5 Character Design Tips I Wish I Knew Sooner

[@bubbs6969]

For the record, to anyone who may be wondering: that was absolutely not the first time I screwed up that line about the hat. The accursed hat. I curse a whole lot in my day-to-day, but not as much as I did all in that one moment. I only do a bit string like that when I'm really frustrated, and lemme tall ya, being frustrated when also trying to make your voice sound pleasant and energetic is very frustrating. 🥲 However, me and my siblings were dying while listening to the edits again, so it's all good.

[@astraamarante6233]

I once saw a video that listed the types of story creation. Making stories for characters is character-based plotting! (obviously 😅) As for me, I also work insanely hard on character designs because I love putting interesting characters inside a world and having them go through adventures. That said, I also like to go by world-based plotting, and I love complex world-building, too. I guess you could say I like making stories to show off worlds that don't exist and characters that struggle to live in them, lol. Thanks for the video! It popped up in my recommended and I'm always looking to improve the ways I make characters.

[@rulerzreachf4n34]

“Say something nice to yourself 🥰“ “I’M A FRAUD, I’M A SHAM 🤬“

[@bubbs6969]

Do as I say, not as I do. 😇

[@GooseGirl1037]

@@bubbs6969LMAO

[@PringlesL0vr]

“I like to hear myself talk” SCIENTIFICALLY IMPOSSIBLE

[@maichival]

“Maybe you just want to listen to me yap while you draw” *looks up from procreate sweating* 0_0

[@SirStarKat]

My ADHD would never let me lmaooo

[@Ozloz]

Looking at the design on the shirt, being worried I look like a creep who’s just staring at boobs, then realizing it’s morse code and translating it. What a wonderful experience this was

[@anastasiapupo]

Right before you mentioned the crystal gems I was precisely thinking "steven universe does that pretty well", which just further proves your point, I had never given the star much thought on a character design level, because character design in that show is so well done that the star does not feel out of place on anyone who has it, despite all the differences in body type or shapes or colors, their design is part of who they are as characters.

[@ramune_u]

things i love about this video: the artstyle the information the script the voice (i love all of it. great video)

[@ArguAngels]

[] Great video to listen to while working on character design!

[@yourlocalgenishinplayer6036]

I knew I wasn’t insane when I heard it (๑>◡

[@graceful_skies6504]

For some reason I've never thought abt drawing my characters side by side to help with making their designs work well together and to work out what height they will be. Starting on that while watching this actually!

[@_DeezDrawings_]

Tysm for helping me with finding my character a whole lot more! Her whole story to be throughout my life has been a blur, but with a CRAP TON of writing tips, I think you were the final video that helped me nail down her flawed and beautiful story :)) 👍

[@bubbs6969]

This is genuinely so heartwarming. I am so glad I was able to help you! Keep creating!! >:)

[@Robzzmbie]

I WENT FERAL ONCE YOU SHOWED LARRY I LOVE THAT MAN HOLY CARP

[@winglessseraphim89]

“AHHH F- I F- F- B- F- F- P- GOD F-ING SH-T I hate everything 🥲” -bubbs 2024

[@OrcaBerry]

Great video! As an author, a lot of these tips translate over to the wonderful world of character-writing too, and I’ll certainly be using them to help my characters stand out and feel more like people :)

[@congaking100]

Fantastic video, very thorough. Also I’ll have the rent by Friday but the foods still getting got.

[@bubbs6969]

Well, as long as I can buy a lil extra from you with the rent 🫡

[@chxrlii167]

Thanks for this video!! I really like your designs. And it's kinda funny how the shirt just says "boobs"

[@Sophia-t8y]

I've just started learning Morse code (I have a spy story and I figured I might as well learn it if it's going to be in my story) and I just now realized that's what it says.... 😭

[@chxrlii167]

@Sophia-t8y Lol. Your story sounds cool! I learned it because of a Roblox game haha. Is there any particular method you're using for memorization?

