Objective
You are to create a good and an evil version of the same character. This character will be of your own creation. You must first create an origin story for the characters with a brief description of the characters. It needn’t be a novel, but a couple paragraphs is in order. How did they come to be? What is their relationship to each other? Did the first one exist, and an odd clone was spawned? Or were they brought into existence simultaneously, and decided or were compelled toward (or genetically predisposed toward) different paths?
The differences between characters should be significant, not simply giving the good guy an angry face for the evil version. Think in terms of Mario/Wario or Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde. The point with the characters is to make them similar enough that there’s some relation between clearly distinct characters with distinct personalities.
You will be working from a template given to you, so you certainly should take a look at what you’re working with, print and fold up the monster, before getting too far into the logistics of the character.
You will be graded on how the look of the characters reflects the description you’ve given them, so a decent history is necessary. You will also be graded on how the graphics you create work with the shape you’re working around. It should not appear as if you created the graphics and they simply fell randomly where you folded…the placement of graphics should be deliberate, with some elements spanning panels and others stopping at the folds.
Specs
- Up to 4 colors (can be different between characters)
- Follow given template
- All working materials turned in
- Final artwork will be vector. Imagery is passable if it’s used as texture, but all art must be your own and made into vector format.
- You are to add one element (an extra part) to each character that further defines their character. See below
The extra elements should be substantial enough to further support their stories, but the characters should work without it also. The characters cannot be modified; the new item should be able to integrated with the characters without gluing it on. It should fold onto or rest on the item. The extra item can be different from one character to the other, but should be of the same paper as the rest of the character.
Instructions
Step 1
Create and type up your character stories, and sketch at least 5 different pairings of good/evil characters. You will present at least 10 moderately detailed sketches (5 pairs of characters). You can try the same general concept in more than one pair, but the way in which you reflect their personality traits should differ from set to set.
As you create these sketches, you needn’t necessarily draw them on the box shape, but keep in mind that’s their destination; first, let’s get some good characters plotted out. Then, you will adapt your characters to the template as needed.
At least 5 sets, due 10-23-17
Step 2
Create a more detailed sketch of what you feel is your best set of characters, still pencil and paper, reflecting how the character will exist on the given template. This will likely involve also sketching it out on a paper mock up. Give a front and back view of each. Get feedback. You will show all of your sketches, the 5 initial sets and the one you chose. Due 10-23-17.
Step 3
Create your characters in Illustrator. There should be a clear path visible from your character descriptions, sketches all the way to the vectors you create.
Step 4
Create well-crafted, solid working versions of your characters. Continue to receive feedback as you work.
Submission
You will turn in your completed characters (1 good and 1 evil), your written character descriptions, your initial sketches, and your detailed sketches. You will submit your final working files digitally. Drop your files in the class dropbox (on the Visual Arts server) labeled [lastname_f_project3] by the beginning of class on the due date. Have the printed, folded, assembled versions ready for the beginning of class as well .
Digital submission includes:
- AI/PSD files of each character
- PDF version of each character
- Origin/Back Story Write Up
Physical submission includes:
- Printed and assembled versions of each character
- Project Sketches