7 Steps to Great Character Design
Character design is an essential part of any animation, game, or comic book. It’s the foundation of your story and can make or break the success of your project. To create a great character design, you need to follow certain steps. Here are the 7 steps to great character design:
1. Do Your Research!
Before you start designing your character, you need to do your research. Look at existing characters in the same genre or from the same universe. Analyze their design, look at the shapes, colors, and expressions they use. This will give you a better understanding of what works and what doesn’t.
2. Know Anatomy (The REAL Thing)
You need to understand the anatomy of the character you are designing. This includes the skeletal structure, muscle groups, and proportions. Knowing the anatomy of your character will help you create a believable and realistic design.
3. Know The Universe
You also need to understand the universe your character is in. What type of environment are they in? What type of clothing do they wear? What type of technology do they use? Knowing the universe your character is in will help you create a design that fits in the world.
4. Understand the Story (And How Your Character Fits)
You need to understand the story and how your character fits into it. What is their role in the story? What is their motivation? Knowing this will help you create a design that fits the character’s role and motivations.
5. Start Drawing, Experimenting & Sketching (But, Don’t Fall In Love)
Once you have done your research and understand the story and universe, it’s time to start drawing. Experiment with different shapes, colors, and expressions. Don’t be afraid to try something new. But, don’t fall in love with your first design. You may need to make changes as you go.
6. Draw Expressions, Create Model Sheets & Key Poses
Now that you have a basic design, it’s time to add more detail. Draw expressions for your character, create model sheets, and draw key poses. This will help you create a more detailed and believable design.
7. Move Your Character!
The last step is to move your character. Animating your character will help you see how your design works in motion. This will help you make any necessary changes to the design.
Creating a great character design is an important part of any animation, game, or comic book. By following these 7 steps, you can create a design that fits the story and universe and looks great in motion.
