Computer Arts Projects issue 82

What is it we all love so much about cartoon characters? Is it the fact that we’re biologically programmed to respond well to drawings of cute people with big eyes? Or is it to do with childhoods spent eagerly soaking up hours of animation on TV? Whatever the reason, drawn, illustrated and animated characters continue to push all of the right buttons with many of us.

While the likes of Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man have hogged the character limelight for many decades, a new generation of character designers – weaned on comic books, Star Wars films and Japanese animations – have been busy creating new characters that reflect their own environments and the fast-changing nature of modern design.

In this issue, we put these characters and their designers under the microscope and take a look at how cutting-edge character design works – from the vinyl toys of James Jarvis to the highly individual world of Jon Burgerman. With tutorials and tips from some of the best in the business and profiles and features on those leading the way, we bring you everything you need to know to get characters into your work.

Dom Hall, Editor

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURES

Showcase
From big-eared rabbits to stuffed love animals to nameless war robots, check out the best character art around

Classics
What is it that makes Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, Spider-Man and Mario so timeless?

Get into character
Lifting the lid on the growing subculture of character design, from its origins right up to the here and now

Vinyl mania
The designer toy revolution from the inside; we talk to the designers, the manufacturers and shops at the heart of the scene

Money from designs
Once you've designed your killer character, you need to make it earn its keep – here's how

Insider tips
Invaluable advice for creating brilliant characters from the absolute master of the art, Jon Burgerman

PROFILES

James Jarvis
"I like drawing little worlds and the toys are just one manifestation of that.” James Jarvis on toys, comics and life with the In-Crowd

Bryan Hitch
One of Marvel's brightest talents is leading the way with contemporary comic-book art

Pictoplasma
Online international character design depository, event organiser and publisher – inside the world of Pictoplasma

TUTORIALS

Flatpack toys
Create your very own designer toy using Illustrator, some double-sided sticky tape and a scalpel

Animating characters
Turn a simple sketch into a dazzling animation using FreeHand and Flash

Figures from photos
The Boy Fitz Hammond shows you how to develop brilliant characters in Illustrator using photos as source material

Adding dimension
Make your characters literally leap out of the page by adding depth with Illustrator

Faces in Photoshop
Derek Lea shows you how to use Photoshop’s flexible shape layers feature to build up amazing faces

Boom Boom
Get started with the Toon Boom Studio Express software on your free CD and make your characters come to life

ON THE CD

Toon Boom Studio Express 2.5

Free 3D character model

Character drawing training

Flash Lite Content Development Kit

…and much more!