Character Design

 

24/8/20 - 23/11/20 (Week 1 - Week 14)
Ng Ming De (0335594)
Character Design (GCD61704)

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Lecture Notes 
Lecture 1: Concept World Design (Week 1)

It's a new semester, COVID is still going on but we are having our first blended physical and online classes. I came to campus for a change of environment and was greeted by Ms Anis. We have to join the Discord channel for further classes and announcement and she proceeded to start the class by explaining the module outline and world building.

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Instructions 

Task 1: Personification

Concept World Creation (Week 1-4)

We are given a theme to follow, which is South East Asian elements. Throughout this module, we will be creating an original character which is inspired by SEA culture for our intended output, which ranges from games, animation, webcomic and others. For the first task, we have to make a fantasy world for our character to reside in, this will determine the look and feel of the character and add a sense of believability. This world building will be carried onto our two other modules, Anatomy & Character Sculpting and Vehicle & Props Design.

I picked on Thai influences and its culture because I find the garments very fascinating and uniquely Thai. Thus, I decided to create the world of Iaht, starring my original character, Annisa Erikah. Throughout the next few weeks, we have to update our moodboards and build up our visual references that will give us an image of what our world would look like. 

Next, we will be sketching out silhouettes and gesture drawings for our OC. As stated from my moodboard, I will be making a queen, so she should stand out from everyone else with her pose and clothes. I want to make a character for a MOBA game, who is a mage class, focusing on elemental powers.

Fig 1.1 Initial Concepts

I took inspirations from other games like League of Legends and Smite, such as characters like Qiyana (LoL), Elementalist Lux (LoL) and Nu Wa (Smite). As well as real-life fashion such as Ongina and Jujubee from RuPaul's Drag Race.

Fig 1.2 Character Inspirations

Then, I created my silhouettes based on my Visual References I collected from my moodboard.

Here are my 10 Silhouettes, Gesture Drawings and Value Study:

Fig 2.1 Silhouettes

Fig 2.2 Silhouettes turned to outlines

Fig 2.3 Value Study

After that, I made some decisions to pick out the elements that I find are working and want to incorporate into my final design.

Fig 2.4 Elements to Incorporate

3) The crown

5) The chest plate

6) Design of the chest plate + Shoes
8) Hairstyle shaped like a temple

10) A two sided cloth strapped onto the waist

 I used some reference from real life clothes from Thailand: 

Fig 2.5 Pants

Fig 2.6 Shoes

After that, I made my OC, Annisa Erikah along with the turnaround.

Fig 2.5 Turnaround Progress

Fig 2.6 Final Oc Design Turnaround

Task 1 Compilation:

Task 2: Concept Development

In task 2, we have to make some expressions and poses that would best describe the personality and characteristics of our OC without the use of words.

I started off with 12 basic expressions and some expressions that would best fit Annisa as a queen.

Fig 3.1 Expressions study 1

Then, I went on and made some poses where she would be using her powers/ idle poses for her in-game pose.

Fig 3.2 Poses study

Ms Anis said that no.2,4,3 and 7 was a bit weird but no. 9 and 10 looks nice. So I worked a little bit more on the legs and hand gestures.

Fig 3.3 Poses study (Refined)

I picked no. 1,5, 6, 9 and 10 to further work on more expression studies and some color + light study.

Fig 3.4 Expression study 2

Fig 3.5 Expression study 3

Ms Anis said that the colors make it seem flat so she taught me some techniques on how to color them such as: using blue + glow filter for the hair, yellow + glow for the skin highlights and brown for the shaded regions on the skin.

Fig 3.6 Color + Light study 1

Fig 3.7 Color + Light study 2

After that was done, I finished up the full body colors for the chosen poses.

Fig 3.8 Final 5 Poses

Then, it was time to make the weapon. Though I wanted to make Annisa a mage that just casts her elements out of thin air, Ms Anis persuaded me to make some form of weapon were she can channel her powers instead, like orb or something. So I though of the catalysts from Genshin Impact where the characters would use these as a way to channel their powers to deal damage to enemies.

