Character Design for Graphic Novels
Published on 13. April 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-0-240-80902-1 (ISBN)
Description
Character Design for Graphic Novels not only showcases the best in character design from the world's leading artists onscreen and on the printed page, but provides you with a hardworking guide to the process behind the evolution and development of character design, the key milestones of the art, the genre busters, and the genre definers.
This stunning book offers a unique insight into the creative process, interviewing the genre's leading artists, showcasing their work, and showing how it is done so you can benefit from their expertise when creating your own graphic novel characters.
Throughout the book biographies of the major artists in each field, their inspirations, their achievements, and their finest hours, are highlighted to give you the inspiration required to succeed in this competitive field.
Learn how popular characters evolved from sketches, drawings, and initial inspirations, through fine-tuning, discussion, and alternative proposals, to onscreen debut and first-edition publication on the printed page.
Featured artists include: Colleen Doran (Illustrator on the Neil Gaiman's - New York Times bestselling author- Sandman series), Kurt Busiek (Writer for Marvel Comics), Eddie Campbell (Illustrator of Alan Moore's acclaimed 'From Hell')and Stan Sakai (creator of the famous character Usagi the bunny).
This stunning book offers a unique insight into the creative process, interviewing the genre's leading artists, showcasing their work, and showing how it is done so you can benefit from their expertise when creating your own graphic novel characters.
Throughout the book biographies of the major artists in each field, their inspirations, their achievements, and their finest hours, are highlighted to give you the inspiration required to succeed in this competitive field.
Learn how popular characters evolved from sketches, drawings, and initial inspirations, through fine-tuning, discussion, and alternative proposals, to onscreen debut and first-edition publication on the printed page.
Featured artists include: Colleen Doran (Illustrator on the Neil Gaiman's - New York Times bestselling author- Sandman series), Kurt Busiek (Writer for Marvel Comics), Eddie Campbell (Illustrator of Alan Moore's acclaimed 'From Hell')and Stan Sakai (creator of the famous character Usagi the bunny).
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Graphic designers; games designers; comic and graphic novel readers; graphic novel designers; web designers; animators and students in these areas.
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
929 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-240-80902-1 (9780240809021)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Steven Withrow is a writer, editor, and the author of 'Toon Art: The Graphic Art of Digital Cartooning'
(Watson-Guptill/Ilex Press, 2003) and, with John Barber, 'Webcomics: Tools & Techniques for Digital
Cartooning' (Barron's Education Series; Ilex Press, 2005). His comics stories, poems, essays, and other works have appeared in several anthologies and online. A graduate of Emerson College and Roger Williams University, Steven lives in Rhode Island with his wife and daughter.
Alexander Danner writes the ongoing comic, 'Picture Story Theatre' (illustrated by Bill Duncan), which has been published by ModernTales.com since 2004. His short comic, 'The Discovery of Spoons,' (illustrated by John Barber) received a Web Cartoonist's Choice Award in 2005, and was later featured prominently in a New York Times article on the burgeoning art of webcomics. In addition to serving on the editorial advisory board of 'The Webcomics Examiner', Alexander also writes for 'Comixpedia', where he recently began a monthly column about writing webcomics. Alexander received his master's degree in writing, literature, and publishing from Emerson College. His comics and other writings can be found through the website TwentySevenLetters.com. Alex is based in the USA.
(Watson-Guptill/Ilex Press, 2003) and, with John Barber, 'Webcomics: Tools & Techniques for Digital
Cartooning' (Barron's Education Series; Ilex Press, 2005). His comics stories, poems, essays, and other works have appeared in several anthologies and online. A graduate of Emerson College and Roger Williams University, Steven lives in Rhode Island with his wife and daughter.
Alexander Danner writes the ongoing comic, 'Picture Story Theatre' (illustrated by Bill Duncan), which has been published by ModernTales.com since 2004. His short comic, 'The Discovery of Spoons,' (illustrated by John Barber) received a Web Cartoonist's Choice Award in 2005, and was later featured prominently in a New York Times article on the burgeoning art of webcomics. In addition to serving on the editorial advisory board of 'The Webcomics Examiner', Alexander also writes for 'Comixpedia', where he recently began a monthly column about writing webcomics. Alexander received his master's degree in writing, literature, and publishing from Emerson College. His comics and other writings can be found through the website TwentySevenLetters.com. Alex is based in the USA.
Author
Writer and editor, based at Rhode Island, USA, he authored "Toon Art: The Graphic Art of Digital Cartooning" and co-authored "Webcomics : Tools and Techniques for Digital Cartooning".
