It’s time to take your passion for Japanese animation to the next level. Fans of Sailor Moon, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen, and One Piece are bringing your favorite characters' lives to their fingertips. We’ve got anime nail art ideas for you to do the same!
Anime nail designs express love for your favorite series creatively and stylishly. There are endless ways to do anime nails, from character representations to iconic symbols.
In this article, we'll explore anime nail art ideas that will leave you feeling like the ultimate otaku while rocking fabulous nails! We also have pro tips for realizing the looks at home.
Anime Nail Art Ideas
Sailor Moon
Let’s begin with Sailor Moon-themed nails. Remember the magical, colorful world of Usagi Tsukino? Include Sailor Moon's crescent moon symbol, her signature hairstyle, and her cat, Luna, for an instantly recognizable manicure.
Sailor Moon features symbols that are easy to incorporate into nail art. One is the transformation brooch that Usagi uses to become Sailor Moon. It resembles a heart inside a six-sided star. Another is the Legendary Silver Crystal or the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou.
Lavis Gel Polish 098 - Pink Glitter Colors - Pretty Pink Glitter
Dragon Ball Z
Without a doubt, Dragonball Z introduced a worldwide generation to anime. Bulma's intelligence and Goku's fighting skills make for an empowering nail design that any fan will love. We love the use of blue in the character details and the background.
Line Art Gels
Toilet Bound Hanako-San
If you’re not familiar with this one, it’s centered around Hanako-san, a mischievous supernatural being who resides in the girls' bathroom of a school. The series combines elements of horror, comedy, and romance, following the adventures of Hanako-san and a human girl named Nene Yashiro.
Here, it appears that the artist used hard gel or acrylics for 3D elements. That’s a fun idea, given the current trend toward maximalist and mismatched junk nails.
Builder Gel
Studio Ghibli: Ponyo and Spirited Away
We highly recommend them if you haven’t seen either of these beautiful films. Looking at these anime nails from left to right, the creature dressed in black with a white mask is called No-Face from “Spirited Away”. It’s a mysterious spirit encountered by the main character, Chihiro, during her journey in the spirit world. No-Face initially appears as a quiet and lonely entity. Still, later, its behavior is influenced by the environment and characters around it, leading to chaotic and transformative moments in the plot.
On the next three fingers, there’s a river dragon. In "Spirited Away", Haku initially appears as a young boy working at the bathhouse of the spirits, where Chihiro finds herself trapped. However, it is later revealed that Haku is a river spirit who has taken on a human form. He helps Chihiro navigate the spirit world and plays a significant role in her quest to rescue her parents and find her way back to the human world.
The following hand is a salute to "Ponyo". The little boy, Sosuke, lives by the sea and forms a deep bond with Ponyo, a magical goldfish princess who desires to become human. Their friendship drives much of the story as they embark on a magical journey together.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Megan Thee Stallion told Teen Vogue about her passion for Jujutsu Kaisen. The story follows Yuji Itadori, a high school student with impressive physical abilities who is drawn into the world of sorcery after encountering a cursed object. Alongside his Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College allies, Yuji embarks on a journey to exorcise curses and protect humanity from supernatural threats while grappling with the dark power lurking within him. The character with a covered eye is the sorcerer Gojo Satoru, known for his exceptional strength and intelligence.
Demon Slayer
Join the fight against evil with nails inspired by Tanjiro Kamado, a kind-hearted boy who becomes a demon slayer after his family is slaughtered by demons, leaving only his sister, Nezuko, transformed into a demon. Incorporate symbols like the Japanese flag to represent the Demon Slayer Corps.
Pokémon
Catch 'em all with Pokémon-inspired nails featuring beloved characters like Drifloon, Eevee, and Spinda. You can enjoy a playful look that any Pokémon train will envy! This set was done by artist Chiharu Taji, who specializes in hand-drawn anime nails.
Tokyo Ghoul
Enter the dark "Tokyo Ghoul" world with nails featuring Ken Kaneki and the struggle between humans and ghouls. The bloody stilettos capture the intensity of the series as the college student becomes a half-ghoul and grapples with his newfound identity.
Chainsaw Man Pochita Nails
We love Pochita! This adorable devil has a crucial role in "Chainsaw Man". Initially introduced as a small, cute creature resembling a dog, Pochita forms a contract with the protagonist, Denji, granting him the power to transform into Chainsaw Man. He embodies loyalty, sacrifice, and friendship, traits we aspire to.
Naruto
Here’s another example of anime nails without faces. The red Akatsuki clouds symbolize the shinobi rogue ninjas that still somehow try to make the world better in their own way.
One Piece
Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, embark on an often-comedic adventure to find the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. This lighthearted anime has iconic faces, symbols, and colors, making it perfect for anime nails. If your nails aren’t long enough for the ideal canvas, extend them with soft gels.
Lavis Soft Gel Tips
Tips for Drawing Anime Nail Art
Creating anime nail art can be lots of fun! Here are tips to get you started:
- Use reference images. Trace them beforehand to familiarize yourself with the details. Then, try to copy them smaller.
- Choose colors that match the anime theme. When filling in color, do light hues, then dark.
- Sketch the outlines with a fine line marker on your nails.
- Invest in line art gel polish and thin nail brushes.
- Outline the general shapes of the design, then fill in details.
- Notice that anime faces are different than portraits. Eyes are more prominent, and faces are shorter and rounder, with smaller noses and exaggerated expressions.
- Consider using nail stickers instead. There is no shame in that!
Overall, be patient and embrace mistakes as learning opportunities. Anime artists had to start somewhere, just like nail artists. Enjoy your journey and celebrate each design as a step along the way.
Conclusion
Alright, otaku nail nerds, now it’s your turn to create anime nail art! We’re excited for you to transform your nails into manga masterpieces! Stock up on the supplies you need and get free shipping on orders over $75! And if you can’t find the right shade, maybe it’s waiting for you in our new arrivals.