How to Draw Anime Hands

Learning how to draw anime hands can be difficult, even if the rest of your Japanese cartoon hero is drawn perfectly. The hands of anime characters in particular require special attention. Computer animation tools or even basic paint programs can simplify the process while creating limitless possibilities. Once an image is drawn digitally, it can be uploaded for use with any Web page or file.

Using Windows XP And Mac OS X Paint Programs
Before you can begin drawing anime hands, you need to find a paint program. Luckily, both Windows XP and Mac OS X operating systems come with free paint programs that can support detailed drawings. To open the Windows XP Paint program, click on Start > Programs > Accessories. Once the Accessories box opens, you will see a Paint option. Click on this to open the free drawing application. The Mac OS X equivalent of the Windows XP Paint program is called Graphics Converter. You should see an icon representing the program in the bottom panel. If not, perform a search and open it up.

Creating The Palm And Fingers
The first step in creating an anime hand is to draw the palm and basic structure of the fingers. To begin, draw an upside-down bell. At the flat top of the figure, make four extending lines for the fingers. Afterwards, make a line on the left or right side of the figure to represent the thumb.

Developing The Fingers
Since the fingers look a bit silly as thin sticks, you must literally flesh them out. First, draw three circles on each finger and thumb. You should draw one at the top, one in the middle and one at the base of each finger, and also the thumb. These circles will assist you in fully drawing out the shape and texture of the fingers. After the circles are made, draw an outline around them to make full fingers. After doing so, experiment with making a line across the fingers that can serve as a knuckle.

Wrist And Arm
As hands of anime characters can't just float in space, you must attach them to an arm and wrist. At the point where the bell-shaped palm ended, draw a straight line downwards. After you have drawn a satisfactory line, make one line on each side. This will outline the shape of the anime character's arm.

Final Steps
After you have drawn an anime character's hand based on the circle and line guides you drew, delete the original circles and inner line of the arm. Once the lines and circles are removed, you will have a fully realized anime character's hand that you can resize, incorporate with the rest of your character and perhaps use in sequences of graphic animation.

The hands of an anime character might not seem important, but you and your friends will notice if you don't get them right. Anime characters use their hands to communicate expressively and fight viciously. As you draw the hands for your anime character, take your time so you can capture a sense of movement.