Best AI Models for Anime & Illustration

Create anime art, manga-style illustrations, and stylized characters locally. These models are trained on or fine-tuned for anime aesthetics.

Recommended Models

DreamShaper XLHigh

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)8 stepsRTX 4090: ~20s/image

artphotorealisticfantasyversatile

Runs natively (4090)

Animagine XL 4.0High

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)28 stepsRTX 4090: ~20s/image

animeillustrationcharacter-design

Runs natively (4090)

Animagine XL 3.1High

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)28 stepsRTX 4090: ~20s/image

animeillustrationcharacter

Runs natively (4090)

Illustrious XLHigh

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)28 stepsRTX 4090: ~20s/image

animeillustrationcharacter-design

Runs natively (4090)

Stable Diffusion XL 1.0High

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)30 stepsRTX 4090: ~17.8s/image

photorealisticartanimedesign

Runs natively (4090)

Pony Diffusion V6 XLHigh

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)25 stepsRTX 4090: ~20s/image

furryanthropomorphicstylizedanime

Runs natively (4090)

DreamShaper 8Mid

0.86B params~2.1 GB VRAM (FP16)25 stepsRTX 4090: ~4.5s/image

artanimephotorealisticversatile

Runs natively (4090)

Stable Diffusion 1.5Mid

0.86B params~2.1 GB VRAM (FP16)20 stepsRTX 4090: ~4.5s/image

artanimefast-generation

Runs natively (4090)

Getting Started

Recommended runtime: ComfyUI or Stable Diffusion WebUI (A1111)

Install your preferred UI (ComfyUI or A1111) and download the model checkpoint.
For anime models, use danbooru-style tags in your prompt (e.g., '1girl, blue hair, school uniform').
Set CFG scale to 7-11 for strong prompt adherence with anime models.
Use negative prompts to avoid common artifacts: 'worst quality, low quality, blurry'.
Generate at 1024x1024 for XL models, 768x768 or 512x512 for SD 1.5 variants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best AI model for generating anime images?▼

Animagine XL 3.1 is the top dedicated anime model, with excellent understanding of danbooru tags and character design. Pony Diffusion V6 XL is best for stylized and anthropomorphic art. DreamShaper XL offers a versatile mix of anime and semi-realistic styles.

How much VRAM do I need for anime AI art?▼

SDXL-based anime models (Animagine, Pony Diffusion) need 8-12GB VRAM. SD 1.5 anime models like DreamShaper 8 run on as little as 4-6GB. For best quality at high resolution, 12GB is recommended.

Can I use LoRA models with anime generators?▼

Yes, all listed models support LoRA fine-tunes. LoRAs let you add specific characters, styles, or concepts. Civitai.com has thousands of community LoRAs compatible with these base models.

Recommended Models

DreamShaper XLHigh

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)8 stepsRTX 4090: ~20s/image

artphotorealisticfantasyversatile

Runs natively (4090)

Animagine XL 4.0High

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)28 stepsRTX 4090: ~20s/image

animeillustrationcharacter-design

Runs natively (4090)

Animagine XL 3.1High

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)28 stepsRTX 4090: ~20s/image

animeillustrationcharacter

Runs natively (4090)

Illustrious XLHigh

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)28 stepsRTX 4090: ~20s/image

animeillustrationcharacter-design

Runs natively (4090)

Stable Diffusion XL 1.0High

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)30 stepsRTX 4090: ~17.8s/image

photorealisticartanimedesign

Runs natively (4090)

Pony Diffusion V6 XLHigh

2.6B params~7 GB VRAM (FP16)25 stepsRTX 4090: ~20s/image

furryanthropomorphicstylizedanime

Runs natively (4090)

DreamShaper 8Mid

0.86B params~2.1 GB VRAM (FP16)25 stepsRTX 4090: ~4.5s/image

artanimephotorealisticversatile

Runs natively (4090)

Stable Diffusion 1.5Mid

0.86B params~2.1 GB VRAM (FP16)20 stepsRTX 4090: ~4.5s/image

artanimefast-generation

Runs natively (4090)

Getting Started

Recommended runtime: ComfyUI or Stable Diffusion WebUI (A1111)

Install your preferred UI (ComfyUI or A1111) and download the model checkpoint.
For anime models, use danbooru-style tags in your prompt (e.g., '1girl, blue hair, school uniform').
Set CFG scale to 7-11 for strong prompt adherence with anime models.
Use negative prompts to avoid common artifacts: 'worst quality, low quality, blurry'.
Generate at 1024x1024 for XL models, 768x768 or 512x512 for SD 1.5 variants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best AI model for generating anime images?▼

How much VRAM do I need for anime AI art?▼

SDXL-based anime models (Animagine, Pony Diffusion) need 8-12GB VRAM. SD 1.5 anime models like DreamShaper 8 run on as little as 4-6GB. For best quality at high resolution, 12GB is recommended.

Can I use LoRA models with anime generators?▼

Yes, all listed models support LoRA fine-tunes. LoRAs let you add specific characters, styles, or concepts. Civitai.com has thousands of community LoRAs compatible with these base models.