Character Design Challenge || Inspire Multiple Designs from One Idea!

[@wynautwarrior2161]

As someone who is making a webcomic with a few different alien species, I really needed this. Otherwise, all of my aliens would look the same. Definitely going to give this a shot with my sea slug race.

[@CharacterDesignForge]

Awesome! Great way to quickly generate

[@AZUREPHOENIX777]

I love the concept of beakless birds! It's got me thinking of potential other ways to make unique avian designs.

[@stagelinedpro]

I was actually tinkering with design ideas for a race of bird people. This is actually really helpful.

[@feanaro2712]

This method feels like it could be a really useful worldbuilding tool to have; it's a cool, fun way to come up with new alien or fantasy species.

[@sylvanshroom]

I always love hearing what designs inspire you, it makes me wanna diversivy my influences as well

[@baalfgames5318]

I do really like this idea. There's a big reason I don't like drawing humans: there are billions of them. They don't inspire me. I feel like non-humans are just more interesting and diverse, and are more fun an challenging to create. Frankly, I think that I might like your work because the nonhuman characters you create are more interesting. This vid gave me an idea for an ostrich-like character, but also gave me an idea to draw characters around one concept: Look ma! No hands! Might try that.

[@CharacterDesignForge]

Nice! That sounds fun!

[@dakat5131]

Me too. With humans, there's some variation with the shape but you still have to keep it fairly normal. With animal shapes, you effectively multiply how many options you have- instead of sticking to one species and how it's expressed, you have a library of species that are distinct and recognizable.

[@godahlrogue8587]

I loooove those bird designs! Ill give that exercise a shot--i feel like my design skills have been stagnating a bit lately, maybe this willl help me out.

[@CharacterDesignForge]

A great way to get started on something new!

[@TheCozyCinnamonRoll]

I went to an animal generator and combined a few animals to make an entirely new animal, I didn't choose which animal the generator did. it's really fun to see what you can come up with using a generator or animals and people that already exist. And I love your character designs for the birds, they're so cute!

[@lyiusapangolin]

This is something I always like to play around with, using one idea to make another or being iterative. Sometimes these types of ideas really help shape up the original character or design you've had too, which is an added bonus if you decide to add another character to a growing cast later on. EDIT-1: PS! Love the birdies!

[@Galinn_Arts]

Seeing that page of birdies you drew makes me want to draw some background characters. The green one with the cast is my favorite.

[@CharacterDesignForge]

Thanks so much! Yeah, this is a great way to make some background extras

[@Mjumiman]

Very inspiring! I will have to design a whole lot of anthro wolf characters for a fantasy game of mine, and I think these ideas will come in super handy. I'll try to give them some unifying characteristics, but also unique features and shapes so they don't all just read as "big doggo".

[@aziebites]

i love videos like this that show off the character design process. it's just fun to watch you create some little guys.

[@emipello]

I love these bird designs! They looks like a cast for a small comic when they do everyday things or something. I really like seeing these character design videos but it would be interesting to see videos on how to design a world or the look for the environment based on a group of characters you have made.

[@CharacterDesignForge]

Make sure to check out some of the existing Stormfellers vids, and plenty more to come from there

[@chromaacrylic1819]

aaaand time to hyperfixate on making more species designs for my series lol

[@AlexDayz]

Really great idea. I’ve recently started brainstorming for a story revolving around a character traveling through a great sea. When I think of sea travel the first think that came to mind was pirates and fish, so I’m going to see what sort of character I can make with those simple concepts and see which could work in the story

[@taqresu5865]

I'm really glad I found your channel. In High school, I met someone who inspired me to make stories. Art was already a big hobby of mine, and I gravitated towards various art electives from ceramics to painting. But it was an author from one of my favorite series who inspired me to make stories. I made so many rough drafts back then, some I posted on DeviantArt, but I haven't worked on them in years, and I gradually lost my drive. Now, after watching a handful of your videos, and others' videos (including another man with the name "Brooks" at Shadiversity), I want to pick up the pieces where I left off. I probably can't make the exact stories I wanted to make back in High School, even with my notebooks and old DeviantArt posts available, but I at least want to adapt some of it.

[@Vicious-scribbles]

I love those designs! I haven't done character design in a while, but this was so inspiring!

[@TheZiiFamily]

This is how i got a full race of bug alien robots i made out of legos, and are now going to be for a game im going to make

[@2fortsmostwanted]

Thank you for this, I'm always looking for exercises that make iteration easier and this is a fresh way for me to try some new kinds of characters I'd never consider drawing before. I'm a big fan of these videos that present fun challenges, I like that we get to see your examples as you complete the challenge, it's really inspiring. Now I want to go do my own version.

[@elisehurticane6844]

I’ve been so down about creating but this challenge and your art style video has helped me out of my slump, you’re a blessing and your art is fantastic, thank you so much

[@CharacterDesignForge]

Awesome to hear!

[@captainstroon1555]

Those are some nifty scientifically accurate cartoon dinosaurs. Dromaeosaurs to be precise.

[@CharacterDesignForge]

😋

[@Mammalmage]

I also wanted to do a race of birds. But I wanted mine to be more pheasant/parrot-like.

[@cienoda3298]

I have a specie family that consist in anthro looking birds mixed with canines (one of these used to be my internet avatar) This video reminds me the process that I did to get them in paper. Now I'm going to use it again for other two species in my comic proyect. Sorry if some spelling error appears, is because English is not what I speak normally, is not my main language.

