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What would I take if I wanted to do character design?
I wanted to design animated characters for TV shows but I don't know what skills I need for that. #design
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Rachel’s Answer
Hi Amariana! Great question. There are a LOT of things you can do to get into character design for animation, so I'm going to touch on a couple big ones.
First, you need to have a thirst for learning. A thirst for learning and the ability to adapt to new technology is essential! Do you already have an arts education? Do you know the fundamentals of drawing? Learning how to draw real people, animals, plants, and objects is necessary if you want to create your own designs. Figure out which medium you work best in. Do you like using physical media, like paint or pencil? Or do you excel in the digital space, either in 2D or 3D? If you don't already have an arts education, where can you get one? Do you learn best in a classroom setting, or are you an independent learner? Will you absorb concepts better by having assignments in a class, or by attempting to make your own animated project and learning along the way?
As you're learning, build up your portfolio. Take your best work and tuck it away to show people what you can do. Practice gestures, facial expressions, posing, costuming, styling, and use your favorite pieces as examples of your talent.
Next, read up on the animation industry. I recommend "Your Career in Animation: How to Survive and Thrive" as a starting point. It's a fantastic resource that even professionals use. Research the animation pipeline and learn all of the steps that it takes to make an animation, from pre-production through post-production. No part of the process exists in a vacuum, and understanding all steps will make you a better character designer. Also, play around with animation software. Animaker, Blender, and OpenToonz are all free to use!
Finally, look into animation societies and conventions to meet people and learn more about being a character designer. Women in Animation and The Creators Society have great panels from people across the industry, and CTN is the biggest animation expo out there. Take the leap and introduce yourself to people; you never know who will become your biggest supporter!
There's truly no one way to become a character designer, but I hope this information was helpful as a starting point. Have fun, and make good art!
First, you need to have a thirst for learning. A thirst for learning and the ability to adapt to new technology is essential! Do you already have an arts education? Do you know the fundamentals of drawing? Learning how to draw real people, animals, plants, and objects is necessary if you want to create your own designs. Figure out which medium you work best in. Do you like using physical media, like paint or pencil? Or do you excel in the digital space, either in 2D or 3D? If you don't already have an arts education, where can you get one? Do you learn best in a classroom setting, or are you an independent learner? Will you absorb concepts better by having assignments in a class, or by attempting to make your own animated project and learning along the way?
As you're learning, build up your portfolio. Take your best work and tuck it away to show people what you can do. Practice gestures, facial expressions, posing, costuming, styling, and use your favorite pieces as examples of your talent.
Next, read up on the animation industry. I recommend "Your Career in Animation: How to Survive and Thrive" as a starting point. It's a fantastic resource that even professionals use. Research the animation pipeline and learn all of the steps that it takes to make an animation, from pre-production through post-production. No part of the process exists in a vacuum, and understanding all steps will make you a better character designer. Also, play around with animation software. Animaker, Blender, and OpenToonz are all free to use!
Finally, look into animation societies and conventions to meet people and learn more about being a character designer. Women in Animation and The Creators Society have great panels from people across the industry, and CTN is the biggest animation expo out there. Take the leap and introduce yourself to people; you never know who will become your biggest supporter!
There's truly no one way to become a character designer, but I hope this information was helpful as a starting point. Have fun, and make good art!
O.O woooah thank u miss ma'am this is really helpful
Amariana
Updated
Ares’s Answer
I agree with everything Rachel has stated so eloquently and would deeply underscore learning and practicing Anatomy (Human and Animal).
The key to exceptional Animae in my opinion is that the artist is able to make the viewer forget that they are watching drawing rather than actors. The characters act, move, interact within their space so naturally and seamlessly that the brain isnt interrupted with moments trying to sync something real with what is not
To that end, understanding the core basics of how your characters move is critical to maintaining that reality despite the medium. For example relax and then hold your hand out palm up down. Look at your fingers. Where are they pointed? What is the curve that they naturally land on? Which is higher or lower? What part of the finger can you see?
Now, relax, and turn your hand palm up slowly. Watch how your fingers move and curl. Which is closest to the palm and furthest?
We see things again and again through our lives that we stop being cognitively aware of them, but when we see something that isnt right, something in at least the subconscious picks up on it and tries to understand it.. and then you have pulled the viewer back to the fact that this isnt reality and takes away from all the work you have done to draw them into your world
How someone's shoulders turn.. How the ankles and knees and even toes move while sitting down.. How not just the arm swinging moves, but how the other arm compensates along the way..
If you rewatch your Animaes you will begin to see the attention to Form and Movement and how much it affects the experience! Bests!
The key to exceptional Animae in my opinion is that the artist is able to make the viewer forget that they are watching drawing rather than actors. The characters act, move, interact within their space so naturally and seamlessly that the brain isnt interrupted with moments trying to sync something real with what is not
To that end, understanding the core basics of how your characters move is critical to maintaining that reality despite the medium. For example relax and then hold your hand out palm up down. Look at your fingers. Where are they pointed? What is the curve that they naturally land on? Which is higher or lower? What part of the finger can you see?
Now, relax, and turn your hand palm up slowly. Watch how your fingers move and curl. Which is closest to the palm and furthest?
We see things again and again through our lives that we stop being cognitively aware of them, but when we see something that isnt right, something in at least the subconscious picks up on it and tries to understand it.. and then you have pulled the viewer back to the fact that this isnt reality and takes away from all the work you have done to draw them into your world
How someone's shoulders turn.. How the ankles and knees and even toes move while sitting down.. How not just the arm swinging moves, but how the other arm compensates along the way..
If you rewatch your Animaes you will begin to see the attention to Form and Movement and how much it affects the experience! Bests!