Solid character design comes down to a few key things: clear silhouette, shape language that communicates personality, and construction solid enough to redraw the character from any angle without reference.
This course skips the fluffy 'find your style' talk. Instead, you'll learn the technical framework professional character designers use—whether for animation, games, comics, or editorial work.
How it's structured
First three weeks focus on construction and consistency. You'll build characters from basic shapes, establish turnarounds, and test them in different poses. If your character only works in one angle, the design isn't finished yet.
We spend serious time on silhouette readability—designing characters that communicate even in pure black. Shape language comes next: why angular forms read aggressive, round forms read friendly, and how to combine them deliberately rather than randomly.
The second half covers variation and refinement. Taking one base design through different ages, body types, and costume changes while maintaining visual identity. How to design supporting casts that feel cohesive but distinct.
- Weekly design challenges with specific constraints
- Professional character sheets and presentation
- Turnaround construction and maintaining volume
- Costume and prop design integration
By the end, you'll have portfolio-ready character sheets and understand the thinking behind professional character development, not just the final pretty drawings.