[@gabyeguizabal7164]

I love when you draw characters. Love your style ❤️❤️❤️

[@brittanylorenzo7158]

This bird topic is very helpful for what in doing, Im making a comic and its like a bug work so now im thinking i could fit in a bird, Thank you I was so stuck on a cast!!!

[@admiral_m_10k35]

This is insightful challenge! Especially with focusing on one specific thing in mind to bind all the characters you're making together. It seems like a great warm-up without being too much pressure as well

[@victorhelm6515]

Really like the designs of the characters you made there!

[@rachelthompson7487]

The characters are really cute

[@Ygoti]

Wonderful video as usual! Very helpful! Every time I watch a video of yours I'm getting highly motivated to draw myself! I love it! And I love the beakless birds! They're so cute! I love watching all of your vids! Keep up the great work and thanks for making those helpful videos!

[@a.j.morrow5533]

When Brookse adds beakless birds to Biko's Backpack: Beakless Backpack?

[@CharacterDesignForge]

Oh my goodness

[@lucasmartin9069]

I would like to see the cereal mascot idea.

[@kingkiwicrafts]

Well, I've got to say this is a very helpful refresh for me since I can struggle with some same-face syndrome, so a new perspective really helps! Also, does anyone else have a lot of design children? For me you're looking at something around 300-400 at least? I'm a bit of a hoarder heh

[@ottersopalescent9011]

This exercise looks very fun! I really like your videos. Thanks!

[@wumbothewombat1280]

Thinking of doing this with fungi-just making a bunch of lil mushroom guys for fun. Thanks for the video!

[@stratovolcano7813]

Nice tips on iteration!! Very inspiring

[@redcane]

Defs going to try this out this week! 🌼

[@alicerose4300]

Inspiring as usual!

[@diamondjub2318]

didn't know this was a challenge, I've had multiple designs come from a single idea at least a few times in the past

[@tennoyamamoto1800]

I've been wanting to design my dragon people species, I only got one of them because he's one of the main characters, guess now it's the time

[@MaddieAnonymous]

Yay! 😁

[@StormyRaptor]

Certainly useful! Find it slightly hard to do this when it comes to drawing humans, though. I have designs for four characters (quite convenient) already done and revised a few times, but I'm starting to think that simply starting from scartch and applying this technique to give my cast more in common while still keeping each individual character unique is a better option. Do you think starting over again is a good idea?

[@Starowl17]

I have a superhero story that could benefit from this for example like a league of superheroes like the justice league or the avengers, or maybe even a crime organization.

[@neoneoneoneo7035]

280 likes and no dislikes... Good.

[@deklanb.4992]

Ummm…character select…yes. Yes please. Oh my goodness i can’t wait for that please everyone go patreon subscribe if you haven’t yet this is a need 😂

[@CharacterDesignForge]

!! We're really excited to get back to it

[@danjaminmonster]

Would you recommend this exercise: to design a group of diverse characters but are still more or less the same thing (say strawberry poison dart frogs) but then you add something unique to each of them like one of them has a beak but then the other has horns then the other has wings

[@pig_sauruspeterman5436]

Will your pilot be on KZbin or you made a deal with a network like Netflix or Hulu?

[@CharacterDesignForge]

The pilot will be here on KZbin!

[@pig_sauruspeterman5436]

@@CharacterDesignForge Great, I think it'll be good.

[@boltgreywing1718]

Hey Brooks, your are information is pretty good. I used to try writing stories that used a lot of sheets of paper per chapter. Now I just write chapters that are only 1 - 2 pages of paper front and back as it narrows my focus on the characters story more. From there I edit it in word and expand on what I originally had. One of the hardest difficulties I have in writing stories is writing chapter 1. I just can't figure out a good starting chapter but I can build chapters that kind of are like a chapter 2 or 3 which is easier for me. Still I have a lot to learn when it comes to story writing.

[@hades_head_empty]

tips on character design in a more reality oriented universe? i already have general ideas of personalities and looks, but i'm having a lot of trouble figuring out what clothes a post apocalyptic sci fi type of society might wear? i do have a general idea, since i've already done a lot of worldbuilding in terms of the type of society it is. i just don't want to find myself going towards an overused fashion idea, like the capitol in the hunger games, or mad max? i want my characters to stand out without being over the top like that, if that makes sense. not that campy clothes are bad, it's just not the vibe of the story i'm trying to tell.

[@ghosthead3133]

I love this... im kinda working on a video that has a similar feel...im calling the multiplication method... where you have some like a fish and multiple them with kites...giving me a couple of flying fish creatures

[@anthonywilliamces3949]

This is probably a bad idea for me, since I already have 80+ characters and making new ones would make me attached with them and add it with the others

[@CharacterDesignForge]

I mean… I’ve already got a few of my own

[@artemhb]

+

[@violent_lava_fish4474]

Could you do a three part series going off of shape language and making different characters from the same shape. Ex: a calm stoic character and an impulsive angry character can both be based of of squares

[@TheZiiFamily]

Whats an-therpa-morfize?

[@CharacterDesignForge]

Anthropomorphize 🙂 giving something the qualities or features of a human

[@TheZiiFamily]

@@CharacterDesignForge ohhhh I didn’t know that had a name for it ok thats cool

[@theautisticartist9370]

Not me willingly listening to lectures

[@CharacterDesignForge]

Hm?