[@Sophia-t8y]

@@chxrlii167 to memorize I'm basically writing a sentence for every letter. For instance, I might remember "at morning" for A because it's a dot and a dash. Dots get one syllable, dashes get several. Technique I learned on KZbin lol.

[@chxrlii167]

@@Sophia-t8y That's exactly what I did and exactly where I got the method from!! Loll

[@Butter-Production]

Chat, should I learn morse code?

[@jjju3]

disco elysium music for tip 5 was very clever, considering how much the character design ethos for that game purposefully avoids Traditional Attractiveness, the two main characters are men in their mid 40s, one is balding and one canonically looks several years older, and every character you run into feels like. Some Guy. Wrinkled or fat or scarred or tired or disabled and just a well rounded as every other character, it is a large reason that game stood out to me so much, revachol feels like a world full of people _you_ could see on the street, and i think thats so crucial to the down to earth story its trying to tell.

[@bubbs6969]

Yeeeees. That game 1000% nails the Beauty of Average or even "Ugly" so well. Too often characters with stereotypically unappealing physical features are automatically the villains, but not so in DE. TBH my brain totally did not make this connection tho and I literally just liked the Mood of the Whirling Night theme lol

[@HyperMushroomYT]

When I think Dipper and Mabel I think "Shooting Star" and "Pine Tree" lmao (To be fair, it is their symboles on the Cipher Wheele.)

[@andreagonzalez5980]

I think what you said at the end was SO REAL cuz now I've been drawing for years I can appreciate peoples flaws as something that makes them unique instead of judging them. (ignore the pfp pls It's from 4 years ago 😭)

[@PeriluneStar]

I haven't even finished the video yet but these are great tips so far!! And for some reason even though you briefly mentioned it making a palette for my comic would be a great idea lol i just didn't even think about that before-

[@PeriluneStar]

Okay I finished the video lol-

[@Auraorlumi]

Love all the tips. Especially the last one! I’m still trying to apply that one to my art. Glad your search for the microphone is done lol

[@Skittles-furry]

"hello I'm an artist, and I love to hear myself talk" damn that was real straight forward XD

[@iamnotbob2503]

5:38 I decided to take out my phone and come to this video. just so I could say I’m in both categories.

[@eiennoikari]

i love how expressive your sprites are😭

[@KatietheKreator]

My personal rule for designing comic characters in particular is that if I draw them from memory and consistently forget to draw an aspect of their design, that aspect isn't important so I get rid of it until I simplify their design down to its most important characteristics. This obviously doesn't work well with really complex characters whose finer details are very important, but for cartoon characters in comics, I've found it pretty helpful

[@DanimalDraws]

5:07 Things to consider 5:25 Vibe ideas 5:36 Inspiration places 7:20 Who do they interact with? 11:10 Exaggeration ideas 15:50 Random imperfection examples

[@audD0ll]

My younger self needs to see this video asap. I would always make only 1 color as the color palette. Like for my OC back then, she’ll have way too much pink some white and maybe a bit of black and that’s it 😀 Now I give my OC some blush pink hair, black and dull muted pink for the outfit, and a touch of white which is seen in my pfp. I also gave myself brown eyes. I give my own persona’s color palette more colors. I developed more favorite colors. I gave my self pink hair since it’s my main favorite color. And I was struggling with pale yellow and devil cherry red eyes but in the end I just went with mixing them making it have brown eyes which still looked great. I even like cherry red, black, and dull pink. And I even gave myself a collared bow tie to add somewhat mischief :D

[@curryattack]

I also want to make a long form video in the furture with my voice, but i tried recording and i ended up sounding really nervous😅 i was just wondering how you got more confident when doing your voiceovers?🥲

[@bubbs6969]

To be 100% honest, I'm not super confident, haha. I kinda hate how I sound in recordings, especially compared to how I sound to myself in my head. My best advice is just try not to worry about how you're sounding or if you're good and just focus on having fun. If you're making a long form vid, it should be about something that excites you! If you find out later you sound a bit janky or didn't get a point across how you wanted, you can always just re-record. Also, keep water around. Water is good when you're yapping to yourself.

