Toolkit 2 - Character Design: Drawing from Life

  A key point made during today class was the importance behind research. Design is always based off real life people, objects or places. To go with this, correct organisation will help make life so much easier. Using a mood board/ influence map will keep sources/pictures I need in one place, guiding in idea development.

 This project will revolve around creating a character design bible. This means taking a character, developing who they are, their world, sidekicks and some small animation scenes. Once all completes, these will be placed into a PDF document, and themed to make the contents

  My random character, style and places was: 

Zombie

1930's German Expressionism

A 1945 WW Bunker

  If I was honest, this is my least desired choice. I'm not a fan of zombies at all, and avoid things with them in. But, this challenge may bring a unusual character into development, and by using my own style/influences can help it to grow into something interesting.  Following this, researching time periods and making a influence map will probably be best at this point. 

 It's been quite some time since designing a character, so to start us off we was given a random object to research and draw. Researching means getting to know how it functions, its purpose, the variety of styles and how its can be changed to make it more interesting (caricature).

  The first task was to draw it from realism, the second was to loosen up and think about who would have it. I thought about a victorian rich/poor person, a blacksmith, inventor and toymaker.

Drawing from Realism

Adding Caricature

  After lunch, the topic of focus was design conceits. Conceits is understanding the sets of rules following the creation of a characters, and the worlds they live in. When designs are out of place they, can be jarring to the eye and turn viewers away.

  I was given Ralph from Wreck-it Ralph (Disney), and the first goal was to make a character that would fit into that world. As Wreck It Ralph is so vast, this character could be almost anything. I decided on making a new Sugar-Rush driver with swirly rainbow candy lollies in mind.  After this was the bomb from Super Mario. However, my first attempt made him was too apprehensive looking. After a talk with my tutor, I realised I needed to think a little more in depth about the characters persona. On the next try, I tried to make him a little more angry/ hot headed. PaRapper is quite mischievous, so I wanted to place him in a good stance and give him more of a Disney appeal. This may need more work. 

Sugar Rush Character

Bomb and PaRapper

  The last task was to take the character we had been given (in my case Ralph) and restyle them in the style we have been give for the character bible. Placing a 1930's german expressionist style on a disney character was quite fun, visually him becoming sharper and darker 

German Expressionist Ralph