Character Design

Character Design

"Good Design should be clear and informative, generating a personality with feeling through the organization of shapes."- Steven Silver 

1. The first step, answer the questions below in your sketchbook, Use yourself as the basis for the answers. See example below.


Character questions:
A. What is the name of the character?
B. What is the sex of the character? (if applicable)
C. how old is the character?
D. What does the character look like?
E. What is the characters role or occupation?
F. Where does the character live?
G. What era does the character live in?
H. What is the characters personality?
I.  How would you describe the characters attitude?

(Below are the answers i came up with for my character:)

Dad

Male

50ish

Anthropomorphic Bird Man

Teacher/Parent

Suburbs
Contemporary

Classic Gemini, multiple personalities, can change instantly

Easily excitable/over the top and Skeptical

2. Watch Video:

Project Goal: 
a. Design a human or a human with animal characteristics. 
b. The character must have hands and feet that work like humans.
c. You may have a tail or feathers. 
d. You may include clothing, clothing should not cover face, hands or feet.
e. Your character maybe designed after one of the house styles we have talked about in class. (Rubber hose, Expressionist, UPA, Simpsons, Schulz, Anime Etc.)

3. In your sketchbook:

Doodle 12-16 variations as you try to design your character. See example below.

*Keep in mind the basic shape of your characters as shown in the video

Here is a video about drawing cartoon Skeleton's or Skeletoon's watch this before you begin working on 

your own designs.

          * I knew I wanted to have a bird character so I experimented with body types

*Once you have come up with a final design you need to deconstruct it into basic shapes, then you can ink the drawing using different ink pen thicknesses for your final version.

Here is an variation with more personality

Look at pages 12-15 in 

the Silver textbook