Embedded Files
Due: Thursday, March 10 @ 3:50 pm
Due: Thursday, March 10 @ 3:50 pm
Tuesday, March 8: WIP Deadline - Upload sketches and/or other images to a blog pose describing your work so far, and your plans for your character.
Upload your final character working document (not just image files) to the Character Design Google Folder
For this project, you will create a simple character composed of basic shapes that you will use to animate a dance loop.
Step one is to brainstorm and sketch to generate ideas for your character. Start with simple shapes, and add one or two distinctive details. Avoid characteristics that overcomplicate the character - articulated fingers, long flowing hair or clothes, multiple tentacles, etc.
When you have something you'd like to move forward with, scan the drawing and work in Photoshop (or Illustrator if you prefer) to draw your character digitally. This is not your masterpiece; you're creating something with which to learn some basics of character animation. Have fun with it!
Simple, like our friend the nun from Lapsus!
Simple shapes and colors (but skip the hair for now)
Your character should be an upright figure with some combination of the following. You aren't required to have all of these! However, each body part must be on its own layer.
two arms, Left and Right (character's)
two legs, Left and Right (character's)
Torso
Head: eyes, nose, mouth and maybe hair (again, these should be on separate layers!)
>> Be sure each body part has enough space to overlap; when it moves and rotates there should not be empty gaps.
>>Importantly, think beyond a realistic human presentation - how can you use simple shapes or stylized drawing to create a humanoid or animal character?
>> Design your character with arms in a relaxed pose, at a ~45 degree angle from the body, as in the image below. This is easiest for future rigging and animation.
It doesn't get much simpler than Don Hertzfeldt!
Matt Groening quote: Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons and Futurama has a theory of good character design that has helped him create some of the most iconic characters in the history of animation. “The secret of designing cartoon characters — and I’m giving away this secret now to all of you out there — is: you make a character that you can tell who it is in silhouette. I learned this from watching Mickey Mouse as a kid. You can tell Mickey Mouse from a mile away…those two big ears. Same thing with Popeye, same thing with Batman. And so, if you look at the Simpsons, they’re all identifiable in silhouette. Bart with the picket fence hair, Marge with the beehive, and Homer with the two little hairs, and all the rest. So…I think about hair quite a lot.”
Resources:
Resources:
Assignment slide presentation
BAM Animators Character Turns like a Pro!
Digital Arts: 14 Character Art Tips
Ross Plaskow's "How to Make a Cartoon in After Effects for Beginners" (NSFW)
Report abuse