The title compound, C₁₃H₁₄N₂, was obtained from reaction of diaminonaphthalene with acetone. In both independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, the tricyclic perimidine consists of a planar (r.m.s. deviations = 0.0125 and 0.0181 Å) naphthalene ring system and an envelope conformation C₄N₂ringwith the NCN group hinged with respect to the naphthalene backbone by 36.9 (2) and 41.3 (2)° in the two independent molecules. The methyl substituents are arranged approximately axial and equatorial on the apical C atom. In the crystal, one of the N—H groups of one independent molecule is involved in classical N—H...N hydrogen bonding. Short intermolecular (C/N)—H...π(arene) interactions, near the short T-shaped limit, link molecules in the absence of strong acceptors.