Wind

You can not see wind, but you know it is there. It is the unseen force that brings a still image to life, turning a simple character portrait into a moving moment that is frozen in time. Wind effects are all about showing motion and energy in a still medium, whether it is a light breeze blowing through some bangs or a raging hurricane tearing up the landscape.

You can usually tell if a character is tagged in anime art by how they interact with their surroundings. It is the classic feeling of standing on the edge of a cliff, with hair blowing across the face and capes, skirts, or coats blowing dramatically to the side. Artists like to use wind to make leading lines with flowing scarves or flying debris like cherry blossom petals and autumn leaves. This gives the composition a real sense of direction and intensity. It makes a boring pose into a great piece of art.

This is also very common among speedsters or elemental magic users. Imagine characters shooting air blasts or moving so quickly that they make their own slipstream. It is a common thing in action-heavy shows, but it works just as well for those quiet, sad scenes where a character is just staring off into space while the weather does the talking.