This tutorial will show you how to draw an anime character with their tongue sticking out. It also includes four facial expressions.
These expressions are often seen in lighter anime, such as comedy/slices of life. These shows may also feature more stylized characters that are less serious.
The examples of the girl will be drawn more stylized than other examples on 3dvkarts. This will mean that some proportions may be slightly different from those in the other tutorials.
These are the four expressions shown in this tutorial:
- Focused/Sly look
- Upset Teasing
- Playful Teasing
- Open Mouth Tongue Out
Start the tutorial with a pencil. You will need to draw light lines. By tracing over your lines, you can later darken them.
How to draw a focused/sly tongue-out anime expression
The tongue should stick up and towards one side of your mouth. This expression can be used to portray the “creative” or “sly” face of someone who is concentrating on writing or drawing.
Step 1: Draw the outline of the facial features
As shown, draw the head and proportions of your face. This tutorial will focus mainly on how to draw the expressions that show your tongue. It won’t go into detail about drawing the facial features.
For more information, you can see the tutorials below:
- How to Draw Sushi Step by Step
- Drawing Closed, Closing, and Squinted Anime eyes
- How to Draw Anime and Manga Noses
This expression is made by drawing one eye open with one eye slightly squinted. The eyebrows should be drawn with the open eye at the top and the closed one at the bottom. Make the mouth smiley and extend the lip to the side where your tongue is sticking out.
You must open your mouth technically to insert your tongue, but these characters are stylized anime characters. The jaw can be drawn in the same way as a closed mouth if your mouth is slightly open.
Step 2: Place the Ears
As shown in the image above, position the ears.
Step 3 – Clean Up the Drawing
After you have completed the basic outline of your facial features, you can create a neat drawing that looks like the one above.
Step 4 – Add the small details
The facial details are the smallest. These will include the inner parts of your eyes as well as a hint from the eyelids (added between your eyebrows and the eyes).
You don’t need to draw the details of your ears, as they will almost be covered by the hair.
Step 5 – Draw your hair
Place the hair on top of the outline of your head. Splitting the hair into three sections is how you draw it. In the above example, you can see the front, sides, and top in different colors.
Begin with the front. Next, add the sides. Finally, the top/back.
This is how you can find out more about it:
How To Draw Manga Hair – Female
Step 6 – Complete the Drawing
After you are done drawing, you can erase the areas that have been covered by hair. You can trace your lines using a darker pencil stroke, or a marker/pencil black.
Then, fill in the eyebrows, eyelashes outline, pupil, and eyebrows with black pencil shading. As you shade, you can add individual lashes to your eyelashes.
After that, darken your hair and open your eyes. The inner and upper parts of the hair should be slightly darker than the rest.
How to draw a teasing tone out of an anime expression
This expression refers to a sad/upset teasing smile.
Step 1: Draw the outline of the facial features
As shown, draw the head and place the facial features. For more information about drawing individual facial features, you can refer to the links in the second example.
This expression requires that both eyes are closed, with the eyebrows down and in “wave-like” shapes.
Draw the mouth in an upside-down curve with the tongue sticking out.
Step 2: Place the Ears
As shown in the above example, add the ears.
Step 3 – Clean Up the Drawing
After you are done with the facial features, make sure to create a clear outline drawing like the one shown above.
Step 4 – Add the small details
The smaller details of your face will be added, such as the split in the tongue and eyelids.
Step 5 – Draw your hair
As shown, add the hair to the top of your head. Draw the front (red), then draw the sides (green), and finally, the top/back.
For more information, you can refer to the tutorial in the first example.
Step 6 – Complete the Drawing
You can now shave the areas of your head that are not covered by hair. You can then darken the lines by using a darker pencil stroke, or a black marker/pencil. Then fill in the eyelashes/eyebrows using black (or dark pencil shading). As you apply the black fill/dark shade, you can add subtle hints to each eyelash.
Finish the drawing by shading the hair and the tongue. The inner/bottom portion of the hair should be slightly darker than the rest.
How to draw a playful tongue out of anime expression
This expression is a playful/happy teasing smile.
Step 1: Draw the outline of the facial features
As shown in the above example, draw the head. For more information about drawing facial features in anime, you can refer to the tutorial’s first example.
This expression requires that you close your eyes and raise your eyebrows. The mouth should be shaped in a wave-like shape, akin to a cat’s.
Step 2: Place the Ears
As shown in the illustration, position the ears.
Step 3 – Clean Up the Drawing
After you’ve placed all the facial features, make sure to create a neat drawing like the one shown above.
Step 4 – Add the small details
You can add some details to the face, such as the hint of the eyelids or the split in your tongue.
Step 5 – Draw your hair
As shown in the image above, draw the hair. Begin with the front (red), then add the sides (green), and end with the top/back (blue).
For more information about drawing it, you can refer to the link in this first example.
Step 6 – Complete the Drawing
You can remove the hair from the areas that are not covered. Darken the lines with a dark pencil stroke or black marker.
Use a black or dark pencil to fill in your eyebrows and eyelashes. Add hints of individual lashes to the shading.
Shade your hair and tongue. The inner/bottom part of your hair should be slightly darker than the rest.
How to draw an anime expression with your mouth open
This one is more accurate than an expression. It’s more like a character opening their mouth and sticking out their tongue.
Step 1: Draw the outline of the facial features
As shown above, add the facial features.
This particular example will show that the jaw is drawn slightly lower than the others, and the mouth is wider than the others.
As a comparison to normal, draw the eyes slightly higher than normal. Draw your eyebrows relaxed or in their natural state.
Keep your mouth open and the tongue sticking outwards. To give an indication of the top row, you can draw a small curve at the upper end of your mouth.
Step 2: Place the Ears
Place the ears in the same way as shown.
Step 3 – Clean Up the Drawing
After you’ve finished drawing the head, and placed the facial features, make sure to create a similar drawing to the ones shown above. Then move on to step 2.
Step 4 – Add the small details
Next, draw the inner details of your eyes. Then add a hint between the eyebrows and the eyelids. A small line can be added to show the split in the tongue.
Step 5 – Draw your hair
As shown in the example, add the hair to the top of your head. Again, you can draw it beginning with the front (red), then the sides (green), and ending with the top/back (blue).
Step 6 – Complete the Drawing
Finish the drawing by erasing the hair from the areas that are not covered. You can then darken the lines by drawing over them. Next, fill in the eyebrows and eyelashes with black or very dark pencil shading. Shade your hair, mouth, and tongue.
The open mouth should be darker than your tongue. Shade the inner/bottom part of your hair darker than the rest.
Conclusion
It is quite common to see a character with their tongue sticking out in manga and anime. These are just a few examples of the many ways you can draw them. You can also find other facial expressions here:
- 12 Anime Face Expressions Chart & Drawing Instruction
- 16 Examples Of How to Draw Chibi Anime Face Expressions