Introduction
Throughout my DPS year, I have helped work on the Self Initiated Project L A.I. D Off, A short film directed by my fellow DPS students Amy Thoetong, Jocasta Chu, and Trisha Nicomedes. I’m currently working as an assistant character artist, helping create turnarounds of their characters and designing background/minor characters to help populate the film. I’m also assisting when it comes to promotional artwork and call-out posts for their social media!
Character Turnarounds
My first role was creating a couple of turnarounds for their main character Bea. Both her normal design and her more worn out, exhausted secondary design. These were to be presented in their pitch pack, shown to Creative Conscience.
I started by taking the character sketch provided and making small edits to create symmetry, adjusting details so that she would be easier to imagine from an orthographic view, as well as designing the hands. After checking-in for feedback, I was given critique on my line art style. My lines were too bold and heavy, whereas the art style of the short film was lighter and pencil-inspired. I was sent a small style guide to help me with where to thin my line art, and then got started on the rest of the turnaround.
To keep consistency in form across every drawing, I placed plenty of guidelines before sketching. Each feature was lined up against my front view reference.
For the tired reference of Bea with loose hair, I was told to emphasise her hunched posture. Her eyebags are more prominent, and clothes are more creased.
I was also asked to create turnarounds for Bea’s boss, Roger. I found his exaggerated proportions particularly challenging to imagine in the third dimension, and his body particularly difficult to make symmetrical.
After getting feedback from the directors, I learnt that his arms were too short for his body! It took a lot of adjustments to get the face and proportions to an acceptable standard, but I managed to reach a place where we were happy with it.
Character Design
For character designs, I created the old lady reading a newspaper that sits next to Bea on public transport. In the initial storyboard, she hops up onto the seat- and so her design needed to be incredibly short. I was given the storyboard as a reference for her height and proportions.
My design is round and approachable with a lot of soft shapes. I want her to look inoffensive and kind, with simple clothing that is animation friendly.
Upon showing this sketch to the directors they commented that the clothing silhouette is too simple, pointing out that the different garments all blend together with a single line on her back. I took the advice, and decided to re-sketch her outfit with a break in the silhouette.
colour..
I also designed Bea’s coworkers. They were to be less detailed than Bea, but still believable that they work in the same space as her. They will be shown reacting with unease at the decisions of their boss, roger!
Both coworkers wear clothing of a similar style to Bea, with plain shapes and flat colours. I wanted to make sure that their faces had very little unique features, so that they don’t pop out and distract the viewer. There should be no question who the main character is.
This project is still in development,
To be continued….!
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