Drawing Ears

Ears are important when drawing heads. You can’t always guarantee that your character’s ears are covered by hair. These examples will show you the differences between real and manga ears, and how the ear looks from different views. You will also learn how to draw cat and elf ears, which are common in fantasy-themed manga series.

Realistic vs. Manga

The difference between realistic and manga ears is shown here. Realistic ears have more curves and lines, unlike the manga ears which are simplified into a few lines with fewer curves.

Front View

In this front view of a manga ear, the ear appears narrower than in the side view shown above.

Back View

This back view of a manga ear is not common but you may experience situations in which it is needed.

Cat Ears

The color of these cat ears are similar to the character’s hair. The ears’ interior tends to be pink in color.

Elf Ears

Elves are supernatural characters found in fantasy manga series and video games. This is how their ears are drawn in case you ever need to draw one. The ends are elongated and pointed.