How To Draw Pikachu

The best way to learn how to draw Pikachu is to copy one you like best.

If you still have Pokemon cards you can copy Pikachu very easily from the cards.

It may sound deceptively simple but that’s how this process works.

Or maybe a quick Google image search will help you to find the “cutest” one.

Here in Japan, the major Pikachu fever is over.

It was just around 1997-8 when all Japan went crazy about these pocket monsters.

Click on any of the images to enlarge

Yes, I say all Japan because adults as much as by kids loved it.

Pikachu images, goods, mascots, cell-phone straps with Pocket monsters were everywhere around.

Some of the Japanese domestic Airlines were painted by Pokemon characters.

Even today, Pokemon popularity is still high, which is a rare thing because in Japan all popular new things usually fade away very quickly.

It is caused partially by the fact that new characters, new ideas are popping up just like mushrooms after the rain almost daily.


Step–By–Step Process


Let’s now draw Pikachu from this sample picture. I think its pose is cute enough and I hope you’ll like it.

Observe the outlines for a while, curves of the body, position of legs, hands, and ears.

click the image to enlarge

It is good if you have a light blue pencil for this framework, but also a HB pencil (or any other) will work well too.

Just make sure to draw the initial lines very thin so that you can easily correct or erase them later.

click the image to enlarge

1. Draw two intersecting circles placed on each other, approximately vertically. Upper – the head is slightly smaller than bottom – the body circle.

These circles are the bases for Pikachu’s body, very similar to snow man. Add the ears and the outline of the head is ready.

click the image to enlarge

2. Draw crosshair on the head circle. Position of the crosshairs serve as facial coordinates and will determine where Pikachu will be facing.

While you draw Pikachu – before finishing the face - you can alter the position of crosshairs as you wish.

click the image to enlarge

3. Now you can place the facial parts – eyes, nose, mouth on these coordinates….and… you have ready the basics of the face.

These coordinates are only guidelines to help you keep good balance, so you do not need to follow them exactly.

click the image to enlarge

4. Add hands and legs. See the hands carefully; one is lifted higher up to eye level. Draw them just roughly; do not mind much about the “exactness” or the proportions now.

You can also begin drawing weak pencil lines on the head.

click the image to enlarge

5. Now, observe a bit how the outer lines – how the curves of the body really look like. The bases are two round circles but here we have to re-shape them a bit.

By doing so, you will get closer to the real body shape of Pikachu. Then add the legs and draw a soft curve on the bottom between them.

click the image to enlarge

6. Only a part of Pikachu’s tail is visible behind the head. Draw it roughly either by blue or graphite pencil.

click the image to enlarge

7. When you are ready with the basic body outlines, curves and tail, you can erase the help-lines so that only a pencil outlines remain. You will have a basic outline to draw Pikachu really perfectly. Just like on this picture.

click the image to enlarge

8. Now it’s time to draw a firm dark pencil lines and gradually create the necessary black and white contrast. I recommend you to start from the head and the face. Outline the entire head, eyes and mouth first.

click the image to enlarge

9. Draw out the pupil of the eyes and make small circle on the upper part of the eyes. This small circle will remain white (!), it is a highlight on the eyes. Darken the tip of both ears.

click the image to enlarge

10. Add more black to the eyes and leave small white circles as highlights on the top.

To make the eyes look more “alive” take a brief look on how to draw manga eyes.

It will give you a couple of best hints on how to draw Pikachu eyes and generally eyes generally. And, yes, don’t forget to draw the nose ;-)

click the image to enlarge

11. To make the eyes of Pikachu look more cute and more animal-like, draw the iris of the eye large.

You can do it by gentle strokes, do not push the pencil too strong. The iris is always lighter than the pupil (the black center of the eye).

click the image to enlarge

12. Draw the round cheeks and shade the inside of the mouth.

Click the image to enlarge and see how the inner part of the mouth is shaded

click the image to enlarge

13. Last step is simple and important. It is about adding shades to certain parts of the body in order to obtain more plasticity and three-dimensionality.

Observe the places where shades are and draw the same (or similar) shades under the chin, on the tail, armpit, back and the bottom. And, your creature is ready! I think you’ve learned the basics so far.

Repeat the whole process one more time without seeing the instructions, and you’ll completely memorize how to draw Pikachu.



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That was fun. And I will remember this. 
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First Time drawing Pikachu 
I love this site. This is my first time drawing Pikachu and it looks good. This site gives you enough detail, where you don't have to read a lot; but still …

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its reall good

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i think manga is cool. its very fun to draw mangas like pikachu and anime characters,i use to hate manga it was very boring to me that time but now i …

Pikachu 
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i thought it was kind of dificult at first, but i figured it out after a while my first pikachu is sooo cute im thinking about sending it in for my college …

Dr Odom 
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Poke-A-Mon 
WOW! I never thought I would be able to draw a pikachu this well! Thanks!

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PikachuSaysThanks 
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Cute 
i think that the pikachu was very cute. it was very easy to draw and it was quick and easy. Thanks ~Soho

Abbigale 
I think this is a great step-by-step tutorial!Plus,it's also great info about how the Japanese crazed for Pokemon in 1997 and 1998 and they still do!:) …

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he is very cute and it helped me with my friends birthday present!

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congratruation! 
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These steps helped me a lot drawing Pikachu. I seriously couldn't have done it without this website. Because I'm usually not so good at shading, but because …

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even though turtwing is cute i always think about pikachu. I dont know? do you think...?

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well i tried it but it didnt work out like yours so i dont like it

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pikachu and victini 
i cant draw victini and pikachu but i can draw every other pokemon. now that i can draw pikachu can u make one with victini? thanks for the help!

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Actualy 
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uuumm 
well it should be easier its so hardbut very chanllenging

Fail 
I love it but I keep messing up on the head!!!! I make it too big and one eye big and the other small!!!

pikachaus love song 
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my mom 
My Mom says that mine is the cutest thing ever.

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I don't have a rubber that works well, so i just went to your shaded in one and copied that!!! X3 maybe we shouldn't have to maximise the pics??? i'm just …

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PIKACHU IS AWESOME!!!! <---(all caps) And I like drawing him. :3

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its crazy hard

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I like pikachu most of all i like how u drew the images got real style to it i love the show and the movies. Also i like how u shaded pikachu. i can draw …

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Can you do a step by step drawing on the image with pikachu lookin up? (the second 1) Please?

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lovely 
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When I drew this I made it into a pimp pikachu and now I'm making a bunch of things pimp. My friend Cris started this pimp trend and now I hear over sixty …

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this is amazing... i need another picture tho... can you make more?????

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alsome 
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PIKACHU! USE "HOW TO DRAW" LESSON!!!

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Katie 
I can't get the shading right!! Wahhhh But awesome drawing, the rest came out well.

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Those 2 pictures of pikachu that are at the top of this guide. can u make a guide for those two as well? i would really like to draw the pikachu that's …

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u should do one in colour to

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Sophie (: 
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The DRAWING 
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