Drawing Fox McCloud in 3 Styles of Pixel Art!

Today I’m creating the same character in 3 different styles - and for this exercise I’ve selected Fox McCloud from the ‘Star Fox’ series! Follow along as I explore 3 interpretations based on distinct eras of pixel art in gaming, and discuss the design influences along the way!
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0:00 Intro
0:28 NES Sprite
2:55 SNES Spirte
6:54 PS1 Sprite
9:30 All 3 Styles Together
9:40 CRT Time
10:13 VID OVER
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Check out my art here:
/ brandonjamesgreer
/ bjgpixel
INPRNT Shop: www.inprnt.com/gallery/bjgpixel/
Redbubble Shop: rdbl.co/bjgpixel
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Software used: Adobe Photoshop 2022
Need help picking a pixel art program? Watch this: • What Program to use fo...
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Title sequence theme music by Failpositive:
www.failpositive.bandcamp.com/
/ failpositive
Additional chiptune music by mcguy215/Concrete Castles:
www.fiverr.com/mcguy215
/ mcguy215
Other music obtained through the KZbin Audio Library.

[@zackpi7874]

The 2nd one reminds me more of the Metal Slug style than DK, since the line-art is still easy to distinguish. If you want to get it closer to the DK style, maybe you could try emulating the process more directly, by taking a still frame from a smash game where fox is originally 3D, downscale it, then tweak the pixel-art from that point. Love your work, keep it up!

[@BJGpixel]

Haha you're totally right, he's even got that classic pose! Metal Slug would actually be an amazing template for a run-and-gun game set in the Star Fox universe 🤔

[@hiiambarney4489]

HOLY COW YOU ARE RIGHT. I was like "This looks oddly familiar but I cant put my finger on it and it's not DKC."

[@mediocreboi]

Yo it's cool to cover Playstation pixel art, it goes underappreciated

[@ruolbu]

very very much. I love Breath of Fire. And I kinda dislike that I have a hard time saying it now without tripping up and saying breath of the wild XD

[@niilokolehmainen]

youre right

[@alanaraujo7891]

This had slowly became my comfort KZbin channel. Loved the sprite ideas, specially the last one.

[@yalborap]

Top notch as always! It's fascinating to see how the SNES sprite looked a bit busy just on the screen, but really came together once it was on the CRT and the colors could blend together a bit. A reminder of the context the original sprites we're so inspired by were made in.

[@Jakkals]

Thank you for this! Fox is my favorite video game character and it’s not every day you see anything new regarding Starfox. It would be really cool to see Wolf done in this style too!

[@CKTDanny]

Loved seeing the difference processes between each of the styles! The one done in the Breath of Fire 4 style has to be my favourite as well, I really like the cohesion of the colours and that one has a great pose too 🔫🦊 Also nice office re-organization! The CRT on top of the wooden crate is a cool aesthetic. That's a nice set piece right there 😎

[@BJGpixel]

Thanks! Yeah that style has such a charm to it; great colour palette ✌️😊✨ And thanks, the crate used to be the original stand, and I've just rotated it down and hid the cables underneath - worked out quite well for the new setup 😌

[@EdokLock]

Wasn't expecting the last one, good job 👍

[@level12lobster8]

Have to say, the second and third sprite look absolutely amazing on the CRT screen. So glad you always add the CRT Time at the end.

[@pixmael]

I can't stop watching the brown pixel on the third's Star Fox foot

[@ruolbu]

Oooh cool. Recently I suggested some Star Fox content. This is different from my idea but I appreciate it very much. I could see all of these games being popular and good fun.

[@atsushihdez.993]

Amazing as always Brandon! my favorite is the SNES sprite.

[@Dan_d00d]

No cameo from Slippy? haha , great work Brandon. All 3 have a ton of style, found myself surprised to see the PS1 sprite as fave. Maybe due to watching the SNES 16bit move away from pre render look by the end (the posterise colour crush was a bit soul crushing to watch at first!!).

