Anime filter by a cartoonist: your photo as an anime portrait
An anime filter turns a photo of you into a portrait in Japanese animation style: large expressive eyes, clean outlines and bright, flat colour. At De Cartoonist that conversion is done by cartoonist Hans Esser, who uses AI tools as a sketchbook and then draws the details by hand, so the anime version still looks like you.
What an anime filter does to a photo
An anime filter is a way to redraw a real face in the visual language of anime: bigger eyes with light reflections, a small nose, a simplified mouth, sharp hair strands and cel-shaded colour with crisp shadows. The goal is not realism but character.
The hard part is keeping you recognisable while almost every feature changes. An anime converter app solves that by averaging faces, which is why many results look like the same person with a different hairstyle. A cartoonist solves it by choosing which of your features to keep: the shape of your eyebrows, a parting, freckles, a dimple, your glasses.
Who orders an anime portrait
Anime portraits are popular with people who grew up watching series and reading manga, but also with people who just love the look. Typical reasons:
- A gift for a friend or partner who is a true anime fan.
- A new avatar for gaming, streaming or a fan community.
- A couple or friend group drawn as a team of characters.
- A poster-style image for a bedroom or a birthday card.
Photo to anime: which picture works
Anime style simplifies the face, so the details that remain need to be clear in your photo. Good photo to anime results start with:
- A sharp, front-facing picture with both eyes clearly visible.
- Your hair visible, since the hairstyle carries a lot of the character.
- Natural expression; a real smile translates better than a forced one.
- Optional: a second photo showing an outfit, accessory or pose you want in the image.
You can also describe a setting, such as a school rooftop, a neon street at night or a fantasy landscape. More general advice is in the photo tips and working method.
What sets an anime portrait apart from other styles
Compared with a rounded 3D cartoon avatar, anime is flatter and more graphic: lines and colour blocks instead of soft volume. Compared with a caricature maker who exaggerates your features, anime flatters rather than teases. And it is more colourful and dramatic than a photo to drawing sketch in pencil.
That makes the style ideal when you want to look cool, heroic or cute, and less suited when the joke is the point. Not sure yet? The photo to cartoon overview shows every style side by side.
Anime filter app or a drawn anime portrait
An automatic anime filter is fast and fun to try. A drawn anime portrait is the better choice when the result has to hold up as a gift or print:
- Likeness: the cartoonist checks the resemblance instead of relying on an average face.
- Consistency: hands, hair and background are corrected, not left half-melted.
- Resolution: you receive a high-resolution file suitable for printing.
- No watermark: the final file is clean.
- Feedback: you see a proof and can ask for changes in one revision round.
An anime portrait starts from €150; the final price depends on the number of people and the level of detail. See pricing for anime and other styles.
See how the cartoonist draws faces
Anime portraits of clients appear only with their permission and will be added soon. Until then, the caricatures and scenes in the portfolio show how Hans handles expression, line and colour.
More cartoon styles
3D cartoon avatar from a photo
Soft shapes, warm light and a big smile, like a still from an animated film.
Custom caricature maker
Playful exaggeration of the features that make someone unmistakable. A classic gift.
Comic book effect for your photo
Bold ink, halftone dots and a speech bubble. Star in your own comic panel or strip.
Pet to cartoon portraits
Your dog, cat or rabbit as a cartoon with its own personality, alone or with you.
Pet memorial cartoon of a pet that passed away
A lasting memory of your dog, cat, bird or mouse, drawn with its own character.
Custom comic book with your own story
A short comic story over several pages, starring your pet, your family or a loved one.
Animated cartoon video of up to 9 seconds
Your cartoon comes to life in a short clip for socials, greetings and invitations.
Cartoon profile picture (PFP)
A clear, bold avatar that stays recognisable at thumbnail size on every platform.
Photo to drawing and sketch
A calm pencil sketch, ink drawing or line art portrait instead of a colourful cartoon.
Cartoon maker with no watermark
A clean, print-ready file: why free apps add a watermark and what you get instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is an anime filter?
An anime filter turns a photo into a portrait in Japanese animation style, with large expressive eyes, simplified features, clean outlines and bright colour. At De Cartoonist this conversion is drawn by a cartoonist rather than generated automatically.
How does the anime filter by {{merk}} differ from an anime filter app?
An app applies one generic anime look to every face and often loses the likeness. Here Hans Esser draws your anime portrait with your own features, lets you check a proof and adjusts hair, eyes, outfit or background on request.
Will I still recognise myself as an anime character?
Yes, that is the aim. Your hairstyle, eyebrows, glasses, freckles or dimples are kept, even though anime simplifies a face. You check the likeness on the proof before the anime portrait is final.
Which photo works best for a photo to anime portrait?
A clear, front-facing photo with good light and a visible hairline works best for photo to anime. Anime eyes are a key feature, so avoid sunglasses and heavy shadows. A full-body photo helps if you also want your outfit drawn.
Can you draw several people in one anime picture?
Yes. Couples, best friends, siblings or a whole family can be drawn together as a cast of anime characters. Send a clear photo of each person and describe how you want them to stand or interact.
Can I choose the outfit and background of my anime portrait?
Yes. Describe the setting, for example a cherry-blossom street, a school rooftop or a neon city at night, and send a reference for the clothes if you have one. The result is an original design, not a copy of an existing series.
Can you draw me as a character from a well-known anime series?
No. Protected characters from existing series are not copied. You can, however, get an original character in a similar anime style, with your own costume, hair colour and setting.
Is the anime converter done by AI or by hand?
Both. AI tools help to explore the anime style quickly, and Hans Esser draws, corrects and finishes the portrait himself. It is neither a one-click anime converter nor a purely traditional painting.
Can I use my anime portrait as a profile picture?
Yes. Mention it when you order, so the face sits centrally and still reads well in a small round crop on Discord, Instagram, TikTok or a gaming platform.
Is an anime portrait a good gift for a fan of anime?
Yes. Seeing yourself as an anime character is a playful, personal present for birthdays and other occasions. Add a hobby, a pet or a favourite place, so the portrait feels like it belongs to the person.
Can my pet be drawn in anime style too?
Yes. Dogs, cats and other pets can join you in the anime portrait or get one of their own, with the big eyes and soft shapes that suit the style. Send a clear photo of each animal.
Can my anime portrait be printed as a poster?
Yes. You receive a high-resolution file without a watermark, which a print shop can use for posters, canvas prints, cards or stickers. Mention the size you have in mind beforehand.
Can I ask for changes to my anime portrait after the proof?
Yes. After the proof there is one revision round, for example to the eye colour, hairstyle, expression, clothing or background. Tell Hans Esser what you want different and he adjusts the drawing.
What makes a picture look like anime?
Anime is recognised by large eyes with bright highlights, small noses and mouths, stylised hair in clear strands, crisp outlines and flat colour with soft shading. Those elements are combined with your own features in the portrait.
Can I get an anime version of a couple photo for an anniversary?
Yes. Send the photo you love or a photo of each of you, and describe the moment or place that matters to you. The anime couple portrait can be printed and framed as an anniversary or wedding gift.
Ready to see yourself as a cartoon?
Send one clear photo, tell us the style you like, and the cartoonist gets to work. You see a proof before anything is final.