When starting an animation project, professionals often struggle to find the perfect character style for their project. If you are also going through this, don’t worry. It’s a common problem.
It can be frustrating when you are overwhelmed by the sheer variety of 2D animation art styles out there. And are unsure which one will convey your message effectively.
But, don’t worry! Our guide explains the various character art styles. From whimsical cartoons to lifelike realism—and show you how each style brings unique value to your animation, marketing, or branding project.
At the end of this blog you’ll have a clear idea of what each style is and will help you land on one that works best.
Let’s jump right in!
What Are Character Art Styles?
Character art styles are a crucial aspect of animation through which artists and designers use to design and illustrate characters to convey unique personalities, emotions, and stories.
They range from simple, whimsical cartoons with exaggerated features to highly detailed and realistic portrayals that capture real life details.
Each character art style offers a different purpose for the brand. For instance, businesses targeting the younger audience prefer cartoon art styles due to their vibrant colors and playful shapes.
Realistic styles are used in films and video games to create immersive believable worlds. Understanding these character design aesthetic art styles can help artists and creators choose the best approach to effectively communicate and engage with their target audience.
History of Character Art
Did you know that character art dates back to ancient civilizations? Egyptians used to draw hieroglyphics, which is the earliest form of character art. They used this character art style to tell stories and myths.
Fast forward to today, we have a whole different type of character art styles to choose from.
Different Types of Character Art Styles
There are different types of character art styles. Let’s explore the most popular ones.
Cartoon Style: Wacky, Unrestrained Imagination
Cartoon art styles are one of the most popular types used by animators in character art. There are different cartoon styles, some being simple and fun, while others are detailed and expressive.
Classic Cartoon Styles
Remember Looney Tunes? That is one of the most famous shows and follows the cartoon character style. Cartoon character art carries a special charm. Their exaggerated expressions and bright colors make them perfect for capturing attention.
Think about Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. Their goofy expressions and vibrant colors are a big hit with audiences.
But it’s not just the Looney Tunes. Classic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck also fall into this category. These characters have simple designs but remain iconic through the decades.
Modern Cartoon Styles
Modern cartoons like “Bluey” and “Rick & Morty” have taken cartoon character art up a notch. Their unique cartoon style drawings are ideal for animators targeting children and even adults in some cases.
Modern styles can be minimalistic yet emotionally complex. For example, cartoon style drawings in “Adventure Time” make use of simple shapes but delve into sophisticated storytelling that appeals to all age groups. “Steven Universe” offers similar cartoon style drawings and blends simplicity and depth, making it a favorite among a broad audience.
Realistic Style: Warts-and-All Humanity
On the flip side, we have realistic character art style. This art style is all about creating real life characters. You’ll see this a lot in video games, movies, and high-end ads. It is also used in creating cartoon realism art.
In order to create realistic character art styles, artists need to know alot about anatomy, shading, and lighting. Artists and animators often use software like Adobe Photoshop to get detailed and lifelike results.
Think about the characters in blockbuster movies or AAA video games. They look almost real, right?
Creating realistic art isn’t just about making things look real, it’s also about capturing emotions and personality. Artists need to focus closely on the facial features and muscle movements in realistic character art in order to convey the same emotions as a real person.
Realistic characters can make your audiences feel more connected with content and are ideally used in storytelling and advertisements.
Traditional vs. Digital
Realistic character art in a traditional painting style can be achieved through different painting techniques and digital tools. Traditional methods might use oils or acrylics and focus more on brush strokes and textures. Digital methods focus more on tools and flexibility, allowing for quicker iterations and adjustments.
Many high-budget movies blend both traditional and digital techniques to create unique and stunning visual effects.
Stylized/Exaggerated Style
Stylized or exaggerated character art takes reality and pushes it to another level. This type of character art makes use of bold lines, vibrant colors, and dramatic proportions to make characters unique and memorable.
Use tools like Adobe Illustrator or even traditional media like markers and paint to create stylized characters. The key is to exaggerate features while maintaining a sense of believability.
Think of characters like Johnny Bravo. The character art style uses exaggerated muscles and wild hair. Or the abstract and colorful world of “Adventure Time.” This style is attention grabbing and is perfect for creating memorable and distinctive characters.
Anime Style
The Anime character style is unique. They are known for their large eyes, dramatic expressions, and intricate details Originating from Japan, anime has a huge global following.
Anime artists often combine traditional drawing techniques and digital tools. They use programs like Clip Studio and Paint to create the anime characters.
Characters like Goku from “Dragon Ball” or Naruto from “Naruto” are iconic and instantly recognizable. They can evoke strong emotions and connect deeply with audiences. Which makes them ideal for storytelling.
Cel Shading
Cel shading is a technique that makes 3D models appear flat, like 2D cartoons. This character style often uses bold outlines and flat colors.
Artists use software like Blender or Maya to create cel-shaded characters. Combining the depth of 3D with the simplicity of 2D.
Some games that use this cartoon character art include: “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker” and “Jet Set Radio”.
Low Poly Art: Maximum Meaning Through Minimalism
Low poly art is a style of cartooning that uses simple geometric shapes using the principles of animation and a limited number of polygons to create characters. Characters made with these cartoon style drawings often have a nostalgic or minimalist feel.
Softwares often used for sketching styles for this art style drawing are Blender. Which helps create low poly characters. The focus is on simplicity and efficiency.
Games like “Minecraft” and “Journey” use low poly art to create immersive worlds with a unique aesthetic.
Low poly art offers character design aesthetic art styles that are visually appealing and cost-effective for animators aiming for highly detailed models.
Trends in Character Art
Character art keeps on evolving as technology advances. It’s shaped by culture, technology, and what people like.
Current Trends
- Unique Designs: Artists are using creativity to add unconventional features to make characters more memorable.
- Mixed Media: Traditional and digital techniques give a unique blend of textures.
- Interactive Art: AR and VR are making cartoon character art immersive.
You can also see new and innovative mixes of different types of cartoon styles on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
By keeping an eye on social media you can stay updated with the latest trends and incorporate these trends into your projects.
Future Predictions
The future of character art looks exciting! With AI and machine learning, we can expect even more realistic and dynamic designs. Artists will keep pushing the boundaries and exploring new techniques.
Keep an eye on these trends and think about how you can use them in your projects. It’ll keep your content fresh and engaging.
Imagine using AI to generate character designs based on user preferences or creating interactive characters that respond to audience inputs. The possibilities are endless and thrilling!
Character Art Styles
For marketers, animators, and brand makers, character art styles are important. If you are one of them, explore the different art styles, from classic cartoons to realistic portrayals until you can find the perfect look for your project.
Also, make sure to always look out for new techniques to stay ahead and follow the trends to create memorable characters.
If you are in a hurry and need amazing 2D character animations for your next campaign, feel free to reach out to us today.
