How to Create Character Turnarounds Easily

TL;DR

To create an effective character turnaround, start with a reference drawing and use the mirror tool for the front view to maintain symmetry. Focus on achieving likeness in the side and 3/4 views by paying attention to natural curves instead of geometric accuracy. Finally, animating the turnarounds helps spot inaccuracies and refine your drawings.

Transcript

this is a character turnaround in this video I'll be showing you the easiest and fastest way to create a turnaround but first what is a character turnaround this is a set of drawings that show a character from multiple angles typically the front side back and sometimes 3/ quter views the main reason we make turnarounds is to make sure our character... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎨 Character Turnarounds: Character turnarounds are essential in the animation industry to ensure that a character maintains consistency from every angle. Turnarounds serve as blueprints for 3D modelers constructing characters designed in 2D, as seen in films like Big Hero 6, Tangled, and Raya and the Last Dragon.
• 👥 Easiest Way to Make a Turnaround: Start with a reference drawing of your character, like the futuristic antagonist Ember. The front view is usually the simplest, especially if your character is symmetrical. Utilize the mirror tool to save time and ensure symmetry, while paying attention to proportions and ratios of various body parts.
• 📐 Drawing the Side View: To create the side view, draw horizontal lines from important points on the front view to locate landmarks. Avoid drawing the character's body too straight, as it lacks the natural curves and structures found in the human body. Aim for likeness rather than geometric perfection.
• 🔙 Efficient Back View: Erase the interior lines of the front view and use the mirror tool to fill in the outline with correct perspective and details for the back view. Pay attention to parts that may change perspective, like the feet.
• 💡 Tricks for 3/4 Views: Rather than overlaying the front and side views to create an in-between 3/4 view, draw a top view using the front and side views. Rotate the top view to the desired angle and use it as a reference for drawing the accurate 3/4 view. Apply the same process for the back 3/4 view.
• 😊 Achieving Likeness: When struggling with likeness in the side or 3/4 views, perspective shifts between the front and side views may be the cause. Adjust the placement of facial features towards the center of the drawing to improve likeness.
• 🎥 Animate the Turnaround: Sequencing and animating the turnarounds can help identify any errors or inconsistencies. This process allows for the identification of wobbly lines and inaccuracies that may need to be corrected.
• 🎞 Model Sheets: If desired, a video on model sheets can be provided. Model sheets are comprehensive reference sheets that depict characters from multiple angles, providing essential information for animators and artists working on a project.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A character turnaround is a set of drawings that show a character from multiple angles to maintain consistency.

• The front view can be made more efficiently by using the mirror tool and paying attention to key proportions.

• The side view should consider the natural curves and structures of the human body, aiming for likeness rather than geometric perfection.