Countless anime fans know Deku as the inspiring hero from My Hero Academia, with his iconic green curly hair, determined expression, and unwavering bravery. So, to all the Deku fans out there, this simple drawing tutorial is for you. Learn how to draw Deku in his classic hero pose in 17 easy steps with us.
Whether you’re a beginner or a young artist, this tutorial breaks it down with easy sketching and coloring steps. Grab your pencils, and let’s bring this beloved hero to life on paper. Let’s start!
Art Materials & Equipment
- Drawing Paper
- Colors
- Pencil
- Eraser
- Sharpener
- Marker (Optional)
- Pen (Optional)
- Compass (Optional)
Steps to Draw Deku
The image below breaks down Deku’s legendary design into simple, step-by-step instructions. Take your time with each step, pay attention to the small details, and enjoy the creative journey. By the end of the process, you’ll have a complete and impressive drawing of Deku that truly captures his heroic spirit and energy.
Step 1: Outline the Jawline
Begin by lightly drawing a soft U-shaped curve to form a chin and lower face structure. This base will help position his signature determined expression.
Step 2: Sketch the Ears
Place two small C-shaped curves on either side of the head, connecting them smoothly to the jawline.
Step 3: Add the Front Hairline
On the top of the head, draw a spiky hairline that curves slightly upward in the center. These will be the bangs of the character.
Step 4: Complete the Front Hairline
Add more detailed zigzag shapes to form the front spikes of the hair, starting from the top middle and moving outward.
Step 5: Add Details
After completing the front hairline, add extra lines for the detailed touch of Deku’s hair. Now, detail the ears with inner curves by adding simple lines. Follow the reference image to give a clear detail.
Step 6: Start Drawing the Side Hair
Use thick, jagged lines extending from Deku’s left side to bring out his iconic wild spikes. Make the locks uneven and dynamic, some pointing up, others slightly sideways, to match his anime style.
Step 7: Add the Right Hair Spikes
Now, add more jagged hairlines extending out from the right side, balancing the shape.
Step 8: Finish the Hair Shape
Complete the spiky hairstyle by joining the sides at the top with more rough edges, forming Deku’s messy hair look.
Step 9: Draw the Neck and Shoulder
Use two short vertical lines reaching from the jaw, which should remain close together, to depict his thin neck. Add slightly curved horizontal lines extending outward from both sides of the neck, forming the shoulder.
Step 10: Design Collar Details
Draw sharp, lightning-bolt-like zigzags under the neck to form Deku’s styled collar. Follow the image provided to have a clear and natural look.
Step 11: Add Details on the Outfit
Sketch two extra lines connecting the horizontal line of the shoulder. Add lines in the middle for the partition and draw some dots for extra details.
Step 12: Collar Details
To shape Deku’s unique collar, draw a centre dividing line along with a few small strokes or marks to highlight the design and structure of the collar.
Step 13: Refine the Hair and Add Volume
Go over the hair, adding more layers and spikes around the head to give it a fluffy, voluminous appearance on the left side. Add the zigzag shape like we drew for the first layer of the hair.
Step 14: Complete Adding Volume to the Hair
Connect the layer from the left side, sketch the spikes around, and complete the shape of the hair. Make sure the hair details match the first layer of the hair.
Step 15: Sketch Eyebrows and Eyes Closed
Begin placing the eyebrows and lightly sketch the eye area, keeping them closed for now. Additionally, draw smaller lines within the hair to define direction and add texture as shown in the image.
Step 16: Draw the Eyes
Open the eyes wide, drawing a large circular shape; inside the circle, sketch one small circle for the pupils. Then, again, add a smaller inner circle for highlights.
Step 17: Complete With a Smile
Sketch a simple curved mouth beneath the eyes to keep the expression neutral or slightly curious. For the highlight, draw small dots on both cheeks for the cute, blushy look.
This will finally complete our drawing process. To make it more fun, we have added a coloring process as well. To follow the coloring process below, first, erase extra lines of your sketch and make it clean. Let’s get started.
Coloring the Deku
For the coloring, start by filling in Deku’s upper hair layer with a rich green shade while using a darker green tone for the inner sections of the hair. His eyes should be a light green, giving him that lively and determined look. For his outfit use a medium green for the main part of the clothing for the first layer of the hair, and apply a darker shade of green for the details. Add a grey color to the detail of the character’s collar. Finally, color his face and ears with a light skin tone, keeping it soft and natural to match his character.
Color Details:
- Dark Green
- Light Green
- Lighter Shade of Green
- Grey
- Skin/ Cream
Finally, Deku is ready! We hope you had just as much fun coloring him as you did while sketching. For the coloring process, we used colored pencils, but feel free to use any you like. To make your drawing look more dynamic, outlining it with a black marker will give Deku a bold and powerful appearance.
Your Artwork Is Ready
We’ve successfully drawn Deku and brought him to life with vibrant colors. We hope you found our step-by-step tutorial easy to follow and fun to complete.
If you enjoyed this guide, drop a comment below—we’d love to hear your thoughts! Have any feedback, requests, or questions? Feel free to share them with us! Your input helps us create even more awesome and helpful tutorials.
