Just a reminder that I’ll be giving a 2-part seminar on character design at the Motion ’09 animation conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 11-14. It’s a real honor. Last year’s conference was packed with great speakers and seminars and this year the conference has even more to offer.
I’ll be part of a new “late night” session, speaking on Monday and Tuesday from 10:15pm-11:30pm. So if you attend be sure to bring your favorite caffeinated beverage!
Here’s the description of my seminar from the conference website:
Part 1: Principles, Personality, and Appeal
The job of Character Designer is one of the most sought-after – and most important positions in the animation industry.
In this session we’ll examine the fundamentals of good character design. We’ll look at some do’s and don’ts and discuss tips and tricks to help you create engaging characters with personality and appeal. We’ll walk through some helpful exercises to develop your skills as a character designer and point you towards some resources for further study.
Part 2: Putting It Into Practice
In the second part of this two part series, we’ll walk through the process of creating a character from concept to final design, including model sheets and turnarounds. We’ll also take a look at some of the industries that use freelance character designers including film, TV, advertising, video games, and toys. Get first-hand advice on breaking into those industries based on the Hohnstadt’s personal experience as a freelancer.
You can sign up for the conference at the Motion ’09 website.
Oh, and to whet your appetite here’s a quick YouTube slideshow displaying some of my character design work: