Character Designer

Character Designer's role and missions

The character designer is responsible for creating the appearance of the characters in an animated film, video game or advertisement. He defines their morphology, features, clothing and visual style. Their role is to give the protagonists a unique and memorable identity, while respecting the artistic direction and narrative universe.

This profession combines vivid imagination, a sense of aesthetics and psychological understanding of the characters. Each drawing expresses a personality and helps the viewer to become attached to the story.

Key knowledge to master 

• Mastery of drawing, design and anatomy.
• Ability to create characters consistent with a graphic universe.
• Knowledge of digital design software (Photoshop, Illustrator, ZBrush).
• Sense of detail and stylization.
• Adaptability to adapt a character to different poses and expressions.

The character designer collaborates with directors, scriptwriters and animators. His creations serve as a reference for the entire artistic team and influence the visual identity of the project.

In the production chain, he is essential as he defines the first visual incarnation of heroes and antagonists. His choices determine the emotion and iconicity of the characters.

ESRA prepares students for this profession through the ESRA Animation program, where they develop their skills in drawing, design and digital creation, working on concrete projects.