Character design

[RubberPanda]

Well i want to start animating full body animations.
If you check my animations there gay stickmen and bouncy balls
But i have one problem..
I'm not good at making good characters i'm trying to draw like physicpebble's style
but they always come out bad so i want you guys to post picture of characters you have drawn
so i can get like an idea on how you draw them
Links to video tutorials
or drawing lessons
will be really helpful.

[JellyDraft]

At 6/2/12 08:29 PM, RubberPanda wrote: Well i want to start animating full body animations.
If you check my animations there gay stickmen and bouncy balls
But i have one problem..
I'm not good at making good characters i'm trying to draw like physicpebble's style
but they always come out bad so i want you guys to post picture of characters you have drawn
so i can get like an idea on how you draw them
Links to video tutorials
or drawing lessons
will be really helpful.

It's important to learn the simple things first, like knowing how far down the arms go. Look up the human figure, and study what parts go where. Also it's OK to start out mimicking another animator's style, as long as you eventually develop your own style out of that.

[RubberPanda]

Thanks for the advice

[RubberPanda]

I drew this but i don't think it looks that good
tell me what you think

[ClSanders]

Hey man, not bad! Those wacky hands and absence of a neck totally work yo, even if it was by fault. But, the only thing that's really wonky are those legs! Just how often do you see people standing like that? PROBABLY NEVER!

Click this! Silly NewGrounds image restrictions
[img]http://i.imgur.com/1NAfe.png[/img]

Judging by the shirt, I figured it was a full on straight-ahead view, but I wasn't sure, so I drew it (or tried to) from a three quarter's view as well. Basically, those legs were too damn straight! On top of that, the way the feet were angled just didn't make any sense! Ask me questions guy! Not that I'm the authority on cartooning but I'd like to be of help.

[Tyler]

Listen here you- your drawing skills are the most important thing. They come before anything else.

Jazza posted some decent videos on constructing bodies and shit: http://www.youtube.com/user/DrawWithJazza

learn your anatomy first, then worry about designing and animating.

[Xcyper33]

At 6/3/12 05:53 AM, Tyler wrote: Listen here you- your drawing skills are the most important thing. They come before anything else.

Jazza posted some decent videos on constructing bodies and shit: http://www.youtube.com/user/DrawWithJazza

learn your anatomy first, then worry about designing and animating.

This is really good stuff!

[RubberPanda]

Thank you for the tutorial link
I know the legs look like straightened pubic hairs
thanks for all the help guys

[RubberPanda]

Don't know how to edit forum posts but here
is a drawing of another character.

[kmau]

In my opinion the best way to start is to learn realistic human anatomy. Once you got that down (not without practice of course) you can twist and bend it into cartoony shapes.

[RubberPanda]

At 6/4/12 07:15 AM, kmau wrote: In my opinion the best way to start is to learn realistic human anatomy. Once you got that down (not without practice of course) you can twist and bend it into cartoony shapes.

ok thanks for telling me

[ExtremeFudgeMaster]

Those examples you posted are fine for Flash animations.

[JellyDraft]

At 6/3/12 09:58 PM, RubberPanda wrote: Don't know how to edit forum posts but here
is a drawing of another character.

Other than the lack of nose, hair and ears, plus the extremely long arms, he looks pretty good.

[veselekov]

One thing I find helpful is to always angle your characters in 1 direction rather than straight ahead

Pic: Something I am working on in spare time.

[RubberPanda]

thanks for all ur help guys

[Blounty]

At 6/6/12 09:14 PM, veselekov wrote: One thing I find helpful is to always angle your characters in 1 direction rather than straight ahead

Pic: Something I am working on in spare time.

Well Ash's head is straight on and his body isn't.

Also you should be able to draw your character looking in any direction, don't be silly now.

[veselekov]

At 6/7/12 03:59 AM, Blounty wrote:

At 6/6/12 09:14 PM, veselekov wrote: One thing I find helpful is to always angle your characters in 1 direction rather than straight ahead

Pic: Something I am working on in spare time.

Well Ash's head is straight on and his body isn't.

Also you should be able to draw your character looking in any direction, don't be silly now.

OMG noob stfu

His head is like that because he is looking straight forward but his eyes aren't (to create a suspicious look)

Plus, I never said you can't make him change direction. When creating character models it is a good place to start. (examples = family guy, american dad, ANY anime.)