[@BJGpixel]

Thanks dude! Haha I'd actually love to see the entire cast done in each of these styles - maybe a larger project for the future! 😅

[@Dan_d00d]

@@BJGpixel I don't think you'd hear any complaining over that attempt! Do a barrel roll! (my hope is also to see some Belmont family characters. Much love from in Australia at 3.45am here)

[@NoahBility]

Breath of Fire is a game I grew up watching my stepdad play I was so drawn to the pixel art style and how emotive it all ways A visually stunning series of games Beautiful job with these interpretations, Brandon

[@Substitute_Zero]

I think the one thing that would have helped emulate that 3D model style more is simply making some of the lineart into highlight/rim light so that it doesn’t read as lineart so much!

[@deluxeedition4639]

this was so much fun to watch, I always love your content! makes me inspired to actually work on pixel art again :)

[@jameshills6314]

So cool as always! You sir are crazy talented! And one of my favourite content creators. I really appreciate you covering the breath of fire 4 style definitely think it is under represented. That fox version is really cool. I personally would appreciate covering more of that isometric style.

[@nigelhill74]

Yeah, I love isometric pixel art too! Through BJG I am appreciating 1 bit and similar side view more. But definitely need more good top down and isometric in my life.

[@nuclear-meltdown]

Yaay! He's my favorite videogame character

[@juhis-dev]

Now we need a SMB3 romhack with Fox, that NES sprite is dope

[@retro3188]

I love this! You did really well. I love your NES and SNES interpretations of Fox!

[@cheerwhiner7829]

Thanks so much for this video! I saw this 8-bit Ryu as a loading screen animation in “Puzzle Spirits” several years ago, and would love to learn how to recreate the other SF characters… this will help very much. 👌 I truly appreciate this video. Thank you so much.

[@brandonjacksoon]

Awesome Brandon! As always the best!

[@BJGpixel]

Thanks Brandon! ✌️😊✨

[@DadVader]

Awesome work as always 😍

[@BJGpixel]

Thanks dude! ✌️😎✨

[@roncash7640]

Bro, you are the Pixel Master. . .🤩❤️‍🔥😎👏🏾💯

[@JoshRobertsonArt]

Well done on the feel of each of these sprites. Great reference choices to go off of.

[@snailmeat2204]

i absolutely adore the SNES sprite!! it’s so pleasing to look at

[@houseofpibb1435]

Oh man I love Breath of Fire pixel art style

[@eboatwright_]

These are amazing! I agree with @zakpi with that the SNES sprite fits more with Metal Slug

[@Boooo]

The last one is so cool, it's a shame the star fox series will (probably) never have any kind of spinoffs, or new games

[@KoroPSI]

Wow. Your timing is impeccable. I was literally making Fox pixel art YESTERDAY.

[@pauloheres]

10/10 quality content. Love you videos, mate!

[@whatever_user]

The background music changing is nice touch to set the mood per era

[@MegaBlight]

BoF4 !!! Thank you :) i know ive been commenting allot about bof4 style, love the style. more the better :) id watch a full video dedicated to it :D

[@nigelhill74]

All three are really good! Great work! Also, those BoF4 sprites look so good! I don't know the game, never owned a PS. Not many decent screenshots online but the game looks nice

[@toochmcgooch4678]

All-Range Mode!

[@PixelledYohan]

It's really funny how you picked DK as the main point of reference for the SNES version, since originally the sprites for the game were all fully made in 3D software at the time, and then downscaled in a very specific way which was extremely for the time. Your result still came out great!

[@ratroecalaranzo3329]

Your work is amazing. Thank you for sharing it with us!

[@corgikun2579]

you always make your own assignments really cool ones🎉

[@JTRAN408_]

I cried when I saw the Breath of Fire IV pixels were being used as a reference! Thank you for this video!!!!!!!

[@_MGPz]

Pretty Amazing! Awesome work

[@maxtoeh3301]

This last sprite omg amazing work

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

Loved how each came out!

[@Tamugetsu]

Breath of Fire IV has my favorite art style of the games I played as a kid

[@DigitalinDaniel]

The 2nd one is sweet!

