Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Hey all!

Metal in anime is an enigma. It took me sooo long to find a solution and when I got it, I stopped short of ordering pizza, LOL! Now, I get to share it with you guys!
cgtrader.com/3d-models/scripts-plugins/rendering/for-anime-in-blender-metal-shader

Simply put, this shader is deeply based in the reflective nature of metal and shape, despite not looking reflective - this does mean it's Eevee only - Shader to RGB.

You can:
- Control the size of the specularity and it's opacity.
- Control the size of the diffuse and it's opacity.
- Control the size of the sheen diffuse mask and it's opacity over the material.
- Control reflection bands scale and opacity.
- Control true reflection opacity.
- The size of the reflection barriers on the inside and outside of the shape's silhouette.
- Fresnel sizes (forms masks and additional reflective behavior).
- Normal maps are supported - image - normal map node - shader.
- Additional Darkening controls for low-light scenes. This is to help with world light and other issues.

Included:
- Metal Shader + Turntable with Suzanne

Metal Shader
- Color
Texture/Color input
- Sheen Diffuse Size
Sheen refers to the fresnel elements that give the material extra bling. The sheen is limited by a diffuse mask and this controls the size of that mask.
- Sheen Diffuse Opacity
Sheen Diffuse mask opacity
- Final Diffuse Size
Functions like any hard toon diffuse
- Final Diffuse Opacity
Determines the darkness of the darker side of the diffuse
- Dark Spec Size
Dark spec refers to the black underside of the material - this is based on dark reflections that give highly reflective materials their signature look, simplified! This control scales the size of the values included.
- Dark Spec Mask Outer (Fresnel)
The Dark Spec Size above is masked by this and the next with Fresnel borders, to create that signature cutoff black section.
- Dark Spec Mask Inner (Fresnel)
- Dark Spec Opacity
This gives you the option to have that black or not have it. Personally, it should stay there, regardless.
- Spec Size
Typical specularity and it's size
- Spec Opacity
Typical Specularity and it's opacity
- Reflection Bands Opacity
A personal stylistic favorite, but I know not always appropriate, so you can turn it off here.
- Reflection Bands Texture Scale
Self-explanatory
- Reflection Opacity
True reflection opacity masked with Fresnel edges to maintain some of the metal shader.
- Normal
Normal Map input
- Normal Influence - Reflection Bands
Sometimes they should get influenced, and sometimes they should not. This gives you that option.
- Additional Black Influence (Diffused Based)
When a scene gets too dark, the material can respond to an above 0 level of brightness - ie, still visible. This, as well as the Final Diffuse Opacity and other controls, will help make it dark if it doesn't go dark enough.

This is fantastic for various uses - not just robots! It'll work on ornaments and other more organic shapes as well! I tested it with quite the variety as you can see!

Save yourself the hassle! It's done and dusted!

GOD bless you!

Models used:
- Teaset and candelabra are my own models and can be found on my CGT store.
- The robot and the man base are free models, also located on CGT.
- Suzanne is included with Blender.

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