Fundamentals of Character Design: How to Create Engaging Characters for Illustration, Animation & Visual Development

This book explores the elements that make characters appealing in books, animated films, and games, such as shape language, proportion, exaggeration, anatomy, gesture, expression, and costume. It provides insights from talented professionals and includes hundreds of illustrations to inspire and study.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 288 pages
\n Publication date: 01 October 2020
\n Publisher: 3DTotal Publishing
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What is it about the characters we see in our favorite books, animated films, and games that make us laugh, cry, and respond to them? How do character designers develop ideas that are unique, memorable, and captivate us as an audience? This book answers these questions and more, taking a comprehensive, visual, and analytical approach to discover just what it is that makes a character appealing.

Understand key principles like shape language, proportion, and exaggeration, and learn from talented professionals who share industry secrets for getting the most out of anatomy, gesture, expression, and costume. Uncover ways to convey relationships and interaction between multiple characters, and how narrative fuels authentic and engaging characterization. With hundreds of lively illustrations to inspire and study, and tricks of the trade from celebrated artists, this thorough and insightful volume is an essential library addition for anyone interested in character design.

Character design is a complex and multifaceted art form that involves the creation of characters for various media, such as books, movies, and games. It involves the careful consideration of various elements, including appearance, personality, behavior, and backstory, to create characters that are both memorable and relatable to the audience. In this book, we will explore the art of character design in detail, covering topics such as shape language, proportion, exaggeration, anatomy, gesture, expression, and costume.

Shape language is a crucial aspect of character design, as it can convey a lot about a character's personality and emotions without words. For example, a character with a round face may be seen as friendly and approachable, while a character with a sharp, angular face may be seen as confident and assertive. Proportion is also important, as it can affect a character's appearance and overall aesthetic. A character with a large head and small body may be seen as childlike or diminutive, while a character with a long torso and short legs may be seen as tall and graceful.

Exaggeration is another tool that character designers use to create unique and memorable characters. It involves taking certain aspects of a character's appearance and exaggerating them to create a distinctive and eye-catching design. For example, a character with large, exaggerated eyes may be seen as mysterious or supernatural, while a character with a small, exaggerated nose may be seen as quirky or funny.

Anatomy is another important aspect of character design, as it helps to create a realistic and believable character. Character designers must understand the human body and how it moves to create characters that appear natural and convincing. Gesture is also an important element of character design, as it can convey a lot about a character's personality and emotions without words. For example, a character who gestures with their hands a lot may be seen as expressive or nervous, while a character who gestures with their feet a lot may be seen as laid-back or relaxed.

Expression is another crucial aspect of character design, as it can convey a lot about a character's emotions and personality. Character designers must use facial expressions, body language, and gestures to create characters that appear realistic and convincing. For example, a character who smiles a lot may be seen as happy and friendly, while a character who frowns a lot may be seen as sad or angry.

Costume is another important element of character design, as it can help to create a character's identity and set the tone for the story. Character designers must choose costumes that reflect the character's personality, background, and setting, and that are appropriate for the medium in which the character is appearing. For example, a character in a fantasy movie may wear a magical costume, while a character in a historical movie may wear a period-appropriate costume.

In conclusion, character design is a complex and multifaceted art form that involves the careful consideration of various elements, including shape language, proportion, exaggeration, anatomy, gesture, expression, and costume. By understanding these principles and techniques, character designers can create characters that are both memorable and relatable to the audience, and that help to bring the story to life. Whether you are a writer, director, or artist, this book will provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to create characters that are truly unique and captivating.

\n Weight: 1446g\n
Dimension: 227 x 297 x 24 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781912843183\n \n