Character Design–Conceptual Design

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, the class will be making their own character designs. Character designs are used to produce animated cartoons, movies, video games and comic books. Although most of us don’t give it a second thought, these characters took many hours to develop. The designs need to be in tune with the characters persona, while also resonating with the audience. Thoughtful consideration should be put into the their facial expression, hairstyle, clothing, and other attributes.

Lesson Objectives

Understand and apply the creative process used by animation studios to develop and design characters.

This is a character design for a comic strip that I developed. Illustrating the front, side, and back views of a character design is essential for artists as it aids in animating, modeling, or sculpting the character accurately and effectively.

Brainstorm Discussion

Share your favorite character from a cartoon, video game, book, or film.
Describe the character's appearance and dominant color.
Discuss what you like about the character and how they make you feel.
Mention your preferred drawing style, such as Disney, The Simpsons, Marvel, manga, or any other.
Do you have an idea for your own character? If yes:
Is it male or female?
What kind of clothing is the character wearing?
Does the character have long curly hair?
Describe the character's mood (cheerful, sad, quiet, calm, or grumpy).
What is your character's MBTI personality type?
What colors are used for the character's clothing, eyes, hair, etc.?
What name would you give to your character?

What you need

sketchpad
pencils, color pencils, markers
character design drawings

The character’s name can also be a defining feature of the character. ‘Ink’ drawn by Aara.

This is a character design from my student, Joseph. Professional productions often require the front, back and side profile drawings, since the character will be seen from various angles.

What you do (EDIT

People all have different artistic tastes and influences, therefore you will also have different ideas on what appearance, body proportions and style your characters will have. You may draw your characters using your natural drawing style or imitate a style that you are fond of. It may be helpful to write down some of your character's attributes before drawing them.

Rough Figure Sketch. The first step in drawing a character is to lightly sketch out the body. Start with the largest body parts first, such as the torso, followed by the head and limbs. This will help you properly place the figure on your page.
Drawing Details. Consider the pose, facial expression and the clothing you want to give your character. Sketch out the fingers, hair style and other details that will help convey the character’s personality.
Other Considerations. You can also make the characters more original by giving them a distinctive outfit. You may even draw them carrying out one of their favorite activities.
Exaggerate. Exaggerate your character's facial features an expressions to express their personality better. If your character is suppose to have large eyes, make them larger. If your character has a big smile, make it bigger!
Draw the Side and Back. Using your first character drawing as reference, draw the side and back profile of your character.
Color or Paint. Once you are satisfied with your drawing, ink your pencil lines with a black permanent marker. Colour your artwork with markers, crayons or paint. Apply solid flat colors and add shadows to your character.
Design Another Character. Afterwards design another character for your first character to interact with. You can even design a whole cast.

Character Design Lesson Instructions

In the first part of the lesson, we will focus on developing and designing our characters. Your character can have a fantasy, animal, or superhero theme. It's essential to align your character's appearance with their personality and make it appealing to an audience. You can draw your character using your own style or in the style of one of your favorite artists. Consider various aspects such as facial expression, hairstyle, clothing, and other characteristics to bring your character to life.

Rough Concept: Start by making a few rough sketches of your character. Don't overthink it; simply let your ideas flow. You may find it helpful to jot down some character attributes before drawing. This step will help you brainstorm and refine your ideas.
Choose a Character: Select one of your character sketches and give them a name. Write about their personal characteristics, such as age, likes, dislikes, and personality traits.
Front View: Start by lightly sketching the front profile of your character, leaving space for the side and back profiles. Begin with the most prominent body parts, such as the torso, and then add the head and limbs. This approach will ensure a well-proportioned figure on your page.
Other Considerations: Make your characters more original by giving them distinctive outfits or drawing them engaging in their favorite activities. Add details like fingers, hairstyle, and other attributes that enhance the character's uniqueness. Ensure that the posture, facial expression, and clothing reflect their personality.
Exaggerate: To express your character's personality better, exaggerate their facial features and expressions. For example, if they have large eyes, make them even larger, or if they have a big smile, make it bigger!
Draw the Side and Back: Using your first character drawing as reference, draw the side and back profiles of your character. Use a ruler to measure and extend their proportions accurately.
Ink: Once you're satisfied with your drawing, ink your pencil lines with a black permanent marker and erase any unwanted pencil lines.
Color or Paint: Use markers, crayons, or paint to add color to your character. Consider the light source and add shadows to give your character depth.
Design Another Character: If time allows, you can design a second character for your first character to interact with. You may even create an entire cast of characters.

Have fun and let your creativity shine throughout the character design process!

Terminology

Conceptualize - To come up with a concept or idea.
Animation Studio - A company that makes animated media.
Exaggerate - To make something larger or more pronounced than normal.
3D Modeling - Creating a three-dimensional representation of an idea.

Figure Drawing

Students will also learn how to draw the human figure using a simple drawing formula. Advanced artists can also improve their figure drawing skills from this technique.

Student Work

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