Robot Character for Personal Growth

jPEG · Sep 2009

It's time to build my own game character for animation all the way through the pipeline. It should prove to be a fun and useful learning experience. Not only will I be showing my familiarity with (at least at a base level) the whole process of bringing a character through production, but I'll also end up with my VERY OWN character to practice animation on--which is something I've wanted for a long while.

So. I think what I'd like to make is a robot. I've got 3 main references (which I didn't actually look at, but had the ideas from) I'm using to come up with the design.

Neon Genesis Evangelion
semi-organic | human-like limbs | slender torso with bulky ribcage | agile
Big O!
bulky | unnecessarily ornate | simple in function
BLAME!
agile | pale faces | semi-organic | slightly frightening | humanoid and cybernetic body parts

I want to try and stay away from standard 50s-style robots and gundams. Some kind of foot besides just a boot would be cool, too. I like the idea of the robot looking just a little clumsy, but being fully capable of great athletic feats and powerful attacks. I haven't put any thought into possible weaponry or anything because that would depend on the kind of robot it becomes.

So here are some thumbnails I threw together with some basic silhouettes and very simple details. I may do some more thumbnail/silhouette sketches, but some of these could be promising.

woogity · Sep 2009

i really dig the style of the sketch in the upper left the feet and legs on that one fit the style of the body the best i think.

-Woog

Taylor Hood · Sep 2009

Sexy sketches mate!

jmchristopher · Sep 2009

Cool Stuff Jpeg

TychoVII · Sep 2009

I'm liking the one in the top right, especially the arms. I think you've got the Evangelion style with those. Maybe try throwing the upper torso and head of the top middle on to that guy?

NoltaN · Sep 2009

Nice sketches mate, I like the top right but feels kinda like the iron giant to me. The one in the middle is my favorite it just screams funk. Kinda like toejam from toejam and earl???? lol

MattQ86 · Sep 2009

Top right two are excellent.

jPEG · Sep 2009

Okay, so here is robot update part deux.

I think I have his design about where I want it. Colors/decals might change at some point, but this'll work for now.

Thanks for all the feedback, fellahs. It's helping the process.

achillesian · Sep 2009

if this is going to be a portfolio piece, i think its fine, but for something thats going somewhere i would want to make something more unique, this has too much of a district 9/mass effect Turian body type going on, its a body type and overall shape that has been overused as of late.

moose · Sep 2009

eh, ill disagree, i think the body is fine, shapes are cool, really dig the head

Though, it could be cool to taper the center "gut" section similar to one of the bots in your concept above (top middle), to give a little more flow/weight to the chest & help accent the shape of the pelvis area.

what are you thinking for diversity of materials? rubbers? cloth? all metal? paint? synthetic tubies for arms? Dig the weight of the hips, and the clean style of the concept. Should be a fun piece! gogogo!

jPEG · Oct 2009

Alright, a quick update on the design. I don't plan on changing it much after this, though feedback is still encouraged. I'll begin blocking out the model tomorrow.

moose: That's a good question. I honestly hadn't thought about what materials to use. It'll probably be something like:
__armor__ some kind of light metal
__head__ hard, shiny plastic
__fingers__ rubber (for gripping)
__arms__ I actually don't know what these muscle-like things should be made of. Probably some kind of flexible, complex metal covered in something equally flexible and more resistant to corrosion or rust.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments! I really do take them seriously.