For week one, we studied character’s forms and shapes and looked closely at what types of shapes made up a character and what they meant. Characters that were unthreatening and friendly usually had a circular and soft shape, while character’s that were meant to be menacing were more pointed. I decided to study female characters and their shape, as they are more softly drawn and are more rounded unless they are older or androgynous.
(Flora, Winx Club)
(Kaoru Hazuki, NG: Spirit Hunter)
(Sailor Neptune, Kaioh Michiru, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon)
These characters carry themselves with a certain degree of poise and elegance befitting their personality, which is shown through how they are drawn. I feel you can see this more clearly with Sailor Neptune whose feminine charm is a main part of her design and form.
(Atsuko Kagari, Little Witch Academia)
(Sophie Hatter, Howl’s Moving Castle)
Atsuko and Sophie are different from the previous studies. The former is more excitable while Sophie is more relaxed. Sophie also has a more squared face as she is older while Atsuko is young and has a rounder face. Forms and shapes can be used in a way to translate age and experience, as can actions and poses.
I also looked at characters that I had created in the game Final Fantasy XIV to understand posing and proportions better, and also build differences.