Writer of the Web Comic "The Discovery of Spoons" (Web Cartoonist's Choice Award 2005) and the ongoing comic "Picture Story Theatre". Based at Rhode Island, USA.
Content
Contents
Foreword
Preface: Graphic Novel Characters and Seven Precepts
Section I: The Graphic Novel
What Is a Graphic Novel?
History and Geography
The Graphic Novelist: Singular Vision
The Design Team: Collaboration and Oversight
Section II: The Character
Story and Archetype
The Central Character and the Opposition
Contrast and Commonality
The Supporting Cast
Character Histories: Motivation and Conflict
Section III: Elements of Design
Unity and Sequence
Tools and Techniques: Character Model Sheets
Speech Patterns: Dialogue, Balloons, and Lettering
The Face
The Human Form
The Nonhuman Form
Case Study: Eric Shanower
Line, Contour, and Sequence
Case Study: Eddie Campbell
Section IV: Design Style
The Character Design Spectrum: Abstraction to Hyperrealism
Genre and Tone
Minimalism: Tom Gauld and Jeffrey and Brown
Cartooning: Colleen Coover and Jef Czekaj
Verisimilitude: Miriam Katin and Don MacDonald
Reality and Imagination: Jeff Parker and Colleen Doran
Case Study: Leah Hernandez
Case Study: Jeff Nicholson
Section V: Appearance & Reality
Subtext and Symbolism
Wardrobe and Props
Expression, Motion, and Gesture
Case Study: Jenn Manley Lee
Case Study: Brendan Cahill
Case Study: Metaphrog
Section VI: The Expanded Cast
Group Identity and Storytelling
Case Study: Jason Little
Case Study: Dylan Meconis
Case Study: Busiek, Anderson, and Ross
Case Study: Stan Sakai
Section VII: Knowing Your Audience
Age Appeal
Gender and Culture
Case Study: Wendy and Richard Pini
Case Study: Bryan Talbot
Case Study: Andy Runton
Case Study: Mark Crilley
Section VIII: Modern Methods
Digital Design
Internet Research
Case Study: B. Shur
Case Study: Scott Christian Sava
Case Study: Ryan Estrada
Section IX: Putting It All Together
Symmetry and Synthesis
Judging and Refining Your Character Design
Conclusion: Into the Future
Suggested reading
Online resources
Glossary
Foreword
Preface: Graphic Novel Characters and Seven Precepts
Section I: The Graphic Novel
What Is a Graphic Novel?
History and Geography
The Graphic Novelist: Singular Vision
The Design Team: Collaboration and Oversight
Section II: The Character
Story and Archetype
The Central Character and the Opposition
Contrast and Commonality
The Supporting Cast
Character Histories: Motivation and Conflict
Section III: Elements of Design
Unity and Sequence
Tools and Techniques: Character Model Sheets
Speech Patterns: Dialogue, Balloons, and Lettering
The Face
The Human Form
The Nonhuman Form
Case Study: Eric Shanower
Line, Contour, and Sequence
Case Study: Eddie Campbell
Section IV: Design Style
The Character Design Spectrum: Abstraction to Hyperrealism
Genre and Tone
Minimalism: Tom Gauld and Jeffrey and Brown
Cartooning: Colleen Coover and Jef Czekaj
Verisimilitude: Miriam Katin and Don MacDonald
Reality and Imagination: Jeff Parker and Colleen Doran
Case Study: Leah Hernandez
Case Study: Jeff Nicholson
Section V: Appearance & Reality
Subtext and Symbolism
Wardrobe and Props
Expression, Motion, and Gesture
Case Study: Jenn Manley Lee
Case Study: Brendan Cahill
Case Study: Metaphrog
Section VI: The Expanded Cast
Group Identity and Storytelling
Case Study: Jason Little
Case Study: Dylan Meconis
Case Study: Busiek, Anderson, and Ross
Case Study: Stan Sakai
Section VII: Knowing Your Audience
Age Appeal
Gender and Culture
Case Study: Wendy and Richard Pini
Case Study: Bryan Talbot
Case Study: Andy Runton
Case Study: Mark Crilley
Section VIII: Modern Methods
Digital Design
Internet Research
Case Study: B. Shur
Case Study: Scott Christian Sava
Case Study: Ryan Estrada
Section IX: Putting It All Together
Symmetry and Synthesis
Judging and Refining Your Character Design
Conclusion: Into the Future
Suggested reading
Online resources
Glossary