Shenmue by SEGA

Shenmue is known to be a adventure game with interactive features for the player. The story is written to be more realistic to everyday life so it effects the design of the character. The clothing is modern wear and normal to our world. Perhaps knowing the characters will be developed into a 3D model, the artist kept the details to the minimum. I don't like the outcome of the final 3D model because they didn't maintain that style shown in the sketch above. Maybe 3D modeling wasn't as advance when it was made back then but i find the facial expressions very stiff.

Grandia by Game Arts

This is one of the first role playing games that I have played and enjoyed because of the interesting characters. By looking at these sketches, I like the way they are presented therefore I prefer facial expressions of characters done roughly. The watercolours show before stages and it brings the images alive. I recon using these mediums to design characters are better when thinking of ideas. Its more free and not having to worry about them being neat.

El-Hazard: The 3 priestess

El-Hazard is an anime I watched a while back. The image shows three supporting characters who each have their own elements. Although they're not the main characters, I think they leave a big impact on the viewers.

The reason behind it is that their personality, clothing, and colour designs are based on their own special powers such as fire, water and wind. The artist created them so all the features will reflect the idea of that element.

Monster Hunter designs

This is a game of hunting where you upgrade your status by collecting armor, weapons and clothing. Many designs are needed for the original avatars, monsters and non playing characters. The character avatar used for the game players are mainly warriors but they differentiated by costumes based on world cultures. There are designs such as western medieval, Egyptian, Asian samurais or ninjas, Russian fur outfits and African tribal appearances. Costumes and clothing of the character is important so they focused on the details since the game will also be developed into 3D.

Sonic the hedgehog

Sonic the hedgehog was created in 1991 and throughout many series of games, the character has been developed and evolved as the time passed. They kept his main features such as the colour blue with the gloves and red shoes.
The first stages of Sonic. He seems simplistic and childlike. The basic idea is that they had to capture his fun, easy going, short tempered and trouble maker personality. Having a speed faster than sound, they gave him features of blue spikes since he's a hedgehog.
This image has the turn around poses. Over all the shape of his head is rounder and the pupils are larger. The style is still childlike.


Most recent appearance. Personally I like this style the most. They developed Sonic to look more intelligent and mature. The features havent changed but the eyes are more green. His body structure has become slim and the spikes are more exaggerated and bigger.

Trinity Universe

In anime Role Playing games, the appearance of the characters are crucial since you have to go through the story by using them. If the characters aren't like-able then it is pointless.

In the recently released game Trinity Universe, the first thing I noticed was the colours. Each character has similar faces because of the artist's style but they are different from costume, and other details. But colour has a strong impact and I see each one of the characters has their own palette.

Spirited away

In Studio Ghibli animations, they tend to focus on the actions of body language and facial expressions. Their works have been known to have flexible and realistic movements. To figure out their character's personality and reactions, many poses and faces need to be experimented to each one of them. The main female character from Spirited Away is a child and they portray this concept really well by making her appear innocent and being naive.