[@InnoxPC]

I can give you a piece of advice: you probably think it’s worse than anyone else will, no one will no what you sound like the rest of the time so no one will notice

[@Pongopaces_]

As someone who got into voice overs recently, just pretend you're talking to family or your best friend!! It helps so much to remind yourself that no strangers are actively listening. You have the space to be yourself :D

[@thelingeringartist]

Even better: if you have a friend or someone willing to body double for you, take them up on that offer and talk to them like ur infodumping about ur script! (I do this in my head while doing voice overs… except I have no script. It’s bullet points haha)

[@lilyjones4141]

I have a smoll tip! Try recording little things, just for yourself. You don't even have to keep them! It'll help you get used to talking into a microphone, and you can imagine people are watching, or you can cozy up in your room with the door closed. It's up to you. It gets better as you go, so don't worry about being nervous on your first try, or first thousand tries. Good luck, fellow! ❤

[@midorimodern_hochuumeret]

Music from don't Starve, then COTL, then Spore (the cut-off for cussing LMAO), then Minecraft, didn't recognised the other ones (would be nice if you'd be putting song names in desc), but was super excited to recognise those, strait up snatched from my in-head music library! It's the first video I saw of you, and you're funny, especially with those cursing-breaks. You're style of narration makes you unique and pleasant to hear, the way thanking viewers is really cute, and the information made me become sure about that I should bring some changes to my old characters and that I'm doing better with newer ones Also, don't judge yourself too harshly for bloopers, like you did in the end here. You're not a failure and not "incapable". You'll het better at it with experience, be patient to yourself. I actually liked them lol. And, just like you said, imperfections makes us special, and you're one special bean out there

[@bubbs6969]

This is sooooo sweet! 🥹 For the record, the other songs were from Oxygen Not Included (during the second tip) and Disco Elysium (during the last tip). I genuinely meant to put the songs in the description and I 100% forgot. Thank you for the reminder, seriously. I always forget something, haha. Also, don't worry, I was mostly goofing around at the end to relieve a bit of my frustration. I'm definitely still a bit insecure, especially since people are actually looking at my content. It is humbling and scary but also super exciting, so joking about my imposter syndrome is a fun way to make it less scary. I can in fact read and talk (usually). Still, thank you for the encouragement. I'm gonna keep on posting! I have lots of ideas in the works. >:)

[@GreenBean-g8p]

2:19 Calling me out for drawing while listening to you yap i cant😭😭

[@emeraldqueen1994]

My first OC, Susie, is a dragon who has Cerable Palsy (CP) so she’s got wing, leg & tail braces…..

[@bleeding2905]

I really love this long form content! Your art and vast information make a really awesome video (I eat my lunch with you vids (highest of honor))

[@liminish9019]

only banger videos from you!!! heck yea i never even thought about teams/friends sharing color accents!!!

[@bubbs6969]

I first read this as "only banger video", singular, and thought you were shading me LOL

[@liminish9019]

@@bubbs6969 LMAOOO ID NEVER 🙏

[@atIas.x]

TYSM FOR THIS! You absolutely made a good first impression :3 I love that last tip aswell, i've only written my characters imperfectly but it really did change my perspective on things

[@thegrimwilds]

I love your newest video! I think your imperfections and mess ups are really funny (especially with the added censoring giving me a chuckle)! I can’t wait to see a new video ❤❤❤

[@timebubble8421]

Me hearing the cellstage music from Spore in the background and going nuts

[@microorganismnarancia_lol]

Hi. Absolutely ADORE this video. i wanted to comment because I also absolutely adore the music selection on there. hearing Don't Starve together, Oxygen Not Included AND Disco Elysium music all in the same video made me JUMP OUT OF MY SEAT in joy. You have IMMACULATE TASTE p.s. your sona's tank top is very funny I love it I hope you have a very fun day

[@akafelix54]

Wow, awesome video! Thank you very much for great tips! Perfect timing, because I'm trying to design few groups of characters for my book right now and those 'group' related tips are just what I needed! P.S.: Cool art style and I love your OC ❤

[@PirateBat]

Congrats on finding the good mic

[@magdaopioa9539]

THIS HELPED A LOT, YOURE MY FAV ARTIST!!!

