This tutorial shows how to draw anime & manga male facial expressions with twelve different examples. It also provides proportions for drawing the face used in this example.

Anime male facial expressions chart
Anime male facial expressions chart

For different types of male facial expressions from the side view also see:

How to Draw Anime Male Facial Expressions Side View

For drawing male facial expressions from the side view also see:

How to Draw Anime Male Facial Expressions Side View

Anime Facial Proportions for this Tutorial

Anime male face proportions and step by step drawing
Anime male face proportions and step by step drawing

For this tutorial we will be using fairly common proportions that are recommended in several tutorial here on AnimeOutline.

Position the facial features as follows:

  • Eyes – Draw a horizontal line halfway through the head and draw the eyes below that (far enough apart that you can fit another eye between them)
  • Eyebrows – Draw the eyebrows slightly above the eyes (about the height of the eyes themselves or slightly less).
  • Nose – Draw the nose halfway between the horizontal middle line through the face and the bottom of the  chin
  • Ears – Draw the ears between the top of the eyes and the bottom of the nose
  • Mouth – Draw the bottom lip halfway between the bottom of the nose and the chin and the top lip slightly above that

For a more in depth step by step breakdown of drawing a similar male face see:

How to Draw Anime and Manga Male Head and Face

Normal Facial Expression

Anime male normal facial expression
Anime male normal facial expression

Draw the normal facial expression with the facial features position as described above.

Drawing a Serious Facial Expression

Anime male serious facial expression
Anime male serious facial expression

For a serious facial expression draw the inner tips of the eyebrows lowered as well as the eyebrows as a whole lower down. Draw the eyes slightly squinted and draw the mouth with the outer edges curving downwards.

Drawing a Content Expression

Anime male content facial expression
Anime male content facial expression

For a content expressions draw the eyebrows raised (particularly the inner tips). Draw the eyes closed and squinting.

Draw the mouth smiling with the teeth showing.

Drawing a Gloating Expression

Anime male gloating facial expression
Anime male gloating facial expression

For a gloating expression draw the eyebrows curving upwards (reverse of the normal curve). Draw the eyes

Drawing an Enthusiastic Expression

Anime male enthusiastic facial expression
Anime male enthusiastic facial expression

For an enthusiastic expression draw the chin lower down as the mouth will be open. Draw the eyebrows higher up with the inner tips raised. Draw the eyes open slightly winder than normal. Inside the eyes draw more reflections and make the reflections larger than normal. Draw the mouth smiling but without showing the teeth.

Drawing a Puzzled Expression

Anime male puzzled facial expression
Anime male puzzled facial expression

For a puzzled facial expression again draw the chin lower down due to the mouth being open. Draw the eyebrows higher up with the inner tips raised. Draw the eyes open slightly wider than normal and draw the irises raised. Draw the mouth in a sort of "O" shape.

Drawing a Grinning Expression

Anime male grinning facial expression
Anime male grinning facial expression

For a Grinning Expression draw the eyebrows lower down with the inner tips lowered. Draw the eyes squinting and draw the mouth smiling with the teeth showing.

Drawing a Scared Expression

Anime male scared facial expression
Anime male scared facial expression

For a scared expression yet again draw the chin lower down due to the open mouth. Draw the eyebrows high up on the face with the inner tips significantly higher than a normal expression. Draw the eyes wide open and draw the irises much smaller then normal so that they are not touching the eyelashes. Draw the mouth shaped sort of like a bean and curving downwards.

Drawing an Embarrassed Expression

Anime male embarrassed facial expression
Anime male embarrassed facial expression

For an embarrassed expression draw the eyebrows curving upwards (opposite of normal). Draw the eyes looking down with the top eyelids slightly lower than normal.

Drawing a Smiling Expression

Anime male smiling facial expression
Anime male smiling facial expression

For a smiling expression draw the eyes very lightly squinted and draw the mouth wider and more curved than normal.

Drawing an Upset Expression

Anime male upset facial expression
Anime male upset facial expression

For an upset expression (just like for the embarrassed expression) draw the eyebrows curving upwards (opposite of normal) and the eyes looking down with the top eyelids slightly lowered.

Draw the mouth curving downwards.

Drawing an Angry Expression

Anime male angry facial expression
Anime male angry facial expression

For an angry expression draw the eyebrows low down on the face with the inner tips almost touching the top eyelids.

Draw the eyes squinting and draw the irises and everything inside them smaller than normal.

Draw mouth with the lips pulled back and the teeth showing. Make the mouth slightly vertically wider towards the corners and wider at the bottom.

Conclusion

This tutorial covered some of the more common facial expressions using one type of male anime character. For drawing different kinds of male anime characters with different facial expression see:

How to Draw Male Anime Characters Step by Step

For female facial expressions you can check:

12 Anime Facial Expressions Chart & Drawing Tutorial

For "Chibi" female expressions you can see:

16 Examples of How to Draw Chibi Anime Facial Expressions