How to Draw Anime & Manga Mouths – Side View
This tutorial explains how to draw anime and manga style mouths from the side (profile view) in different states (closed, open, etc…) and with different expressions.
Placing Anime Mouth & Lips on the Head in Side View
To vertically place an anime mouth on the head in the side view you can start by placing the bottom lip about 1/8 of the total height of the head up from the chin. The mouth will be slightly above that.
Drawing Anime Lips in Side View
To draw anime lips form the side view you can first draw a line from the tip of the nose to the curve of the chin. You can then use this line to horizontally position the lips.
For more on drawing anime lips you can see:
Understanding How a Mouth Opens
When drawing a mouth in any style it’s important to understand how the jaw opens. The jaw does not simply lower down like an elevator but instead swings down more like a door swings on it’s hinges but unlike a door it also moves slightly forward.
Excluding the lips the top part of the mouth does not move.
For a lot more on drawing anime teeth see:
How to Draw Anime & Manga Teeth Tutorial
Drawing Anime Mouth Side View
For a normal side view anime mouth (closed) you can simply draw it with one very slightly curved line.
Drawing Open Anime Mouth Side View
For an open side view anime mouth draw the bottom jaw lower down.top row of teeth. Draw the mouth itself with a smooth curve and afterwards draw a hint of the top row of teeth.
Drawing Wide Open Anime Mouth Side View
For a wide open anime mouth draw the jaw further down than a regular open mouth. Draw slightly less of the teeth showing than in a lightly open mouth as well. The reason for this is that the lips will be pulled down more when the mouth is open wider therefore covering the teeth more.
Drawing Yelling Anime Mouth Side View
For a yelling anime mouth draw it the same as an open a anime mouth but draw the lips further pulled back revealing more of the teeth (lips get pulled back when people yell).
Drawing Serious Anime Mouth Side View
For an unhappy or frowning anime mouth simply draw it as a downwards curve.
Drawing Surprised/Excited Anime Mouth Side View
For a surprised anime mouth draw it similar to a wide open mouth but draw the lips further inwards as the mouth will be making an “O” shape.
Drawing Smiling Anime Mouth Side View
For a smiling anime mouth draw it with a sharp corner of the mouth showing the teeth.
Drawing Scared/Shocked Anime Mouth Side View
For a scared anime mouth draw it similar to an open anime mouth but angled downwards.
Drawing Grinning Anime Mouth Side View
for a grinning anime mouth draw it similar to a smiling anime mouth but draw a wrinkle at the corner of the mouth and draw a hint of the parting line between the top and bottom rows of teeth.
Drawing Puzzled Anime Mouth Side View
For a puzzled anime mouth draw the lips as one curved shape and draw the mouth with a shape that somewhat resembles a warped “O” expanding outwards.
Drawing Lightly Smiling Anime Mouth Side View
For a lightly smiling anime mouth draw it close to a normal anime mouth but slightly longer and more curved.
Conclusion
This tutorial provides some side view examples of anime and manga style mouths in some of the more common states and expressions. But these examples can also apply to drawing mouths in other styles.
For more on drawing anime mouths you can also see:
How to Draw Anime and Manga Mouth Expressions
For more on drawing anime expressions from the side view see:
