What makes a box jellyfish look different from a normal jellyfish?

Two things: the bell is a rounded cube (a box shape with a transparent front face) instead of a smooth dome, and the tentacles hang in tight bundles from the four bottom corners rather than evenly around the rim. Get those two features and it reads as a box jelly instantly.

How do I draw the transparent box jellyfish bell?

Draw a rounded cube and keep the front face lightest, almost white. Add a faint line where the far edges of the box show through, leave a small highlight, and use a pale blue-green wash. That see-through front and the far-edge line create the glassy cube look.

Where do the tentacles go on a box jellyfish?

In four tight bundles, one from each bottom corner of the cube bell (these are called pedalia). Keep them long, fine, and grouped rather than spread all around the edge - the corner bundles are the box jelly's signature.

Is the box jellyfish a good subject for beginners?

Yes, because the boxy bell is made of straight lines, which are easier to control than a perfect dome. Start with a simple see-through cube and four corner tentacle bundles, and you have a recognizable box jelly without any hard shapes.

15 Cool Box Jellyfish Drawings for Ocean Fans

Box jellyfish drawings stand out because of one unmistakable feature — a cube-shaped, see-through bell instead of the usual dome. From each of its four bottom corners hangs a bundle of tentacles, which is what makes it instantly recognizable and a favorite for ocean fans. This list gives you 15 cool ways to draw it, from realistic and transparent to glowing neon. Get the boxy bell and the corner bundles right, and the rest is easy. Pick a style and give the cube jelly a try.

1 Classic Box Jellyfish

A classic box jellyfish with a cube bell and four corner tentacle bundles

This is the definitive box jelly — a rounded cube bell with tentacle bundles at all four corners. It’s the base every other version builds on. Get this and you understand the species.

Pro tipSoften the cube’s corners slightly so it looks like a jellyfish, not a hard box.

Step 1 draw a rounded cube with a see-through front face. Step 2 add a faint line for the far edges showing through. Step 3 hang a bundle of fine tentacles from each bottom corner.

AvoidDon’t spread the tentacles around the whole rim; keep them in four corner bundles.

2 Transparent Glass Box Jelly

A see-through glass-like box jellyfish with visible far edges

Emphasizing transparency makes the box jelly look like blown glass. Seeing the far edges through the front is the whole effect. It’s elegant and accurate.

Pro tipDraw the back edges faintly so they read as seen-through glass, not solid lines.

Step 1 draw the cube bell. Step 2 lightly draw the far corners and edges showing through the front. Step 3 keep it nearly colorless with just a highlight and faint blue.

AvoidDon’t fill the bell with color; transparency needs it mostly clear.

3 Blue-Glow Box Jelly

A box jellyfish glowing pale blue against a dark background

On dark water, a pale glowing box jelly looks striking and a little eerie. The cube shape glowing is unusual and cool. It suits the mysterious subject.

Step 1 on dark paper, draw the cube bell. Step 2 glow it pale blue with a soft halo. Step 3 add glowing tentacle bundles from the corners.

Keep the front face brightest so the cube looks lit from inside.

Don’t over-brighten; a soft glow reads better than a solid fill.

4 Minimalist Box Jelly Outline

A clean minimal line drawing of a box jellyfish

A clean outline lets the box jelly’s unusual shape speak for itself. No color, just crisp lines. It looks modern and tidy.

Pro tipKeep the cube edges crisp and straight so the box shape reads clearly.

Step 1 draw the cube bell in clean lines. Step 2 add the faint far edges. Step 3 add four simple corner tentacle bundles and leave it unshaded.

AvoidDon’t round the bell into a dome; the straight box edges are the point.

5 Realistic Box Jelly Study

A realistic detailed study of a box jellyfish

A realistic study captures the box jelly’s glassy cube and fine trailing tentacles accurately. The detail and transparency look impressive. It’s a rewarding subject.

Pro tipStudy a real photo so the pedalia and tentacle bundles are placed correctly.

Step 1 draw an accurate rounded cube bell. Step 2 render the transparent faces with soft value. Step 3 draw the long, fine corner tentacle bundles trailing.

AvoidDon’t clump the tentacles; real box jelly tentacles are long, fine, and flowing.

6 Cute Box Jelly

A kawaii box jellyfish with a cube bell and a small face

A kawaii box jelly turns the cube into an adorable character. The boxy shape is surprisingly cute with a little face. It’s a fun, friendly take on a scary animal.

Pro tipRound the cube’s edges more for a softer, cuter look.

Step 1 draw a rounded cube bell. Step 2 add two dot eyes and a tiny smile on the front face. Step 3 add short cute tentacle bundles at the corners.

