>>56550473The most distinct trait of Ken Sugimori's art style that sets it and the Pokemon aesthetic in general apart from other anime styles is the particular way that he draws the eyes on his characters. Once you're clued in to the method he uses, it becomes surprisingly easy to replicate. All it involves is a simple |/ motif.
Characters' eyes can be more or less rounded to emphasize cuteness versus toughness, age, etcetera, but they will almost always follow the |/ rule even if some parts are invisible. Think of it like a ratio. The line art that forms the sides of the eye is typically more narrow than the arch that represents the character's eyelashes or forms the base from which their eyelashes sprout out.
If you can replicate these eyes, you've already done most of the heavy-lifting in four quick swipes of the mouse. We'll do a demonstration next.