How to draw Plankton
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Ahoy, Doodleers! I'm Patty, your guide to all things doofy.
Today we're drawing the tiniest troublemaker in Bikini Bottom—Plankton! This little guy may be small, but he's packed with personality (and a serious grudge against the Krusty Krab).
Fun fact: Plankton is based on a real type of tiny ocean creature called zooplankton. The real ones don't scheme to steal secret recipes, though. Probably.
In this step-by-step guide, you'll learn to capture that one-eyed scowl, those wiggly antennae, and that mischievous grin. Let's draw some evil genius!
Quick Tip: Always start your drawing lightly with a pencil—this way, you can easily erase any little mistakes, and your final artwork will look clean, neat, and totally awesome!
Step 1
Start with two circles on top of each other.
Step 2
Connect those two circles to create Plankton’s body. Add two little nubs for legs (we bent one to make it look like he’s running). Now add another large circle on the top for his eyeball.
Step 3
Add an eyelid over that new circle. Add a couple of bent points that create Plankton’s antennae and arm. Add the outline of his mouth that covers almost his entire body.
Step 4
Add a pupil in his large eyeball. Add some detail where his eyelid folds. Add a cheek and a little bump where his cheek meets his eyeball. Add some rounded teeth and most of his tongue.
Step 5
Now add the remaining details. Add some lines to his antennae. Add some veins to his bulging eyeball and some tired lines underneath his eyeball. Don’t forget his back arm next to his eye! Then add his throat hole, the remainder of his tongue. Add some spit drops and finally some lip folds near the bottom of his body.
Step 6
Carefully erase all the initial pencil guidelines, leaving a clean, inked drawing of Plankton ready to be colored!
Step 7
Plankton is a very earthy creature with lots of greens for his body and a yellow eye. His mouth is a standard pink tongue and dark red for the inner mouth.
Excellent scheming—I mean, drawing! Want more Bikini Bottom? Try SpongeBob or Patrick. Or if you like learning weird facts while you laugh, check out my podcast with Ash: Ew, Nature!
Related Questions about Drawing Plankton
Why doesn’t my Plankton look like the one on TV?
That’s totally fine! At DoofyDoodles, we like giving Plankton bigger eyes or a sillier grin. Make him your own version of the tiny troublemaker.
What’s the easiest way to draw Plankton?
Start simple—a tall oval for his body, one big eye, and two antennae. Add arms and legs after the main shape looks balanced.
Can I draw Plankton digitally?
Absolutely! Digital drawing apps make it easy to keep his body perfectly symmetrical and add that glowing green color he’s known for.
Why does Plankton always fail to steal the Krabby Patty formula?
Because that’s what makes him funny! His over-the-top plans (and bad luck) are part of his charm.
Fun Facts about Plankton
He’s tiny but ambitious – Plankton is one of the smallest characters in Bikini Bottom but has the biggest goals.
Runs the Chum Bucket – He owns the restaurant across from the Krusty Krab, where he serves less-than-tasty food.
Has a computer wife – Karen, his AI wife, helps him plot against Mr. Krabs (and keeps him in check).
He’s voiced by a show creator – Doug Lawrence, one of the show’s writers, gives Plankton his iconic snarky tone.
He’s surprisingly smart – Plankton’s got a genius-level IQ and tons of high-tech gadgets—he just needs better luck.
Here at DoofyDoodles, we believe everyone can enjoy doodling their favorite characters. Keep practicing, stay silly, and explore our Goodies page for more fantastic drawing guides and doodling adventures!
