Tips for Creating a Great Character Design II

Whether be it for games, comics, animation or merchandise, we cannot ignore the fact that good character designs play an active role in driving the sales of the product in question. While good character designs help to drive sales, great character designs grow companies and even shape the landscape of the creative industry. This is the last of 3 articles dedicated to the topic of creating great character designs and some tips to bear in mind when designing your characters.

Exaggerated Characteristics

As far as possible, exaggerate the characteristics and facial expressions of your character. Exaggerated expressions will allow viewers to better appreciate the character's key qualities and make your character more interesting. If your character is a Hercules sort, give him muscles 5 times that of a body builder.

Props and Accessories 

Props and accessories add depth to a character design and help to emphasize a character's traits and his background. Done well, they can also open up a whole range of spin-off opportunities in merchandise. Take the example of Doraemon - the robot cat who comes from the future together with a full range of props from the future. Many of these props have since been licensed into real merchandise.

Story Background

Developing a story and background for your character is necessary if you are planning for your character to cross over different platforms. Without this in mind, it will be more difficult to convince potential licensees to exploit your character for development into platform properties like story-books, comics, animation and games.

Goals and Dreams

Characters are more interesting and closer to fans if they have a goal and dream which they might or might not be pursuing. This may be a relationship, a state of mind, a physical asset, anything. This gives the fans something to identify with and talk about amongst each other.

Don't be Afraid to Experiment 

Experimentation is about breaking all the rules and going against the norm.

If your character is evil, he doesn't necessarily have to look nasty. Make him unforgettable by giving him an unassuming and harmless look! Think Mini Me from Austin Powers! If your character is a really nice guy, why not give him the body of a gorilla and make him a gentle giant? Just check out Sulley - the huge furry monster who has the soul of an angel!