character design

[DescentfromOblivion]

questiion for any artist
how long did it it take u to settle on a finale character design?

[YamPuff]

It takes me forever. I waver and change constantly. I'm a perfectionist compulsive freak, so that's a problem. Some character designs just draw themselves, but others require tons of effort. I only just perfected one design from a girl I started drawing years ago!

Actually, in Naoko Takeuchi's (the creator of Sailor Moon) artbooks, she herself complains of wavering between designs. Sailor Moon once had a cape and a boomerang-like weapon, believe it or not, and even wore a mask. I love Takeuchi-sensei so much because everything she says about her artwork I have said about mine!

The artist of Wish (one of CLAMP, I think Mick Nekoi) said that it took her years to come up with the character designs of all the angels. She said she wanted them to be perfect and beautiful, which they were.

So don't despair. Good things come to those who wait...or something like that...whatever...

[Rem Akimichi]

I usually have a very clear idea of what a character looks like in my head before I ever start drawing them. It's getting the drawings to match the characters that takes forever :/

For example,I spent 3 months on one of my characters (Sebastian), because I just couldn't get my art to match my mental image. But it was worth it in the end, because when I finally did, I was very happy with the design. He looks like Sebastian should look, and thats what matters ^___^

[KaYoKitten]

I just start sketching! XD I don't have a "clear mental image" before I set down to start drawing--I basically say to myself, okay, UK, it's grind time, let's see where the pencil leads. I guess my mind does have an idea of who I want a charrie to look like, but the devil is in the details! Actually, it takes a very short amount of time for me to visually design a character--I usually draw a sketch and then keep that in mind as I go on drawing them again. I come up with personality as I work on the sketches.

I LOVE drawing quirky little faces with nothing in mind but to have fun in the moment. Some of the faces, I won't ever use with the character, but it's all in good fun. My favorite part of making a story, especially manga, is designing the characters for the tale I have in my head. I design a general plot first, and then craft the characters for what I think would have the most lasting impact. Of course, I've also seen it done the other way around--having the characters tell you their story. But for me, that causes way too many limitations. And who wants limits when you can make the sky fall, candles float, jelly beans taste like dirt, and computers that never crash? LOL!

[artemisfowl22]

Normally it would take me close to a mounth. normally
But some times i would keep on adding to their look or if I Changing the personalliy of the character I would change their design as well.
So roughly that would add up to being 2 mounths. :(

[Shizu-san]

Character design is what I look forward to the most. However, it's also a painstakingly long process for me personally. I usually don't have any problems getting the character's personality down; it's just converting that to paper that's the problem. There's a lot you have to think about; you can't just slap any trendy looking clothes on your character and expect it to fly. Not only does it have to match the character personality-wise, but you have to keep in mind the genre that you're putting your character in, and make sure that it isn't too outrageous for the type of story you're trying to create. Also, once it's actually down on paper, then you have to deal with color, which is a whole 'nother story. All I can say is sketch out your ideas until you find something that you like AND fits your character. And don't fall in love with your first design, either. Try lots of different things and THEN make a decision. That's how I usually go about it. Just some advice. ;)

[Wolfman]

Character design takes me forever too. An idea I use to over come that frustration is think of an actor that you fancy playing as that character. Movie script writers use this idea when penning a movie script, though they may rarely sign that actor for the character depending on the producers/director. Whether its the actors face or the way inwhich they acted in some movie, it may give an insight into what you're looking for. It helps :) Once you get that face, eyes, or smile the rest is up to you. Toy with the characters style and appearence etc etc

[Ganter]

Character designs are pretty clear for me too. Usually if I struggle a lot with the character design, I think it's because I don't really know what my character's story really is. If I know who my character is in terms of personality/desires/storyline, then the visual character design will be very easy and enjoyable.

[Enigmatic]

Personally, I'll often have a pretty good idea of what I want to accomplish with a certain character, but I can't always get exactly the right idea onto paper with my first try. It will often take me a lot of tries before I feel like I've gotten a character exactly right.

If you struggle with it, I suggest sketching that character over and over and over again. Don't be afraid to experiment! Gradually--or in some cases, very quickly--you'll start to see a pattern in the traits and outfits that work for the characters and the ones that don't.

Also, reference pictures are your friend! Figure out the time your character is from, the country, the world, the socio-economic status of your character, and find different styles of clothing and people that could be incorporated into your character.

And finally, pose is a huge indicator of a character's personality. How do you draw the character? What is he/she doing? These things are indicative of a powerful character, so try to keep those in mind as you're developing.

Whoo. That's a bit long-winded, but these are good steps to take if you're feeling indecisive about a character's design. I hope something in there is of use to you.

