Chibis are cute and cuddly. Just what the doctor ordered if you’re looking to make a fun-looking image of yourself, a friend, a celebrity or a random character.
But where do you go to make a Chibi character made? And how do you make sure you’re getting the best Chibi character made – best in terms of art quality, style and design.
I cover all that and more in this Chibi maker guide.
Where to make your Chibi art
There are three top ways to make chibi art:
- Through free chibi maker applications and sites
- Through image-making software like Photoshop
- By commissioning a chibi artist.
All three methods are unique in their own way, and I’ll explain how next.
However, if you’d instead just dive into making a chibi art, you can choose any of the following artists for a chibi commission and get on with it.
1. Free Chibi maker apps and sites
Because Chibi is a hugely popular art form, many websites and applications offer chibi art-making functionality.
My favorite is the Meiker.io chibi maker, and with it, you can create a custom (well, not truly custom in the exact sense of the word) chibi artwork in matter of minutes and for free!
Use this 🔗 link to get to the chibi maker on Meiker.io
The chibi maker on Meiker.io is:
- Fast and free
- Easy to use
- Requires no technical know-how
On the flip side, using the Meiko.io chibi creator also means:
- You have to make do with templates
- Limited customization options
- Less professional-looking chibi art
Overall, it’s a nice chibi maker if you’re just looking for a placeholder chibi art. The quality is not the best, and like I said there’s just so much customization you can get since you’re using premade templates.
2. Commissioning a chibi artist
If you wanted a truly custom made chibi art, you need to commission a chibi artist for that. Chibi artists use professional image-making software (which I’ll talk about next) to create detailed and exclusive chibi art commissions.
Of course, commissioning a chibi artist costs money, but it’s not usually that expensive. On the Fiverr chibi art marketplace, for instance, you can get a skilled artist working on your chibi commission for as low as $5. Good deal if you ask me, and with every custom chibi art commission, you’re assured:
- A truly custom-made chibi artwork, which means you’re unlikely to see someone else with a similar chibi art online.
- A stress-free experience. No need to put your thinking caps on to create the Chibi of your dreams.
- Professionally cute and cuddly chibi art with all the detailing and artistic styling to make it stand out.
On the flip side, this will cost you money – not that much money – but still, if you’re low on cash, then this is not the chibi maker option to use.
Check out the chibi art marketplace on Fiverr to commission an artist for your Chibi are now.
3. Image maker software
Adobe Photoshop and adobe illustrator are what most artists use to create chibi art. If you have the time and patience, you too can learn how to create chibi art from scratch.
Here’s a 🔗 link to a web article that describes the basics.
And here’s a YouTube video link if you want to get down and dirty with Photoshop or Illustrator.
The image maker method for getting chibi art has a learning curve, so if this is a one-time thing, you’re probably better off using any of the other two options. Additionally:
- It will require installing the Photoshop or Illustrator app on a PC. You need a PC to go through with this method.
- It requires a flair for designing.
- It’s time-consuming.
If you do manage to take the time out to learn how to use these image maker software, then:
- You can create infinitely customized chibi art for yourself. You can even start taking commissions.
- You get to drill down on the details, something you cannot get with chibi maker sites and will sometimes miss with chibi commissions.
Bottom line: if you’re planning to delve deeper into the world of chibi art, then this is the option for you. If it’s a one-time thing, use any of the other two methods.
Top chibi makers online
If you’re lazy like me, you’ve probably decided to go the chibi art commissions route.
To help you with that, I’ve handpicked some really skilled chibi artists. These are highly skilled professionals with a track record of delivering excellent quality chibi art. Take a look.
Panpan_pratama
If you wanted a chibi character with personality and flair, this is your chibi artist. He’s extremely skilled at recreating the cute and cuddly facial expression we all know and love in a chibi character.
And not just recreate them but do so in a way that gives your chibi character a personality – so it’s not just another chibi character in the literal sea of chibi artwork available online.
Panpan will take practically all forms of chibi commissions, including mech, furry and fanart chibi artwork. I’ve been a fan of his work for decades now, and his chibi art has only gotten better with time.
You’ll love him if you want a chibi character that has a ‘soul’ to it.
Lunallion
Lunallion is an artist I recommend for many things related to anime and manga styled art. She’s my go-to artist for extreme detailing.
If you want an artwork that packs in enough detail to make it ultra-realistic, then this is your artist. Of course, there’s just so much realism that can go into the average chibi art – chibi characters are not exactly realistic.
But what you get with this artist is chibi artwork that features all the detailing going down to the otherwise ‘minor’ things other artists might skip.
If you need a chibi artwork for, say, an online avatar, then this is your artist. Her work will catch eyes and turn heads.
Davidmontezon
David is my go-to chibi artist for anything mecha related. He’s so good with mecha styled chibi artwork, I and a whole lot of my friends have commissioned him to do loads of mecha chibi art.
His work packs in enough detailing, it looks sleek, and his understanding of color theory is absolutely sublime. All that works out to make chibi artwork from this artist stunning in every sense of the word.
I’ve seen him take on complex mecha commissions of the kind many artists flunk and come up with awesome results. His Fiverr gig page tells the complete story of what I mean – David has well over 60 all five-star reviews from more than pleased customers.
And that’s a big deal considering the price of his service, which is not cheap. For $10, you get only a sketch. For the full package, you need to pay up $50. When people pay $50 for a chibi art and are ecstatic about the art’s quality, you know it’s something special.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a chibi head?
Making a chibi head is not that difficult. If you’re an artist and you need a guide to making chibi heads, check out this 🔗 chibi making guide on clipstudio.net.
If you need a chibi head character made, you can commission a chibi head artist on chibi art marketplaces like that on Fiverr. Use this link to head over to my favorite chibi artist on Fiverr.
Alternatively, you can use a chibi maker site like Meiker.io. Note, however, that the quality of chibi art from free to use chibi maker sites and apps is not that great.
Use 🔗 this link to access the chibi maker on Meiko.io
How do you make Chibi plush?
If you want to take it a step further, you can commission a chibi plush in the style of your chibi art by hitting a plush maker on marketplaces like Fiverr.
Check out my 🔗 guide to getting a custom plush commission for more info. Or head on to the page of one of the top plush makers I know by 🔗 clicking this link.
How do you make yourself into a chibi?
It’s simple; you need to order a chibi commission from skilled chibi artists because making a chibi art styled to look like you requires more customization than offered by free tools.
See my guide on making chibi art from personal photos for more information.
Alternatively, you could reach out to a 🔗 chibi artist who does personal chibi commissions right away to get started.
How much will it cost to make a chibi character?
The actual price you’ll pay for any chibi character will depend on the complexity of what you want done and the artist’s skill.
But just so you have an idea, expect to pay:
$10 – 30 for a headshot/emote chibi character.
$10 – $20 for an uncolored full-body chibi character.
$10 – $50 for a colored full body chibi character.
For more real-time pricing estimates of the cost of making a chibi character check out the 🔗 chibi marketplace on Fiverr.
