Blog

This tutorial is ideal for anybody who’s a fan of Studio Ghibli or Hayao Miyazaki’s work and is seeking to create lovable anime illustrations. We will likely be utilizing important instruments and shapes, the Pathfinder panel, the Brushes panel, and numerous results from Adobe Illustrator’s management panel to create a cute graphic of Kiki’s Supply Service cat, Jiji.

In the event you already know how to attract in Illustrator, you will get pleasure from this tutorial’s ease. Meow, let’s get began!

What you will be taught on this Jiji character illustration tutorial

• Who’s Jiji the cat?
• How to attract Jiji the cat’s head and physique
• use primary shapes and results to create a personality

1. Who’s Jiji the cat?

OK, so who’s Jiji the cat? Jiji is a chatty black feline, a loyal pet, and companion of Kiki, a younger witch, featured in Studio Ghibli’s 1989 Japanese movie ‘Kiki’s Supply Service.’ Jiji is an iconic character within the animation. It seems as a modern, jet-black cat with giant, expressive white eyes and iris purple-colored ears. Jiji is a witch’s pet, and is usually showcased sporting a purple bowtie and driving Kiki’s supply service broomstick.

For right this moment’s tutorial, I’ve sketched out the next idea for Jiji, which we are going to implement in Illustrator. You are able to do your personal analysis on-line and sketch out another Hayao Miyazaki anime inspiration. 

2. create Jiji the cat’s head form in Illustrator

Step 1

On this tutorial, we’ll begin with Jiji’s head and work our approach down its physique.

Open Adobe Illustrator and create a brand new doc (File > New). Our artboard may have a 29 cm Width and 20 cm Peak. Within the new dialogue window, give the file the title ‘Jiji’ and press Create. 

Let’s place our sketch in File > Place and place it within the heart. With the sketch chosen, set the Opacity to 10% within the management panel. 

Step 2

Open the Layers panel (Window > Layers). Lock the layer and label it “Sketch,” after which Create a New Layer on high of the Sketch layer and label it “Head.”  File > Save (Command-S) and OK.

Step 3

Now, let’s begin to create Jiji’s head. Use the Ellipse Device (L) to attract the pinnacle form with a black Fill. Then let’s give the ellipse a slight bend by making use of an Impact > Warp > Arc, at a Horizontal route with a 12% Vertical Distortion, then OK.

Object > Increase Look to show the impact right into a form.

Step 4 

To begin drawing anime eyes, seize the Pen Device (P) with a white Fill and draw a tapered eye. Then, use the Ellipse Device (L) so as to add a black Fill pupil and draw a smaller ellipse with a white Fill for shine.

Command-G to Group the attention shapes collectively and place the Group on the pinnacle form. Then, take the Replicate Device (O) and set the middle reference level in the course of the pinnacle; Possibility-Shift-Drag and launch to reflect throughout.

Step 5

For the mouth form, draw an ellipse with a purple Fill colour of R=109, G=24, B=33, and apply an Impact > Warp > Arc with a Horizontal route and –51% Bend.

Then, seize the Direct Choice Device (A) to barely push the mid-anchor level right down to bend the mouth. Object > Increase Look to show the impact right into a line form.

Step 6

Let’s add a tongue to the kitty. Seize the Rectangle Device (M), with the stroke nonetheless set at black 4pt Weight. Choose a pink Fill colour of R=210, G=116, B=163.

Impact > Distort & Remodel > ZigZag. Set Dimension to 0.21 cm with one Ridge per phase, and Easy factors, earlier than clicking OK. Then rework the impact right into a form with Object > Increase Look.

Step 7

Add little fangs utilizing the Pen Device (P) with a white Fill and black stroke Weight of 4 pt. Freehand draw one spherical fang, after which seize the Replicate Device (O). Set the middle reference level in the course of the mouth; Possibility-Shift-Drag and launch when the tooth is mirrored.

Step 8

Use the Choice Device (V) to pick the purple inside mouth form and Copy (Command-C). Then seize all of the mouth shapes and Command-G to Group.

As soon as grouped, press Command-F to Paste to Entrance the mouth form. Choose each the mouth group and the highest mouth form and apply an Object > Clipping Masks > Make. Then, place the mouth on the face.

Step 9

Let’s add a nostril. Seize the Rounded Rectangle Device (positioned underneath the Rectangle instrument submenu within the Toolbar). Choose a pink fsick colour of R=210, G=116, B=163, and a black 4 pt stroke Weight. Draw two perpendicularly aligned rounded rectangles, as proven beneath.

Open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and apply a Unite: Form Mode.

Then Impact > Warp > Arch with a Horizontal route and 29% Bend. Object > Increase Look and place it on the face.

Step 10

We’ll draw the ears utilizing the Pen Device (P), with a black stroke and a purple fill colour of R=122, G=72, and B=141. Freehand draw a rounded triangular ear form.

With the form chosen, Swap Modes by clicking the Draw Inside button on the backside of the toolbar. Select a darker purple stroke of R=104, G=48, B=130, and the Blob Brush Device (Shift-B) to attract in a shadow.

Then, choose a black stroke to attract the ear fold, as seen beneath.

Step 11

Let’s add some ear fuzz. Seize the Pen Device (P) with a black Fill to attract a mountain-style form. Choose all of the ear components and Group (Command-G).

Step 12

Place the ear on the pinnacle, and Ship to Again (Command-Shift-[). Then, mirror it throughout utilizing the Replicate Device (O). Set the middle reference level, Possibility-Shift-Drag, and launch.

Step 13

For the ultimate bits, let’s add some whiskers utilizing the Pencil Device (N), with a 4pt black stroke Weight and Spherical Cap chosen from the Stroke panel. 

