Backgrounds and concept art

Ok youve designed your characters now you need to get your backgrounds designed and some concept art giving a feel for what your animation would look like. to do this choose key scenes from your animation and illustrate them!







The next examples is a really good way to show that you have used reference and thought through your background designs Have a look at it and I suggest maybe trying to put together similiar piece for your own animation ideas.






Below are some very detailed designs from the Halo series of games.






Designs below are for comercials made by some design agencies.

The next two designs are for James Cameron's latest film 'Avatar'

Below are some concept designs from a 3D animation that an artist is producing.

These last two images are concept art from Disney's sleeping beauty. the final film ended up looking very different but the feel was still the same as in these designs.

So while im away you need to get well into producing your art work, so that when i return i can help you out with making your ideas look as great as possible.

Mr R.

Character and concept designs

You should be in a position now to start working towards you final designs for your 3 different ideas for an animation, to complete unit 1 you must have produced art work for each of your ideas. Ive included some designs from a graphic novel im illustrating to give you a idea of what i mean and also some great examples of character design work done for animations and computer games,

I hope you notice how different each of the character designs look to each other. the theme and mood of the animation you plan to make will influence how you present your work, so keep your designs inventive, creative and exciting!

have a look at the examples below and if you need to go look for other examples either on line or in some of the 'making of' or 'the art of' books that get brought out when films are released.

Design sketches from 'the forgotten'

Character designs from Wolfenstein 3D




Characters from the Number 9 film by tim burton



Designs for a web games characters

Designs for a Red riding hood animation.

Designs for a Goldilocks themed cartoon.

So there are just a few examples, its up to you to make sure that yours look just as good and fit the mood of your animation.