How to Draw Simba (Grown Up)
Use the videos and step-by-step drawing instructions below to learn how to draw Simba (Grown Up) from Diseny's The Lion King. Stay tooned for more tutorials!
The speed drawing video:
The written step-by-step video tutorial:
Intro: Start off with a pencil sketch. In the beginning stages, don’t press down too hard. Use light, smooth strokes for sketching.
Step 1: Draw a circle as a guide for the front part of Simba's body. First draw four small marks to indicate the height and width. Now connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. If you're having a hard time drawing the circle, simply trace the outer rim of a coin, a bottle cap or any other object with a circular edge.
Step 2: Draw another circle the same way on the left side as a guide for the back portion of the lion's body. This circle should be smaller and placed lower than the first circle. Don't place the circles too far apart, other wise Simba will be too long.
Step 3: Draw another circle on the top, right side as a guide for Simba's head. This circle should be a tiny bit smaller than the leftmost circle. The edge of this circle and the edge of the first circle should touch.
Step 4: Draw a curved horizontal line across the head. This construction line will help you place Simba's facial features later. Add a curved vertical line on the top right side of the head for another construction line.
Step 5: Draw a small circle on the lower right side of the head as a guide for Simba's muzzle. Pay attention to the size and position of this circle in relation to the head. The top edge of this circle should touch the construction line, and the bottom edge should be outside of the head.
Step 6: On the left side of the head, right next to the construction line, draw a small arc as a guide for Simba's ear.
Step 7: Draw two long vertical lines under the big circle as guides for the front legs. Bend the lines slightly at the top and at the bottom to indicate where the joints and feet will be. The guide on the right should be a bit smaller because that leg will be on the other side of Simba's body.
Step 8: Draw the guide for the first hind leg by drawing a line that's diagonal at the top, and then angles and is vertical at the bottom. Draw the guide for Simba's other hind leg the same way except a bit smaller and less angled.
Step 9: Draw two lines that connect the lion's head to the body to form the neck. Now draw two longer lines that connect the first two circles to complete the guide for the body. Draw a long curved line on the left side of the body as a guide for Simba's tail.
Step 10: Add the guide for Simba's mane by first drawing a small mark above the head. Now extend the mark on the left side to create a curved line that ends at the top of the body. Now curve the line on the right side so that it surrounds the head and ends on the chest on the lower right.
That's it for the initial sketch of Simba from The Lion King! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.
Step 11: Draw Simba's nose inside the muzzle by first lightly sketching a small triangle. When you get the size and placement of the nose right, darken the lines. Make the top line of the nose wavy for a more organic feel.
Step 12: Draw two small arcs inside the nose for the nostrils and a short vertical line across the middle. Now draw a line on either side of Simba's nose, at the corners, for the bridge of the nose that will lead to the eyes. The line on the right should be longer. It should have a diagonal orientation, and then angle up vertically at the top.
Step 13: Lightly sketch the shape of Simba's eyes inside the head. Use the initial lines as guides for the placement. When you get the shape, size and placement of the eyes right , darken the lines. The eyes consist of a curved line on the top, left side, a vertical line on the right and a horizontal line at the bottom. The eye on the left is the same shape, except the left side is blocked by the bridge of the nose. The top lines should be thick to represent eyelashes. Add another line above each eye for the eyelids.
Step 14: Inside each eye, draw a small circle for the irises. Draw the irises close to the left side. The iris on the right will be blocked partially by the bridge of Simba's nose. Inside each iris, draw a small dot for the pupils.
Step 15: Draw Simba's top lip by first drawing a short vertical line below the nose. Then draw a long, wavy horizontal line underneath for the top part of the mouth. Make this line thick and pay attention to where it ends on either side. Connect the right tip of the mouth on the right to the nose using a short line.
Step 16: Now draw the lower lip as a line that starts on the left and curves to the right. Sketch lightly at first and only darken the line when you get the shape right. Add two triangle- like shapes above the lower lip for Simba's visible teeth.
Step 17: Add a short line on the right to connect the mouth. Draw a couple of curved lines inside for Simba's tongue.
