The learning outcomes of this subject are:
The objective of the Character Design course is to provide students with the skills and techniques necessary to design
high-quality characters for any type of visual project (video games, series, movies, theme parks, etc.). Students will
develop their creativity, visual communication skills, and understanding of the fundamental principles of character
design.
Week 1: Presentation of the course program. Importance of character design within a project. Explanation of the
different areas where character designs are used. Analysis of the fundamental character design principles that will be
covered during the course.
Task: Initial level test (not graded) to assess the overall group and individual students' initial capabilities:
Design 2 characters with aesthetic coherence based on two descriptions given in class.
Week 2: Style: Learn to maintain a specific style throughout the creation of different characters in a project. Learn to
analyze and distinguish different visual styles.
Task: Create a "self-portrait" in the style of a specific series or movie.
Week 3: Anatomy. Basic proportions of the human body. Simplification of major muscle groups. Exaggeration and
synthesis.
Task: Study of full-body anatomy. Exaggeration of realistic anatomy to create a stylized yet anatomically
correct character.
Week 4: Turnaround, how to create a precise turnaround depending on the design goal and the type of project it will be
used for (T-pose, A-pose, gestural pose).
Task: Create a turnaround of 3 poses (frontal, posterior, lateral) for the character designed in the previous
exercise.
Week 5: Poses/Gestures. How to use references to draw interesting poses.
Task: Draw 5 poses of the character designed in the previous exercise.
Week 6: Expressions: Analysis of skull structure, detailed analysis of expressions, how to create expressions.
Task: Create 5 expressions for the character from the previous exercise.
Week 7: First delivery of the final project. Feedback session.
Week 8: Clothing design. Work on clothing. Folds, textures, etc.
Task: Design a character with loose clothing and design the attire correctly.
Week 9: Color and rendering. Learn to paint, light, and shade a character correctly.
Task: Create first a black and white version and then a color version of the character.
Week 10: Introduction to creature and monster design.
Task: Design a creature by combining two real animals.
Weeks 10 and 11: Final project. Workshop-style classes, with individual follow-up and feedback.
Week 12: Final project presentations.
The course methodology will combine theoretical sessions, practical demonstrations, analysis of reference character
designs, and supervised practical exercises during classes that can be adapted to the different levels of the course
students. Teamwork and peer feedback will be encouraged to enrich the creative process. Each class will include
practical exercises for students to apply the knowledge and techniques acquired. Small independent and practical
exercises will also be conducted during the class. Special attention will be given to feedback and corrections on the
student's work.
Semester resume: 25%
Final project: 50%
Weekly exercise submissions: 10% (all exercises must be submitted within the deadline to be evaluated).
Continuous assessment: 15% - Student involvement in classes, attendance, behavior, commitment, and
professionalism.
Extraordinary assessment: Students who do not pass the ordinary evaluation have the option to pass the subject in the
extraordinary evaluation session through a special exam. The maximum grade will be a 5.
Final project:
Students will work individually on the development of a final dossier that will consist of the complete development of a
character, reflecting the knowledge acquired during the semester.
The final project must include:
10 silhouettes exploring different character options.
5 preliminary sketches exploring different character options.
1 final design with complete color rendering.
1 complete turnaround of 5 poses (Frontal, ¾ front, Side, ¾ back, Back), lineart + flat colors.
3 poses showing the character's personality. Lineart + flat colors.
5 expressions. Lineart + flat colors.
Midway through the course, there will be a first project delivery with work in progress. This delivery will account for 25%
of the final grades evaluation: 15%
Evaluation criteria for all exercises:
-Exercises must be submitted within the established deadline; for each day of unexcused delay, 1.5 points
will be deducted from the exercise grade, with a maximum of 3 days.
-A screenshot of the corresponding moodboard section with the reference images used must always be
attached to each exercise
"Character Design Quarterly 1: Visual Development" - 3dtotal Publishing - 2016
"Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators" - Mike Mattesi - Focal Press - 2006
"Sketching from the Imagination: Characters" - 3dtotal Publishing - 2014
"Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter" - James Gurney - Andrews McMeel Publishing - 2010
"Creature Design: Creating Imaginary Animals" - Terryl Whitlatch - Design Studio Press - 2015
"The Art of Animal Character Design" - David Colman - Ginkgo Press - 2017
"Character Design Quarterly 10: Visual Development" - 3dtotal Publishing - 2022
"Creating Characters for the Entertainment Industry" - 3dtotal Publishing - 2017
"The Skillful Huntsman: Visual Development of a Grimm Tale at Art Center College of Design" - Scott Robertson, Mike
Yamada, and Khang Le - Design Studio Press - 2005
"The Art of Moana" - Jessica Julius - Chronicle Books - 2016
"The Art of How to Train Your Dragon" - Tracey Miller-Zarneke - Titan Books - 2010
"The Art of Frozen" - Charles Solomon - Chronicle Books ? 2013
"The Art of Kung Fu Panda" - Tracey Miller-Zarneke - Insight Editions ? 2008