So, you want to learn how to draw Charmander. It looks easy, right? He’s basically a marshmallow with a tail that’s on fire. But then you sit down with a pencil, and suddenly his head looks like a football, his belly is too round, and he ends up looking more like a confused gecko than the iconic Fire-type starter from Kanto. We've all been there. Getting that specific Ken Sugimori curve is actually a bit of a nightmare if you don't know where the weight of the character sits.
I've spent a lot of time looking at the original 1996 sprites versus the modern 3D models in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. There is a massive difference in how his proportions are handled. If you want your drawing to feel "official," you have to nail the specific teardrop shape of the body. It isn't just a circle. It’s a heavy, weighted pear shape that makes him look sturdy but cute.
The Secret is in the Head-to-Body Ratio
Most people start with a circle for the head and a bigger circle for the body. Stop doing that. It makes him look stiff. Instead, think about a "bean" shape.
Charmander’s head is actually quite wide. If you look at the official artwork, his snout isn't a separate piece stuck onto his face; it’s a smooth transition from his forehead down to his nose. It’s almost like a thumb. When you’re figuring out how to draw Charmander, the first thing you should sketch is an oval tilted at a slight angle.
Then comes the body.
The body should be about 1.5 times the size of the head. If you make the body too big, he looks like a Charizard that skipped leg day. If you make it too small, he looks like a Funko Pop. You want that middle ground. Draw a large pear shape that overlaps with the bottom of the head oval. This overlap is crucial because Charmander doesn't really have a neck. His head sits directly on his shoulders, which is what gives him that stubby, "baby" Pokémon vibe.
Those Iconic Eyes and the "Soul" of the Drawing
Charmander has very specific eyes. They aren't round. They are elongated ovals with a flat-ish bottom.
Inside those ovals, you have the pupil and then a tiny highlight at the top. Honestly, if you get the eyes wrong, the whole thing falls apart. They should be spaced fairly wide apart on the head. This "wide-set" eye placement is a classic trope in Japanese creature design to make things look "kawaii" or approachable. Think about how a puppy looks. Wide eyes, big forehead.
While you're at it, don't forget the nostrils. They are just two tiny dots right at the tip of the snout. They’re easy to miss, but without them, his face looks like a blank mask.
Nailing the Flame and the Tail
The tail is the most important part of the silhouette. It starts thick. Like, surprisingly thick. It should emerge from the base of the spine and taper down toward the tip. A common mistake is drawing the tail like a thin rope. It's not a rope; it's a muscular appendage that helps him balance.
Now, the fire.
Fire is hard to draw because it doesn't have a solid shape. When people learn how to draw Charmander, they usually draw a "cartoon" flame that looks like a leaf. Real fire—or at least "Pokémon fire"—should feel layered. You have the inner core (usually yellow) and the outer flame (red or orange). Use flicking motions with your wrist. Don't overthink the symmetry. Fire is chaotic. If the flame looks too perfect, it looks fake.
Did you know that in the original Pokémon anime, the size of the flame represents Charmander's health and mood? If you want to show him as tired, draw a tiny flicker. If he’s mid-ember attack, make that flame huge and wild.
The Arms and Legs (Avoid the Stick Figure Trap)
Charmander’s limbs are short and stubby. His arms are basically little tubes that end in three tiny claws. Don't draw fingers. They are just little white spikes.
The legs are where people usually mess up. Charmander is digitigrade-ish in some poses, but generally, he has big, flat feet. His thighs are thick and merge into his lower body. When he’s standing, his feet should be wide to support that pear-shaped weight.
- Arms: Short, positioned about halfway down the body.
- Claws: Three on each hand, three on each foot.
- The Belly Plate: This is a light yellow section that runs from his neck down to the underside of his tail. This is a separate "layer" of skin.
Technical Details: Line Weight and Color
If you’re drawing digitally in Procreate or Photoshop, use a brush with a bit of "taper." Real Pokémon art uses very clean, consistent line weights, but there’s a slight variation where lines meet.
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For the colors, don't just use "Orange" and "Yellow."
If you look at the work of Ken Sugimori, he uses a lot of watercolor-style shading. The shadows aren't just darker orange; they often have a slight purple or brown tint to them. This adds depth. For the belly, use a pale cream color rather than a bright "lemon" yellow. It looks more natural.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Making the snout too pointy: He’s not a bird. Keep it rounded.
- Drawing a neck: Again, he doesn't really have one.
- Static flames: If the tail is moving, the flame should trail behind it. Physics still applies to Pokémon, mostly.
- Flat feet: Make sure there's a bit of "depth" to the feet so he looks like he's standing on the ground, not floating in space.
Putting it All Together
Once you've got your basic shapes—the tilted oval head and the pear body—it’s all about refinement. Go over your rough sketch with a darker pencil or a fine-liner. Erase the overlapping lines where the head meets the body.
Basically, you’re looking for a silhouette that is instantly recognizable. If you were to fill the whole drawing in with solid black, would you still know it’s Charmander? If the answer is yes, you’ve nailed the proportions.
The charm of this character is in his simplicity. He’s one of the most beloved designs in history because he’s a perfect mix of "cool dinosaur" and "cute pet." When you're learning how to draw Charmander, respect the curves.
Next Steps for Your Artwork
Now that you've finished the linework and the basic colors, focus on the lighting. Since his tail is literally a light source, the back of his legs and the side of his tail should be highlighted with a bright glow. Use a "Linear Dodge" or "Add" layer if you're working digitally to make that flame look like it's actually casting light onto his orange skin.
Check your proportions one last time by flipping your canvas horizontally. It’s a classic artist trick—it resets your brain and makes any mistakes in the "lean" of the character stand out immediately. If he looks lopsided, fix those base shapes before you commit to the final shading.