3D Character
(Development)
Starting off this 3D character modelling project, I researched a series of reference points for a target audience. I would like to aim my character towards kids aged 7-11, so a little older than a CBeebies audience and not yet at a grittier teenage sensibility. There is a sense of silliness in much of the storytelling aimed at this demographic that still appeals to me, i.e. early Pixar and Aardman. Arguably, this target market has the widest reach as the whole family can enjoy both the imaginative world and the sense of humour.
​
At this point, I am keeping an open mind to the ultimate context of my character (video game/advertising/film/television). There is evidently a lot of overlap in the industry, and the characters initially designed for movies can transfer over to TV series and video game adaptations.
Mindmap + initial ideas
With few restricting guidelines on the type of character, I explored a lot of options. I am keeping in mind, however, the limitations of the medium and my ability to realise a fully modelled figure at this stage in my development. In my sketchbook, I hoped to hit on an idea that was fairly simple in its geometrical construction but not lacking in creativity.
​
I considered anthropomorphic animal designs, astronauts, monsters and robots, but ultimately I wanted to work on something with more human facial features.
My second moodboard focuses on sculptures from various cultures: Mayan, Aztec, Polynesian, African, with some modern reinterpretations. I thought these remarkable ancient designs were a less obvious way to approach the geometric nature of modelling the human face.
Troll designs
Finally, I landed on 'troll' as my chosen character. I feel it gives me enough human features to work with but in a stylised way that doesn't fight against potentially blocky modelling. Here's another moodboard, looking for existing troll-like characters in existing CGI properties aimed at a young audience.
These are my first exploratory sketches looking for a general design for my troll. I wanted to find a range of body types and faces, though I would tend to return to certain traits typical of the archetypal fairy tale troll: grouchy, stocky, grotesque.
Shape language
