Character Design Principles

Subjectivity in Character Design

• Subjective Topic: Varies person to person, story to story.
• BAM Approach: Good design is about clarity.
  • Clarity of silhouette
  • Clarity of palette
  • Clarity of exaggeration
• Recognizability: A character that is clear in these principles will be recognizable in any art style.

Fundamental Principles

Clarity of Silhouette

• Silhouette: The character must be recognizable in black alone.
  • Famous characters follow this rule.
  • Example: Separate shapes to improve the silhouette.
• Shape Language: Big identifiable shapes convey personality.
  • Square: Stability, trust, stubbornness.
  • Circle: Friendly, bouncy, soft, welcoming.
  • Triangle: Edgy, dangerous, intense, speedy.
• Uniqueness: Use unique head shapes to aid recognition.

Clarity of Palette

• Color Selection: Do not use too many colors.
  • Color Hierarchy: One dominant color, others support.
• Value Check: Convert to grayscale to check values.
  • Ensure values are distinctive.
• Environmental Colors: Check palette against the background.
  • Avoid using white. Use mid-tone for better light/dark distinction.
• Color Language: Colors evoke moods and environments.
  • Yellow: Joy or sickness.
  • Green: Safety.
  • Red: Danger or sexiness.
  • Cultural Signifiers: Tropics = colorful, Poles = muted.

Clarity of Exaggeration

• Emotion: Connect with viewers' core human instincts.
  • Simplified Features: Easier to read and empathize with.
• Observation: Pay attention to real-life details.
  • Pose: Tells the story through body language.
• Variety in Body Types: Reflect character's personality and role.
  • Weightlifter vs. Basketball Player: Same core structure, different utilities.
• Line-up Design: Design characters together to compare proportions.

Design Execution

• Simple Idea: Execute it well.
  • Animation Styles: Match the story (e.g., South Park vs. Grave of the Fireflies).
• Dynamic Spacing: Use appeal rulers to check dynamic character spacing.

Practical Tips

• Gather Reference: Broaden your idea pool.
• Line-up Exercise: Create character trios with good variety.

Final Thoughts

• Story First: The final ingredient in character design.
• Actor Creation: Think of characters as actors performing a story.
• Focus on Versatility: Learning to draw in different styles is more valuable than sticking to one.

Additional Resources

• Joop's YouTube Channel: Explores character design fundamentals.
• Who's That Pokémon?: Silhouette recognition exercise.