To stylize something means to deliberately change its appearance to create a distinctive look or to fit a particular artistic style. When an artist stylizes a drawing, they don't just copy what they see. Instead, they might exaggerate certain features, simplify shapes, or add decorative elements to make the image more interesting or expressive.

Think about how different animated movies look. The characters in The Incredibles have stylized bodies with exaggerated proportions: tiny waists, huge shoulders, and long limbs. Real people don't look like that, but those choices make the characters memorable and fun to watch. Meanwhile, Studio Ghibli films like Spirited Away use a completely different stylized approach, with softer lines and more realistic proportions but still clearly animated.

Stylization appears everywhere once you start noticing it. Logos are stylized versions of letters or pictures. Fashion designers stylize clothing with unusual cuts or patterns. Video game artists stylize characters to look cartoonish, realistic, or fantastical, depending on the game's mood.

The key is that stylization involves conscious artistic choices. A photographer might stylize a portrait by using dramatic lighting and bold colors instead of capturing an ordinary snapshot. A stylized version of something trades pure accuracy for visual impact, personality, or beauty.