Unit 7: Narrative - Poses & Expressions

Charles' Poses

Charles' Expression Sheet

Unit 7: Narrative - Charles' Development/ Final Turnarounds

Needing to make the character of Charles look younger, I quickly sketched the chosen head shape with slight variations of body shapes. The sketches are rough however, the purpose of the exercise was to put my ideas on paper. I then picked elements and sketched a number of ideas on Photoshop including eye designs.

Next, I took the third sketch and adjusted his body, adding colour and detail into the drawing. Below is a breakdown of each design:

1 - A different nose shape - more upturned however, this is often associated with higher classes. The face also looks too sharp/defined for a young boy. Considering eyelids.

2 - Softer face shape and comparing different eye colours.

3 - Even rounder face shape - makes his face look too chubby

4 - Adjusting face shape, changing eyes and removing eyelids

5 - Chosen character - Eyelids re-added and shape of face a little more defined

Final Turnarounds:

These are the final turnarounds for Stitch to start modelling the character. Technical adjustments may need to be made for the modelling process which I leave Stitch to make while working in Maya.

And finally, I have added colour versions of the character to show the colour scheme that will be used for his clothing, skin, hair etc.

Charles - Garden Colour Scheme and Outfit

Charles - Factory Colour Scheme and Outfit

Unit 7: Narrative - Character Sketches - Charles Stage 1

Hey Everyone,

I kept meaning to post this up I just never got round to it but its better late then never. I actually knocked these sketches up the very first week of the Unit 7 brief. I never found the time to post but never the less I have them here now and they helped communicate my initial vision of what will become our fully realised animated star "Charles".

 

The images above show my initial thought and as things gradually moved forward the features began changing, moving from real to caricature. I like seeing this development in anything really makes me think where it began all the way back with page 1 idea a. Just quick throw away sketches, but even now there has been further creative influence from my partners Anita and Lydia :)

There has been soul searching within this brief and obviously lots of hits and misses when trying to fine tune an idea. We began with just an idea and then a discussion over adapting environments got our talks wandering further and further, since then its more or less been a back and forth between me and them and then a mini talk with our client (Alan) to discuss further details.

 

Having seen there vision I'm glad we are at a place where we can look back and see the journey already and only after 4 weeks. Lastly the image above here (Last Sketch) is something I drew in the train at the end of week 2. The eyes and weak chin were my key factors there was just something totally innocent about it.

I've never really drawn kid characters so it was nice to have a play with a few ideas even if it was brief. I will still be considering a couple of minor concepts which I will probably drive from sketches. I just don't like the line tools in Photoshop.

Anyway that concludes my little post on this matter, Anita has gotten our final turn arounds busted out so next week I should be in a place to begin the rigorous modelling process. which shouldn't take me much more then a week I wouldn't have thought.

Catcha Later,

Over & Out,
xXStItChXx

Character Thumbnail Sketches

Here are a few quick character thumbnail sketches to possibly assist Anita in designing our final narrative protagonist, Charles. In our team we have delegated specific tasks to each individual but still felt that if everyone created a few thumbnails in terms of character and environment it would allow a more creative final design.  

 

Unit 7: Narrative - Character Sketches

Here is my progress on the character sketches. I struggled getting into the flow of character design however, I feel as though the sketches have improved. The last face on the left is the one that we have decided to develop as he has potential to be a happy and sad character that the audience can empathise towards.

While working on the face, I drew four costume ideas. The group preferred the third costume however, this may be changed. I then took the preferred face and outfit and put the two together, finally adding colour.

This is not the final character as I still need to refine his features. Photoshop Phill suggested changing the eyes and moving the features around. He also emphasised the point of using silhouettes to improve the face and figure. The next stage will be to refine the current design to give the boy more character.