Anime Dynamic Poses
Are your anime dynamic poses lacking action and perspective? Here’s some ideas to get your characters moving ;3
Dynamic/Action Poses
Dynamic Drawing Tips
Draw at an angle
If you want your characters to look like they are moving, tilt them. Angled poses imply motion, while straight poses look still. Think about it, do you stand still while you’re moving? No. All action require a lean. It’s the same for your characters. A lean forward can show a charge or an incoming swing. Angles change the shape and bring the viewer into the action. By avoiding straight vertical lines, you make it feel like the character has moved or is about to move.
Layer your forms
When parts of the body cross over each other, the pose has more depth. Placing an arm in front of the other arm, a weapon across the body, or a leg in front of the other creates space, depth, and position i.e. dynamics. Overlapping forms invite the viewer’s eye deeper into the image and make the character feel more tangible. These layers are how you make a scene feel like it is in motion.
Pro tip: be careful of tangents !!!
Use perspective
Perspective is a tried and true way to add action to a pose. If a character is punching towards the camera, make the fist bigger – this will enhance that sense of dynamism. Or you can shrink rear limbs to look farther away to create speed and direction. These hard and intense angles can make it feel like the character is coming toward the viewer. Using perspective can make the pose stand out and tell a story of motion.
Don’t put your character’s feet on the ground
Another way to show movement is keep the feet off the ground. Draw the whole body, but without feet upon the floor. This implies an action in action, perhaps jumping, falling, or flying. It makes the viewer think about where the character came from and where they are going. Without those feet on the ground, the pose feels less still and more in motion.
Happy drawing!