CHARACTER DESIGN: SIMPLE RULES FOR ANY STYLE - PART 2
If you’ve studied character design fundamentals before, Character Design: Simple Rules for Any Style - Part 2 focuses on applying character design fundamentals to complete character designs, showing what works, what doesn’t, and why.
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LESSON 1
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LESSON 5-1: CONSTRUCTION: VOLUME VS GRAPHIC DESIGN
• Build with simple forms
• Maintain structure and rotation
• Simplify the design process
• Create clear construction -
LESSON 5-2: PUSHING TOWARD CARTOON DESIGN
• Explore graphic design principles
• Push shapes and proportions
• Strengthen visual appeal
• Use straights and curves
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LESSON 2
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LESSON 3
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LESSON 7-1: BUILDING A MODEL SHEET
• Break down construction
• Understand appealing proportions
• Learn the 1/3 rule
• Prepare for new poses -
LESSON 7-2: MODEL SHEET FACES & POSES
• Push expressions further
• Strengthen acting choices
• Improve pose appeal
• Add personality and emotion -
LESSON 7-3: PROPORTIONS, BALANCE & CLOTHING
• Explore appealing proportions
• Improve pose balance
• Add clothing with structure
• Understand folds and pressure
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LESSON 04
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LESSON 8-1: STARTING A POSE SHEET
• Simplify complex designs
• Understand major forms
• Maintain consistency
• Prepare for posing -
LESSON 8-2: LINE OF ACTION, TILTS & ANGLES
• Explore gesture and acting
• Strengthen line of action
• Add tilts and angles
• Improve rhythm and appeal -
LESSON 8-3: FROM THUMBNAILS TO FINAL POSES
• Refine rough ideas
• Stay on model
• Improve appeal and rhythm
• Finish expressive poses
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LECTURE FORMAT
Pre-Recorded learn at your own pace instruction
2 Hours 49 Minutes of Video Instruction (1080p)
Practice Sheets (Printable or Digital) to complete after each lesson
Compatible with PC, Tablet, and Mobile Devices
Language: English
DAVID PEREZ
David Perez is a husband, father, and artist with over a decade of experience in the animation industry. He has had the privilege of working at some of the most renowned studios, including Disney, DreamWorks, Warner Bros, Nickelodeon, Sony, and Netflix.
Teaching and giving back has been one of the most rewarding aspects of his career. David occasionally offers online workshops, and he also shares free insights on his YouTube channel (@dzine555) to help aspiring artists on their creative journey.
Character design isn’t about being “advanced.” It’s about mastering the basics at a deeper level. Over the years, He has learned that great design always comes back to simplicity and that’s the foundation of my teaching philosophy.
You’ll not only learn how things work but also why they work. More importantly, you’ll gain the tools to deconstruct and rebuild characters in your own unique way. His goal is to make learning accessible, easy to understand at any age, and use his courses as a resource you can return to no matter where you are in your artistic journey.
David has a 100-page how-to book designed to teach anyone the fundamentals of character design. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills.
If you would like to see more of his work you can check out. www.davidperezdzine.com
David’s Books
Every Book Includes an Original Hand-Drawn Sketch
Trusted by Industry Professionals
"I had the pleasure of mentoring David early in his beginning journey as a character designer. He's a creative talent that has a solid knack for crafting characters with personality and depth. I'm happy to endorse David as a skilled character designer who can bring creativity to any project.
Joe Moshier (The Emperors New Groove, Boss Baby, Vivo)
"David taught me everything i know. I know very little, but i owe it all to him. You need this book!!" Peace and Love!
Craig Kellman (Hotel Transylvania, Madagascar, Samurai Jack)
"David has that design insight that will get you to the next level in your work. "
Tony Siruno (Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse, Kung Fu Panda, How to train your dragon)
Learn the WHY and HOW behind great character design.
Beginner-friendly
More art. Less text.
Easy to understand
*Includes a HiRes and LoRes PDF for Mobile Devices and Desktops*
Trusted by Industry Professionals
"I had the pleasure of mentoring David early in his beginning journey as a character designer. He's a creative talent that has a solid knack for crafting characters with personality and depth. I'm happy to endorse David as a skilled character designer who can bring creativity to any project.
Joe Moshier (The Emperors New Groove, Boss Baby, Vivo)
"David taught me everything i know. I know very little, but i owe it all to him. You need this book!!" Peace and Love!
Craig Kellman (Hotel Transylvania, Madagascar, Samurai Jack)
"David has that design insight that will get you to the next level in your work. "
Tony Siruno (Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse, Kung Fu Panda, How to train your dragon)
Learn the WHY and HOW behind great character design.
Beginner-friendly
More art. Less text.
Easy to understand
Helpful Resources
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The Art Club Discord is a supportive space for students to connect, share their work, and grow together as artists. Along with accessing course materials, you can post your lecture exercises and get helpful feedback from both instructors and fellow students.
It’s a great place to see how others approach the same assignments, pick up new ideas, and learn from different perspectives. Whether you’re asking questions, sharing progress, or joining in discussions, the Discord is there to support you throughout your character design journey.
DISCORD LINK -
For this course, you can use whatever drawing tools you feel most comfortable with, whether that’s traditional or digital. Pencils, pens, markers, and sketchbooks are great for exploring form, gesture, and expression. If you prefer working digitally, tools like drawing tablets and software such as Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or Procreate can give you the flexibility to work with layers and easily revise your drawings.
You don’t need every tool to succeed, just something that lets you draw and explore ideas. Feel free to experiment with both traditional and digital approaches to discover what works best for your style and workflow as you bring your characters to life.