Drawing Goku is basically a rite of passage for every artist who grew up watching Toonami. But honestly? Doing a decent job at how to draw ssj goku is a lot harder than it looks because Akira Toriyama’s style is deceptively simple. You think it's just big muscles and yellow hair, right? Wrong. If you get the angles of those eyes even slightly off, he doesn't look like the Savior of the Universe—he looks like a confused guy in a bad cosplay.
Let’s get real. The Super Saiyan transformation changed everything in 1991 during the Frieza Saga. It wasn't just a power-up; it was a total design shift. The soft, rounded shapes of "Kid Goku" or early "Z" Goku became sharp, aggressive, and geometric. To draw him well, you have to stop thinking about hair and start thinking about shards of glass.
It All Starts With the Loomis Head (Sort Of)
Most people start by drawing a circle. That’s fine. But Goku’s head isn’t a sphere; it’s more like a shield. You want that circle, but then you need to chop off the sides. His jawline is legendary. It’s sharp. It’s heavy. If you’re figuring out how to draw ssj goku, the chin needs to be a blunt point, not a needle.
Draw your vertical and horizontal guidelines. The horizontal line for the eyes should be lower than you think. Why? Because the forehead of a Super Saiyan is massive to accommodate that gravity-defying hair. The brow is the most important part of the face. Unlike regular Goku, who has those friendly, rounded eyes, SSJ Goku is permanently pissed off. His eyebrows are thick, slanted downward toward the nose, and they actually sit over the eyes, partially obscuring the top of the iris.
The Eyes: The Window to the Zenkai Boost
Goku's eyes in his Super Saiyan form are basically rectangles with the bottom corners clipped off. They aren't round. Use sharp, aggressive strokes. The pupils should be small. Actually, they aren't even pupils—they're irises, and in the manga, they're often just vertical ovals or circles that don't touch the bottom eyelid. This creates that "thousand-yard stare" that makes him look like he’s about to drop a Spirit Bomb on someone's head.
And don't forget the "anger lines." Those two little ticks under the eyes? Essential. Without them, he’s just a guy with blonde hair. Those lines represent the tension in his face.
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Mastering the Hair Architecture
This is where everyone messes up. They just draw spikes. But Goku’s hair has a specific logic. It’s architectural.
In the classic Super Saiyan 1 form, there are usually five main "clumps" of hair visible from a front-ish view. Think of them like bananas, but sharper. They all originate from a central point on the scalp, but they fan out. The most iconic part is the "fringe" or the bangs. Usually, two or three large spikes of hair hang down over the forehead. One usually sits right between the eyes.
Why Your Hair Looks "Flat"
Depth. That’s why. Most beginners draw the hair as a flat silhouette. To make it look like Toriyama’s work, you need to draw the "back" spikes. These are the ones peeking out from behind the main fringe. They should be slightly smaller and shaded darker to create a sense of three-dimensional space.
Also, watch the "flow." Even though the hair is spiked up, it should follow the curve of the skull. If the hair looks like it's just glued to the top of a flat line, it’s going to look weird.
The Evolution of the Line
If you’re looking at how to draw ssj goku from the Frieza Saga versus the Buu Saga, the hair changes. Early on, it was very "puffy" and soft (think of the legendary Chapter 317). By the time we get to the Cell Games, the lines became much sharper and more defined. Decide which era you're drawing. Are you going for the "fluffy" look or the "sharp" look? Personally, the Cell Saga "Mastered Super Saiyan" look is the gold standard for most fans.
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The Neck and Traps: The Power Base
Goku’s neck is as wide as his head. I’m not joking. If you draw a skinny neck, he’ll look like a bobblehead. The sternocleidomastoid muscles (those big ropes on the side of the neck) should V-shape down into the collarbone.
Then come the traps. The trapezius muscles should slope up from the shoulders to meet the neck. In a powered-up state, these muscles are engorged. They shouldn't be straight lines; they should be slightly curved, bulging with that internal Ki pressure.
The Gi and Folds
Goku’s clothes are basically just an extension of his muscles. The orange gi (the dougi) should follow the anatomy. When his arm is flexed, the fabric should bunch up at the joint. Use "Y" and "V" shaped fold lines. Toriyama used these a lot to show tension.
Don't over-detail the clothes. A few well-placed, sharp folds are better than a hundred scribbles. Look at how the belt (the obi) sits. It’s usually tied at the waist, and the tails of the belt should have some "life" to them—maybe they're drifting upward because of the golden aura?
Essential Anatomy Tips for the Super Saiyan Body
If you're doing a full-body shot, remember that Dragon Ball anatomy is a mix of real bodybuilding and "superhero" proportions.
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- The Chest: The pecs are huge squares. They meet in the middle with a very defined line.
- The Abs: Usually a "six-pack," but don't make them perfect. Make them look like bricks buried under the skin.
- The Shoulders: Deltoids should look like large coconuts. They overlap the bicep and the chest.
- The Forearms: Goku has massive forearms. They are often larger than his upper arms in certain poses to show power and perspective.
The Aura: The Final Touch
You can't have a Super Saiyan without the aura. Don't just draw a jagged line around him. Use "flicker" marks. These are small, flame-like shapes that break off from the main body. If you’re using color, the inner part of the aura should be almost white, fading into a bright lemon yellow, and then a darker golden orange on the very outside.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Centered Ears: Goku's ears are actually quite low on his head when he’s tilting his chin down. If you put them too high, he looks like an elf.
- The "No-Forehead" Look: If the hair starts right at the eyebrows, he’ll look caveman-ish. Give him some forehead room.
- Symmetry: Human faces aren't perfectly symmetrical, and neither is Goku's. Vary the hair spikes slightly. One should be a bit longer, one a bit more curved. It adds "weight."
- The Nose: It’s basically a small L-shape or a triangle. Don't overdraw the nostrils. Keep it simple.
Taking it to the Next Level
To really nail how to draw ssj goku, you need to practice the "three-quarters" view. It’s the most dynamic angle. It shows the depth of the nose, the wrap-around of the hair, and the way the chest connects to the shoulders.
Try using a G-pen or a fine-liner for the inks. Toriyama’s line work is famous for its varying thickness—thick on the outside of the silhouette, thin for the internal muscle details. This "line weight" is what makes the drawing pop off the page. If every line is the same thickness, the drawing will look like a coloring book page rather than a professional illustration.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Drawing
- Step 1: Lightly sketch a circle and a "shield" jawline. Mark the eye-line low on the face.
- Step 2: Block in the five main hair spikes. Focus on the silhouette first.
- Step 3: Draw the "angry" brow and the rectangular eye shapes. Keep the pupils small.
- Step 4: Add the neck—make it thick!—and the sloping trap muscles.
- Step 5: Go over your sketch with a dark pen, varying the thickness of your lines. Thicker for the chin and outer hair, thinner for the facial features.
- Step 6: Erase your pencil marks and add "shadow blocks" under the chin and in the hair folds to give it that 90s anime look.
The trick is consistency. Draw him ten times. By the tenth time, your hand will remember the "flick" needed for those hair spikes. It’s all in the wrist. Don't get discouraged if the first one looks like Yamcha on a bad day. Even the pros at Toei Animation had "off" episodes. Keep the lines sharp, the eyes intense, and the neck thick. That’s the secret to a perfect Super Saiyan.