10 Types Of Anime Art Styles Commonly Seen In Popular Shows

You won’t notice it unless you pay attention, but tons of anime have their own set of distinctive art styles.

Almost every show fits into at least one of these categories. Intentionally or unintentionally.

Let’s take an anime like Cowboy Bebop for example.

What kind of anime art style represents Cowboy Bebop? What’s the first thought that comes to your mind?

And what about an anime like Date A Live?

How would you describe the art style used in this Ecchi/harem series?

While you try to figure it out, here are 10 types of anime art styles we tend to see over and over again.

I’ve categorized each one into my own set of “phrases” to make it simple to understand.

Common Anime Art Styles:

Table of Contents

1. Kawaii art styles

Kawaii art styles in anime are some of the “newest” in the last decade. Before then (1990’s or before), there was no such thing as Kawaii art styles.

One of the best anime shows that describe Kawaii art styles is: New Game!

New Game is a slice of life/comedy series about the gaming company: Eagle Jump, and the employees who work within it.

The first thing you’ll notice about New Game is how bright the colours are, and better yet: the kawaii drawings and art style of each character.

Despite the “anime in recent years.

2. Realistic art styles

Then there’s a style I call: “realistic”.

There aren’t many anime shows that fit into the realistic art style category. But those that do are some of the best shows on earth, statistically (and objectively) speaking.

Remember how I mentioned Cowboy Bebop earlier? That fits into the realistic art style category.

Alongside shows like:

Black Lagoon

Psycho Pass

Jormungand

Monster

All 4 of these shows are “Seinen” by definition. Which is aimed at older anime fans (20-30+). And each one of them feels realistic, looks realistic, and represents dark themes that apply to the real world.

Like arms deals who sell weapons and make tons of money, or how the wrong circumstances can turn a kind person into a monster.

Realistic anime art styles are one of my favourites.

3. Chibi art styles

There’s also “chibi” art styles. This is more obvious than the last 2 I’ve mentioned.

Chibi by definition is childish in every way, shape and form. And any anime with Chibi art styles has characters who look much younger than they actually are.

Though not all of these anime are like that.

Perfect examples:

Lucky Star

Kinmoza

Is The Order A Rabbit?

All of these shows have childish looking drawings and characters. Especially Lucky Star, which features 17-18-19 year old characters who look much younger.

In contrast: Kinmoza has a main character who’s 16 years old, but you wouldn’t believe it from the art style.

4. Moe art styles

“Moe” is confused with Kawaii for obvious reasons. They’re both so similar it’s hard to differentiate.

The best way to describe “moe” art styles is with anime shows created by Kyoto Animation. You could even say they’re 100% responsible for the phrase “moe” in the first place.

Anime like:

K-On

Tamako Market

These shows best describe the art style of Moe better than any other series. I define it as a mixture of:

Characters who “look” childish, but still believable for their age.
Characters (and art) that’s Kawaii without being over the top.

5. Beautiful art styles

Beautiful art is a tricky one in the anime industry.

In some ways it’s close and comparable to realistic anime art. But in other ways it’s far beyond that. Because of how unbelievable the quality is.

The best shows that describe this art style are:

Violet Evergarden

Garden Of Words

Your Name

A Silent Voice

The Ancient Magus Bride

All of these 5 shows have realistic drawings and art, but there’s more to each one than that. The animation, quality, backgrounds and characters will blow your mind.

It’s “eye candy” at its best.

6. Weird art styles

And then you have weird anime art styles. The kind you can’t categorize because it’s too out of this world when compared to “normal” art styles.

The best way to describe this art style is with images from anime like:

Kemonozume

RWBY

Mind Game

Knights Of Sidonia

As you can tell – the anime art styles in these 4 shows is very strange. Compared to your everyday style at least.

But I respect the creators even more for “trying” to step into new territory, and try something new.

It’s no good if a creator rests on their laurels after all.

7. “Standard” art styles

It’s exactly as it sounds. Standard is the typical type of art we see in the average anime that’s aired.

I’d categorize anime like Date A Live, Katana Maidens, and similar shows as “standard”. Alongside series like:

Sakura Quest

Clannad

Don’t get me wrong: standard styles aren’t bad, in fact they’re amazing (Sakura Quest, Clannad). But these types are hard to categorize, hence “standard” is the term used.