In the screen industry I learnt it is important to always have your characters facing away from the camera. It creates a sense of watching something. The worst mistake made is when you look directly or your character looks directly a the camera.

[Blounty]

I think I like this guy

[terabiter]

At 6/7/12 04:51 AM, veselekov wrote:

At 6/7/12 03:59 AM, Blounty wrote:

At 6/6/12 09:14 PM, veselekov wrote: One thing I find helpful is to always angle your characters in 1 direction rather than straight ahead

beginner animators and artists do seem to have the problem of drawing things face on. Its true. Maybe what you mean is that there should be varied directions when drawing characters.

Pic: Something I am working on in spare time.

Well Ash's head is straight on and his body isn't.

Also you should be able to draw your character looking in any direction, don't be silly now.

OMG noob stfu

Mate the only one acting buthurt here is you.

His head is like that because he is looking straight forward but his eyes aren't (to create a suspicious look)

You could also make the suspicious look by squinting the eyes or making him look out to the sides of his vision without moving his head.
Correct me if Im wrong, but it looks like you traced the hell out of the two characters faces. It looks like that because of the smoothnes of the lines compared to the rest of the bodies and also that the heads dont quite match up to the bodies. But hey, im no expert.

Plus, I never said you can't make him change direction. When creating character models it is a good place to start. (examples = family guy, american dad, ANY anime.)

In the screen industry I learnt it is important to always have your characters facing away from the camera. It creates a sense of watching something. The worst mistake made is when you look directly or your character looks directly a the camera.

I think your right. But what if the character is interracting with the camera, or it is showing someone elses point of view? Artists when doing character design often start their first drawing with the front view, then the side view then the diagonal view. The thread says character design.

Rubber Panda, I am not at an adequate level to teach you how to design characters, but someone that helps me to learn a lot about character design and generally making character sketches look great is Mark Crilley. I know its not exactly the style that you are going for but I think it could benefit you. He makes consistent good quality videos. http://www.youtube.com/user/markcrilley

And blounty. Sort out your icon. Its a fucking disgrace.

[Generations1st]

Starting with a stick man isn't to say you shouldn't, as all designs are usually planned that way in a Exo skeleton format..(Usually considered as story board level, but even then you have to have a decent level of drawing skills.)
What you must remember is stick-men can't be taken seriously, the reason being is that they don't have any personality, and i'm afraid in order to be a good animator, you need to know how to draw.
It's essentially required, and is something that cannot be neglected for animation.
From the moment you plan the platform and theme, the resources are solely dependant around you to supply the needs for the project, it's always handy to work in teams, and with experience, you will conjure up new upgrades and ideas for your story and your character, design...

I only recently Changed the look on one of my characters which can be found here, because i didn't like his old look.
keep in mind, this is after 2 years of developing the same character, this is usually referred as a revamp..

Hope this helps good luck.

[djDurgyDurg]

as someone who is also very new to animating, i think the most important thing is to do what comes natural. draw shapes you enjoy and wouldn't mind doing frame by frame. eventually it will evolve and fit better.

[RubberPanda]

i think this is the last drawing im gonna make for this forum

[sweet21]

To be honest hair and facial structure is one of things that define one character from another. You need to learn new hairstyles and whatnot. I suggest learning about hairlines and growing points.
here's a hair tutorial
I was taught that learning the hard things makes the easier things even easier. So....take the video seriously.

[ExtremeFudgeMaster]

At 6/24/12 03:17 AM, RubberPanda wrote: i think this is the last drawing im gonna make for this forum

Looks good. Now start animating :D

[BRshox35]

Here's one ;D(-_-).

[Blounty]

At 6/27/12 01:36 AM, BRshox35 wrote: Here's one ;D(-_-).

ORIGNISAL CARACTER DO NAT STEL

[JellyDraft]

At 6/24/12 03:17 AM, RubberPanda wrote: i think this is the last drawing im gonna make for this forum

Longer thinner arms, less fat body. His head/neck is way too this for that fat of a body.

[Uebie]

http://www.livestream.com/uebiestudios

theres a few vids of me drawing and animating if you feel like watching and observing I recomend it ...
its how I learned to draw, by studying other peoples work ethic :)
hope it helps

[RubberPanda]

thanks guys