In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the process of creating a charming vector illustration of Totoro and soot sprites, the beloved characters from Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro.
Whether you’re new to vector design or building on existing skills, this step-by-step guide will help you pay homage to the Studio Ghibli aesthetic by combining simple shapes and whimsical details into a cohesive design. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a cute, vibrant Ghibli illustration and a better understanding of essential tools in Adobe Illustrator.
If you're interested in more Studio Ghibli tutorials, you can also learn how to draw Jiji the cat from Kiki's Delivery Service, how to create a Howl’s Moving Castle text effect, or why not a giant panda photo manipulation?
Ready to bring your Totoro art to life? Let’s get started!
1. How to create Totoro’s body
Step 1
To begin, create a New Document in Adobe Illustrator. Set the canvas size to 850 x 850 px. Since we can’t change the canvas color directly, we’ll create a background instead. Select the Rectangle Tool (M) from the toolbar and draw a square that matches the size of the artboard (850 x 850 px).
With the rectangle selected, open the Color panel and fill it with the warm pastel yellow color #FFE18F. This will serve as the background for our Ghibli illustration.
Step 2
Next, we’ll create the base shape for Totoro’s body. Select the Rectangle Tool (M) and make a 200 x 400 px rectangle. Use the Align function in the control panel on top to align it horizontally to the center of your artboard.
Fill the rectangle with any placeholder color for now. I’ve picked a light shade of brown (#8A6B59).
Step 3
Let’s make the shape tapered and wider at its base. Select the bottom-right anchor point using the Direct Selection Tool (A), and press Enter to open the Move options window. Set Horizontal to 40 px and Vertical to 0 px, and press OK to move the point to the right.
Step 4
Repeat the process for the bottom-left anchor point, and this time move it to the opposite side by setting the Horizontal value to -40 px.
Step 5
Let’s make the top part of the rectangle rounded to form the head. Select both top anchor points using the Direct Selection Tool (A) and pull the circle manipulators of the corners down, adjusting the radius of the curve until the shape looks soft and organic.
We can also increase the Corner Radius value from the Properties panel or set the value manually to 85 px.
Do the same for the bottom corners, but this time make them a bit less rounded, setting the Corner Radius to 40 px.
Step 6
Switch to the Curvature Tool (Shift-~) to refine the body shape further. Adjust the sides of the body to make it appear chubby, giving Totoro his signature roundness.
Step 7
To make the shape even smoother, Convert selected anchor points to smooth using the Control Panel on top. Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to adjust the handles and refine the silhouette until it looks natural.
2. How to create body parts from basic shapes
Step 1
Now, let’s create Totoro’s legs. Start by drawing a 165 x 120 px rectangle using the Rectangle Tool (M). This will be the base shape for the leg. I’ve filled it with a different color to make it more visible on top of the body.
Step 2
To make the leg taper toward the base, use the Move (Enter) function to adjust the width of the bottom edge.
In the Move options window, set the Horizontal value to
- 50 px for the bottom-left point
- -20 px for the bottom-right point
This will create a subtle angle.
Step 3
Use the Curvature Tool (Shift-~) to round the outer edge of the leg to follow the curved flow of the body shape. Make sure both shapes fit nicely.
Make the bottom corners of the leg slightly rounded as well. This will give the leg a softer and more natural look.
Step 4
Fill the leg shape with the same color as Totoro’s body using the Eyedropper Tool (I), and then use the Reflect Tool (O) to create a mirrored copy. Double-click the Reflect Tool (O), and in the pop-up options window, select the Vertical Axis and click Copy.
Place the second leg on the opposite side by moving it while holding down Shift to ensure that both legs are aligned at the bottom.
Step 5
Let’s move on to Totoro’s arms. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to draw a 70 x 200 px oval shape for the arm. Position it on the left side of the body, angling it slightly.
Step 6
Use the Reflect Tool (O) to copy and flip the arm horizontally, and place it on the other side of the body. Let’s rotate the arm as if Totoro is waving at us. Select the bottom anchor point of the oval with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and press Delete or Backspace to remove it.