[@tacopower3578]

I LOVE YOUR VIBES SM!!!!! YOU SEEM SO SWEET AND THE LAST TIP WAS SO LIKE. POSITIVE AND REALLY GOOD :'3

[@CranberryCake]

I found you from this. I. LOVE. This. Thank you!

[@wondaraptor]

Tip 3 is THE best because of how not obvious it can be

[@xenomorphbannana4788]

Help I tried to like this video twice it's so helpful

[@DeBlackRed]

So glad i found your channel!

[@R4inb0wD4sh_dragon]

Hi I just found ur channel and I was wondering if you could post a sketchbook tour (if not that’s fine) your artsyle is really cool and it’s inspired me a lot so thank you btw

[@bubbs6969]

Thank you so much! I'll definitely think about it! I don't actually sketch in my sketchbook as much as I'd like, plus I have a sort of mentality about sketchbooks being personal? Because of it, I worry less about actually making "good art" and more about expressing myself. Making a video about it would kind of stunt my process of sketchbook-ing, to be honest. If there's enough desire for it, though, I could definitely show off!

[@slbraby]

watching while i draw. ty for your service bubbs

[@bubbs6969]

OMG HI! Hope you are doing well. I am honored that I can yet again annoy you while you draw but from afar. ❤

[@kithz8120]

haven’t finished the video but i LOVE anything & everything character design so i’d be ecstatic if you made more character design videos!!

[@kithz8120]

loved the video! tips were helpful, but more noticeably your humor gives me flashbacks to old art youtube which was really fun & nostalgic :) I’ll definitely binge some more of your videos!

[@OwlsByte]

Can you talk about some good ways to come up with concept art? I tend to struggle a lot with that and would appreciate advice on it!

[@bubbs6969]

This is an interesting suggestion. Could you specify more what you mean? What about concept art is kind of confusing/hard for you? Just in case I do decide to do it. 👀

[@twinfantasytowers]

Not really a great tip, but 90% of my concepts i come up with just doing everyday things. I come up with vague concepts and designs in my head while I’m doing schoolwork, cooking, cleaning, etc, and then when i sit down later, I just make a bunch of very rough and messy ideas to get it down as a drawing.

[@izzybusy]

This is so unrelated but i just found your channel today and 😂 the shirt- Great work loved the video

[@fr33dom.fr33dom]

This really helped thanks!

[@iceflamewolf2855]

This was helpful, thank you!

[@WebSurfer009]

I need to get into a habit of including group details, this video yet another reminder it is deed possible to include too many contrasting details in designing, well anything in art. This also reminds me to get back to drawing everything asymmetrical for the initial drawing, then pick stuff to use for the follow up. I recommend anyone here to try it

[@lionfourty9258]

WE ARE SO BACK GUYS- I’m happy you found your mic, and I really liked the music you picked as well from games like Minecraft and Cult of the lamb. It really added to the parts they were used in, and the tips were great too. I’ve been trying to redesign an old character of mine myself recently and these are helpful things to think about, especially the part with imperfections- I’m sorry you struggle with body positivity at times but I’m glad portraying it in your art and seeing it in others helps. Can’t wait for the next upload with even more funny bloopers and personality sprinkled in-!

[@bubbs6969]

I'm glad the bloopers were actually fun!! I like bloopers but also I feel like it's more fun and maybe a little more real to show the times that I mess up. :)

[@Spotted-Claws-707]

I’m sure you get this a lot, but HOLY HECK I LOVE YOUR ART STYLE

[@Embry_MDs]

"If you are watching this video you are either using the internet or in my walls" DARN IT! HOW DID YOU KNOW I WAS IN YOUR WALLS...

[@bubbs6969]

Y'all are so loud when you scuttle around in there. Plus, all my snacks are going SOMEWHERE and I have already interrogated all the other likely suspects.

