Exploratory Practice-Character Design

The Initial Character Design

At the beginning, I only created two distinct images for the two characters, one representing animals and the other representing humans.

The choice of the frog as the animal image is because frogs can eat pests. At the same time, in my perception, frogs are often children’s toys and are bullied by children. When I was in primary school, I often saw people around me catching frogs, pinching them or throwing them. Some children even tried to tie them up with ropes to prevent them from running away. Such behavior I also witnessed in my younger brother. At that time, I was shocked and asked him why he was abusing the frog. My brother said because everyone around did it, because frogs are ugly. So I think such a creature, which is often tortured by humans but beneficial to farmland, is very suitable for the story I want to tell about the symbiosis of humans, animals and plants.

And the human figure was created because of the violent behaviors that I imagined from human children towards the creatures around them. So I designed a child’s image. I wanted him to have a sharp and irritable personality.

In the first tutorial with Su-Lynn, I was advised that the design of this human character was not sufficient to showcase its sharp features. Suggestions were given on how to change the facial design to achieve this. In the second tutorial with Hannah, I was given the suggestion that we need to find a way to add the same elements to these two characters to show their relationship.

The Final Character Design

This is my final character design. I redesigned the shape of the human character’s eyes, changing them from the originally softer shape to a sharp triangular shape. I also redesigned the shape of the human character’s hair. I designed the hair to be more fluffy, giving him the characteristics of a dandelion.

I adjusted the color designs of the two characters. I chose yellow as the main color for these two characters because dandelions are yellow when they are in the flower stage. At the same time, I designed the same shape of blush for them. I think these two design adjustments can emphasize the relationship between them.