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Turn a photo of yourself or a scene into anime art
Anime conversions succeed when they keep what makes a person recognizable, such as hairstyle, outfit, glasses and pose, while translating the face and lighting into the style: clean outlines, large expressive eyes, flat cel shading and bright, controlled color. Upload your photo to ImageQuarry, describe the anime look and the details to preserve, and adjust the result version by version until it still looks like the person.
Say which details identify the person or place, and describe the line, shading and color of the anime look you mean.
Last updated October 2026
How to make a anime version with ImageQuarry
- 01
Upload your photo
Start from your own photo: upload it, then describe the anime version you are after in plain words.
- 02
Describe the look and what to keep
List the identifying details first: hair color and cut, glasses, a favorite jacket, the setting. Then describe the anime treatment: clean line art, two or three tones of cel shading, larger eyes with highlights, simplified nose and mouth, and the mood of the background, whether a bright school-day scene or a moody city at night.
- 03
Compare, refine and download
Your earlier versions are preserved, so you can return to any anime version you tried, branch a new direction from it, and download the one you choose.
Requests to try for a anime version
Example requests for a anime version, each one something to ask for that produces a new version you review.
A profile picture
Avatars need a clear face and a simple background.
A couple photo
Two people need consistent styling and both likenesses kept.
A city street at night
Neon reflections and rain are classic backdrops.
A pet as a character
Animals can become expressive anime characters.
A school-day scene
Bright skies and clean architecture are a common setting.
What makes a anime version work
Likeness lives in the details
Anime faces are simplified, so recognizability comes from hair, accessories, clothing and pose. Ask for those to stay accurate.
Cel shading
Flat areas of color with crisp shadow shapes, rather than soft gradients, are the core of the look. Ask for two or three tones per surface.
Eyes carry expression
Large eyes with clear highlights and colored irises do most of the emotional work. Mention the expression you want.
Painted backgrounds
Many anime productions pair simple characters with detailed, painterly backgrounds. Ask for that contrast if the scene matters.
Every anime version kept
Each change to the anime version produces a new version, and the earlier ones are preserved with the prompts and references that made them.
Words drive the anime version
You select a version and describe the change; each request builds on the anime version you chose instead of starting over.
Anime traits and the request that gets them
| Trait | Why it matters | How to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Clean line art | Defines shapes clearly | Ask for clean, consistent outlines |
| Cel shading | The signature flat shadows | Ask for two-tone cel shading on skin and clothes |
| Expressive eyes | Carries emotion | Describe the expression and eye color |
| Hair shapes | Main source of likeness | Ask to keep the hairstyle and color exactly as in the photo |
| Painted background | Sets mood and place | Ask for a detailed painted background behind a simple character |
| Color palette | Bright or moody tone | Name the palette: pastel, saturated or night neon |
What is photo to anime?
It is redrawing a photograph in the visual language of Japanese animation: clean outlines, cel shading, stylized eyes and faces, and bright controlled color, while keeping the person or place recognizable.
It is not the same as manga, which is usually black and white with screentone, or chibi, which shrinks the body into a cute, big-headed proportion.
Anime version questions
How do I keep it looking like me?
Ask to keep the hairstyle, hair color, glasses, outfit and pose. Anime simplifies faces, so those details are what make a version recognizable.
Can I choose a softer or bolder anime look?
Yes. Describe it: soft pastel color and thin lines for a gentle look, bold outlines and strong contrast for an action look.
Can I turn a group photo into anime?
Yes. Ask for consistent styling for everyone and name anyone whose likeness matters most. Review the new version and follow up on a single face if needed.
Can I imitate a particular studio?
Describe the visual traits you like, such as soft painted skies or thick outlines, rather than naming a studio. Traits are what shape the result.
Can I go back to an earlier anime version?
Yes. You can branch from any earlier anime version, not only the latest one, and the other path stays in your workspace while you try a new direction.
Is making a anime version in ImageQuarry paid?
Yes, every plan is paid, and a anime version uses your plan: Starter at $9 per month with 100 image credits a month, or Pro with more monthly usage.
Create an image. Edit it with words. Keep refining.
See yourself drawn as anime, likeness intact
Upload the photo, say what must stay recognizable, and refine the line, shading and color across versions.
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