Top 7 Tips for Drawing Funny Cartoons

Drawing funny cartoons isn’t just about making silly faces or crazy characters — it’s about timing, exaggeration, and emotional connection.
The best funny cartoons are simple, surprising, and full of personality.

Here are 7 proven tips to make your cartoon drawings funnier — plus real examples of how famous cartoonists nailed it.

1. Exaggerate Everything (Especially Expressions)
In cartooning, bigger is better when it comes to faces, reactions, and movements.
Stretch, squash, and exaggerate features way beyond real life.

Case Study:
In Looney Tunes, when a character like Daffy Duck gets scared, his eyes pop out of his head and his beak spins around.
It’s ridiculous — and that’s exactly why it’s funny.

Tip:
Push facial expressions 2–3 times bigger than you think you should.

 
2. Break the Rules of Physics
Funny cartoons often ignore real-world logic: characters float, stretch, bounce, or explode without getting hurt.

Case Study:
Tom and Jerry is a masterclass in cartoon physics — Jerry can flatten Tom with an iron and he pops back up like nothing happened.

Tip:
Ask yourself: “What would happen if gravity didn’t work for just one second?”

 
3. Use Simple, Clear Shapes
Funny drawings don't need fancy detail.
Simple shapes (like big circles or rectangles) are easier to exaggerate and make emotions pop instantly.

Case Study:
The Minions from Despicable Me are basically yellow jellybeans with faces — but their simplicity makes their silly actions even funnier.

Tip:
Keep your characters made of 2–3 big shapes maximum.

 
4. Set Up Visual Surprises
Humor often comes from surprising the viewer.
Draw something totally unexpected: a superhero tripping over a banana peel, a serious wizard casting a spell that turns into bubbles.

Case Study:
In Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson often set up serious "epic" battles... only for Calvin to be revealed playing with a cardboard box.

Tip:
The more “serious” your setup looks, the funnier the surprise will be.

 
5. Create Characters With Strong, Silly Personalities
Funny cartoons come from funny characters, not just funny situations.

Case Study:
Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants isn’t just funny because of what happens to him — he’s funny because he’s proudly clueless in every situation.

Tip:
Give your character one exaggerated personality trait — like always overreacting or being wildly confident for no reason.

 
6. Play With Size and Proportions
Making things way too big or way too small instantly creates comedy.

Case Study:
In The Emperor’s New Groove, Kronk’s giant, muscular body paired with his soft, cheerful voice makes every scene funnier.

Tip:
Mix and match body parts — huge hands, tiny heads, giant shoes — for instant visual humor.

 
7. Use Repetition (With a Twist)
Repeating a joke or action builds up anticipation — and when you break the pattern, the laugh is even bigger.

Case Study:
In Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, the coyote tries the same traps over and over.
Each time the failure gets funnier because viewers expect it — but little twists (like Acme gadgets backfiring in new ways) keep it fresh.

Tip:
Set up a running gag in your drawings: the more times it almost works, the funnier the final punchline!

 
🎨 Final Thoughts
Drawing funny cartoons isn’t about being a “perfect” artist — it’s about being bold, loose, and willing to surprise people.
Exaggerate emotions, break some physics, and let your characters’ silly personalities shine through.

Most importantly: have fun with it.
Because when you laugh while drawing — chances are, your audience will laugh too.