Character Design - Task 1 : Personification
Ting Wen Yi / 0361799
Character Design/Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Task 1: Personification
LECTURES
Week 2 - Concept World Design
Week 3 - Shapes, Sketches & Silhouettes
INSTURCTIONS
TASK 1 : PERSONIFICATION
In this project for this module, our task is to conduct research and study Genshin Impact in order to create a new character that can blend into the game. Unfortunately, I'm not particularly familiar with Genshin Impact, so I need to start researching more in-depth to understand the game's concept and story. From what I understand, it is an open-world environment where players complete missions/quests, interact with NPCs, and solve problems. I believe it also involves combat and battles. Like other similar games, it also features skins and weapons that can modify your characters.
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| Figure 1.1 Genshin Impact - Week 1 (27/4/2024) |
1. Research
There are seven elements in Genshin Impact: Pyro (fire), Hydro (water), Dendro (nature), Electro (electricity), Anemo (wind), Cryo (ice), and Geo (earth). Each element – except for Anemo and Geo – has its own status effect. These effects can vary from burning (Pyro), wetness (Hydro), dendro-imbued (Dendro), electro-charged (Electro), freezing (Cryo), to crystallization (Geo), offering strategic advantages in combat.
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| Figure 2.1 Elements - Week 1 (27/4/2024) |
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| Figure 2.2 Elemental Reaction Chart - Week 1 (27/4/2024) |
In Genshin Impact, there are seven nations, each with its own culture and element. They include Mondstadt (wind), Liyue (earth), Inazuma (electricity), Snezhnaya (ice), Fontaine (water), Natlan (fire), and Sumeru (knowledge). Each nation adds depth and variety to the game's world, inviting players to explore their unique landscapes and stories.
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Amunet, an ancient Egyptian goddess, is known as "the hidden one." She represents secrets and the unseen aspects of the world. Often shown as a woman with tall feathers or a snake head, Amunet is believed to protect people and offer hidden knowledge. She is closely linked to the god Amun, her husband, and together they represent the power of creation and transformation.
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| Figure 2.4 Amunet - Week 1 (27/4/2024) |
2. Ideation & Backstory
In Genshin Impact, the world is divided into different nations, each with its own unique landscapes, cultures, and inhabitants. For my character's setting, I've chosen the Desert of Hadramaveth, located within the vast expanse of the Sumeru Desert Area. This region, known for its relentless sandstorms and ancient ruins, provides the perfect backdrop for an Egyptian-inspired character like Amunet.
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| Figure 3.1 Sumeru - Week 1 (27/4/2024) |
As Ms. Anis mentioned, we have to create a backstory for the character to convince that this character could be added in Genshin, along with her purpose in helping out the game.
The Story
Sunasoru was born in the Sumeru Desert. From a very young age, she knew she had a special connection with the mysterious whispers of the desert. As she grew older, she realized that she gained the power to disappear into the sand.
When a sudden chaos struck the Sumeru Desert, Sunasoru felt scared and uncertain, so she disappeared into the swirling sands. For hundreds of years, Sunasoru remained hidden. Although she was gone, the villagers still felt her presence, believing she was looking out for them. They thought of her as their protector.
One day, the chaos became worse, she realized she had to stop it despite her fears. She appeared again and traveled across the desert to meet with the High Priests and learn more about her powers. She discovered that the danger wasn’t just affecting her homeland, but the whole of Sumeru. The danger was caused by an old curse linked to the ancient Gods.
She was on a mission to save her homeland by finding and learning ancient knowledge, and use her power to break the curse. Along the way, she mastered the art of illusion and deception, she was able to use her power in full.
She was determined to protect her homeland. Now, she holds the wisdom of ancient texts and the power of the ancient Gods to break the curse and to bring peace to the desert. She continues to fight against those who misuse or steal the power of the desert. As a guide and protector, Sunasoru uses her abilities to help players navigate through the treacherous terrain of the Sumeru Desert.
3. Visual Reference
I created some visual references to present my idea. The first two pictures are from Genshin to give me a closer idea of their art style. The rest are some possible pictures of Egyptian goddesses I found to resemble Amunet.
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| Figure 4.1 Amunet References - Week 1 (27/4/2024) |
I've also found some clothing references, although there aren't many visual cues available. However, I picture the character wearing elegant white attire with gold details. This choice not only reflects the purity and elegance often associated with Egyptian deities but also provides a contrast against the golden sands of the desert backdrop.
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| Figure 4.2 Clothing References - Week 1 (27/4/2024) |
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| Figure 4.3 Accessories and Details References - Week 1 (27/4/2024) |
I've found some references of hand wands adorned with ankhs, as well as other elements relevant to combining the elements.
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| Figure 4.4 Hand wand / Weapon References - Week 1 (27/4/2024) |
4. Character Study
To understand the style of Genshin Impact, I conducted studies on the body shapes of its characters. From my observations, I've noticed that most female characters tend to have either a triangle or hourglass body shape, while on the other hand, male characters have a rectangular body shape.
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| Figure 5.1 Body Shape Studies - Week 1 (27/4/2024) |
From the silhouette study of existing Genshin characters, the ratio of the torso to the legs was 1:3.
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| Figure 5.2 Silhouette Studies - Week 3 (6/5/2024) |
Most Genshin characters have these outfit characteristics:
- Many characters in Genshin Impact feature capes or cloaks as part of their outfit, adding a movement sense and drama to their design.
- Female characters often have outfits that include a revealing midriff; crop tops, bralettes, or tops with strategic cutouts.
- Both male and female characters can be seen wearing short dresses or pants as part of their attire, allowing for ease of movement during combat.
- Characters frequently has accessories such as belts, pouches, gloves, and jewelry.
- Outfit colors and details may be influenced by the character's elemental affinity, with corresponding themes or symbols added into their design.
- Characters often carry unique weapons or tools that reflect their combat style and abilities.
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| Figure 5.3 Outfit Studies - Week 2 (6/5/2024) |
Ms. Anis mentioned that I could take reference from the character of Honkai: Star Rail, as Genshin characters don't typically wear long dresses. So, I studied the outfit of Himeko, where she wears a long dress with a coat.
Figure 5.4 Himeko Outfit Study - Week 3 (7/5/2024)
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| Figure 5.4 Himeko Outfit Study - Week 3 (7/5/2024) |
5. Sketches
Based on the ideas and mood board I have, I drafted some sketches with different hairstyles, outfits, and head accessories. All of these designs are inspired by Egyptian clothing.
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| Figure 6.1 Thumbnail Sketches - Week 3 (7/5/2024) |
Mr. Anis mentioned that the headpiece in sketch number 4 looks more like royalty, and the sandals in sketch number 2 have a good design. The necklace in sketch number 5 is good, and Ms. Anis likes the hairstyle in sketch number 7. So I used red color lines to indicate the feedback given by her.
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| Figure 6.2 Feedback Given - Week 3 (9/5/2024) |
Based on the feedback from Ms. Anis, I continued to progressively sketch, taking some of the elements and features from the previous sketches and exploring them further.
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| Figure 6.3 Progressive Silhouette Sketches - Week 3 (13/5/2024) |
As my desired character is a loyal and five-star character, her outfit must reflect her characteristics. She has a revealing midriff and a large necklace with an ankh pendant. Her headpiece is also large, featuring a cobra in the center. On the left side of her head, there is a decoration with a ruby, and the wings of a falcon, revealing her Egyptian identity. She wears a belt with a scorpion design and bangles with snake motifs. The back of her clothing also features a scorpion. She has a short skirt that contrasts with a long back skirt, inspired by the existing Genshin character, Candace. The grey area of her outfit is made of sheer material, colored in a half-opaque grey to show the details beneath.
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| Figure 6.4 Detailed Sketches - Week 4 (15/5/2024) |
I also drew some weapon sketches, but they have not been finalized or checked by Ms. Anis.
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| Figure 6.5 Weapon Exploration - Week 4 (15/5/2024) |
Final Outcome
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Figure 7.1 Final Turnaround - Week 4 (15/5/2024)
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Figure 7.3 Presentation Slide Task 1 - Week 4 (16/5/2024)
FEEDBACKS
Week 4:
I think it will help if you provide a grid line for the turnaround. This will be especially useful when you model the character later on. It shows consideration in the design and reflects her background story too. Well done.
Week 3:
The purpose of the 8 silhouettes is to take each feature from different sketches you like and combine the elements. You can take references or elements of the character Candance to make them look like they are part of a set. Consider placing the scorpion design at the front of the skirts and incorporating a cobra snake design into the headpiece. So far, the progression is good.
Week 2:
To align with the existing characters in Genshin Impact, you should focus on maintaining a cohesive aesthetic while incorporating the necessary changes. Given that long dresses aren't common in Genshin, you could seek references for outfit designs that fit within the game's style. Replace the character's staff with a spear to better align with the game's weapon repertoire. Considering her Egyptian background, try to explore name modifications to enhance authenticity, potentially adding a prefix or suffix to "SunasÅru" to reflect this cultural influence. Beginning with a character study.
REFLECTIONS
This was my very first time designing an anime character. Through this task, I learned how to build a character from scratch, from the background and personality to bringing the character to life. Although I'm not very good at drawing, I found that drawing anime is a good starting point. It is easier compared to other styles but anime drawing requires patience to refine the details. Drawing different angles of the characters is a bit challenging, especially since soft clothing is hard to imagine from different perspectives. However, upon completing my task, I am satisfied with the outcome for now.
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