Animated characters often begin long before they appear in a finished scene. Their appearance develops through a design process that considers personality, purpose, shape, proportions, expressions, color, and how the character will fit into the world of the animation. Early ideas can go through many versions before artists arrive at a design that communicates the character clearly.
Character design is therefore more than drawing an appealing figure. Artists make visual decisions that help establish who a character is and how audiences may understand that character before animation even begins (Boicheva, n.d.).
Beginning with the Character’s Identity
Before developing a finished design, artists need to understand the character they are creating. A design brief can establish basic information such as what the character is, where the character comes from, personality traits, appearance, emotions, and the overall mood the character should communicate (Boicheva, n.d.).
These details give the artist a direction for later visual decisions. A character intended to appear friendly and energetic may require a different approach from one designed to appear mysterious or intimidating. Establishing the character’s role first helps connect the visual design to the story and the world in which the character will appear.
Researching Before Sketching
Research and visual references can help artists understand what they are preparing to draw. Reference material might include photographs, anatomy studies, clothing, objects, environments, or other elements related to the character. Artists can organize these references into a reference sheet or mood board before developing the design (Boicheva, n.d.).
Research can also help an artist decide how much of reality should remain in the design and which characteristics can be stylized. Understanding the structure of a person, animal, or object gives the artist a foundation that can later be simplified or exaggerated.
Exploring Shapes and Sketches
The early sketching stage allows artists to experiment without committing to a final appearance. Rough sketches and thumbnails can explore different shapes and possibilities while the character is still developing. Shape provides a foundation for the design, while construction helps establish its proportions (Boicheva, n.d.).
Silhouette can also contribute to how recognizable a character becomes. Distinctive shapes can make characters easier to identify even when smaller details are not visible. Artists can also experiment with proportions, exaggerating certain features when that approach supports the character’s personality or visual style (Boicheva, n.d.)
Developing Details and Expressions
Once the basic structure is established, additional features can begin defining the character more clearly. Hair, clothing, facial features, accessories, and props can contribute information about personality and role. Artists can also experiment with facial expressions to determine how the character communicates different emotions (Boicheva, n.d.).
Expression is particularly important for characters intended for animation because the design needs to support different emotional states. The same character may need to appear happy, frightened, angry, surprised, or thoughtful while remaining visually recognizable.
Preparing the Design for Animation
A finished character needs to be understood from more than one angle. Character designers can create model sheets that present different views or poses of the character. These references may show the character from the front, profile, three-quarter view, and back, helping establish how the design should remain consistent from different perspectives (Boicheva, n.d.).
For an animation production, turnarounds and expression sheets can provide useful visual information for the artists who work with the character later in the production process. The design therefore becomes more than a single illustration—it becomes a reference for translating the character into an animated performance.
Choosing the Character’s Colors
Color is another part of establishing the final appearance. A character’s color palette can reflect personality and the overall concept of the project. For animated productions, the palette also needs to work with the broader visual palette of the project (Boicheva, n.d.).
Keeping the palette controlled can help prevent unnecessary visual details from distracting from the character itself. Shape, clothing, expressions, and color can then work together to create a more unified design.
From an Idea to an Animated Character
The path from an early sketch to a character prepared for animation involves many creative decisions. Artists begin by understanding the character, researching references, experimenting with shapes, developing details, exploring expressions, and creating consistent views of the final design.
Each stage adds information that helps transform an initial idea into a character that can function within an animated world. By the time the character reaches animation, the final appearance represents a series of choices about personality, storytelling, shape, expression, and visual style.
References
Boicheva, A. (n.d.). The basics of character design process: Insights and examples. GraphicMama.
GraphicMama — The Basics of Character Design Process
Brink Helsinki. (n.d.). Character design for animation.
Brink Helsinki — Character Design for Animation
Winged Canvas. (2026, June 6). Perfect character consistency | Turnaround tutorial from sketch to color [Video]. YouTube.
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djvstock. (n.d.). Woman thinking isolated illustration design [Vector illustration]. Magnific.
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van Lee, H. (n.d.). Concept sketches [Digital illustration]. ArtStation.
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