Creative Character Design for Animation, Games and Comics

For over ten years, I've been reviewing character design portfolios online, at comic cons and art school Q&A sessions.

In that time, I've met many artists with charming personalities and impressive technical skills.

…but a true Character Designer is extremely hard to find.

True Character Designers get consistent work.

True Character Designers sell lots of books and prints at cons.

…and some of them create characters who will outlive us all.

Here are some of my favorite articles and interviews that will help you transcend the trends and begin to create characters with soul...

Interview With Claire Keane :: Paper Wings Show #33

By Chris Oatley

Claire Keane is a brilliant illustrator and visual development artist, who has helped to develop numerous immersive worlds, including Tangled and Duet.

After leaving Disney, she released her first illustrated children’s book: Once Upon A Cloud. It’s a beautifully rendered, heartwarming story about family and following your dreams.

Join us today as we discuss humanizing your fictional characters, the versatile power of line, leaving Disney and Claire’s new artistic path…

Tips For A Competitive Visual Development Portfolio (Part 3): Respect Your Characters’ Personal Space

By Chris Oatley

This is the third installment in a series designed to help you understand the responsibilities of a Visual Development Artist and create a portfolio that exceeds expectations.

In parts one and two, you intensified your visual exploration of story and character. I’m also hopeful that you began to think of your portfolio as a storytelling medium in itself…

Today, I’ll share an inspiring character development exercise that I learned from storyboard guru Justin Copeland…

Tips For A Competitive Visual Development Portfolio (Part 2): Be Friends With Your Characters

By Chris Oatley

My good friend Claire Keane gives what is, perhaps, the best advice about Visual Development portfolios that I’ve ever heard.

…and today I’m going to share it with you.

This is part two in a series designed to give you an advantage when pursuing one of the most competitive jobs in animation.

Interview With Character Designer Justin Rodrigues (Part 2) :: ArtCast #87

By Chris Oatley

In part one, Justin Rodrigues shared healthy ways to deal with rejection and how his character design style combines 2d and 3d sensibilities.

Now, in part two, he talks about how the internal and external aspects of a character inform his designs, why ‘personal style’ can be a problem and the most important question an aspiring character designer can ask…

Plus: Sarah Marino‘s mentee, Austin Light, shares an extraordinary breakthrough story that involves Robert Downey Jr. and a deal with Chronicle Books!

Interview With Character Designer Justin Rodrigues (Part 1) :: ArtCast #86

By Chris Oatley

Justin Rodrigues is a good friend and one of my favorite current artists.

In this episode, we discuss the most productive way to respond to rejection and how his character design style blends 2D sensibility with 3D structure.

After Justin’s interview, Spanish concept artist Juan Francisco Bautista Zambrana shares the story of a recent career breakthrough and what he learned while breaking into game design!

Creative Character Design for Animation, Games and Comics

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