Pete Docter | Geometry of Characters

• Soul | The Cave You Fear
Designing a Character can be daunting. Here's a look at how Pete Docter, from Pixar, uses basic geometry to help us understand a character, before they even speak.
Interviews:
“Inside Out” Q&A at Vulture Festival 2015 ( • Video )
DP/30: UP, director/co-writer Pete Docter ( • DP/30: UP, director/co... )
Pete Docter & The Characters of ‘Inside Out’ ( • Pete Docter & The Char... )
Other Talks on Shape Language:
Character Design Forge Shape Language 1: Into and Round Shapes
( • Shape Language 1: Intr... )
Character Design for Animation Class with Nate Wragg
( • CGMA | Character Desig... )
#petedocter #pixar #characterdesign

[@ayior]

I just realized that the floating house from Up even has that symbolism: Ellies Orbs, the baloons, literally uplift Carls square base, the house. (With a triangle on top but whatever)

[@Any-mation]

Excellent realization, thank you for sharing

[@Naruto_from_the_Naruto_show]

I love how Spongebob is a complete exception to this rule, altough he has a bunch of circles in him and he's not straight, but "wavey"

[@Any-mation]

I love this, you're so right

[@men_del12]

He's not "straight/ too stable" either by the cube shape but "woobly & bouncy"

[@ArchWizardCj]

He's still a yellow beaming orb of happiness though

[@ArchWizardCj]

Also, isnt most of this subject to interpretation, meaning its how you use these elements, with them not being absolute in every situation? Characters like Arnold from Hey Arnold, Spongebob, Arguably Ed Edd n Eddy, all break quite a few of these rules, but in their own respective continuities they establish their own rules that we can then follow along to understand the same basic concepts

[@counterbatteryyuri]

What about Patrick?

[@mechajay3358]

Pete Doctor: Master of Shapes

[@Any-mation]

Way better title

[@mechajay3358]

@@Any-mation Thanks

[@quackadoo3101]

Though I was gonna get earapped at the beginning.

[@Any-mation]

Yes sorry, I wasn't sure what I was doing yet hahaha, in fact, I'm still not

[@nial1396]

@@Any-mation The video is fantastic, he means that there is a meme around the Monsters Inc theme where it gets incredibly loud and bass boosted at the drop. Your video is very good, keep it up!.

[@macyplantain6176]

Hahaha yeah

[@thelawnmower6534]

Same here, I'm used to my ears bleeding

[@MrPondDuck]

Sheridan college grad here. This channel is brilliant for a person who loves the art. Thank you

[@CVerse]

I wish I found out about this channel sooner. BAM linked it in their video today, and this is a SUPERB analysis of character design. I'll use your channel as inspiration for my work in the future

[@jeffwalker6815]

'An animator has complete control of every aspect of their work' - coming from TV animation I can honestly say 'Bahahahahahaha....no. No we don't'.

[@Any-mation]

Very fair hahahaha

[@mattstephan560]

I find your videos motivate me to continue working on my animations but also shed so much light on things I thought I already knew/understood. You have a great perspective on animation and it is wonderful to hear in this format you have crafted. Your a wonderful artist, thank you for your videos and time!

[@Thepapershow]

“When am I going to use geometry in the real world?” Pete doctor :

[@allanromeo360]

seriously tho, that is a better answer than we would expected

[@savannahlevy97]

Sleeping Beauty stood out to me more than any other Disney princess movie when I was little because of the distinct shapes and style. I never realized that until now

[@Any-mation]

Sleepy Pup thank you very much! Yes it’s gorgeous to take in, isn’t it? Eyvind Earle’s designs are so remarkable

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

Well, I'll definitely try to remember this when I design characters from now on. Thank you so much for this informative video! :)

[@Any-mation]

Thank you so much, I'm glad I can help in anyway I can

[@counterbatteryyuri]

This channel is amazing, and I'm surprised that the amount of people watching this is that little. Keep it up! I love your content!

[@Archimead]

A well crafted piece, I look forward to many more

[@archwhynot]

At the start, I though my volume was low so I turned it to the highest it could go… I was in for a treat…

[@zaidaliahmed7869]

love the vid! especially that up clip, where they didn't just use generic shapes like square or a rectangle, but instead went for star, teardrops, etc

[@kaushalyafernando]

0:49 that face looks like it is squashing in on itself.