AvoidDon’t add long scary tentacles; short cute bundles fit the kawaii style.

7 Box Jelly From Below

A box jellyfish seen from below looking up at the cube

Viewing the box jelly from below shows the underside of the cube and the four tentacle bundles reaching down toward you. The dramatic angle is cool. It’s a fresh perspective.

Pro tipMake the near tentacles larger and the bell smaller to sell the upward angle.

Step 1 draw the cube from a low angle so you see its underside. Step 2 show the four corner openings. Step 3 draw the tentacle bundles coming toward the viewer.

AvoidDon’t draw it flat-on; the underside view is what makes this interesting.

8 Watercolor Box Jelly

A box jellyfish painted in soft pale blue-green watercolor

A soft watercolor box jelly captures its pale, translucent, glassy body. The gentle wash suits the see-through cube. It feels light and fresh.

Pro tipLeave the front face nearly unpainted so it reads as clear glass.

Step 1 wash a pale blue-green cube shape. Step 2 leave the front face lightest. Step 3 once dry, add fine ink edges and trailing corner tentacles.

AvoidDon’t paint it dark; the box jelly is pale and translucent.

9 Geometric Box Jelly

A stylized geometric box jellyfish with clean faceted faces

A geometric style leans into the box jelly’s natural angles for a crisp, modern look. The faceted cube feels designed. It’s graphic and satisfying.

Step 1 draw the cube with clean, precise faces. Step 2 shade each face a slightly different value. Step 3 add straight-ish geometric tentacle bundles.

Give each face of the cube a different value so it looks three-dimensional.

Don’t soften it too much; the geometric look wants clean angles.

10 Box Jelly Swarm

Several box jellyfish drifting together at different sizes

A group of box jellies drifting together fills the page with floating cubes. Varying their sizes adds depth. It’s an impressive ocean scene.

Step 1 draw one larger box jelly. Step 2 add several smaller ones at different sizes. Step 3 fade the far ones paler for depth.

Tilt the cubes at slightly different angles so the swarm feels natural.

Don’t line them up evenly; a scattered drift looks alive.

11 Neon Box Jelly

A glowing neon box jellyfish outlined in bright color on black

A neon-outlined box jelly on black paper looks electric and futuristic. The bright cube edges pop. It’s a bold, graphic style.

Step 1 on black paper, sketch in white. Step 2 outline the cube in one neon color. Step 3 add neon tentacle bundles and a faint glow echo.

Outline the cube edges cleanly in neon so the box shape glows sharply.

Don’t fill the shape; neon reads as glowing lines on black.

12 Long-Tentacle Box Jelly

A box jellyfish with very long flowing tentacle bundles trailing far below

Exaggerating the long trailing tentacle bundles makes a dramatic, elegant box jelly. The sweeping tentacles fill the page. It shows the creature’s real proportions.

Pro tipLet the four bundles curve gracefully so the long tentacles feel like they’re flowing.

Step 1 draw a small cube bell near the top. Step 2 trail four long tentacle bundles far down the page. Step 3 let them curve and drift the same direction.

AvoidDon’t make the tentacles stiff; box jelly tentacles are long and flowing.

13 Box Jelly Side Profile

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A side profile shows the cube edge-on, revealing its box depth clearly. The angled view is informative and cool. It reads as clearly boxy.

Pro tipShow two faces of the cube at slightly different values to reveal its 3D box form.

Step 1 draw the cube from the side so two faces show. Step 2 shade the side face darker than the front. Step 3 hang the near corner bundles fuller than the far ones.

AvoidDon’t draw it perfectly flat; a slight angle shows the box depth.

14 Pale Turquoise Box Jelly

A pale turquoise box jelly feels tropical and clean. The soft blue-green matches its real color. It’s calm and pretty.

Step 1 draw the cube bell. Step 2 shade it soft turquoise, lightest on the front face. Step 3 add fine turquoise tentacle bundles and a highlight.

Keep the turquoise pale so the box jelly still looks translucent.

Don’t saturate the color; a pale wash suits the see-through body.

15 Bold Ocean-Fan Box Jelly

A bold, striking box jellyfish drawn as a cool marine-life feature

A bold, high-contrast box jelly celebrates it as one of the ocean’s coolest, most dangerous animals. The strong rendering feels like a marine poster. It’s the perfect finale for ocean fans.

Pro tipPush the contrast and keep the tentacles long and dramatic for a striking, poster-like piece.

Step 1 draw an accurate, confident cube bell. Step 2 render it with bold contrast and a glassy front. Step 3 add long dramatic tentacle bundles and deep water shading.

AvoidDon’t make it timid; a bold rendering suits this striking animal.