Build a Character in Illustrator

Learning Intention: Investigate techniques to explore – ask yourself what look you might want to create
Success Criteria: Review resources below and do own research to use ideas to experiment in own work

Here’s a checklist for students and teachers. This is what you should have ready so far:

Styles

Thinking about what sort of character we will make and how we will style it, is an important consideration. There are so many places that a character like the one you are designing could be used. With digital programs, there is so much that you can do to develop the look and feel of a character. In this lesson we are going to have a look at some ways that the characters might be used. Here is a great article about the history of comic book art, you might find it inspirational: https://99designs.com.au/blog/design-history-movements/history-of-comic-book-styles/

One of the places that your character could be used is in animation. Artists were the first people to practice animation, and here is a really great documentary about the changing looks and history of different animation styles.

Widening research

Here is another Pintrest link https://www.pinterest.com.au/Robotpencil/animation-style/ of heaps of differently drawn characters.

Have a look at two or three of them, add them to your book and discuss the artists use of techniques, with reference to how you might achieve it in Illustrator.

https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/297941331595419913/

Does it have a 3D look? This drawing looks like it was done in illustrator, it has used gradients on several areas to give it a 3D look and has also used cut out style shapes as well. How has the composition used the canvas and how has it used colours? There is no shadow where they are standing so they look like they are standing in the middle of nowhere, and even though they are really close there’s no shadow from one to the other and it looks like they aren’t impacting each other at all.Perhaps the layout of this scene would have created more interest if they had been better facing each other. The colours are harmonious and there are many shades and tints. Do we know who the characters are and who the audience could be? They are fun characters however, and tell us a lot about who they are by what they are carrying, with one holding baseball and the other holding a basketball. They could be used to sell a product or they could be for younger kids except one of them is smoking. So maybe a cartoon for adults. How might you achieve this in Illustrator? You could achieve this look by tracing shapes out with illustrator and then filling them. You could add a gradient to some areas, but doesn’t have outlines on it.

https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/297941331595316082/

Does it have a 3D look? This image could have easily been done in illustrator. It has a heavy outline and cartoonish look of a vector image and also some nice shading and gradients over the top of some bright colours. Do we know who the characters are and who the audience could be? This pint sized warrior has a dirty knife in his had and looks like he has just come from some sort of battlefield. The audience would likely be people who play games, but not for very young children. How has the composition used the canvas and how has it used colours? The colours are really limited in this palette, as opposed to the one above that has more colours and more variations of colour. The composition is right in the middle of the canvas, well posed and the centre of attention. How might you achieve this in Illustrator? You could achieve this look by drawing each shape with the pen tool or the shape tool, applying a stroke to it and adding in some gradients to give him a bit of a 3D look. Reminds me of the character style from Jetpack Joyride or Monster Dash.

I’ve also been really been thinking about the characters in Zootopia and their furry-ness. Although Zootopia is done in 3D, I’m hoping I can find a way to use some of that fur look in my character:

Does it have a 3D look? This image has a 3D quality to it and has definitely been created using a 3D program. Do we know who the characters are and who the audience could be? These characters are aimed at children and their parents, with Pixar often adding in jokes for parents into children’s movies. How has the composition used the canvas and how has it used colours? This is like a selfie taken by Judy Hops and exemplifies the qualities of the characters personalities really well. The colours are consistent throughout the movie, and each character has it’s own colour scheme but are also connected to the 3D world they inhabit as well. How might you achieve this in Illustrator? You could achieve this look by drawing each shape with the pen tool or the shape tool, using gradients to give a 3D presence, or using brushes or other techniques to create individual hairs.

Here is a quiz that is absolutely mandatory (just kidding but it’s fun)- it’s which Zootopia Character are you? I’m Judy Hops if anyone is asking!

https://ohmy.disney.com/quiz/2016/03/08/quiz-which-zootopia-character-are-you/