[Nostalgic yet New] A Collection of Heisei-Retro Illustrations You Can Draw Easily
“Cute!” “So nostalgic!” These Heisei-retro illustrations will warm anyone’s heart.
The characters and goods that adorned stationery, posters, and magazine covers back then are packed with an indescribable charm.
“Heisei retro” is drawing attention in fashion and interior design too.
In the illustration world as well, that warm, cozy feel is being reevaluated.
So here, we’ll introduce Heisei-retro illustrations—starting with easy-to-draw characters.
Try incorporating them into your daily life!
- Heisei Retro Design: A Nostalgic World Gaining Renewed Attention in the Reiwa Era
- Nostalgia revived with Heisei-era retro goods! A guide to items you’ll want to collect now
- Heisei retro fashion is making a comeback in the Reiwa era! The appeal of Y2K style
- Heartwarming nostalgia: scenes of Showa-era streets that bring back memories.
- [Nostalgic Showa Fashion] The changing trends that feel both nostalgic and fresh
- A must-see for the Showa generation! Nostalgic popular snacks from the old days
- Nostalgic foods of the Showa era. Let’s trace the memorable flavors and the memories they evoke.
- A roundup of nostalgic Showa-era home appliances, including rare ones you don’t see anymore!
- Nostalgic ice cream from the Showa era. From today’s classic staples to old-time favorites.
- Nostalgic shōjo manga from the Showa era. A collection of masterpieces representing the times.
- Have fun with classic Showa-era games! Simple yet profoundly engaging traditional pastimes
- The World of Showa Posters: The Spirit and Appeal of an Era as Seen Through Design
- The Complete Guide to Showa-Era Toys: From Showa retro to toys still loved today
[Nostalgic Yet New] A Collection of Easy-to-Draw Heisei Retro Illustrations (1–10)
Exploring the allure of colored pencils! Art of the Heisei era
@atti_nya Part4☘︎ ݁˖. colored pencilHeisei#colordpencil
♬ Magnetic – springs!
Speaking of colored pencils, they’ve always been a hugely popular stationery item, haven’t they? Some of you might even have owned sets with dozens of colors.
Drawings done with colored pencils have a nostalgic, simple feel that’s somehow heartwarming.
Among them, the colored pencils from Germany’s Faber-Castell—said to have been loved by Van Gogh—are especially popular.
As for Japanese brands, there are many options, starting with Tombow.
There are even colored pencils that turn into a watercolor-like painting if you go over them with a wet brush afterward.
Try out different kinds and see what you like.
Ichigo Ichie is back!
Here is a character brand that was especially popular from the mid to late Heisei era in the early 2000s.
This once-in-a-lifetime encounter is drawing attention again.
Many of its works portray things like friendships among schoolgirls, and there have also been collaborations releasing LINE stickers and sweets.
If someone sends you these stickers, they’re probably someone who spent their youth in the Heisei era.
I hope friends will send them to each other and savor the nostalgia.
Some people might even feel inspired to reach out to an old friend for the first time in a while.
Let’s draw a Heisei-nostalgic character!
Why not try drawing some Heisei-nostalgic characters using Illustrator or other tools? Characters like Nyan-chu, Kiccoro and Morizo, Ojarumaru, Shimajiro, and many more—each one probably holds all kinds of personal stories for each of us.
Remembering those and basking in that warm, nostalgic feeling can be really important.
I’d love for you to keep that in mind and draw, stroke by stroke.
Memories truly are precious.
[Nostalgic yet New] A Handy Collection of Heisei-Retro Illustrations You Can Draw Easily (11–20)
OK illustration of a Sanrio character
@chataro_art How to draw an OK sign with Sanrio characters 💗 Who knew just drawing the characters could be this cute… 🥹✨ It’s super relaxed and easy to draw, so it’s great for beginners◎ Share with your friends and try drawing together♪ 💬 If there are other poses you’d like to try, tell me in the comments 🎀 ➤ Save this and take your time drawing it later 🫶Simple illustrationDrawing practice#IllustrationBeginnerHow to Draw CourseI want to connect with people who love drawing#BeginnerIllustrationClubSanrio#Sanrio PurolandHello KittyKuromi#Cinnamoroll#PompompurinMy MeloI want to connect with fellow Sanrio fans#yurukawaCharacter illustration# How to Draw Cute HandsLearn with ReelsTranslation recommended for savingSave and draw
♬ STOP GENERATION – Tina Moon
How about adding a cute character when you write “OK” by hand? The nostalgic charm of characters we’ve loved since childhood combined with the gentle feel of handwriting can create a warm, comforting vibe.
Among them, Hello Kitty—beloved by kids and adults alike all around the world—is sure to delight everyone.
Once you’ve practiced and gotten the hang of it, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, and even Pompompurin—who surprisingly has lots of devoted fans—are great choices too!
pixel art apple
@asobie_art How to draw a dotted apple#Posca#POSCAPixel art
♪ Original song – Asobie / Asobie ✌️ – asobie_art
Pixel art, born from 1980s video games, has been garnering renewed attention as Heisei-era retro.
In an age where high-definition visuals are the norm, it can feel fresh to younger people, while those who know the Showa and Heisei eras may find it nostalgically appealing.
An apple rendered in tiny pixels has a subtly mechanical yet slightly nostalgic vibe that’s irresistibly cute.
Give it a try by drawing it by hand!
Retro-pop Hello Kitty
@naokokitani You can tell the era by the color of the clothes!#IllustrationHello Kitty#illustration#DrawingRetro popPentel brush pen
♬ lucky girl syndrome – ⋆｡°✩
Hello Kitty has continuously evolved with the times.
She reflects the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras, each giving her a subtly different vibe.
Compared to the Showa period, which had a strong association with red, the Heisei era was full of pink and hearts.
There was even a sun-tanned, gyaru-style Hello Kitty and one with a hibiscus on her ear—no wonder she’s now a character beloved around the world.
Try enjoying illustrations too, like drawing her in a pop, Heisei-inspired style or even anthropomorphizing her!
Heisei Retro Character Grand Assembly
The Heisei era saw an explosion of so-called “yuru-chara” mascots.
It’s fun to chat about which characters you liked, isn’t it? Here’s an illustration that brings all those yuru-chara together in one place.
What’s charming is that they’re deliberately drawn in a loose, relaxed style rather than perfectly rendered.
It’s also great that it’s packed with characters that might linger as fragments in your memory—ones that make you think, “Wait, is that…?”—like Afro Inu, Dango San Kyodai, and TarePanda!