[@CurvyMayonnaise]

YAY BUBBS POSTED :D (I love your sonas half lidded eyes and fang) I don't want to pay rent😭

[@Daniella-ck8gk]

I recently found a drawing of a couple I made in middle school one was mr big legs with small arms and mr short legs with long arms I drew them all the time and tbh I still make silly gimmicky characters like that lol

[@Kittenmax15]

Ok so this video brings back some of my confidence in my character design skills because my older sister criticizes me on every one of these points

[@nyoka_buny]

7:15 is that cult of the lamb I hear??!!! Also love the vid, and please keep posting long form content you are really good at it and your art is phenomenal!!!

[@CaptainRed666]

I SMELL UNDERRATED ARTIST!! 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@LondonHymbery-c9d]

When I heard London, I got jump scared (it is my preferred name). Great video by the way!! And yes, whenever I design a character, I make sure to at least make a simple design and then draw them together most of the time so it feels good!!

[@DreamyFlowerz]

great video but most importantly, YIPPEE SPORE MUSIC I LOVE SPORE

[@My_head_kinda_hurts]

NOW PLEASE MAKE A VIDEO ON HOW YOU MAKE CHARACTER’S STORIES 😭 ALL MY CHARACTERS BACKSTORIES FEEL SO STEREOTYPICAL AND UNNATURAL 😢

[@bubbs6969]

@@My_head_kinda_hurts honestly, this is a fun idea. Might do it so I can have another upload before the heat death of the universe. 🙃

[@My_head_kinda_hurts]

@bubbs6969 hope I can see it before we all get wiped out by the exploding sun 🔥

[@lisica001]

I have a problem with connecting backstory with characters. When I was younger I was creating OC's without thinking about Backstories and now I can't come up with any idea for them but in the same time I have some stories in my head with characters I only have +/- idea how they should look they but no actual design😅

[@AbstractMazie]

Loved this video:) it was very helpful and is starting to take me out a artists block. I love the little outtakes

[@blueberiipie]

This is actually really helpful!! I’ve been on a redesigning spree currently, and I’ve been working on conveying this certain group of ocs vibe (I guess) I decided to give them all the same uniform but customized to give them individuality !!

[@denimz_vamp]

Ik this has nothing to do with the vid but ur art looks so good like if i ate it, it would taste like a 5 star meal

[@CritterWithToast]

I feel like it’d taste like one of those cookies with cream filling

[@Im-NotDead]

How did you know😭 I'm drawing right now, that is crazy.

[@moldycligget]

the random crashouts lmao (thanks i needed this :P)

[@LilSunset08]

aaaaa love the vibe over heree!! Subscribed but i hope youtubes algorithm brings me back quickly

[@criidawg]

yippee! a bubbs video! and an art tips video too! woo! :D

[@Mavellty]

12:46 antropomorphic legs reference

[@StrangUserName]

Nice shirt👍

[@Stariemezmez_OFFICIAL]

tbh well watching this I was making the persona for myself and I'm chubby so I exatorated how chubby I am and I love it and I made sure to keep things about myself into the design but not make it myself entirerly (I messed up so many words prbly)

[@Kitbuni]

This was a good video to listen to while drawing, and i shall take these into consideration :3 edit: i also liked the bloopers, hope those rude spiders stop being so rude lol

[@Mewzuw]

The don't starve background music, oh yeah, this is going to be a great video

[@Zelda_EclipseDraws]

I love the advice!

[@kinderoovobarbaroelegante2854]

20:06 Yes you make a good impression, the part of Design charactes together show to me that i have to choose better colors to the group of weirdos that i make :,) (They are a bunch of people that are hunted by the Inquisition and they are hiding in a tavern)

[@AKIRAA_ss]

Hey hey! A Friend recommended your channel since they said it was great. I’m a new follower I like your videos and your voice! :))))

[@lilhedgehog8576]

SPORE MUSIC!! 😱😄👏👏👏 YAAAAAAYYYYYYY! 11:50

[@AbigailEitson]

This is my first time watching you and I just subbed

[@Eddie_eyes]

yay smt to listen to while editing vids!!! ty i love your vids X3 amazing art !

