Developing your Character

In animation, a model sheet, also known as a character board, character sheet, character study or simply a study, is a document used to help standardize the appearance, poses, and gestures of an animated character. Model sheets are required when large numbers of artists are involved in the production of an animated film to help maintain continuity in characters from scene to scene, as one animator may only do one shot out of the several hundred that are required to complete an animated feature film. A character not drawn according to the production's standardized model is referred to as off-model.

General Final Line Model Sheet. A single character is portrayed in turn around drawings that give us a sense of how to draw the character from any angle, along with some facial expressions, attitude and action poses. Note that the top and bottom sheets were drawn at different times. Like many characters Bugs went through an evolution from one year to the next. Many early model sheets tried to fit everything an artist needed to know about a character on a single sheet, and this one just about succeeds in doing just that. But these days model sheets come in many styles, some far more specific than others. 
Even in the earliest stages of development Rough Character Concept Model Sheets are sometimes created. This general design concept of the Beast was approved before the character was fully finalized. It gives us a sense of the basic design of the character, along with attitude poses that help to tell the story of just who he is:

In the case of a character like The Beast, unique anatomy requires unique reference for artists working on the Beast team. An Anatomical Study Model Sheet can give animators a better idea of the structure that exist under all that hair. 

THE ASSIGNMENT

Before you begin you will need to have your dramatic arch / story outline finished. Without knowing the story how are  you suppose to know who or what your characters are? Although your story needs to be based on an important event that has happened in your life your characters can be representations like the characters in little toaster or Spiderman.

Once you have settled on who will be playing the leading roles in your story you will be required to create a model sheet for 2 different characters including the following
- name of character
- 5 different angles or positions
- 5 different emotions with labels
EXTRA RESOURCES
- 20 Character Design tips
- Cartoon Fundamentals
- Sheets 101
- Disney Model Sheets
​- Help with expressions and positions

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