Animation Track
This beginner-level course introduces students to the fundamentals of character design, focusing
on creating memorable, expressive, and functional characters for animation. Students will learn
how to design characters that are not only visually appealing but also suitable for animation,
storytelling, and performance.
Character Design By Our Students
Workshop Content
Lesson 1 Drawing fundamentals
Lesson 2 Introduction to Character Design
Character design and Storytelling.
. Backstory of the character.
. References.
. How to search.
. Difference between animation styles.
Task: Let’s Sketch together ( Sketch 3 to 5 characters ) your reference is live find a memorial
characters in your week and start sketching.
Lesson 3 Shape Language and Visual Appeal
. Simple shapes and their meanings in design.
. Breaking down complex characters into basic shapes.
. Creating characters with distinct silhouettes and clear personality traits.
Task: Choose ( 3 to 5 Characters ) of you favorite cartoon characters and let’s explore the shapes
and character building then choose one and redesign it.
Lesson 4 Stylization and Exaggeration
. Overview of different animation styles ( Disney, Anime, Ghibli .. etc )
. Exaggerating body language, facial expressions, and proportions for comedic or dramatic effect
Task: Create a character with exaggerated features, focusing on their primary emotion (happy,
sad, angry, etc.).
Lesson 5 Exploring Color Theory in Character Design
. Basic color theory and color psychology.
. Color palettes for different character types (hero, villain, sidekick, etc.).
. Practical tips for selecting colors for animation (e.g., visibility on screen, cultural significance).
Task: Design 2 characters using a limited color palette (e.g., two or three colors) to emphasize
their personality.
Lesson 6 Character Model Sheet & Turnaround
. Creating a turnaround sheet for your character.
. Basic considerations for animation-ready characters
Task: Draw a turnaround (front, side, back) of your main character design.
Lesson 7 Adding Personality Through Posing
. How body language and posture reflect character traits.
. Posing techniques for creating dynamic, believable characters.
. How to draw characters in action poses to convey emotion.
Task: Create a dynamic action pose for your character that shows their personality (e.g.,
confident, shy, energetic).
Lesson 8 Facial Expression, Emotion, Hands and foots
. Basic facial anatomy and expressions.
. Techniques for exaggerating facial features for emotional clarity.
. The role of eyes, eyebrows, and mouth in conveying emotion.
Task: Draw a series of facial expressions for the previous character (happy, sad, angry,
surprised) for one character, experimenting with exaggeration.
Lesson 9 Costume and Character Accessories
. Costume design principles (practicality, era, culture).
. Accessories and props as extensions of character identity.
. How clothing and accessories can enhance animation and movement
Task: Dress up your previous task and make character props
Lesson 10 Silhouettes , Line Up
. Anatomy and silhouette in motion.
. Creating characters with strong, dynamic shapes.
. How silhouettes affect readability in animation.
Task: Create a set of character designs focusing solely on silhouette—no details or colors, just
strong shapes.
Lesson 11&12 Final Project and Character Design Presentation
. Complete and refine a full character design.
. Present your character with a well-rounded design sheet (turnaround, poses, expressions,
costume).
. Build your character design portfolio.
Course Requirements
- Digital drawing skills
- Laptop and graphic tablet
Level
Beginner to Intermediate
Learning Outcome
It is a project-based learning experience.
By the end of the course, students will have created a unique, well-designed character ready for animation. you will have a solid understanding of the principles of character design and be able
to apply these techniques to future animation projects.
This curriculum provides a balanced mix of theory and practical assignments, and by focusing on key concepts like silhouette, expression, and exaggeration, it ensures students will have a strong foundation in character design for animation.
you will have a full project with a character to apply all the content you studied throughout this course.
Apps
- Certificate of completion after submitting your project
Instructor
Bassant Gharib
Basant is a professional illustrator, visual designer, and animation instructor. A 2022 graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts, where she specialized in Animation and Book Illustration, Basant brings a rich blend of academic excellence and practical industry experience to her teaching.
Her professional portfolio includes impactful training and collaborative work with Nady Studio, as well as designing the backgrounds for the animated series “Banat El-Khala” with Samawah.
As an educator and artist, Basant’s expertise centers on character design with strong visual appeal, dynamic storytelling, and crafting expressive personalities. She is dedicated to helping aspiring artists master the balance between technical skill and narrative depth, guiding them to bring their own unique characters to life.
Student’s Testimonials