Adjust the position of the side anchor points by dragging them down and sticking them to the edge of the body. Use the Curvature Tool (Shift-~) to bend the sides of the shape, making the arm look more natural.
Step 7
For Totoro’s ears, start by drawing a 40 x 40 px square with the Rectangle Tool (M). Rotate the square 45 degrees to create a diamond shape. Then, use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to drag the top anchor point upward, elongating the shape.
Step 8
Slightly round the corners of the ear shape in the Properties Panel by setting the Corners value to 3 px for the top anchor point and 15 px for the side points. Alternatively, use the Direct Selection Tool (A) and pull the manipulator circles to adjust the corner radius approximately.
Step 9
To finish the ear, draw a small 10 x 20 px rectangle using the Rectangle Tool (M) and align it horizontally with the base of the ear shape. Select both elements that form the ear. Open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click the Unite button. This will merge the two shapes into a single ear.
Step 10
Once you're satisfied, flip and copy the ear horizontally with the Reflect Tool (O), and position it on the other side of Totoro’s head. Here is how the entire silhouette looks at this step. Let’s move on!
Step 11
Next, we’ll add Totoro’s fur texture to give his body a more organic look. Select the Pencil Tool (N). Before drawing, adjust the tool settings by double-clicking the Pencil Tool in the toolbar.
- Move the Fidelity slider slightly toward the Smooth side for cleaner strokes.
- Check the Fill new pencil strokes and Keep selected options.
- Leave other settings at their defaults.
Use the Pencil Tool to draw short, pointed lines along the edge of the arm. These strokes should mimic tufts of fur, so keep the shapes simple and irregular. We don’t need to make the path closed.
Step 12
Repeat the process to draw fur around the legs. Use the Pencil Tool to create smaller tufts of fur individually for each leg to make it look more natural by being asymmetrical. Ensure that all fur shapes are filled with the same light brown color (#8A6B59) as the body.
Step 13
Once the fur is complete, it’s time to merge the body elements. Select all the body parts, including the fur but excluding the ears. Open the Pathfinder panel and click Unite to merge them into a single shape.
Step 14
Let’s create Totoro’s belly. Select the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw a large 270 x 270 px circle in the center of the body. This will form the base of the belly. Fill it with light beige #E3D8BA to differentiate it from the rest of the body.
Step 15
Adjust the circle to give it an egg-like shape. Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the bottom anchor point of the circle and drag it downward. Next, adjust the handles of the top anchor point to flatten the top slightly, giving it a more squared appearance.
If needed, pull the side handles upward to enhance the effect. The goal is to create a slightly elongated belly shape that integrates naturally with Totoro’s body.
Step 16
Now, let’s add Totoro’s signature chest markings. Start by drawing a small 40 x 10 px ellipse with the Ellipse Tool (L). Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to make the handles of the top and bottom anchor points much shorter, giving it a leaf-like shape.
Drag both points upward slightly to create a soft triangular boomerang shape.
Step 17
Duplicate the created shape several times using Control-C and Control-V or by pressing Alt and dragging the shape with the Selection Tool. Vary the size and position of the copies to create Totoro’s characteristic pattern across the upper part of the belly.
Aim for a balanced composition and use the Align panel to space the shapes evenly if needed. Once satisfied with their placement, Group all the chest markings by selecting them and pressing Control-G.
Step 18
Next, we’ll create Totoro’s claws. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to draw a small 25 x 10 px oval. Drag both top and bottom anchor points to the left using the Direct Selection Tool (A) and pull the right anchor point down to form the claw shape.
Fill the resulting shape with dark violet (#4F394F). Duplicate (hold down Alt and drag) the claw a few times. Form a group of three claws by positioning the copies close together and pressing Control-G.
Step 19
Attach the grouped claws to each of Totoro’s paws. Place them at the ends of the arms and legs, ensuring they are aligned naturally with the body. Adjust their position and angle as needed to make them fit the body. You can already see the Studio Ghibli aesthetic starting to come together.
