Strong Character Design by Cimi Takauji

From the basics of character design to professional techniques, popular illustrator/YouTuber Cimi Takauji explains it all for beginners. This book is useful for those who want to create illustrations and share information using characters.

[Recommended for]
– People who are designing characters for the first time
– Those who want to create characters focused on virtual spaces
– Those who want to imbue their illustrations with stories and uniqueness

[Download Bonus]
– Complete data of original illustrations (PSD files with layers)
– Making-of videos of original illustrations (MP4 files)

[Table of Contents]
[LESSON 1]
Basics of Character Design

01 What is Character Design?
What is a character?
What is character design?
The process of creating character designs
Thinking about character designs based on motifs
Demonstration 1: Creating a character from a motif
Demonstration 2: Combining character personality and outfits
Thinking about settings
Demonstration 3: How to create a character sheet
How to draw three-view diagrams

02 Cimi Takauji’s Character Design
Takaushi Cimi’s characters
Thinking about “What kind of designs do I want to create?”
Finding your strengths and “branding” them

03 Attitude towards Character Design
Making your own arrangements
Demonstration 4: Arranging from reference materials
Demonstration 5: Combining materials (combination)
Demonstration 6: Steps for combination

COLUMN Recommended Reference Books

[LESSON 2]
Posing that Highlights Charm

04 Posing that Captures the Character’s Personality
The relationship between personality and posing
Thinking about personality x gestures
Thinking about personality x posing
Demonstration 1: Designing a character with “hawk” as a motif
Demonstration 2: Designing a character with “nun” and “monk” as motifs
Demonstration 3: Designing a character with “flamingo” as a motif

05 How to Create a Standing Illustration and Guide the Viewer’s Eye
What is a standing illustration?
Turning it into a unit illustration
Methods for guiding the viewer’s eye
Demonstration 4: Creating a standing illustration

06 Adding Background Designs to Standing Illustrations
Thinking about design drawings
Demonstration 5: Creating design drawings
Thinking about perspective

COLUMN Perspective and Posing

[LESSON 3]
Designing as a Single Illustration

07 Thinking about a Single Illustration
Concepts for drawing a single illustration
Thinking about “highest rare card illustrations”
Composition and features of highest rare cards

08 Single Illustrations According to the Scene
Drawing different single illustrations according to the scene

09 Thinking about Sets/Situations that Make Use of the Character’s Personality
Thinking about what the character is doing, when, and where
Thinking about the story of the situation
Combining with furniture and small items

10 Considering What to Emphasize
Thinking about what to emphasize about the character
Compositions that highlight the character’s charm
Methods to convey the character’s story
Demonstration 1: Creating a single illustration based on a standing illustration

COLUMN How to Draw/Think about Backgrounds

[LESSON 4]
Colors and Shadows that Convey Impression

11 Thinking about Colors Using the Color Wheel
The impact of colors on characters
Images of the color wheel
Differences in tone with similar colors
Demonstration 1: Thinking about colors using the flamingo as a motif

12 How the Way Shadows are Applied Changes the Look
The role of lighting in a single illustration
Impressions created by lighting
Demonstration 2: Lighting methods to express eye-catching illustrations

13 Accessories for Characters
Decorations that enhance the character’s charm
Choosing decorations
Demonstration 3: Painting accessories