Learn how to draw Goku the easy way, from his spiky hair and face to his strong pose. A beginner-friendly, step-by-step anime drawing with simple shapes and no skills needed.
Spiky hair, a determined stare, and a strong stance. That look is what makes this anime hero so fun to draw, and it all starts with a few simple shapes. In this guide you'll learn how to draw Goku in a fan-art anime style, step by step. We'll begin with a light circle for the face and some guide lines, then build the bold eyes, the famous spiky hair, and a confident pose. No experience needed.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the rights holders. This is a fan-style drawing guide that teaches the general shapes a beginner can use to draw a similar spiky-haired anime character.
Keep your early lines light so you can adjust the pose before you commit, and remember that anime is mostly clear shapes and clean lines. Let's begin.
What you'll need
- A pencil and an eraser
- Plain paper
- Optional: a black pen for inking, plus markers or colored pencils
How to draw Goku step by step
Step 1: Draw the face circle and guide lines
Start with a small circle for the face, drawn lightly. Artist Luuk Minkman begins his Goku tutorial the same way, with a small circle and simple straight lines for the shoulders, and reminds you that the circle is the face, not the whole head. Add a center line down the middle and a horizontal line across for the eyes. These keep both sides even.
Step 2: Shape the jaw and chin
From the bottom of the circle, draw the angular jaw and a pointed chin to finish the head shape. Anime faces have a clear, slightly sharp jawline. Keep it light and symmetrical across your center line.
Step 3: Add the eyes, nose, and mouth
On the eye line, draw two bold anime eyes, sharp at the outer corners with large pupils. Easy Drawing Guides builds the eyes from simple shapes, using narrow triangles for the eyebrows and partial ovals for the pupils. Add strong angled eyebrows for a determined look, a small line for the nose, and a simple mouth below.
Step 4: Draw the spiky hair
This is the signature step. Start at the hairline and draw the hair in large, sharp spikes that flair outward from the center of the head. Build it in a few big clumps rather than many thin strands. Make the spikes point up and out so the hair frames the face. Keep the points sharp and the shapes varied.
Step 5: Block in the body and pose
Below the head, sketch the neck, shoulders, and torso using simple geometric shapes. Luuk Minkman blocks the torso as basic forms, like the bottom half of a hexagon, before refining the muscles. Get the proportions and the pose right at this rough stage, since fixing them now is far easier than later.
Step 6: Add the gi and details
Draw the loose martial-arts uniform, the gi, with a wrap-over top, a belt or sash at the waist, and wristbands and boots. Add a few simple fold lines where the fabric bends. Then refine the muscle shapes on the arms with light, curved lines.
Step 7: Ink, erase, and color
Trace the lines you want to keep with a firmer stroke or a black pen, then erase your guide lines and stray marks. Color the hair black (or bright yellow for a Super Saiyan look), the gi orange with a blue undershirt and sash, and leave small white highlights in the eyes so they stay sharp.
What artists recommend (and common mistakes)
- Build from simple shapes first. Artist Luuk Minkman starts with a small circle for the face and straight lines for the shoulders, getting proportions right before adding features. Easy Drawing Guides does the same with the face, building the eyes from triangles, rectangles, and ovals. Blocking in shapes first is the foundation of every clean anime drawing.
- Don't ink too early. The biggest beginner mistake is committing to dark, finished outlines before the construction is correct. Keep your first lines light so you can shift the pose and proportions, then press harder or ink only once the shapes look right.
- Draw hair in clumps, not strands. Spiky anime hair reads as a few bold shapes pointing outward, not dozens of thin lines. Build big spikes first and the style falls into place.
Fun variations to try
- Super Saiyan: Color the hair bright yellow and make the spikes taller and more dramatic.
- A power-up pose: Draw him with fists clenched and energy lines radiating outward.
- Just the face: Practice the bold eyes, eyebrows, and spiky hair on their own until they feel automatic.
- Chibi style: Use a huge head, tiny body, and oversized eyes for an adorable mini version.
Frequently asked questions
How do you draw Goku easy? Start with a small circle for the face and guide lines, add the jaw and bold anime eyes, then build the spiky hair in big clumps. Block in the body with simple shapes, add the orange gi, and trace and color. Building from basic shapes first is what makes it easy.
How do you draw Goku's face? Draw a circle, add a center line and an eye line, then place sharp anime eyes with large pupils, strong angled eyebrows, a small nose, and a simple mouth. Finish with an angular jaw and the spiky hairline framing the face.
How do you draw Goku's hair? Start at the hairline and draw large, sharp spikes that flair up and out from the center of the head. Work in a few big clumps instead of many thin strands, and keep the points sharp so it reads as classic anime hair.
Keep drawing and coloring
Great job building this anime hero from simple shapes. Next, try how to draw anime to master the face and eyes, browse more anime drawing ideas for your next character, or practice how to draw a face to sharpen your proportions. When you're ready to add color, our free coloring pages are waiting.