[@Neno-zb1ci]

character design is craft gifted by god to give humans a means of expression creatively

[@natiart]

hmmm Don't starve soundrack in the background 💚

[@NamelessEntity067]

Hah, I’ve been in both categories! Also, yes, I’ll get rent to you by the end of next week! :) /j

[@Squiglenoodles]

Hi this is the first vid ive seen of you and this is rlly good info, but also ur art style reminds me so much of lavendertowne wich is my fav artist😍

[@doughnotcare]

Really fun video! I loved your whole vibe through out it. I’ll be checking when you upload next! :)

[@Vinyl-u9q]

Me watching this while describing and drawing how a cylinder lock works because I can’t do only one thing at once.

[@L3SLYDrawsStuff]

YIPPPEEE SYLVIA’S (my oc) UNEVEN MARKS OVER HER EYES FINALLY HAVE SOME REASONING BECAUSE THIS VIDEO GAVE ME ✨I N S P I R A T I ON✨ I love your art and your voice and I’m subscribing nyhehehehehehehehehehe >:3

[@ooyunittoxx9447]

Instant Follow for the Don't Starve Soundtrack Backround Musik (hope i'm correct, it sounds like Autum but slowed)

[@Bug-h8m]

OMG a trans character!!!! I know the top surgery was just a subtle detail in the imperfections section, but it just made my day!!! Great vid!!!

[@bubbs6969]

@@Bug-h8m Now that you say it like that, I truly hope you didn't interpret my saying that the top surgery/the transness of Random Sketchbook Man was imperfect; it was the scars specifically!! Trans people actually rule ngl

[@cosmicspacething3474]

Speaking of MLP did you know that the main characters were also originally meant to have different body types too? Them’s fighting herds is basically what they could’ve been design wise…

[@bubbs6969]

I did! I do like that they do have more subtle differences still, like more unique eye shapes. Unfortunately, sometimes the dolls are prioritized over the character design, but still! Great show, all the same.

[@Sharkzuu]

i am NOT paying rent inside ur walls💜

[@KoalaOwlPaws]

I have a trio where their gen live in different regions like ATLA. But I put other things to my story. The first gen trio consist of a rebellious princess and her long term body gaurd who comes from (spoilers) part of a deceased region but he disguises himself as part of a different region known for it's cold climate, the third of the trio works many jobs, uses jokes to hide his struggles of he makes fun of himself, etc. the princess attire is related to nature sense nature can be chaotic and unpredictable, the body guard cold region attire represents his distance, and cold demeanor, the third represents a mix of different regional attire due to him being all over the place in terms of interest, etc.

[@abnormalchickennugget]

One thing i realized i really like to do is make really unique eyes and specifically eyelashes! (Long comment) One girl will have giant chunky neon blue lashes with midnight blue scleras Another will have big buglike eyes and flowy lashes and antennae that pass her face and slightly curve around her head Some will have pure red eyes that they share through family bonds, yet are still unique through lash shape, hue, or a slightly lighter area that represents the iris These are just my most extreme examples but some have cat like-pupils, my less human characters will have yellow or orange tinted sclera, and even my more bubbly characters will have round, softer lashes! Idk, i just love eyes XD

[@GlowingAmberRaiinYTT]

I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU MADE A NEW VIDEO ALREADY- WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[@SundaydoesArt]

Great video! I do a lot of these for my design process. Recently I've been working on two characters, Dheya and Ardu. Both are demon like characters but one has insect like traits and the other bull like traits. Why? ...more on that later. I also realized I do have them posted on my community posts if anybody is curious, but I'm not pressuring or anything like that. This was a fun watch, have a good day :]

[@AmbrosiaMooshine]

This is an amazing video, I loved it :)

[@tortilla_lord123]

I SHALL FOREVER LIVE IN YOUR WALLS!!!

[@ashenmorire1869]

Definitely got a sub from me! Thanks for the great advice!