Character Designers
In this research post, I will be looking at iconic character designers in modern media, listing some of their most well-known work, and annotating an article on the concept art.
"1. The cast of Star Wars, by Ralph McQuarrie
Stark compositions and minimal color palettes make iconic concept artist McQuarrie’s work instantly recognizable. He was a pioneer in sci-fi cinema, and perhaps best-known for his integral work on Star Wars."
An early concept from R2-D2 and C-3PO in Star Wars, via @starwars on Twitter.
Han Solo and Chewbacca early concept sketches by Ralph McQuarrie, via starwars.com.
Some of Ralph McQuarrie's notable works include concepts for the original Star Wars trilogy, the original "Battlestar Galactica" television series, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Cocoon. Other artworks of his include Bounty Hunters in Cloud City, Colonial Viper, and Galactica interior.
McQuarrie was born in 1929 in Gary, Indiana, attended ArtCenter College of Design, and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for his film Cocoon.
"2. Alice in Wonderland, by Mary Blair
…Mary Blair’s concept art, with a modernist yet whimsical style, won Disney over. Though she wasn’t the original illustrator of Alice, what Blair brought was an amazing eye for color. Using surreal and alien hues, she sketched a magical world and an Alice who was both curious and mischievous."
Alice in Wonderland concept art by Mary Blair, via WikiArt.
Mary Blair was born in 1911 in McAlester, Oklahoma. Some of her notable works include animation for The Walt Disney Company and concept art for Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Song of the South, and Cinderella.
"3. Marvel’s Doctor Strange, by Karla Ortiz
Ortiz has worked broadly across the fantasy art world, for brands like Magic: The Gathering, and several Marvel movies. In this Twitter post, she explained the high level of detail that was considered for Doctor Strange, including his distinctive hand gestures that can warp reality using magic. Ortiz was instrumental in designing the look and movement of Strange’s costume."
Doctor Strange hand movements with suit concept, via @kortizart on Twitter.
Karla Ortiz specializes in concept art, illustration, and fine art. She is an award winning artist with over 10 years of professional experience in concept art. Ortiz has worked for Paragon Studios/NcSoft, Ubisoft, Kabam, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Marvel Film Studios, Universal Studios, and HBO. She attended the Safehouse Atelier where she learned from Carl Dobsky.
"4. The Demogorgon, by Aaron Sims Creative
The Demogorgon, a "Stranger Things" creature inspired by D&D, was always conceived as an unsettling bipedal monster...
As explained in this interview with Formlabs, the Demogorgon was created through a mixture of practical and digital effects from the beginning, with physical maquettes and digital models all working towards a final design that could be worn as a bodysuit by a real actor."
The Demogorgon, via Aarons Sims Creative on Artstation.
Aaron Sims is a concept artist and film producer who works most with the Art Department, Special Effects, and Visual Effects. Sims was born in Arlington, Texas and has worked for big names such the renowned illustrator Don Ivan Punchatz and legendary Academy Award winner Rick Baker. His most notable work includes the art departments of Ready Player One, I Am Legend, Wonder Woman 1984, directing The Eye: Calanthek, and concept art for "Stranger Things".
"5. The cast of Steven Universe, by Rebecca Sugar
Cartoon Network series Steven Universe won hearts for its playful, bubbly character designs and hard-hitting stories that explored relationships and mental health."
Early Diamond and Pearl sketches by Rebecca Sugar via @rebeccasugar on Instagram.
Rebecca Sugar is an American animator and screenwriter best known for being the creator of the Cartoon Network series "Steven Universe". They were born in 1987 in Silver Spring, Maryland and attended the School of Visual Arts. Sugar has also worked on "Adventure Time", Singles, and Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters.
"6. Gorillaz, by Jamie Hewlett
Character design and concepting goes beyond movies and TV, as this next project reveals. The English virtual band Gorillaz was created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett. Hewlett had risen to popularity for his comic Tank Girl, which led to creating album covers and comic strip videos for bands like Pulp."
