Sanpaku (三白, lit. “three whites”) eyes, or eyes with a visible white area between the iris and the lower eyelid, are a common trait found in anime and many illustrations. The concept of sanpaku eyes was first popularized by philosopher George Ohsawa, who theorized that this particular eye type was able to reflect a person’s health and destiny. Whether you believe in his theory or not, it's undeniable that people with sanpaku eyes have a distinct and powerful gaze that bores into your soul.

Enjoy the drawings below and feel the eyes of these characters look right through you!

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By adding a slight accent under the eyes, like a scar, makeup, or even a few extra lines, you can easily give your character a gaze that's more expressive and tells a richer story about them and their circumstances.

L (from Death Note) has a pair of ever-present bags under his eyes that says a lot about his sleeping habits, or lack thereof.

Take a good look at the steely gazes below and see if any strike your fancy.

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Sanpaku eyes (三白眼, lit. “three whites eyes”) are when the white scleras are visible on both sides, and either the top or bottom of a person's eyes. Since they’re an important part of a person’s expression, the eyes can carry all sorts of information regarding their demeanor and mindset. You can almost feel that intense heat coming from Bakugo (from My Hero Academia) just by looking at his eyes!

Which character has the most iconic sanpaku eye look?  

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Heterochromia is when two eyes are of different colors. There can be simply a spot of another hue in one iris, or the eyes can be totally different colors. Curiously enough, the Japanese language refers to this phenomenon as "odd-eye" (オッドアイ, oddo ai).

While Ken Kaneki (from Tokyo Ghoul) is among the most known for his mismatched eyes, there are plenty of other characters on pixiv with the look. Do you recognize any of the others below?

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