[SAKUxDD]

its easier for me to come up with a design that matches the character's personality
but after i go through the storyline and making sure everything is right
my drawings start to elvolve and my character design changes
o.0
but it is roughly pretty easy

[Pedes]

For me it depends. Usually I see the character in my mind, and try to get the same look/impression. For example: I've been drawing one page for 4 months now (with brakes for thinking) just because I couldn't get the main character's hair right. I didn't like how it looked inked. I've come up with over 30 different hairstyles for that one single type of hair (the color, the thickness of one single hair) and I've finally found the right one. It's so close to the first one it may be considered funny but the truth is that all other hairstylesdidn't fit his personality. On the other hand one less importand character was designes in 5-10 minutes, and I'm glad how he came out (It's almost sad he dies in second chapter ><).

[QueenieChan]

Almost immediately. I don't spend too much time on character design, since before I start, I often have an image of what the character looks like in my mind. What is the character's personality like? That's usually a good place to start.

Also, a character design doesn't only include things like hairstyle. It includes things like posture, clothing, normal facial expression, and certain other subtle but none-the-less important things. Posture and clothing are particularly important, especially in a fantasy world.

- Would your character slouch?
- Adopt a relaxed pose?
- Look constantly vigilant?
- Be graceful even while doing nothing?
- Are they clumsy?
- Do they lack confidence?
- Seem like the shifty sort?
- Have a masculine kind of stance?
- A feminine stance?
- She's a tomboy?
- He's part-cyborg?

Other things to consider would be facial expressions. What sort of "gaze" would your character normally have?

- Does s/he have an "intense" look in their eyes?
- Or do they have gentle eyes?
- Or maybe they're young and perky, with clear, bright and naive looking eyes?
- Perhaps they have intelligent, mature eyes.
- Or maybe they're a jerk, and has small, mean eyes.
- They can be suspicious of other people, so they constantly have this hooded look in their eyes.

The possibilities go on and on. Considering these sort of things will help you design your character more, because outward appearances has to reflect personality, and vice versa.

[Ayokillyou]

I like your points, QC and I would add/amend that the list of characteristics would work "especially in a realistic world," since often it is hard for artists to differentiate their characters (if none of them are monsters, aliens or cyborgs and the like) without distinctive visual personality cues.

[mangafreak27]

Hey people :D I’m gonna be doing a manga book over the summer with my friends :confused: I wanted to know if any body have any suggestions for this artist :confused:

[QueenieChan]

I like your points, QC and I would add/amend that the list of characteristics would work "especially in a realistic world," since often it is hard for artists to differentiate their characters (if none of them are monsters, aliens or cyborgs and the like) without distinctive visual personality cues.

I'm not quite sure what you mean. The list I made applies for both realistic and unrealistic worlds, meaning fantasy/sci-fi and "real life" settings. What I mean to do is to get the creators thinking about the "aura" their characters give off. If I were to make a REAL list of all the things I consider when I design a character, it'll be off the charts. No time for that, honestly.

[Tavisha]

I'm not quite sure what you mean. The list I made applies for both realistic and unrealistic worlds, meaning fantasy/sci-fi and "real life" settings. What I mean to do is to get the creators thinking about the "aura" their characters give off. If I were to make a REAL list of all the things I consider when I design a character, it'll be off the charts. No time for that, honestly.

That's a good list~! In Japan its even customary to give the characters their own blood types because the culture believes thats also a great influence on the kind of personality one has~ oh and horoscopes too~! Some are big on zodiac signs (which is more common here too) so every character has a birthday. Yep, I do think of these things when creating a character. Even their favorite colors, foods, music, etc.

And for monsters, creatures ,etc. I think of Clive Barker.

[PezPez]

For me the character design depend on what their personality is going to be like. A lot of times the ideas for stories shape the personality for a character.

Before when I first started to draw this was reversed. I use to sketch a character out then think up a personality. It was unstable though for me because the character had this look of a good girl but had the personality of rebel.

Anyway, character design depends on the person. Some of my characters I like how they looked and have kept with that look over the years. Others I've changed and rearragned so that they look nothing like the first sketch anymore, and a lot of these characters are years old.

Just keep in mind the process in designing a character depends on the person and what's easiest for you.

[Pedes]

Considering these sort of things will help you design your character more, because outward appearances has to reflect personality, and vice versa.
Or you can use them to mislead the readers until the character shows his/her real nature :D

[Verdekurama]

It took me about two years, to get my characters the way I wanted them to look.

[SweetNymph]

I haven't spent a lot of time on character design, but only because I was drawing for people who don't really care how it turns out. My main focus is making each character look obviously different without looking too unreal (not a fan of drawing gravity-defying hair, unless it does more than stick up when it should fall).