To put it simply, character design is the process of creating a complete character from scratch, inside out.

From my blog, you can see that I have a strong affinity for designing characters with interesting appearances and exaggerated behaviors. Honestly, this aspect of animation captivates me more than the animation frame by frame itself. The fundamental reason I pursued animation as a field of study was the hope of seeing the characters I create come to life on the page.

Through research and consultation with various sources, I’ve come to realize that character design in the realm of commercial animation is a complex discipline requiring imagination and a strong foundation in sketching. This role plays a pivotal part in the early stages of animation production. Designers need to grasp the characters’ personalities and basic appearances from the story, refine and optimize them based on directors’ notes and instructions, and then extract essential elements from concept sketches. By combining these gathered elements, they create their character designs. Facial expressions and body movements are used to fully portray the characters’ personality traits.

1. In essence, good character design should meet two criteria:

2. Thoroughly and completely portray the character’s fundamental appearance and key features.

Ensure that the character’s visual representation aligns with their inner qualities.

This is a collaborative process that requires coordination with storyboards, concept art, and the script to bring the character to life.