Teaching Kids Fun and Dynamic Character Poses

Teaching Kids Fun and Dynamic Character Poses

One of the trickiest parts of teaching kids figure drawing is poses. It’s easy enough to draw someone simply sitting or standing, but when it comes to big movements—jumping, stretching, twisting the body, or showing flowing hair—children often find it overwhelming. That’s why it’s better not to start with complicated anatomy or proportion lessons. Instead, we can guide them to experience natural, lively movement playfully.

That’s when I realized how useful animation can be. Animated characters are always full of energy, expressing emotions through exaggerated gestures. This makes even complex poses feel much more approachable. Since kids are already familiar with their favorite animated characters, they can naturally observe and ask themselves: “How does this character move when they run?” or “What lines appear when they stretch their arms?” and then try to capture it on paper.

Recently, I tried this approach with my students using the book “Mastering Manga” alongside animation references. We started with the basic guides from the book, then moved on to studying animated scenes. One student drew a jumping pose with long hair flowing in the air—something far more exciting than just sitting still. Another student tried a confident stance with hands on the hips, and in the process began to understand balance and weight distribution without even realizing it.

The best part is that they never get bored. Kids don’t see the poses as “assignments” or “studying”—they feel like they’re capturing snapshots from an animated story. Each time they finish a pose, they light up with excitement: “Wow, this really looks like a manga character!” That joy keeps them motivated and builds their confidence.

Animation is also a great learning tool because of its exaggeration. A stretched arm, for instance, isn’t just a straight line—it’s a sweeping curve full of energy. By practicing this, kids naturally develop a sense of line flow and rhythm, skills that will help them later when they move on to more realistic figure drawing.

I plan to keep incorporating animation into my lessons. By analyzing favorite cartoon scenes together and sketching the poses, the classroom becomes a space where learning meets play. Kids stay engaged, their creativity blossoms, and they gain a deeper understanding of how to express life and movement in their art.
​
Figure drawing, after all, is not just about technique—it’s about capturing motion and emotion. And if animation can make that process fun and accessible, children will not only keep drawing, but may even grow into young artists who create their own characters and stories someday.

​Discover how using animation can help kids learn fun and dynamic character poses. A creative approach that keeps drawing lessons engaging, playful, and full of imagination.