[@hiiambarney4489]

BOF 3 and 4 are Amazing Games. I loved how you could combine into different Dragons.

[@Zachamation]

I am in love with your videos, they have really inspired me to get back into pixel art and push myself. Keep up the great work

[@niilokolehmainen]

I would totally play some sort of Starwing run 'n' gun with that art! Great video!

[@freaking-handle]

you are insane man. my biggest inspiration in art

[@Rallypoly]

Awesome well done creatings.

[@bleuvertetforetdepin7308]

Your videos are instructive and inspiring yet you never miss to had the fun! 🎉💚💙

[@Snake1138]

Amazing, love it!

[@Alyslay_jc]

love the FOX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@PCgameandgamer]

The 16bit fox looks AMAZING. I can already imagine a gba schmup with run and gun levels to break up the gameplay. If Nintendo were a bit more laxed with the copyright ban hammer I'd do it myself

[@nextProgram]

Nice video, love your spritework

[@SethKotta]

Now I'm trying to think what a Smash Bros. game worlds look like for the SNES.

[@skoubidou00]

I want a 2D Star Fox game with your art now.

[@juanrodriguez9971]

I find quite interesting the PS1 sprite, I like to imagine that game did exist and then imagine what people at the time could interpret from that sprite imagining they did grow up with the PS1 version while ignoring the previous 2 so future fanarts could be interpretations of what they see in the sprites rather than what the box art says, I feel like the PS1 sprite has a ton of pockets on his left side for example.

[@latxh]

amazing work

[@juhis-dev]

You had me at Fox McCloud!

[@djjacoby1511]

Awesome!!👏👏

[@KariokaBurro]

Awesome videos dude

[@blazerchocobo]

Yoo, Fox getting some love!

[@simonestarace5249]

Because this year the Star Fox series has turned 30th.

[@tuffmanchannel]

Art looks great, I like it. I think removing the "outline" that you start with and incorporating it instead as part of the character using other colors can help it look more like the styles you tried to replicate.

[@gustavobrazdarosacarvalho6689]

I like your videos specialy the GBC animations.

[@soupinacan5955]

so sick

[@nesaiamon8727]

They are all amazing, but SNES version is my favorite

[@healape3490]

This is awesome! Also wondering if there is a posterize adjustment layer equivalent on aseprite?

[@Bealzabub]

Id love to see you possibly tackle something in the style of the PC-98

[@jakipop3397]

I think the 2nd one looks really nice as a sprite, but if you'd just done some more little chaotic pixels here and there, pixels you wouldn't really instinctively think to place, it would really channel the crunchy 3d-->2d look.

[@tjp7154]

Hmmm, the last style of fox looks like his tail is just pinned onto his side, and not on, you know, where tails go, lol. I love the palette for it! Second style definitely looks like DKC with the tail, but it's definitely harder to convey with all of foxes gear on.

[@supermj767]

Great video Brandon! I'm thinking about starting my own pixel art channel because I've been doing a lot of pixel art for awhile now, do you think you might have any tips for me?

[@TheMainCapitalOfTinySquares]

I need more BoFIV-style pixelart! :D

[@danddhampstudio]

My favourite would have to be the 2nd one but if it had the third one's colour palette

[@DommoDommo]

They came out great, I think the BoF Fox had a little too heavy of an outline though. (On his right arm)

[@marianopaz1577]

Tremendas obras maestras 20/10 y GOD

[@5ilver42]

would have liked to see those sprite at their native, small resolution on the crt

[@Ty-douken]

Love using DKC as an inspiration point, I'm also a huge fan of how Mario RPG turned out with a similar method. Have you thought of using Chrono Trigger as an inspiration / starting point?

[@alexsudati]

"A little nice warmup"... A LITTLE NICE WARMUP?!?!!

[@pyxelpub8251]

Yo! Great stuff as always! You still drawing all this with a laptop trackpad you mad lad?!