3. How to draw Totoro’s face
Step 1
Let’s start with the eyes. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to draw a 30 x 30 px circle for the left eye. Fill the eyeball with a light violet (#DBD8E6) color. Add a dark violet (#4F394F) Stroke to the circle to create an outline, setting the Stroke Weight to 2 pt in the Stroke panel and Align Stroke to Outside.
Next, draw a smaller circle inside the first one and fill it with light yellow (#F2F1E4). Move it to the side a bit. This way, the larger circle has formed a nice shadow along the edge, giving the eyeball more volume.
Finish the eye by adding a dark violet iris (10 x 10 px) and a tiny white highlight (4 x 4 px) on top of it. Position the highlight slightly off-center to give the eye a lively look.
Step 2
To make the second eye, select the completed eye and use the Reflect Tool (O) to flip it over the Vertical axis and click Copy. Position it symmetrically on the other side of Totoro’s face. Adjust the spacing and alignment to make the eyes evenly placed.
Step 3
Now let’s create Totoro’s nose. Draw a horizontal ellipse (50 x 10 px) using the Ellipse Tool (L) and position it just below the eyes.
Select the Curvature Tool (Shift-~) to adjust the shape. Pull the bottom sides of the ellipse up to give the nose a soft, slightly curved appearance.
Then click the bottom anchor point with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and make the handles significantly shorter to make the tip of the nose more pointed.
Step 4
Using the Pen Tool (P), draw Totoro’s whiskers. Click to place anchor points along each whisker’s desired path, creating straight or slightly curved lines extending outward from the face's sides. In the Stroke panel, adjust the:
- Stroke Weight to 2 pt
- Cap to Round Cap
- Corner to Round Joint
Ensure the whiskers are evenly spaced. Next, add a small fold above the nose for extra detail. Use the Pen Tool (P) to draw a short curved line above the nose and set the stroke Weight to match the whiskers.
Step 5
Copy (Control-C) the nose shape and Paste in Back (Control-B) to create a shadow effect for the nose. Hold down Shift and use the Down Arrow key to move the duplicate down a bit.
Then slightly elongate it by dragging the bottom point down with the Direct Selection Tool (A). Change the fill color of the copy to light violet (#DBD8E6), the same as we used for the eyes.
Set the duplicated shape to Multiply Mode in the Transparency panel to blend it with the body shape and create a subtle shadow.
Step 6
Next, we’ll work on Totoro's signature smile! Start by drawing a stretched 140 x 40 px ellipse with the Ellipse Tool (L) to form the base of the mouth. Select the top anchor point of the ellipse using the Direct Selection Tool (A), and delete it by pressing the Delete or Backspace key.
To close the top of the mouth, select the open anchor points at the top edges of the shape and use Control-J to Join them into a single path.
Use the Line Segment (\) and press Shift to create straight vertical lines for the teeth, ensuring they are evenly spaced with the help of the Align function in the control panel on top.
Adjust the stroke weight of the lines to match the rest of the facial features.
Step 7
To create the separation between the teeth and the inside of the mouth, draw a thin horizontal rectangle using the Rectangle Tool (M). Position it across the top part of the mouth.
Select the rectangle and the mouth shape, and then use the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M) to cut away the excess rectangle outside the mouth.
Hold Alt while hovering over the unwanted areas. Once the area turns gray and the cursor changes, click to delete the excess.
Step 8
Finally, let’s add shadows over Totoro’s ears for depth. Select the Pencil Tool (N) and draw a soft, curved shape over the base of each ear to form the shadow. Fill these shapes with a light violet color (#DBD8E6) and set them to Multiply Mode in the Transparency panel for a subtle shadow effect.
Use the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M) to get rid of the unwanted parts outside the ear shapes.
Step 9
Finally, let’s add a shadow to Totoro’s entire body. Use the Pencil Tool (P) to draw a large rounded shape over the bottom part, making it slightly larger than the body.
Fill the shape with a light violet color (#DBD8E6) and set its Blending Mode to Multiply in the Transparency panel to create a soft shadow effect. Select both the shape and the body and use the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M) to delete the excess part of the shadow. This way, our hero looks more natural and grounded within the scene.
4. How to draw Ghibli’s soot sprites and stars
Step 1
Now let’s create another iconic character in Studio Ghibli art—a soot sprite!
