Inuyasha stacked its roster with fighters who carry oversized weapons and even bigger personalities, and Bankotsu fits that mold precisely as the ruthless leader of the Band of Seven. This step-by-step guide covers how to draw Bankotsu in a standing pose with his massive halberd Banryu resting over one shoulder, part of the growing Inuyasha tutorials collection on the site.
What Makes This a Useful Drawing Exercise
The tutorial runs 11 steps from rough structural sketch to finished line art, with no color stage at the end. The challenge here sits mostly in the diagonal weapon that cuts across the composition, since aligning that blade while keeping the figure proportional takes some patience. The layered kimono and sash also require careful line stacking to read clearly in black and white.
Bankotsu’s Visual Features to Study Before You Start
- Short spiky hair with loose stray strands
- Star-shaped mark on forehead
- Narrow eyes with a stern set expression
- Layered kimono-style outfit with wide sash
- Large diagonal blade weapon over shoulder
If you enjoy drawing anime fighters with swords, Kirito and Yuuki Asuna from Sword Art Online are solid next picks that practice similar linework with armored or costume-heavy characters. Leafa is also worth a look if you want to work on flowing fabric details.
How the Step Colors Work in This Tutorial
Each step image uses a simple three-color system to show exactly what is new and what is already done:
- Red Color: lines added in the current step.
- Black Color: lines completed earlier.
- Gray Color: base sketch for structure.
How to Draw Bankotsu: Step-by-Step Tutorial
Finished the Sketch? Show It Off
Once the lines are clean and Banryu is looking suitably massive, drop your finished drawing in the comments below. New tutorials go up on Facebook and Telegram as soon as they are published, a new YouTube video based on these guides goes live every single day, and Pinterest gets updated regularly too. From here you might want to try Kirito’s portrait or Obeiron if you want more practice with anime characters who have strong, angular facial features. Supporting the project on Patreon keeps new content coming and gives you access to exclusive hand-drawn coloring pages.