a dot or omitted completely. Sometimes a nose only appears in side view or when the character sneezes or cries.

Elderly characters

More defined noses with bridge lines, lower placement, and nostrils visible. Add lines or shadow around the base for age.

Using Light and Shadow on the Nose

Basic shading techniques

  • Use a soft gradient from the bridge downward
  • Place shadows under the nose for top-lit characters
  • Highlight the tip or bridge for shiny noses or sweaty characters

Digital glow or lighting

Use a soft brush or airbrush to add light at the bridge. For dramatic lighting, use rim light around the edges of the nose.

Anime Nose Expressions and Emotions

Angry nose

Lines flare around the nose bridge or nostrils. Extra shadows may be added. The nose may wrinkle.

Sad or sniffly nose

Add a small drop at the tip or light lines under the nostrils. Subtle shading enhances the emotion.

Embarrassed or flustered nose

A red tint or blush over the nose bridge adds warmth and emotion. Sweat drops or a visible nose wrinkle can exaggerate this.

Comedic large nose

Exaggerate the size and shape—used in parody, chibi scenes, or animal-like characters.

Practicing Your Anime Nose Drawing Skills

Try drawing nose-only studies

Fill a sketchbook page with noses in different styles, angles, and expressions. This improves your speed and creativity.

Use screenshots or manga panels as inspiration

Observe how your favorite artists simplify or exaggerate the nose. Study their shading, line weight, and placement.

Combine with full facial features

Practice drawing noses with different eye and mouth combinations. A nose looks different when paired with narrow or wide eyes.

Mistakes to Avoid When Drawing Anime Noses

Misaligned placement

Use facial guidelines to avoid placing the nose too high or low. A misplaced nose throws off the whole face.

Overdrawing the nose

Especially in anime, less is more. Too many lines can make the face look overworked or out of style.

Unbalanced shading

Make sure the light source is consistent with the rest of the face. Shadows should fall in the correct direction.

Same nose for every character

Give your characters variety. Try sharp noses, wide ones, tilted, curved, or upturned shapes.

Developing Your Own Anime Nose Style

Mix elements from different genres

Blend styles from shounen, shoujo, seinen, and fantasy anime. Try minimalism for comedy and detail for drama.

Experiment with line and tone

Use broken lines, thick and thin outlines, or only shadow. See what best matches your characters.

Adapt nose styles to character personalities

Reserved characters may have soft, hidden noses. Bold characters may have long or sharp ones. Older characters may show more bone or depth.

Final Words

Learning how to draw anime noses may seem like a small part of your artistic journey, but it plays a major role in developing expressive and believable characters. Whether you use just a dot or draw every curve and nostril, the nose is a powerful design tool that anchors the face, defines style, and enhances emotion.

With consistent practice, observation, and experimentation, you’ll begin to see the nose not as a filler detail, but as an opportunity to make your art more engaging and refined. Start with simple shapes, study your favorite anime examples, and push your own creativity to build a nose style that’s uniquely yours.

Let your characters breathe, laugh, sniffle, and express through the smallest of lines.

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