Fig 3.9 Censer Reference

Fig 3.10 Catalyst (Genshin Impact)

 Thus, I began try out some design from censers and incorporating some Thai elements onto it. I made two variations: a hand-held censer with chains, and a floating censer. I picked the 1st one from the top as my default weapon.

Fig 3.11 Censer 

I even made some icons of the elements she would wield in battle, but Ms Anis said to restrict it to 4 as her having more than that seems overly powered in a MOBA game.

Fig 3.12 Elements

Then, it was time to make the outfit variation. I took one of the silhouettes from my gesture drawing and made a Ball Gown Outfit for her inspired by White Diamond from Steven Universe. 

Fig 3.13 White Diamond

Being it as an outfit for formal events, I decided not to make a weapon or focus on flexibility as she would most often be busy dealing with the guests. However, she should still stand out the most among the crowds.

Fig 3.14 Outfit Variation 1

I made a second version where her shoes are high heels instead of the basic Thai shoes but in white color.

Fig 3.15 Outfit Variation 2

Task 2: Compilation:

Task 3: Character Design Executions

Moving onto Task 3, we have to make a hero pose, also known as the pose of all pose which would perfectly describe what kind of a character our oc would be. I wanted to make a splash art like how champions from League of Legends have, so I started off with some sketches.

Fig 4.1 Sketches

I liked no.2 more because she is demonstrating her powers in a powerful pose, thus I continued working on from there.

I though of how the elements looks weird though, so I looked for more reference from Avatar: The Last Airbender to see how the elements would flow.

Fig 4.2 Fire bending

Fig 4.3 Fire & Water bending

Then, I sketched out the flow of water and think of some colors for the elements.

Fig 4.4 Water Sketch

Then, I drew the water wave with a watercolor brush and add the glow filter to the highlight.

Fig 4.5 Water base +  highlight + shade

I added waves with a brush I downloaded to give it more texture and effect.

Fig 4.6 Water waves

I drew Annisa with her hero pose and colored it.

Fig 4.7 Annisa inserted

Using the same technique and a different brush, I drew the flames moving in around Annisa so that it looks like the elements revolve around her.

Fig 4.8 Flames

Then I added some rocks and stones levitating as well as a glow from her weapon to show that she is using her powers to control the elements around her.

Fig 4.9 Stones added

As for the background, as mentioned in Task 1, Iaht is a place surrounded by mountains and near the sea, hence I placed Annisa outside of Iaht to signify that however dares enter Iaht with evil intentions, will be stopped by Annisa herself. I also added highlights and shade onto Annisa.

Fig 4.10 Mountains

I added the sky and now it's done :D

Fig 4.11 Final Illustration

Following the requirement of producing a 3D model, here is the 3D Model of Annisa Erikah executed in Anatomy & Character Sculpture.

Fig 4.12 Front (Right)

Fig 4.13 Front (Left)

Fig 4.14 Back (Left)

Fig 4.14 Back (Right)

Task 3 Compilation:

Task 4: Final Project

For our final project, we have to compile all of our previous tasks into one as the character bible for our oc, consisting of progress and development.

Task 4: Character Bible

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Reflections

Experience 

The overall experience is quite fun as we are doing something we like, despite the pandemic still ongoing. I honestly love the constant development of our beloved OC as well as incorporating our SEA culture into it. I love the flexibility of doing whatever we want and I'm really thankful for the feedback that Ms Anis has given me throughout this module.

Observations 

I really enjoy looking at how my classmates have their own interpretation and own ideas in making their very own OC's. As you know, OC's are basically a character designer's child :))

Findings

I find it helpful to build a visual reference and constantly look for visual references in making our Oc or any module in the future. This will allow us to look at real life ideas or ideas made by other people within the same field as us. Having these visual references will allow us to learn and expand our idealisation. It is always good to have these necessary references as most of these are just a Google search away. Rather than struggling on the pose of the character or details, it doesn't hurt to find ideas or references online or in games and animation.