How to Draw Disney Characters

OK - let's learn how to draw Disney characters!

There's no way around it - classic cartoon creations like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck - and those from newer movies like Rapunzel from Tangled and Elsa from Frozen...

Have played such a big part in inspiring the imagination of many people around the world.

Thinking back - first time seeing films like 101 Dalmatians and Fox and the Hound - and in theater at that!...

Pure nostalgia :)

Of course, different Disney characters will first come to mind - maybe depending on the generation you grew up in. For me, I think it's a bit of a toss-up between Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, Mushu the dragon from Mulan, and Shere Khan - the tiger from Jungle Book.

So how about you...

Who's your favorite all-time Disney character? And better yet - which one would you most like to draw!

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Something to keep in mind - with respect to learning how to draw Disney characters...

From lesson to lesson - sometimes, I'll create something more exact to how the character actually looks.

While other times...

I'll go for more of a likeness or "homage" to the character - drawing something that definitely resembles them, including features, colors, etc. that ensure it "looks like" who it's supposed to - but at the very same time...

Incorporating my own unique cartoon drawing style.

With James P. Sullivan from Monsters Inc. for example - you can see how even though he looks very similar to the character in the movies - there are qualities that make this version...

A bit different.

A quick glance, and yes - his horns, fur, colors, general size, etc. - are all there for the most part.

A closer look however - and you can see how I've actually simplified the character (fur, nails, color pattern, and more) not only adding a different style to him, but perhaps even...

Making it easier for you to draw him.

So for sure, while working through these lessons - always remember that you can make each character look more or less of a resemblance to the original.

It's fun to "draw" outside the box - and definitely, I recommend you practice doing so - even when you're drawing characters like Disney, that are created by someone else.

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OK - ready to learn how to draw Disney characters?

Perfect!

Let's get to it...

Intermediate

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  James P. Sullivan

  Here in this cartoon drawing lesson - learn how to draw James P. Sullivan, the big blue monster voiced by John Goodman, in Monsters Inc.
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  How to Draw Mickey Mouse

  Learn how to draw one of the most famous Disney characters of all time - Mickey Mouse!