Subsequent, Create a New Layer from the Layers panel ‘Equipment,’ after which lock the ‘Head’ layer.

3. add equipment to Jiji

Step 1

To create Jiji’s signature purple bow tie, we have to draw a sq. utilizing the Rectangle Device (M) with a Fill of R=153, G=41, B=42, and a 4 pt blackstroke weight. Choose the Free Remodel Device (E) and apply a Perspective Distort to reshape our sq. inwards, just like the picture beneath. Then apply an Impact > Warp > Inflate with a 32% Bend and OK.

Step 2

Object > Increase Look to show the impact right into a form, after which use the Replicate Device (O) to reflect the bow throughout.

As soon as you’ve got mirrored the form, seize the Line Section Device (), and with a 4 pt stroke, add some creases.

Step 3

Now, let’s add the knot within the heart of the middle bow. Use the Rectangle Device (M) with the sooner purple colour and black 4 pt stroke Weight to attract a small rectangle within the heart of the bowtie. Apply an Impact > Warp > Inflate and Bend at 32%, and click on OK. Use the Command-G shortcut to Group all of the bowtie components and place them beneath the mouth.

Step 4

Time so as to add a contact of magic. Seize the Ellipse Device (L) with a yellow Fill of R=232, G=209, B=45 and a black 4 pt stroke Weight. Draw a couple of circles round Jiji’s head, holding the Shift key right down to constrain the shapes into good circles. Be certain that the circles usually are not small.

Then apply an Impact > Distort & Remodel > Pucker & Bloat and a Pucker of -45% to create stars.

Step 5

Subsequent, choose the Line Section Device (), and with a 4 pt Stroke, draw a straight line. Then, to create a sparkle, use Object > Repeat > Radial.

For a second sparkle design, draw a shorter line phase at an angle, and Object > Repeat > Mirror. A mirror axis angle will seem, and you’ll transfer it as desired. You may as well use the Replicate Device (O) to reflect the road throughout.

Step 6

Place the sparkles round Jiji’s head, after which Create a New Layer above the ‘Sketch’ layer in the Layers panel, and label it ‘Physique’.

4. How to attract Jiji’s physique form

Step 1

Jiji’s physique is modern and slender, so we are going to assemble it utilizing ellipses. Seize the Ellipse Device (L) and draw two ellipses on high of one another as for those who’re constructing a snowman.

Then, draw a smaller ellipse for the foot on the base of the snowman form. Use the Replicate Device (O) to reflect the foot to the opposite facet.

Choose all of the physique shapes and apply a Unite: Form Mode from the Pathfinder panel to create a compound form.

Step 2

Let’s around the corners to offer Jiji a sleeker look. Take the Direct Choice Device (A) to pick the highest nook factors, after which seize the ‘stay nook’ widgets and drag them outwards to create rounded corners.

Repeat this motion with the decrease corners on the toes, however with a smaller spherical curve.

Step 3

Subsequent, give the physique form a black fill, with a null stroke.

Select the Pen Device (P) and apply a 2 pt stroke in purple (R=122, G=72, B=141), with a black fill colour. Freehand draw one leg. Then, add the paws utilizing the purple stroke with no colour fill.

Group (Command-G) the leg components collectively, after which use the Replicate Device (O) to reflect the opposite leg throughout. Place the weather on Jiji’s physique.

Step 4

Let’s add a tail. Seize the Pencil Device (N) and apply a 26 pt black stroke Weight, with a Rounded Cap chosen from the Stroke panel, and draw a tail.

Step 5

We’ll add a little bit tail tuft on the finish of the tail. Seize the Pen Device (P) and apply a black fill, then freehand draw a tuft on the tip of the tail.

5. How to attract a brush

Step 1

Our final topic for instance is the broom Jiji is driving. The broom is positioned underneath the physique, so from the Layers panel, Create a New Layer above the ‘Sketch’ layer and label it ‘Broom’.

Step 2

To attract the broomstick, take the Rounded Rectangle Device and draw a rod with a brown fill colour of R=188, G=112, B=70, and a black 4 pt stroke Weight. 

Then, change the fill colour to R=244, G=183, B=61, and draw two ellipses, as proven beneath, to create the comb. Apply a Unite: Form Mode from the Pathfinder panel to create a compound form.

Step 3

Seize the Ellipse Device (L) and draw to ellipses on the sting of the comb. Then, be part of the circles by making use of a Unite mode from the Pathfinder panel.

After, choose each the comb and ellipses and click on the Minus Entrance mode to subtract the shapes from the comb.

Step 4

Let’s add bristles utilizing the Line Section Device () with a 2 pt stroke.

Step 5

Utilizing the Rounded Rectangle Device, add a binding strip to the broom brush. Fill it with purple R=153, G=41, B=42, and a 4 pt black stroke Weight.

Step 6

Lastly, Group (Command-G) the broom components and place them underneath Jiji, after which Conceal the ‘Sketch’ layer from the Layers panel.

Meow, congratulations!

Cute! I hope you loved creating Jiji the cat and discovered some new issues alongside the way in which that can assist you make straightforward anime drawings in Adobe Illustrator. Thanks for making an attempt out this tutorial on drawing Kiki’s supply service cat! Now you understand how to attract Jiji the cat, and you’ve got picked up some new Illustrator expertise. Proceed to discover different Hayao Miyazaki inspirations and experiment with what you’ve got discovered right this moment to create your personal Studio Ghibli character designs. See you within the following tutorial!

Study extra about how to attract in Illustrator

Envato Tuts+ has many illustration tutorials on various subjects curated to develop and strengthen your expertise. Whether or not you’re a newbie or already a professional, these tutorials can assist you refine your work. Take a look at this choice: