Because I suck...

I'm going to start doing character design analysis stuff so I can learn how concept artists create effective designs, or ineffective designs. I honestly don't know how to go about this. I guess I'll figure it out as I do this more often. I might also eventually do like... film sequence analysis stuff too. I do this because I suck. 

Okay I guess I'll start with my favorite lady.

Yzma early concept by Harald Siepermann

Why is it so hard to find yzma's character sheets ugh.

Why do so many people love her? Well.. because her design is effective I guess. :| But at the same time we've all watched her film and seen her in action and I feel that helped a lot. OKAY lesson learned #1 choose character designs that you don't know about. 

Anyway, lets say that I have never seen Emperor's New Groove and I don't know jack about this old lady, what would be my impression of her design?

Right off the bat she looks like your really old aunt/grandmother that you hate because she feels entitled for respect and recognition. She got a lot of money from her deceased husband so she spends it all in clothes, make up or plastic surgery to make her feel young again. She's that old hag who still acts like she's young. She will ruin family reunions and you hate her. 

That's what I thought when I first saw her without seeing the film first. 

I feel like her design works because she's immediately recognizable. The audience is able to be reminded of an Yzma type of person in their life. Her design works because she's based on a recognizable archetype. 

Carlos Luzzi (carlosluzzi.tumblr.com)

Awright, here's a character I don't know about. What is she? Is she a battle princess?? She looks like she could kick your butt. She looks like she's in control of her life. She makes her own decisions and need no prince. She can probably kill the dragon herself. I was about to say maybe she went through a lot that turned her into something dark but her design doesn't really inform me that. If she did, she would look more worn and tattered. Right now she just looks like an edgy gothic teen.

First of all, she has the typical recognizable princess stuff. Puffy hair, puffy sleeves, floofy skirt. The twist is that her colors are dark, and... she's holding a sword. OH YOU KNOW WHAT. I just realized that the title of this was "gothic princess" well there you go. She wears gothic booths, arm length gloves and some pretty dark make up. 

Well... idk... :| bye i guess