FIELD NOTES / VOL. 01
CREATE ANIME ART WITH AI A practical beginner's guide to original characters, atmospheric scenes and better image prompts.
8-PAGE CREATOR GUIDE Prompts / workflow / examples
ANIMEGEN | AI ANIME GENERATOR
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01 START HERE
The five-part prompt Most good anime images begin with a specific idea, not a long list of random adjectives.
01
02
03
04
05
SUBJECT
STYLE
LIGHT
SCENE
MOOD
Who or what?
How is it drawn?
Where is the light?
Where are we?
What should it feel like?
EXAMPLE / CHARACTER PORTRAIT
A young sky courier with short silver hair and a navy flight jacket; clean modern anime line art, soft cel shading; golden-hour rim light; rooftop above a coastal city; hopeful, cinematic mood. Keep the main subject concrete. Add only 2-3 important visual details per category, then refine one variable at a time.
A SIMPLE THREE-STEP WORKFLOW
1
2
3
Describe the image Write one clean sentence about the subject and action.
Set a format Choose a model and an aspect ratio suited to your output.
Generate & adjust Review the result; change the most important missing detail.
THE FUNDAMENTALS
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02 DESIGN A HERO
Make your character memorable Start with silhouette and story role; details like eye color should support the design, not replace it.
ORIGINAL CHARACTER CONCEPT
01 ROLE
Sky courier, apprentice mage, expedition scout.
02 SILHOUETTE
A short coat, wide collar and single hairpin.
03 IDENTITY
Silver bob, cool blue eyes, navy and coral palette.
04 POSE
Three-quarter view, relaxed shoulders, looking up.
COPY-READY PROMPT
Original anime sky courier, short silver bob haircut, small teal hairpin, navy pilot jacket with coral scarf, curious expression, three-quarter character portrait, confident silhouette, clean cel shading, warm rim lighting, muted coastal skyline, crisp line art. Try changing the occupation or color palette while keeping the design structure.
CHARACTER DESIGN
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03 BUILD THE SETTING
Atmosphere tells a story Use architecture, weather, and a single light source to give a simple scene a distinctive mood.
QUIET / NOSTALGIC
ENERGETIC / FUTURISTIC
A shrine at sunset
A neon city after rain
Warm light, layered mountains and a simple red torii gate create a calm visual narrative.
Colorful signs, reflections and dark buildings build depth and a futuristic tone.
SCENE PROMPT / 01
SCENE PROMPT / 02
Anime background painting of a hillside shrine at sunset, vermilion torii gate, distant blue mountains, peach-colored clouds, soft haze, gentle golden light, balanced wide composition, hand-painted animation aesthetic, no people.
Anime cyberpunk alley after rain, layered neon storefronts, quiet reflections on wet pavement, violet and cyan color palette, deep perspective, cinematic night lighting, rich environmental detail, wide establishing shot.
WORLDBUILDING
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ANIMEGEN / CREATOR FIELD GUIDE
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04 KEEP WHAT MATTERS
Photo to anime, thoughtfully When starting from an existing photo, the goal is often a recognizable subject in a fresh illustration style.
ILLUSTRATIVE PHOTO INPUT
ILLUSTRATIVE ANIME STYLE
Illustrations demonstrate visual direction, not a photographed or model-generated before/after result.
A MORE FAITHFUL CONVERSION STARTS WITH...
A clear subject Use a well-lit image where the face or main object is easy to see.
The right constraints Ask to keep hairstyle, expression, pose or clothing colors.
One style direction Try modern TV anime, 90s cel art, or watercolor - not all at once.
A comparison pass Inspect likeness, proportions and key details; refine as needed.
REFERENCE-BASED ART
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05 FRAME WITH INTENT
Choose the shape first Changing aspect ratio changes what the image can communicate. Design for where the picture will appear.
1:1 AVATAR
2:3 CHARACTER
16:9 SCENE
QUICK GUIDE
1:1 Profile icons, square thumbnails, simple character busts. 2:3 or 9:16 Full-body designs, vertical covers and posters. 3:2 or 16:9 Landscapes, backgrounds and cinematic compositions.
State the camera Close-up, low angle, over-the-shoulder, or wide establishing shot.
Leave useful space Reserve a calm area if you plan to add a title or caption later.
Check hands and edges Review anatomy, cropping, background clutter and repeated details.
COMPOSITION
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06 TRY THESE IDEAS
Six prompts to remix Copy a starter prompt, then replace one subject, setting or lighting choice with your own idea.
01
STORYBOOK HERO
Original anime bookshop apprentice, curly dark hair, emerald apron, shelves of floating books, warm lamplight, gentle expression, hand-painted fantasy style.
03
FANTASY LANDSCAPE
Wide anime fantasy valley, windmills on grassy terraces, distant stone castle, drifting clouds, sunrise rays, rich environment art, peaceful atmosphere.
05
COZY INTERIOR
Hand-painted anime tea shop interior, steaming ceramic cups, ivy around windows, afternoon sunbeams, warm wooden textures, inviting calm mood.
02
RAINY NIGHT
Anime traveler waiting at a quiet train station at night, red umbrella, rain reflections, cool indigo palette, cinematic perspective, delicate cel shading.
04
ACTION FRAME
Dynamic anime swordswoman leaping across rooftops, fluttering scarf, dramatic foreshortening, speed lines, moonlit city, striking graphic composition.
06
VIBRANT AVATAR
Centered anime avatar portrait, short lavender hair, confident smile, bright teal jacket, clean pastel background, polished line art, soft rim light.
Iteration tip: Save a successful prompt and change one part at a time to learn what drives the image.
PROMPT LIBRARY
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YOUR NEXT CREATIVE STEP
Make something uniquely yours. Start with one strong idea. Write a clear prompt, choose a useful format and keep refining until the art fits your vision.
EXPLORE ANIMEGEN
AI Anime Generator
VISIT ->
AI Anime Character Generator
VISIT ->
Photo to Anime Converter
VISIT ->
SCAN & CREATE
Turn ideas into anime-style images with text prompts or an image reference.
aianimegen.org
A practical, independent creative guide. Illustration examples are original diagrams.
ANIMEGEN / 2026