Starry eyes glimmer with bright, star-shaped highlights that capture pure excitement. Whether someone’s enjoying a tasty treat or struck by a brilliant idea, these glowing eyes perfectly express a heart full of exuberant joy.

Look to the heavens for this collection of illustrations featuring starry eyes.

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Whether it's eyes shaped like hearts or hearts sparkling within the pupils, these special eyes express volumes. They reflect a rush of adoring feelings so intense, you might just get lost in them.

Fix your eyes on this collection of illustrations featuring heart eyes.

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Dizzy eyes are a stylization that features spirals swirling in the pupils. They’re often used to show panic, confusion, or mental overload. At first glance, they may seem comical, but depending on the character, they can also give off an eerie aura. The same dizzy eyes can leave wildly different impressions, making you wonder what story lies behind them.

Take a spin through this collection of illustrations featuring dizzy eyes!

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Have you ever heard of the term “me ga shiitake” (目がしいたけ, lit. “shiitake eyes”)? If you’re wondering, “What on earth do mushrooms have to do with your eyes?” “me ga shiitake” is actually a reference to shiitake hanagiri, a cutting technique used in traditional Japanese foods such as hot pots and simmered dishes, where shiitake mushroom caps are decorated with a beautiful flower pattern. In anime and manga, characters’ pupils are often changed to shapes resembling these decorated shiitake caps or diamonds to convey their unbridled joy. When a person has a literal twinkle in their eye, you know that whatever they’re looking at is bound to bring them absolute happiness!

Enjoy the illustrations below and share these characters’ happiness with them!

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There's an irresistible charm to characters with hearts in their eyes! Whether it's because they're in love or simply overwhelmed with excitement, it makes our hearts skip a beat when we see such adoration in our favorite character's eyes. 

Looking for some examples? We've got you covered! Check out these illustrations of characters with hearts in their eyes!

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In anime, you’ll often see characters with spirals in their eyes, usually to signify that the character is bewildered or in a daze. When we see them flustered, our first instinct might be to ask them if they’re all right or, if we’re feeling rather naughty, to tease them even further. Other times, however, we may find ourselves the ones bewildered by their hypnotizing gaze. Don’t you find that the longer you stare into their eyes, the more you get lost in them?

What sort of situations do you think the following characters are in? Be careful, or you might just find yourself sucked into those swirling pools!

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Sometimes known as Wingding eyes, characters’ eyes in manga and anime occasionally change into specific symbols meant to convey their emotions. In particular, pupils shaped like diamonds or plus signs and shining like stars, described as “me ga shiitake” (目がしいたけ, lit. “shiitake eyes”, a reference to the plus symbol often found on the top of shiitake mushrooms) in Japanese, are often used to express anticipation or happiness. It's a great way to express the excitement of someone whose favorite food is only inches away!

Have a look at the illustrations below and share these characters’ happiness with them! Can you feel their joy radiating off the screen?

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Why wear your heart on your sleeve when eyes are the windows to the soul? Put it all on the line! Use your eyes to express your true feelings! Who needs words or sleeves? Look us in the eyes and understand us without a word!

At least, that's what the characters in the illustrations below are doing! We're sure it's working out great for them, don't you think? They look pretty cute!

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Shimmering and glittering eyes have been one of the identifying factors of anime and manga practically since their inception. This effect, tagged on pixiv as 目がしいたけ (me ga shiitake, lit. sparkling eyes) allows characters to better express a huge surge of emotions that normal eyes just can’t. It’s an iconic part of the art form and though it’s evolved over the years, it doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing the end of that sparkle anytime soon.

Anya Forger (from Spy x Family) has become known for some of the funny faces she makes, a majority of them have that signature sparkle. 

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One great way to give a humanoid character a more demonic and intimidating look is to make the sclera of their eyes jet black. This works not only because it’s the natural opposite of the norm, but also because it allows whatever color you choose for the iris to stand out that much more. Black scleras will leave your audience wondering just what kind of soul lies behind those glowing eyes.

Diablo (from That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime) certainly has a devilish glare that suits his name, don’t you think?

Have any of the eyes below left you hypnotized?  

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One of the most recognizable signs that a character is smitten is when you see hearts in their eyes. This adorable look has long been a recognized trope in anime, where visually expressing as much emotion as possible is ideal.

Kanao Tsuyuri (from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba) certainly looks as though she’s found “the one”, doesn’t she?

Are there any characters below that give you a warm, fuzzy feeling?

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Normally when a character is drawn with spirals in their eyes, they’re confused or in a daze. In these examples, however, we’re the ones bewildered from the sheer cuteness and hypnotic nature the eyes possess. Meisha Doto (from Umamusume: Pretty Derby) looks slightly confused, but entirely mesmerizing.

Are there any characters below that you just can’t take your eyes off of?

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Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned — or so the saying goes. There’s something almost refreshing about a girl who won’t put up with ineptitude, when she’ll set you straight without hesitation.

And the scorn of the ladies in the illustrations below is sure to make you quake in your boots!

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In Japanese-style illustration, it’s not unusual for some characters to be drawn with eyes so narrow they’re practically a single line (糸目, itome, literally "thread-eyes"). The lack of detail can give the character a more mysterious, inscrutable vibe.

Can you tell what the characters below are thinking? 

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Heterochromia is the formal term for mismatched eyes. Two eyes can be completely different colors, or one eye can have sectoral heterochromia - where just one part of one eye is a different color. It’s easy to be drawn into their unusually intriguing gaze.

What sort of characters might have heterochromia?

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Girls drawn with “heart eyes” look so sweet it’s almost as though they can melt. The tenderness in their expressions is sure to make your heart beat a little faster.

How would you draw a girl with “heart eyes”?

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“Sparkling eyes” are when there’s a light mark in the shape of a cross on the pupils of a character. It’s used to signify a character is incredibly happy and excited, with light glittering in their eyes. You may even find yourself smiling too!

What expressions do you think best capture excitement?

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Spiral eyes are a technique using spirals in a character’s irises to show surprise or confusion. Isn’t it hard not to tease a girl when she looks so flustered?

What’s your favorite way to depict confusion?

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One-eyed girls, with their big, rounded eyes, are so cute! Even if they might look a little scary, the charm of that single pupil expressing a ballet of emotion is still hard to resist.

What do you find appealing in the single-eyed look? 

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"#KillerEyes" is a tag used for drawings of people who can kill you with a single look. Searching this tag will result in many intense stares. Some may send a chill down your spine, whereas others might be alluring in other ways.

Enjoy this swoon-worthy collection of drawings. 

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