Sandro Cluezo

http://n201designissuesindigitalmedia.blogspot.com/

Cluezo's character designs are relatively simplistic and the results are stunning. His way with breaking down forms into simple shapes is something to be in awe of, especially how he communicates so much without being too detailed. If you take a minute to look at one of his characters you'll see how rich they are in their conception. Negating detail, color, and shade, the essence of the form is expressed completely.

A great animator once said that superb character design has a recognizable sillhouette. This is true, especially when you see the character in shadow. When you look at Micky Mouse's sillhouette for example, you can clearly recognize who the character is. And by recognizing Micky Mouse, images of his movement and personality illuminate within your mind, perhaps reminding you of your childhood.

As an aspiring animator myself, I often find myself struggling to create a character with great appeal. Most of this has to do with a mental block that says that whatever I'm drawing has to be very detailed. What I've learned is that great character design often involves minimalistic execution, in the sense that anything superfluous is eliminated. Only lines or forms that are necessary for the most impact are included in the composition.