Learning Character Development and Design

Learn how to develop memorable, believable characters for all types of illustration: cartoons, comics, feature animation, gaming, kid's books, and advertising.

Introduction

• Welcome

1. Introduction to Character Development

• The instant read
• Capture the heart and soul of a character
• Tools of the trade

2. Elements of Developing a Believable Character

• Archetypes
• Keep it real
• Motion
• Environment

3. Character Construction

• Shapes and silhouettes
• Gesture and silhouettes
• Anatomy and proportion
• Anatomy and proportion: Demo
• Turnarounds
• Anatomy and turnarounds: Demo
• Facial expressions
• Research the details
• Color basics
• Color your character
• Color your character: Demo

4. Style Meets Substance

• Explore a character in a variety of styles
• Characters in context: Designing a cast
• The art of invention: Making fantasy creatures believable
• Sidekicks, villains, and foils
• From 2D to 3D
• Characters in sequence
• Riffing on the classics

Conclusion

• Next steps