[@airotiv96]

Great video with brilliant information! Thank you! ^^

[@themultifish]

I am so, so happy I found your podcast and found this channel. I adore animation as a medium and love hearing it talked about in this way.

[@eidany0son]

This is brilliant! Thank you for sharing!

[@calvesmatter5825]

This video was just brilliant! Great work

[@writeforanimation]

Amazing video! Thank you so much for making this :)

[@Diisyplayzz]

This is amazing thank you

[@lewisbrooks8703]

Just what I needed, thanks!

[@RabbyArt]

Amazing. You are incredible at this man!!!

[@FelipeGuimaraesp]

this was so nice and touching! very nice video!

[@men_del12]

I know the 3 shapes language is the basic of character shape. But I've always wonder if we can create the opposite meaning from what we know today Ex: triangle signifying good, charisma, longevity, etc. (I'm thinking of oldman though when I try to think different perspective of this shape) round signifying unstable, anxious, chubby, etc. Square signifying... I dunno. (My point is to think outside the box/ even not going inside the box)

[@Any-mation]

It’s a great point, and certainly something to really play with. It digs deep into semiotics, but they can change. Sure at one point, pink was the colour for baby boys, now it’s gone wildly the other way

[@men_del12]

@@Any-mation hahaha thank you. I never thought of that "pink"y fact.

[@SylvesterMassey]

I see what you did there, " A CIRCLE AND A SQUARE can go a long way" and they did.

[@Ken_Tyner]

Love your videos! Keep making them! I appreciate your insight in the field of animation!

[@Any-mation]

Oh wow, Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@games_on_phone89]

pete is a genius

[@emaan7023]

what a well made video woww

[@ksta1996]

brilliant stuff

[@ryno_io]

Fantastic video! Shape is something i rarely think about in animation, would be really interested to learn about the dichotomy between joe and 22 in soul, and possibly other characters too :)

[@user-uz7do5gh6v]

gracias

[@AbdullahRafaah]

Thank you for this Video!!!

[@Any-mation]

Thank you!

[@SuicideDog]

is sully and mike a door with a doorknob togheter?

[@Player-10]

I would love to know what book you are reading from at 1:36!

[@norman365]

These videos really are fantastic, please keep them coming! Have you considered setting up a Patreon account :) ?

[@Any-mation]

Thank you so much :) I have a few more video ideas in the works, absolutely! I do actually have a Patreon, but I haven't properly launched it yet, I have to work on the rewards first :) But thank you again!

[@Clotenno1]

What movie is it at 1:07? Looks super interessting.

[@leguan278]

I get it now... i finaly got put words into what i have been seeing all this, but never has had the words to explain...

[@saileshsingh7661]

After bam animation 🤟🤟

[@samuelsg2423]

How much we learn herr, thanks a lot for make all this material, a big hug!

[@Any-mation]

I'm honoured, thank you :)

[@skaterdude7277]

I feel like this is why the dark knight strikes again is so meh of a novel because the art and all the shapes become so abstract it feels unprofessional.

[@Sandwichking1]

Ending song name please?

[@Any-mation]

The Joy of Credits - Michael Giacchino

[@Conahawk]

I find it really funny that a man with a very geometrical head would be a firm believer in using shapes to define a character

[@bubbastevegarcia2459]

HIS HEAD IS MASSIVE

[@michellemah2758]

5:59 wait who is Lewis?

[@Any-mation]

It was Russell's name before he was Russell

[@unknown70000]

Pete doctor is very rectangular

[@rameshdevasi6720]

Like joker is circle. friekinstein is square and dracula is triangle

[@idontreallywannabehere9670]

you sound a bit like William Afton (and I like that)

[@tabithawoods4874]

Ryder

[@christofthedead]

I hope character design learns to grow out of the clichés of circle = soft, square = strong, triangle = mean. Adherence to arbitrary rules based on psychological pseudoscience seems to be the death of creativity in this industry.

[@kyland719]

Peat

[@motor4X4kombat]

Who is here after soul?

[@wordart_guian]

these colors are wrong square is supposed to be blue, circle red/ yellow, and triangle green

[@Any-mation]

Well, I'm asking why :)

[@wordart_guian]

@@Any-mation I have no idea really, that's just how it is. That's how I though it was supposed to be since I was like 3 at most

[@Lukiyu]

@@Any-mation blue is a calm and stable colour like a square is a stable shape. It's probably about colours having associations just like shapes, so it looks nicer if they are similar. But the associations vary a bit from person to person.