Step 18: Add Simba's chin by first drawing a short curved line on the right side of the mouth. Continue drawing the line downward and follow the basic edge of the initial circle as you create the shape of the chin. Curve the line left and up along the edge of the initial circle as you create the big square-like lion's chin.
Step 19: Draw a short, curved line above the eye on the left for the first part of Simba's mane. Now draw a long, curved vertical line to the left of the eye that connects to the short line at the top. Add another long, vertical line on the left to form a shape similar to a long letter V. Draw a curved line above, almost touching the initial guide, for the part of the mane's bangs. Add a couple of short, diagonal lines on the right side as well.
Step 20: Above each eye, draw a thin, curved shape for the eyebrows. The outer tips of the eyebrows should curve down.
Step 21: Draw the right side of Simba's face by using the initial lines as guides. The line for the face curves in toward the eye, then out again at about nose level to create the cheek. The line should end at the chin. Add a few V- shaped lines on the lower left side for the fur.
Step 22: Just above the eyebrow on the right, draw a series of curved lines for more of Simba's mane. Follow the initial guide lines as you darken the lines on the upper, right side for the outer edge of the mane.
Step 23: Add a few more curved lines on the left side of the face for that section of the lion's mane. These lines should be similar to a long letter V, and they should partially cover Simba's face.
Step 24: Draw a long line for the section of mane that splits so the ear can poke through. Darken the arc for Simba's ear and add a few more curved lines at the bottom for more fur.
Step 25: Draw a few more curved lines along the path of the initial guide for more of Simba's mane. Make the lines wavy. We'll return to the rest of the mane at a later step.
Step 26: Use the second line from the right as a guide to draw the front leg that's on this side. Follow the path of the guide and lightly sketch the shape of the leg around it. The top part of Simba's leg should the thickest, and it should gradually get narrower at the bottom. When you get the shape of the leg right, darken the lines. Add a few pointy strokes on the left for the fur. Bend the shape of the leg at the top for the first joint and at the bottom before the foot. Draw the toes at the tip of the foot using a series of curved lines. There should be a total of four toes.
Step 27: Use the line on the far right side as a guide to draw Simba's other front leg the same way. Follow the basic path of the guide as you draw the shape of the leg around it. Sketch lightly at first and only darken the lines when you get the leg's structure right. The top part of the leg should be wide and the bottom narrow. Add the four toes at the bottom using curved lines.
Step 28: Use the line on the far left side as a guide to draw the first hind leg. The hind legs bend a lot more than the front legs, so follow the guides closely. Add the tall overlapping toes at the bottom using curved lines. Remember to draw lightly as you follow the guide and only darken the lines when you get the shape right.
Step 29: Use the last line under the body as a guide to draw Simba's other hind leg the same way. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg around the guide, and then darken the lines when you get the structure right. The top part of this leg will be hidden behind the body, so don't worry about drawing that section.
Step 30: Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of Simba's body. Darken the outer edges of the initial guides to create the body.
Step 31: Use the initial line around the head as a guide to finish the shape of Simba's mane. Darken the outer edges of the initial guide to create the overall shape of his lion's mane. Extend the line for the mane downward between the front legs. Connect the top part of the first front leg to the mane. Add a couple of long lines under the chin to emphasize the mane's thickness and texture. Draw a W-like shape at the bottom of the mane for extra detail.
Step 32: Use the line on the left as a guide to draw the tail. Follow the path of the initial guide as you make the shape of the tail thicker. Add a series of quick, short strokes for the clump of fur found at the tip of Simba's tail.
Step 33: For a more finished look, carefully go over the final sketch lines with a pen or marker.
Step 34: After inking, get rid of every pencil mark with an eraser for a cleaner drawing.
Final Step: Color your drawing of Simba from The Lion King using color pencils, markers or even crayons! Start coloring the mane lightly using red. Then apply light brown right on top. Push hard with your pencil to blend both colors. Use yellow to color the rest of the body except for the muzzle, underside, toes and area around the eyes. Use a bit of light brown directly over the yellow. Don't overlap the muzzle and the other blank sections yet.
Now use peach on the remaining blank sections of the body except above the eyes, nose and inside the mouth. Use black for Simba's eyebrows, brown for inside the mouth and pink for the nose and tongue. Use brown and red for the irises and dark brown for the section above the eyes.
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