Character Concept Art: Designing the Impossible

At the core, character concept art means the visual development of any character style for animation, games, comics, and other media. Taking an idea, usually just a vague description or feeling, and developing it into something visual that truly captures the character. This isn’t just about painting pretty pictures; this is a visual blueprint that is going to govern every single aspect of a character’s overall development, from modeling and rigging to animation and even marketing.
Let us see why that forgotten area of animation, so interesting to people in the industry is.

You must be wondering by now, "Can’t we just start animating, and then figure out everything along the way?" Trust me, I have seen projects try to take this approach, and rarely do they end well. Here is the reason character concept art is so vital:

• Visual coherence is managed;
• It helps define the character’s personality;
• It even helps save time and resources in the long run with marketing and merchandising;
• It basically serves to reinforce world-building.

Creating compelling character concept art isn’t a linear process. It’s an exploratory, iterative, and refinement-rich journey. Here’s a very general overview of how it typically unfolds:

1. Research and Inspiration
2. Sketching and Exploration
3. Refinement and Detailing
4. Color and Texture
5. Presentation and Feedback
6. Revisions and Final Approval

Let’s break these down further.

Before a single line is drawn, a good concept artist immerses themselves in research. This might entail:

• This means reading the brief many, many times;
• Doing research on specific historical periods or cultural references that may have an influence;
• Referencing other media for similar characters;
• Looking for real-world references on anatomy, clothing, or props.

Image - Research and Inspiration: Building the Mental Library The idea is to build an extremely rich mental library of ideas and references that will later inform your design process.

This is where the rubber meets the road. Armed with research and a good brief, the artist starts to play with several ideas by quickly sketching them out. They aren’t intended to be highly artistic pieces but more along the lines of visual brainstorming sessions. What works here is that it’s about quantity over quality. I have even seen dozens, sometimes hundreds of sketches for a single character by an artist. It’s about exploring possibilities and seeing how far one can push things.

Once a few promising directions come to light, it is time to make a refinement. This step includes:

• More detailed drawing development
• Variations of poses and different expressions
• Animating the character: How will it move? How will it interact?
• How will this design translate into 3D if necessary?

Image - Refining the Vision: Bringing Characters to Life
It’s a time when the character will truly begin to come alive.

Color can dramatically change the mood and character of a character. This stage involves exploring different color palettes and textures, considering:

• The personality of the character and any back story
• The feel of the project
• How the character will look in various lighting
• Any practical considerations for animation or game development

Presenting character concepts is an art form of its own. A good presentation may include the following elements:

• Multiple views of the character (front, side, back)
• Expression sheets showing different emotions
• Action poses showing how the character moves
• Color variations or costume changes

The point is to leave the client or team with no questions about the character.

Very few character designs get approved in one go. The feedback and revision process is the most important part. It may include:

• Proportion adjustment
• Color adjustment
• Costume element adjustment
• Rethinking parts of the design

It can be frustrating, but this is usually where good designs become great.

While talent and creativity are paramount, the tools used in character concept art can significantly impact the process and results. Here’s a quick overview of some common tools:

Tool Type	Examples	Pros	Cons
Digital Painting Software	Photoshop, Procreate	Versatile, easy to edit	Learning curve, can be expensive
3D Modeling Software	ZBrush, Blender	Allows for 3D visualization	Complex, time-consuming
Traditional Media	Pencils, markers, paint	Tactile, unique textures	Less forgiving, harder to edit
Tablet/Stylus	Wacom, iPad Pro	Precision, pressure sensitivity	Can be expensive, requires maintenance

Image - The Tools of the Trade: Digital and Traditional Media Read More: Best 3D modeling software of 2024 (Source: techradar.com)

Throughout the years of work in animation studios, I learned that great character design rarely arrives on its own. As a process, it involves collaboration between:

• Concept artists
• Art directors
• Writers
• Animators
• Clients or stakeholders

Image - Collaboration in Character Design: A Team Effort Each brings another special view that may be included to enrich the final design. The key is fostering open communication and a common vision.

There are always traps that even experienced artists fall into while designing characters. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:

1. Overdesigning:
Too many details make a character difficult to animate or relate to.
2. Ignoring the character's purpose:
Keep in mind the purpose of the character; the design should always serve this.
3. Forget technical limitations:
A design that is impossible to animate or render isn’t useful.
4. Steal from other designs:
While being inspired is good, originality is important.
5. Cultural sensitivity:
An individual should keep in mind how the designs will be perceived across cultures in our global market.

Read more: What are some common pitfalls to avoid when designing characters for different genres and audiences? (Source: Linkedin.com)