[@BJGpixel]

Thanks! Haha yes I absolutely am; but now that I've got my office reorganized I'm thinking of a proper monitor/keyboard/mouse setup - so we'll see! :D

[@pyxelpub8251]

@@BJGpixel Jesus Canadian Christ! For the love of all that is holy, Brandon, I beg of you, get a tablet! Your workflow AND your love life will increase exponentially. Also, it might help reduce the risk of carpal tunnel, and take it from someone who might be having that surgery soon, that alone is worth it! Keep up the great work, your work inspires me in mine!

[@P1Ckl31]

You must do this with everything and anything you get

[@alexandreperez-goron279]

good artist

[@thatoneaim3683]

Im curious have you done any artwork for video games?

[@longdongsilver3267]

Could you do some sprite work in the style of the Neo Geo Pocket color?

[@cpab27]

could you do one using the megaman zero style of pixel art.

[@StoryTimeWonders254]

How do you color it a 32px image at 256?

[@NISHIAKI]

Have you ever tried working off the CRT as your monitor when doing these? I'd be interested to know if you chose colors or a different that you wouldn't normally do when working on your laptop.

[@BJGpixel]

I never have but that's a good idea! Things tend to come out much darker, and the hues appear different; it'd be nice to optimize for that specifically :D

[@NISHIAKI]

@@BJGpixel right on! If you end up trying it, I'll be here to watch! Great work on these sprites, as usual by the way! I think it's really interesting how you apply different tools to modify your color choices, like the posterizing for the SNES sprite. It's cool to see all the ways someone might approach that. Thanks for making your processes so available!

[@BJGpixel]

@@NISHIAKI Happy to hear, thanks! Yeah it's fun to try out little ways to change or improve the overall workflow - and in the case of the SNES sprite, kinda leading me down a new path as well :D

[@livanbard]

The 16bit sprite was my favorite even tho it kinda looks more like a dog

[@KirbytPink]

Don't suppose you can add in Gameboy as well? Like , how they made Mario smaller in Super Mario Land. If not , maybe can request something for next ? Gender Reversal. Basically, take , like Mega Man and make him Mega Girl , or Mario as a girl or Princess Peach as King Peach . Or , like here Fox as girl , think get the idea.again, just an idea.

[@TANWRLD2010]

Hi

[@Ostnizdasht206]

Fox on PlayStation?! Blasphemy! Lol jk. Great job.

[@lause5809]

the 2nd one is a bit too bulky for fox, i think if you slimmed him down and removed some of the line art it'd look less like metal slug and more like DK

[@salreishopemobile]

*blip blip*

[@Keanine]

The SNES one looks excellent, seriously great work, but I don't know if it quite captures the pre-rendered style. I think it could look closer without outlines, or at least outlines with reduced contrast. They've got this sort of ugly look to them, but yours looks crisp and well defined. Better pixel art, but not quite matching the style if that makes sense

[@RewdanSprites]

"Andross won't have his way with me!".

[@LeeChesnalavage]

Me: Oh man, I can’t wait to see how StarFox Adventures on GameCube influences the 3rd sprite. Brandon: So I’m going to be using PlayStation for reference… You’re killing me, dude. 😂

[@BJGpixel]

Haha sorry for doing a barrel roll around your hopes and dreams on that one 😅

[@thegreatestever913]

BOY

[@user-kt9ej4fl5l]

Honestly I feel like SNES is your style.

[@BloodSlimeNuggit-un9fg]

PlayStation is barely pixel at t

[@G.L.999]

Yeeaah. We don't need sony's "art" tainting any of Nintendo's properties!

[@whitedeath996]

How do you mean? Pretty sure BoF is a Capcom game. Don't think Sony did and 2D games on the PS. He could of went with the Saturn and Treasures Guardian Heroes, good sprite work there.

[@monke1340]

@@whitedeath996 he’s talking about Starfox

[@BloodSlimeNuggit-un9fg]

My back hurts from making voxel art, embarrassing, considering I'm twelve

[@mikamika4290]

Just gotta say your art inspires me a lot