The most important hallmarks of anime are their art styles. Viewers can gain a lot of information about a show just by looking at its characters. There are many subsets within the different genres, each with its unique designs that tell audiences exactly the type of story they are in for.
While there are numerous art styles, with some unique to their creators, they can usually be categorized into a handful of genres. These designs have become so beloved that many of them are instantly recognizable without knowing any other information about them. Each style has its supporters, but fans can agree that these are some of the most iconic art styles found in anime.
10 Josei
Josei anime are a lot like Shojo, just all grown up. Though colors are more muted than in Shojo shows, what Josei anime lack in saturation they make up for in realism.
Josei anime characters are usually proportionate to real life. The eyes are smaller, characters are not as abstract, and more attainable hairdos are the norm for Josei shows. These anime tend to focus on adult relationships and careers, meaning there are plenty of career-ready outfits for characters to wear as well, like in Wotakoi: Love is Hard For Otaku.
9 Seinen
Seinen anime are geared toward an older male audience. As such, the stories usually have darker messages (as with Parasyte: The Maxim), meaning that much of the art design is also dark. Stories full of intrigue and gore can be found in seinen shows.
Seinen anime characters are also more realistic compared to Shonen and Shojo anime. Bodies typically have more true-to-life proportions as well, though there are some exceptions. Like Josei, Seinen shows tend to stick with natural hair colors for characters as well. Seinen anime use their dark atmospheric designs to tell stories of pain, loss, and mature drama.
8 Kemonomimi
Kemonomimi is a trend in anime character design that crosses many anime genres. However, it is an art style on its own, as creators find ways to imbue their characters with animalistic attributes such as paws, tails, and animal ears.
Although kemonomimi characters are usually found in fantasy anime, they are beginning to creep into other genres like Komori in The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague. The ears and tails give these characters a playful air, but can also be intimidating if they are provoked. This art design lets creators express emotions more completely through their characters since their animal characteristics can also react to their moods. It is an interesting art style that is not likely to end any time soon.
7 Kodomo
Kodmomo anime are shows designed for kids. These anime are bright and colorful, and usually feature adorable animal characters alongside the human cast. They also focus on morals or some other lesson to relate to children.
The art design of these shows is simplistic but can get more angular and complex like in the Digimon franchise. Kodmomo protagonists are usually children or animals and are designed with big eyes and smaller frames. Characters in these shows also have wilder hairstyles and hair colors. Kodmomo anime are created to appeal to children with happy and uplifting art.
6 Cartoonish
Cartoonish anime use a lot of colors and abstract art in terms of character style. Though designs are a little more simplistic than other art forms, cartoonish shows make up for it with ridiculous expressions and physics-defying animation.
Cartoonish anime typically have thicker line work than older anime, and focus a lot on overall design, rather than highlighting one specific feature. Cartoonish shows allow creators free rein in terms of style, making an incredibly unique art style.
5 1980s
80s anime are characterized by more realistic character designs. Females especially were given more human proportions than in future art styles. The eyes were either very realistic or cartoonish depending on the shows’ content. Hair was also very defined with individual strands showing, and tended to be fluffier than future hairstyles.
While 80s anime did have a lot of colors, they usually stuck to true-to-life hues. Hair also more-or-less stayed within natural tones, unless the characters were nonhuman. 80s-style anime art gives audiences a nostalgic feeling for a time when characters had more defining features.
4 1990s
Anime from the 1990s is where characters began to get more abstract in terms of realistic proportions. Eyes were much larger than they had been in the 80s – especially for female characters. This gave them a more youthful look like the Sailor Scouts in Sailor Moon. Additionally, male characters became much lankier and more angular.
90s anime is also known for the characters’ hairstyles. In congruence with the times, hair was big and poofy, while retaining a lot of the definition from the 80s. For many millennial adult anime fans, 90s anime was their first introduction to anime style animation.
3 Moe
Moe anime, like K-On!, have an emphasis on adorable characters. Though similar to Shojo and Shonen, moe characters retain even more exaggerated eyes. Additionally, many moe shows highlight characters’ small statures to produce the cutest casts possible.
Moe anime-style shows typically feature young female characters. Though there are a few exceptions, moe anime put heavy emphasis on all things adorable. This leads to bright, saturated colors, and flowery settings to enhance this endearing aesthetic.
2 Shojo
The Shojo art style is characterized by many soft colors, tons of floral elements, and thin, fit characters – usually with flowing hair. Female cast members tend to have large, glowing eyes, while the males’ eyes have a smaller, more angular look, as with the characters in Ouran High School Host Club.
Typically, everything about Shojo anime is meant to be light and airy to match the blossoming feelings between characters. Skylines are usually burning sunsets or bright blue skies, invoking a sense of happiness in viewers. Plus, Shojo anime put a lot of effort into capturing moments when the two characters gaze into each other’s eyes, surrounded by roses, sparkles, and/or bubbles.
1 Shonen
As one of the most popular anime genres, Shonen anime are instantly recognizable for their vibrant colors and – in recent years – thick, sharp lines with an emphasis on battles like in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The characters in Shonen typically have highly stylish outfits and easily recognizable, colorful hairstyles.
The Shonen art style is also known for less of an emphasis on the irises of the eyes and more on the shape – as opposed to Shojo anime. This gives characters a more serious or goofy look to match the tone of the show in question. Elaborate weapons or gear are also an important part of most Shonen designs.