How To DESIGN CHARACTERS for comics, games and animation from Udemy

Are you interested in learning how to design unique and memorable characters for games, comics, or animation? Look no further. This course, titled "How To As a student, you'll have personal contact with the instructor and lifetime access to course materials. You'll also gain a better understanding of how professional mech illustrations are created. Plus, you'll have the support of the instructor and the Udemy Q&A section or through direct message.

In this course, you'll learn about the "dirty dozen" units that make up the foundation of character design: the origin story, simplified structures, bodytypes, articulation, simplified anatomy, silhouettes, power sets, symbols, color theory, costume choices, personalities, and styles. Each unit covers a different aspect of character design, helping you understand how to give your character the vibe you want and why certain design elements work better than others.

Instructor Ed Foychuk has a proven track record in teaching, with tens of thousands of students, and presents the material through easy-to-follow videos and templates. This course is perfect for artists of all levels and is offered with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out with confidence. So why settle for copying existing characters when you can create something original? Enroll in this course and learn the skills to make your own distinctive characters that stand out in the game design, comic, or animation industries.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to design memorable and recognizable characters for use in games, comics, or animation
The importance of an origin story, simplified structures, bodytypes, articulation, simplified anatomy, silhouettes, power sets, symbols, color theory, costume c
Techniques for creating original characters that stand out in their respective industries
Be able to create a well rounded character for future use.
How to develop a concept for a character and turn it into a fully realized design
The role of color theory in creating visually appealing characters
Techniques for simplifying complex anatomy to create more stylized designs
How to choose costumes and other design elements that enhance the character's personality and story

Strategies for creating characters with distinct and memorable silhouettes
Tips for designing characters with believable and functional articulation
The importance of considering a character's power sets and symbols in the design process
How to convey a character's personality through design choices
Ways to incorporate various design styles into character creations
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How to design memorable and recognizable characters for use in games, comics, or animation
The importance of an origin story, simplified structures, bodytypes, articulation, simplified anatomy, silhouettes, power sets, symbols, color theory, costume c
Techniques for creating original characters that stand out in their respective industries
Be able to create a well rounded character for future use.
How to develop a concept for a character and turn it into a fully realized design
The role of color theory in creating visually appealing characters
Techniques for simplifying complex anatomy to create more stylized designs
How to choose costumes and other design elements that enhance the character's personality and story
Strategies for creating characters with distinct and memorable silhouettes
Tips for designing characters with believable and functional articulation
The importance of considering a character's power sets and symbols in the design process
How to convey a character's personality through design choices
Ways to incorporate various design styles into character creations
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Silhouettes

Introduction

Power Sets

I want you to succeed in this course. Really. It's important to me. So, take a quick watch of this video, and be sure to follow my advice as you go forward.

Origin Story

Simplified Skeleton

Body Types

Articulation and Hinging

Simplified Anatomy

Color Theory

Symbols

Personalities

Costume Choices

Stylization

Wrap Up with Handbooks

Thank You

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How To DESIGN CHARACTERS for comics, games and animation with these activities:

Review Basic Anatomy

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Reviewing basic anatomy will help you understand the underlying structure of characters, making it easier to create believable and functional designs.

Browse courses on Figure Drawing

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Study anatomical diagrams of the human body.
Practice drawing basic skeletal structures and muscle groups.
Focus on proportions and how they affect character design.

Review 'Figure Drawing: For All It's Worth' by Andrew Loomis

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Reading this book will give you a strong foundation in figure drawing, which is essential for creating believable and dynamic character poses.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read the chapters on proportion and construction.
Practice the drawing exercises in the book.
Apply the principles to your own character designs.

Design a Character Based on a Specific Personality Trait

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Creating a character based on a specific personality trait will help you understand how to convey emotions and characteristics through visual design.

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Choose a personality trait (e.g., shy, confident, mischievous).
Brainstorm visual elements that reflect that trait (e.g., posture, clothing, facial expressions).
Sketch several character designs based on your ideas.
Refine your favorite design and create a final illustration.

Four other activities

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Create a Character Design Sheet

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Creating a character design sheet will help you organize your ideas and present your character in a clear and concise manner.

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Choose a character you've designed.
Include front, side, and back views of the character.
Add details such as facial expressions, costume variations, and accessories.
Write a brief description of the character's personality and backstory.

Develop a Character Design Portfolio

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Developing a portfolio will allow you to showcase your character design skills and receive feedback from others.

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Create a series of character designs in different styles.
Include characters with diverse body types, personalities, and backgrounds.
Present your designs in a professional and visually appealing format.
Solicit feedback from other artists and incorporate their suggestions.

Review 'Character Design From the Ground Up' by Kevin Cross

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Reading this book will provide you with a structured approach to character design, helping you to develop your skills and create more compelling characters.

View Patina on Amazon

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Read the chapters on character archetypes and visual storytelling.
Practice the design exercises in the book.
Analyze the character designs of your favorite artists and identify the techniques they use.

Redesign an Existing Character

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Redesigning an existing character will challenge you to think critically about design choices and how they impact a character's overall appeal.

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Choose an existing character from a game, comic, or animation.
Identify the character's strengths and weaknesses.
Brainstorm ways to improve the character's design while staying true to their core personality.
Create a new design that addresses the character's weaknesses and enhances their strengths.

Career center

Learners who complete How To DESIGN CHARACTERS for comics, games and animation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Character Designer

A character designer is responsible for creating the visual appearance, personality, and backstory of characters for various media, including games, comics, and animation. This course equips students with the foundational knowledge to excel as a character designer. The course provides invaluable insights into the 'dirty dozen' units of character design. These include origin story, bodytypes, simplified anatomy, power sets, color theory, and costume choices. By understanding these elements, aspiring character designers can craft compelling and believable characters. The course's emphasis on creating original characters helps designers stand out in competitive industries.

