I’m trying to get started with making anime-style art using AI tools but there are so many options out there and I’m feeling lost. I want to know which AI programs or platforms work best for anime art, especially for beginners. Any recommendations or advice would really help me decide where to start.
Honestly, picking an AI for anime art is like walking into an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet: looks amazing, but how the heck do you choose? So, let’s just cut straight to it—here’s what’s hot and actually usable, especially if you’re just dipping your toes in:
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NovelAI — Tons of anime artists are using this one. Super good for generating crisp, authentic anime-style images. The UI’s easy enough to pick up, though you’ll prob wanna play with prompts a bit before getting the hang of it. Subscription, tho.
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Waifu Diffusion — Open-sourced, runs on Stable Diffusion models but tuned specifically for anime vibes. Great if you’re a bit techy or want more freedom, but honestly, a little setup upfront (need a GPU or Colab).
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DreamBooth/Stable Diffusion (Anime models) — If you’re slightly more advanced, you can find pre-trained anime models on HuggingFace or civitai. Great quality, lots of creative room, but again, some setup required.
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Clip Studio Paint + AI plugins — Not exactly pure-AI, but CSP is the gold standard for manga & anime artists. There are AI assist tools (like Pose AI, or colorization) that help churn out anime art much faster.
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Adobe Firefly (Generative Fill) — Admittedly not anime-specific, but it handles stylized work surprisingly well in some cases. If you get creative with prompts, you can get some passable quasi-anime looks.
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Artbreeder — Quick mixing & morphing of existing anime faces—fun, simple, noob-friendly, but limited if you want custom poses/backgrounds.
For pure ease, start with something like NovelAI or Artbreeder. If you like technical stuff, try Waifu Diffusion. For full artistic control, learn CSP plus AI.
And yeah, ignore anyone who says you need to master Blender just to make an anime girl. Most of these will give you killer results with zero 3D knowledge. Don’t get trapped in the “which AI is best” spiral—the truth is, every model churns out weird hands and noodle faces sometimes, lol.
Last tip: literally everyone started just as lost, so just pick one, make a million weird anime dudes, and you’ll figure the rest out.
Honestly, I get it, there’s a dizzying buffet of anime art AIs and it’s easy to end up paralyzed trying to pick one. @nachtdromer nailed a lot of great picks (NovelAI, Waifu Diffusion—those are everywhere now), but I’ll toss a few hot takes and add-ons in the mix.
If you just want to jump in without wrestling with much prompt magic or fuss, check out Fotor’s AI Anime Generator. Sounds basic, but it’s like two clicks and you’ve got something to throw on Insta, and no learning curve. It’s nowhere near as flexible as Stable Diffusion, but tbh, sometimes “easy” wins out, especially early on.
Another curveball: some folks swear by Midjourney with anime prompts. I gotta say though, I’m not on that hype train—the “anime” style there always looks like painterly westernized anime. It’s okay if you want “anime-inspired,” not if you need that crispy, clean look you get from Japanese illustration. So, maybe give it a spin but don’t stake your satisfaction on it.
And here’s something almost no one mentions: PixAI. It’s like a bunch of fine-tuned anime SD models, and honestly some are crazy good for specific niches (vtubers, chibis, NSFW, etc). Bonus: You don’t need a beefy computer, it’s all browser-based.
One thing I lowkey disagree with—don’t sleep on Blender for anime art if you’re keen to eventually animate or do backgrounds. Yeah, you can get waifus out of nowhere with diffusion models, but moving faces? That’s where a little 3D (or Live2D) understanding pays off. It’s not necessary to start, but doesn’t hurt if you’re into motion stuff.
Biggest trap: thinking the model gives you perfect anime. Adding your own edits in free Paint Tool SAI or even Canva after is key—fix those hands, nudge the face, swap some colors. The AI rarely gives you frame-ready art, but it’s unbeatable for concepts and posing.
TL;DR: try Fotor or PixAI to dip your toes. Don’t expect Midjourney to be “real” anime. Pick one, don’t overthink, and remember: no AI draws anime feet right yet, so there’s always a tradeoff. Just start scribbling!
Confession time: nobody talks about photorealistic AI anime art apps—because most folks don’t want photorealistic for anime! So before you spiral, know that “anime style” doesn’t mean you need to chase painterly stuff like Midjourney (disagreeing with the earlier point: I say Midjourney is overrated if you crave classic anime looks). Your best bets still orbit Stable Diffusion variants or purpose-built platforms.
Here’s the angle almost everyone forgets: workflow > just results. Slick as NovelAI or PixAI are, you’re gonna want to edit, tune, and “own” your art eventually. That’s where tools like Krita plus its ever-growing plugin ecosystem (e.g. AI Image Upscalers, auto-color, etc.) absolutely shine. Krita’s free, actively developed, and the layered editing blows closed “two-click” solutions out of the water—big plus if you’ll iterate!
Competitors like the ones already mentioned (and for sure Waifu Diffusion for real-deal lines) are good, but let’s get real: none fix every weird finger, and every “browser-only” model sacrifices fine-tuning for convenience. With Krita AI plugins, you get more say over creating your style—and can do stuff no prompt alone can achieve.
Cons: Steeper learning curve if new, some setup for plugins, community support hits-or-miss. Pros: Fully open source, layer support, actually custom anime workflows, not limited to pre-trained “vibe only” generators.
Hot take: The best anime art comes from people combining base AI with their own touch-ups—so pick a platform that grows with you. For anime, Krita with AI extensions is criminally underrated.