DESIGNING WITH PERFORMANCE IN MIND

"Design is solving problems. Not just being weird to be different."

Each application of character design has its own characteristics and attributes. Here are just a few:

Animation
       - characters need to work from all angles
       - Repeatable shapes - whether able to be hand drawn or true to a model
       - Eyes up front for expressions
       - Workable anatomy
       - detail for close shots
Comics 
       - easily repeatable from different angles - keeps character
       - keeps character in different environments and backgrounds
       - reads very small 
       - reads in busy or dark compositions
       - doesn't depend on detail for recognition
       - longer read time - readers can study image as long as they like - expression
Games
       - readable silhouette when very small or seen from behind
       - interesting detail
       - big readable shapes
Movies
       - Character details for up close
       - big screen - up close and personal
       - expressions
Illustration
       - see comics
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       - Iconic
       - colorful
       - quick attention giver
       - simple read
       - audience - (children)