Character Design
Character design is one of my favorite aspects of working in the animation industry. For the Tugboat of Terror project, I wanted to take a stylized approach with the characters while keeping everything else realistic. This juxtaposition creates a unique visual dynamic that can be both striking and appealing to audiences.
One of the first characters I designed for the project was the husband, who I wanted to be a wannabe big-game hunter from the suburbs. I wanted to capture the sense of entitlement and privilege that he possesses, while also making him relatable to the viewer. I also designed his wife, who is completely out of her element and consumed by everything in the Amazon rainforest. She's a Karen-esque figure who hasn't seen the outside other than to walk from her Mercedes Benz to Neiman Marcus.
Next, I created the captain of the ship, who is a toady little guy with a hook for a hand. I wanted him to be the resident bad guy, but also leave some room for ambiguity and potential surprises in the story.
Designing these characters was a fun and challenging process. I started with rough sketches and then refined them until I was happy with the final designs. I also made sure to keep in mind the story and the character's role in it, so that the design supports the story and the audience can instantly understand the character's personality and background.
Character design is a vital part of any animation project and I enjoy creating unique and compelling characters that audiences can connect with. I believe that the characters are the heart of any story and a well-designed character can make or break a project. I always strive to create characters that are both visually striking and relatable to the audience.