See salaries and explore the career path for Character Designer

Character Modeler

Character modelers create three-dimensional representations of characters for video games, animated films, and other media. A character modeler can benefit from this course. The course teaches ways to incorporate various design styles into character creations. Character modelers might find the course's teaching on articulation and hinging to be extremely helpful. The course also discusses body types, providing the modeler a good place to start. The course’s modules covering articulation, simplified anatomy, and body types help character modelers create more believable and dynamic models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Character Modeler

Game Artist

Game artists create visual assets for video games, including characters, environments, and props. Character creation is central to the work of Game Artists. This course helps game artists learn how to design characters that stand out. Game artists may find that this course helps them become more skilled at the role of color theory in creating visually appealing characters. Artists may learn to create characters with distinct and memorable silhouettes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Artist

Book Illustrator

A Book Illustrator creates images for the interior or cover of books. Understanding the 'dirty dozen' units that make up the foundation of character design enhances the skills of a Book Illustrator who focuses on characters. The course's discussion of costume choices can be useful for designing characters for fictional books. The course is appropriate for artists of all levels. Book Illustrators can benefit from learning techniques for creating original characters, which this course can help them achieve.

See salaries and explore the career path for Book Illustrator

Graphic Novel Artist

Graphic novel artists create and illustrate long-form comic books that tell complex stories. This course provides a solid base for anyone looking to break into the world of graphic novels. The course explores the importance of an origin story, simplified structure, bodytypes, articulation, simplified anatomy, silhouettes, power sets, symbols, color theory, costume choices, personalities, and styles. Graphic Novel Artists may find the course's coverage of costume choices to be particularly helpful. Aspiring graphic novel artists may find tips for designing characters with believable and functional articulation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Novel Artist

Texture Artist

Texture artists create the surface details and materials for 3D models, including characters, environments, and props. Knowledge of the 'dirty dozen' units that make up the foundation of character design enhances the skills of a texture artist. The course's discussion of color theory is especially useful. The course is appropriate for artists of all levels. Texture artists can benefit from learning techniques for creating original models, which this course can help them achieve.

See salaries and explore the career path for Texture Artist

Illustrator

Illustrators create images for books, magazines, advertisements, and other media. This course may be useful to an illustrator. The course helps illustrators leverage the 'dirty dozen' units that make up the foundation of character design: the origin story, simplified structures, bodytypes, articulation, simplified anatomy, silhouettes, power sets, symbols, color theory, costume choices, personalities, and styles. The course also touches on techniques for simplifying complex anatomy to create more stylized designs. The course includes tips for designing characters with believable and functional articulation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Animator

Animators create moving images using computer software or traditional animation techniques. If you want to become an animator, this course may be useful. The course discusses techniques for creating original characters that stand out in their respective industries. Animators may also take advantage of learning the role of color theory in creating visually appealing characters. The course includes various design styles into character creations, providing animators with more options.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Comic Book Artist

A comic book artist visually narrates stories through sequential art. Students of the comic book medium may find this course helpful. The course discusses the 'dirty dozen' units that make up the foundation of character design, including origin story, simplified structures, and symbols. This helps comic book artists create engaging characters. The course also provides techniques for creating original characters that stand out in their respective industries. The course also highlights how to convey a character's personality through design choices.

See salaries and explore the career path for Comic Book Artist

Freelance Artist

Freelance artists work independently, creating artwork for various clients on a contractual basis. If you want to become a freelance artist, this course may be useful. The course discusses how to develop a concept for a character and turn it into a fully realized design. The course also discusses the importance of an origin story, simplified structures, bodytypes, articulation, simplified anatomy, silhouettes, power sets, symbols, color theory, costume choices, personalities, and styles. Freelance artists may also find the course helpful for understanding the role of color theory in creating visually appealing characters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Artist

Storyboard Artist

Storyboard artists create visual representations of a film, television, or animation script in the form of a sequence of drawings or panels. These are often made for animations, so this course would be helpful. The course details strategies for creating characters with distinct and memorable silhouettes. Understanding the importance of an origin story, simplified structures, bodytypes and more ensures that the storyboard artist's can create an amazing story. Storyboard artists may find that this course provides techniques for simplifying complex anatomy to create more stylized designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Storyboard Artist

Concept Artist

Concept artists generate visual representations of ideas for use in media such as film, video games, comic books, and other related media. If you want to become a concept artist, this course may be useful. You will learn about the 'dirty dozen' units that make up the foundation of character design including simplified structures, silhouettes, and stylization. Through these the would-be concept artist can better create original characters that stand out. The course introduces you to techniques for simplifying complex anatomy to create more stylized designs, and strategies for creating characters with distinct and memorable silhouettes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Video Game Designer

Video game designers create the concepts, rules, and storylines for video games. The course emphasizes the importance of an origin story, body types, simplified anatomy, power sets, color theory, and costume choices. The video game designer can gain insights into how to give a character the vibe you want and why certain design elements work better than others. This course is particularly useful for game designers that are early in their career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Game Designer

Art Director

Art directors oversee the visual style and images for various projects, including films, television shows, advertising campaigns, and video games. As art director, one is responsible for the overall aesthetic and visual elements of a project. The course’s modules covering articulation, simplified anatomy, and body types help an art director create more believable and dynamic visuals. The course would be most helpful for an art director who has the creation of fictional characters in their scope of responsibility.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

How To DESIGN CHARACTERS for comics, games and animation

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