How to Draw Scared Anime or Manga Eyes

This tutorial shows how to draw anime eyes with a scared expression. It provides eight step by step examples along with a line by line drawing video.

Scared anime eyes drawing step by step
Scared anime eyes drawing step by step

A preview of the key stages for drawing the scared eyes is show above but the video provides an even more detailed breakdown.

The tutorial is done in a way where you don’t really need to erase part of the drawing if you don’t make a mistake. However, it’s still recommended that you follow along in pencil just in case you do (unless drawing digitally).

It’s recommended that you both watch the above video and read the more detailed explanations of how to draw below. Also, please don’t forget to leave a like and to subscribe to the AnimeOutline channel. Your likes are very helpful!

Step 1 – Draw the Outer Shape of the Scared Eyes

Scared anime eyes outline drawing
Scared anime eyes outline drawing

Begin by outlining the outer shape of the eyes. As these are anime/manga eyes their shapes will be defined by the outer shape of the eyelashes.

For a scared expression draw the eyes be wide open (taller than you would for a normal expression).

For a normal expression for this same pair of eyes see the following tutorial:

How to Draw Anime Eyes (Normal Expression)

Scared anime eyes drawing spacing
Scared anime eyes drawing spacing

Space the eyes far enough apart that the distance between them is equal to roughly the length of one eye (as shown above).

Step 2 – Draw the Eyelashes

Scared anime eyes eyelashes drawing
Scared anime eyes eyelashes drawing

Outline the inner shapes of the eyelashes as shown in the example above. You can use their outer shapes as a guide.

Step 3 – Draw the Irises

Scared anime eyes irises drawing
Scared anime eyes irises drawing

To show a scared look draw the irises much smaller than normal and make them oval in shape. This is a very important aspect of showing the scared look. Though in real life the size of irises does not change with different expressions adjusting it is fairly common practise for anime and manga artists to adjust it when showing emotions or personality types.

Step 4 – Draw the Eyebrows

Scared anime eyes eyebrows drawing
Scared anime eyes eyebrows drawing

Draw the eyebrows raised and with their inner ends curving upwards. Adding these upwards curves can help distinguish the scared expression from a surprised look (which can be very similar).

For drawing the surprised expression see:

How to Draw Surprised Anime or Manga Eyes

Step 5 – Draw the Reflections & Pupils

Scared anime eyes details drawing
Scared anime eyes details drawing

Inside each of the eyes draw a pair of highlights. These are the light reflecting from the smooth surface of the eyes. Make one reflection larger (for the main light source) and the second one smaller (for the reflected light).

Step 6 – Draw a Hint of the Eyelids

Scared anime eyes eyelids drawing
Scared anime eyes eyelids drawing

For this simple step draw a short curved line above each eye (a little closer to their inner ends) to create a hint of the eyelids.

Step 7 – Add Hints of Individual Lashes

Scared anime eyes line drawing
Scared anime eyes line drawing

Similar to hair anime and manga eyelashes are generally draw in large clumps. Draw a few of these at the outer/upper corners of each of the eyes.

For more on drawing eyelashes in these style see:

Step 8 – Add Shading & Finish the Bored Eyes Drawing

Scared anime eyes
Scared anime eyes

To make the drawing really stand out give it some very basic shading. If drawing on paper you can use darker pencil shading or a black marker for the black parts.

Shade as follows:

  • Eyebrows – black
  • Eyelashes – black
  • Irises (upper parts) – black
  • Highlights – white
  • Pupils – black
  • Irises (lower parts) – grey

Alternatively you can color simply by replacing the grey with whatever you like.

Conclusion

The anime and manga styles tend to highly exaggerate some expressions through things like adjusting the size of the irises to better convey a particular emotion. The scared eyes shown in this tutorial give one example of this but there are many more.

For other examples of different emotions and drawing anime eyes in different way also see the following: