Character Conceptual Design

[2 classes, 80 min each]

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students will design their own original characters — the same kind of work used to develop characters for animated films, video games, and comic books. Though audiences rarely think about it, a finished character represents many hours of development: its appearance has to feel true to its personality while also resonating with a viewer at a glance. Students will work through facial expression, hairstyle, clothing, and other defining details, then produce a full model sheet — front, side, and back views — the same way a professional studio would.

Lesson Objectives

• Understand and apply the creative process animation studios use to develop and design characters.

• Design an original character whose appearance reflects a defined personality.

• Produce a complete model sheet, illustrating a character's front, side, and back profiles.

Builds on: Human Figure Drawing (Simple Formula)

What to Do

Everyone has different artistic tastes and influences, so your characters will too — draw in your own natural style, or borrow from a style you admire. It helps to write down your character's attributes before you start drawing.

1. Rough Concept. Make a few rough sketches of your character without overthinking it — just let ideas flow. Jotting down attributes beforehand (personality, age, likes, dislikes) can help you brainstorm faster.

2. Choose a Character. Pick your favorite sketch and give it a name. Write a short profile: age, likes, dislikes, and personality traits.

3. Front View. Lightly sketch your character's front profile, leaving room beside it for the side and back views. Start with the largest body parts first (torso), then add the head and limbs, so the figure stays well-proportioned on the page.

4. Details. Add fingers, hairstyle, clothing, and any other details that reflect your character's personality. Make sure pose, facial expression, and outfit all point toward the same personality — a shy character and a bold character shouldn't stand the same way.

5. Exaggerate. Push your character's most defining features further than realism would allow. Large eyes should be very large; a big smile should be even bigger. Exaggeration is what makes a character read instantly.

6. Side and Back Views. Using your front view as reference, draw the side and back profiles. Use a ruler to measure and carry proportions across all three views accurately.

7. Ink. Once you're happy with your drawing, trace your pencil lines with black permanent marker and erase any remaining pencil.

8. Color or Paint. Add color with markers, crayons, or paint. Apply flat, solid color first, then add shadows based on a consistent light source to give the character depth.

9. Design Another Character. If time allows, design a second character for your first one to interact with — or build out a whole cast.

Terminology

Conceptualize — To come up with a concept or idea.

Animation Studio — A company that produces animated media.

Exaggerate — To make something larger or more pronounced than normal.

Model Sheet — A reference drawing showing a character's front, side, and back views, used to keep the design consistent across a production.

3D Modeling — Creating a three-dimensional representation of an idea.