Original character drawings of the Gorillaz (2001) by Jamie Hewlett, via Artsy.net.
Jamie Hewlett is an English comic book creator, illustrator, music video director, and songwriter. He was born in 1968 in Horsham, United Kingdom and attended Northbrook College. Hewlett is the co-creator of the comic book Tank Girl, co-creator of the virtual band Gorillaz, and worked on movies such as Tank Girl, Gorillaz: Saturnz Barz, Gorillaz: Clint Eastwood, Gorillaz: Reject False Icons, Bananaz, Phoo Action, Gorillaz on Melancholy Hill, Gorillaz: Feel Good Inc., Gorillaz: Tomorrow Comes Today, and Gorillaz: El Mañana.
"7. The Dark Crystal’s Skeksis, by Brian Froud
After creating the influential fantasy art book Faeries (with Alan Lee), Brian Froud was approached by Jim Henson to design characters for his film The Dark Crystal, which has become a cult classic in the area of puppetry and practical effects and recently had a revival series on Netflix."
Preview spread from "The Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History".
Brian Froud is an English fantasy illustrator and conceptual designer. He was born in 1947 in Winchester, United Kingdom, attended Maidstone College of Art, and has won awards such as the Hugo Award, Chesley Award, Inkpot Award, and Concept Art Award.
Froud is most known for his book Faeries and as the conceptual designer of the Jim Henson films The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Some of his artworks include Kissed by the Pixies, The Wood Wife, Fairy Of Dark Despair, and Something Rich and Strange.
"8. K/DA costume concepts, by Jason Chan
Riot Games is known for going all-out on promotions and side projects for its popular game League of Legends, and one notable example is the virtual band K/DA. …Pre-production designs come from story development artist Jason Chan, who contributed to designing the costuming for the band members. Below is a design for Ahri, the nine-tailed fox character, showing clothing details that would help animators decide how her clothes move. You can view the full collection at Chan’s Artstation."
Ahri Concept for K/DA, via Jason Chan on Artstation.
Jason Chan is a Principal Visual Development Artist with Riot Games who specializes in illustration for marketing, key art illustration, and character concept design. He was born in 1982 in Stockton, California and studied 3D animation at the Academy of Art University until changing his major to illustration.
Some of Chan's other clients include Bethesda, Capcom, Hasbro, Intel, Namco, Sega, and Ubisoft. Some of his most notable works include art for League of Legends' cinematic "Warriors", True Damage from Riot Games, League of Legends, Magic: The Gathering, and Sims4.
"9. Marvel’s Scarlet Witch costume concept, by Andy Park
In this tweet, comic artist and concept designer Andy Park revealed his design for the Scarlet Witch’s suit in the finale of WandaVision on Disney+.
Throughout the series, protagonist Wanda has to face her own darkness while coping with huge personal tragedies. This suit expresses not only her newly awakened power, but her tightrope walk between good and evil."
Scarlet Witch concept via @andyparkart on Twitter.
Andy Park is a Korean-American comic book artist and illustrator who is also a Marvel Studios Director of Visual Development & Concept Artist. He was born in 1975 in the United States and attended the ArtCenter College of Design. Park is most known for working on Captain Marvel, Antman and The Wasp, Thor, Guardians of The Galaxy, Avengers, WandaVision, Black Widow, Shang-Chi, and God of War.
"10. Fantastic Mr. Fox line-up by Félicie Haymoz
Finally, Félicie Haymoz has become Wes Anderson’s go-to character designer, and created the human characters for the film Isle of Dogs as well as the entire cast of Fantastic Mr. Fox. This involved matching human actors to the creature that worked with their voice and mannerisms."
Félicie Haymoz is a swiss character designer based in Brooklyn. She was born in Switzerland and studied illustration at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts.Fantastic Mr. Fox line-up via feliciehaymoz.com.
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