Start by drawing a 60 x 60 px circle with the Ellipse Tool (L) and filling it with dark violet (#4F394F). With the circle selected, go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Roughen to give the sprite its spiky outline.
In the Roughen Effect Settings, adjust the following:
- Size: Set it to 10 px to create subtle spikes.
- Detail: Increase this to 50 for finer points.
- Points: Set it to Corner for sharp, jagged edges.
You can always modify the Roughen Effect by selecting the circle and opening the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance).
To create a pair of simple eyes for our soot sprite, use the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw two small white ovals for the eyeballs. Position them symmetrically on the upper part of the sprite. Then, draw two smaller darker circles for the pupils. Adjust the position of the pupils to make the soot sprite look cute.
Step 2
Duplicate the soot sprite a few times by selecting it and pressing Control-C and Control-V. To make each sprite unique, open the Appearance panel, click on the Roughen Effect, and adjust the Detail slider for each duplicate to create variations in the spikes. Rotate some of the sprites slightly to add more diversity.
Vary the position of the copies, placing them around Totoro’s feet and one above his head.
Step 3
Now let’s create some stars to complement the soot sprites. Select the Star Tool from the toolbar, and click and drag while holding Shift to create an even star. This star is a Live Shape, which means we can edit it on the go using the manipulators.
With the star selected, use the small white circular manipulator to adjust the inner radius of the star directly on the canvas. This allows us to control how pointed or rounded the star appears.
To add more points, drag the manipulator with two arrows down, increasing the number of points to 8.
Step 4
Duplicate the star twice using Control-C and Control-V. Assign different colors to the copies, such as light yellow (#FFF799) and green (#9CE695). Attach the stars randomly to the soot sprites, creating a lively, whimsical scene.
Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to add simple oval-shaped shadows beneath the characters. Apply a darker yellow (#F2DBC7) to these shadows.
Step 5
To help Totoro stand out from the background, we can add an outline around the entire body. Select Totoro’s body and apply a dark violet (#4F394F) Stroke.
In the Stroke panel, adjust the:
- Stroke Weight to 2 pt
- Cap to Round Cap
- Corner to Round Joint
- Align Stroke to Outside
This outline not only visually separates Totoro from the background but may be useful if we want to turn our illustration into a sticker.
For a subtle highlight on Totoro’s belly, create a copy of the belly shape using Control-C and Control-V. Scale it down slightly and fill it with dark yellow (#403520). Set its Blending Mode to Screen in the Transparency panel to create a soft effect. Position this shape at the top of the belly.
Step 6
Finally, let’s replace Totoro’s body color with a gradient to add more depth. Select the body and open the Gradient panel (Window > Gradient). Apply a Linear Gradient that transitions from light gray (#807B79) at the top to dark purple (#664D53) at the bottom.
Adjust the gradient slider directly on the canvas using the Gradient Tool (G) to ensure the transition feels smooth and natural. This gradient mimics the subtle shading and adds a sense of volume to Totoro’s design.
That’s how to draw Totoro in Adobe Illustrator!
Congratulations! You’ve completed your very own Studio Ghibli-inspired Totoro illustration featuring his whimsical soot sprite friends.
This tutorial not only introduced us to the basics of vector illustration but also demonstrated how to use features like Roughen, the Pencil Tool, and Blending Modes to add variety and depth to our designs.
Feel free to experiment further by adding more soot sprites, stars, or even a forest background. You can also try creating additional characters from My Neighbor Totoro or other elements of Studio Ghibli art to expand your scene.
Whenever you need extra vector assets or handcrafted, stylized backgrounds for your project, be sure to explore Envato's extensive collection of graphic elements. You'll find a wide variety of images in multiple formats to suit any creative need!
Once you’re happy with your design, save it as an AI file for future edits and export a high-resolution PNG or JPEG to share your work.
We’d love to see your work! Share your Totoro illustration online and tag us—we can’t wait to see how you’ve brought this beloved character to life. Keep creating and exploring new techniques in Adobe Illustrator.
Great job, and happy designing!
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