Eight Characters need criticism

[The Faction]

Been putting in alot of work on character creation.Ã,  I think these 8 are starting to look decent. I've tried to do them in the same style but don't know if I've succeeded.Ã,  I'm still choosing a main character so tell me which is best. 

[Phemar]

Hmmm...tough choice, but while I think, here are teh crits:

1. Very good, I think his body be too long, and his stick be too short, not main character material though...Also skin is too orange...remove black outline...

2. Yes, this looks good. I could see him fitting main character role...Instead of using 2 color dithering, I would experiment with shading techniques...skin way too orange...take away that black outline...

3. Her face is too, um, manly. Her arms and body are out of proportion, and her legs are also too manly, mainly because of her stance...Also get rid of dithering...feet too small...

4. This guy I like, besides the fact he looks all hunched, but maybe he is tense, in anxiety, but otherwise lower shoulders a bit more...Please, no more dithering...skin also too orange...What's with black outline?

5. Now this, is probably the best one so far, all proportions are nice, he has a "cool, smooth guy" feel to him...Please get rid of dithering...Definately main character material...

6. Woah, those be tiny legs...phew! Too tiny...nice though...not for main char though...

7. Hmm, nice...too "gradientised", if you know what I mean...His shoulders also look too hunched.

8. Yes good...his skin seems too gray...But nice, good shoulders...

Overall:

Yesm I definately think you have managed to keep a constant style. I like these characters alot. My main crit was the dithering. Take that away and try some solid color shading. For a main char I would go for either 2 or 5.
7 and 8 look like they would go together. You could set them as two comical characters, one serious and on not, or make them both of the 'higher' authority, who look down at everyone, being serious in the game, but comical to the player.

As you can see, I've come down pretty hard on the crits, but that is because I know you are not a n00b who shows this crap art, and then you have to tell them you think it's really good, so you don't hurt their feelings...But you show potential and so now I help you improve, because I know you can take it.
I really like these chars...well done...very well done...

[Daz]

i like the first one the most and i like the posture it suits him and i think the black out line is good.

im not sure about gradients on the characters and they all lack shading

-Daz

[The Faction]

Thanks for all the comments but now I have some questions.
Zor, what do you mean when you say dithering? You mention it on nearly every character.
Daz, You're right I do use gradients too much. But what should I use instead? The alternatives i've tried have been failures.

[Mr Jake]

you could shade it by hand 

[Daz]

here i did a little edt for you to try


basically shaded it by hand looks better if you do it like that less artificial i supose, hope it helps

-Daz

[Phemar]

Well dithering basically means gradient in a weird crazed world...something like that...

[Darth Mandarb]

I did a paint-over of my favorite of the 8.



- lowered the color count drastically (that many colors and gradients would make animating damn near impossible!)
- kept same basic shape
- altered the skin color
- removed black outline
- removed double pixels

[The Faction]

Thanks for the edits Daz and Darth I think I see what you mean. Darth the clothes on your edit look great. Hopefully I can post some edits soon.

[MoodyBlues]

1.  This guy might be my favorite; he has the most character out of all eight.  His legs might need to be a tad longer, though.  You might remove his facial hair to make his face less confusing, or give him hair color that contrasts with his skin.

2.  He might be the best choice for a main character.  Consider giving him a less orange complexion and arms with more joint definition.

3.  Her shoulders seem too wide, and her face (mostly her jaw) is too masculine.  Her hands should come to about mid-thigh, and she should have some kind of, um, chest *blush*

4.  I like the body language on this one; he seems tense or scared.  To highten that effect, you might give him a more worried expression and have his eyes dart around (when you get to the animation, of course.)  Also, to keep the style consistant, change the outline from black to color, like in #5.

5.  This one might also make a good main character, although games starring detective-ish tough guys with nifty hats are pretty common.  I do like the tilt of that hat, though.   Check the shading on the pants; it's not consistant with his jacket.

6.  Hee hee, what a cute little guy!  Make him more childish by making his eyes larger and moving them to the center or lower half of his face.  Also consider giving him more baby fat.

7.  This guy looks good.  Just watch the shading and keep everything in proportion.

8.  Besides the crazy look on this guy's face, he's just about right.

Very nice job on these folks!  Good luck on your game!   

[Ozwalled]

If you're picking a main character based on which looks best, as you suggested, the old guy at the top gets my vote for sure.

[Edwin Xie]

The old guy looks better than the others.

[The Faction]

I've editedone of the characters and created two more while trying to improve my shading as so many have suggested.  Here they are

[Daz]

hey that first edit is a vast improvement on the original and the other two aren't looking too shabby either, i like and faces.

one problem is that you are still using gradients get rid of them and we can help you with other stuff.

-Daz