#xb2177

Aaaaand, this is the project from this module I enjoyed the most. We had to design two characters that were obviously related in some way. Like their silhouette, their color or their visual style. Like the Powerpuff girls. They have the same visual style. But if you are not convinced, what about two from different sagas? What about R2-D2 and the Daleks? They have pretty much the same silhouette and they are really much alike. You could think of them as family.

Well, that’s that. Then we were told to do one representing a warrior, and the other a tank. Easy.

For my project, for some strange reason I can’t comprehend, I wanted to draw something green. Some plants. I needed it. So I started sketching lots of different flora. Some inspired by real ones, some not.

In the end, I started mixing animals with plants and got some weird results. Nevertheless, I got various characters that I really liked. Hard time picking. I ended up choosing to do the Mandragora as the tank, and the mushrooms as the warrior. I would have like to do the fungus too, but it has this “poisonous/suicide bomb” vibe, rather than warrior or tank, so... And the little one with the tree bark mask? He would make a perfect cannon fodder.

SO this was the final result:

Following the former challenge, now we were tasked with a cannon fodder character. You know, those little fellows. Those who get totally forgotten the second they disappear and aren’t taken seriously. Because. You have fought against the seven kingdoms and defeated powerful beasts that spat fire and ate children alive, why should you bother with a slime? Or a Koopa? No biggie’. You shouldn’t.

Look at him, he doesn’t seem like a bad guy. More like he tries really hard to be a bad guy. He’s even kind of cute.

It ended up being generic. But most of the cannon fodders are generics I guess. That’s why I’m not entirely disappointed with my work.  

Last year, we did a project touching a bit of character design, but this year we actually have a module of character design. And of course, what else but to start with a main character?

I spent a fair amount of time researching and thinking about this project. I just couldn’t come up with an idea enough satisfying. Until I remembered a friend who usually personalizes himself as a guy with a chicken head and something clicked inside my head.

I liked the concept of a character who had three different pieces of three different animals to gain their abilities and change it. Much like Kirby who swallows enemies to acquire their power. Then, Poio was born: Chicken head, tiger body, and dragon tail. He unsews and sews (or attach) other animal body parts when he needs other powers. He’s a little cheeky and cheerful guy.

Here is my first sketch of him. I also tried sketching him in some other animal parts to give an idea of his multiple possible outfits (and just for fun):

Some color palettes:

And here you have the final result!: