Character Backside Sprite (see front first)

[Akumayo]

Well, as the subject says, this is my first attempt at a real character (as opposed to a bird's eye view of one) in a very long time.Ã,  I think he looks somewhat okay, but critic on how to perfect him would be most appreciated.Ã,  He is supposed to be a somewhat mysterious guy, who serves as a leader of sorts to his friends.Ã,  The cane/rod thing in the second pose is one of his weapons.Ã,  The metal thing is his other weapon in the third picture.

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-Regards, Akumayo

[ManicMatt]

I prefer it to the top down sprites, but I can't actually figure out the head. What is it exactly?

[Akumayo]

I was going for a semi-cartoonish look, so the head has dark brown hair, giant sunglasses, and the mouth/nose are covered by the trenchcoat.  Also, what exactly do you mean:

I prefer it to the top down sprites

What are the "top down sprites"?

[Candle]

 (as opposed to a bird's eye view of one) = top down sprites

[Akumayo]

Oh, okay, thanks GBC.Ã,  I get it now, duhÃ, 
Yes, it does look nicer than my bird's eye sprites by about x300

[ManicMatt]

I think the problem lies in the fact that the sunglasses and the hair are hard to difrentiate (sp) becasue they are both dark colours. Perhaps if the glasses didn't touch the hair? A bit of skin to seperate them?

[Akumayo]

Looks like that could be the problem.Ã,  Here's two alternatives.Ã,  The first (which I prefer) changes the shape of the sunglasses, and the second changes the hair color so that the glasses are more noticable.

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Which is nicer?

[ManicMatt]

The one on the left I prefer!

Anything else I can advise on? I'm not good with the foot thing, but it looks like they have one foot pointing sideways for some reason. Would it look better if you just copied the foot on the right, mirrored it and pasted it on the other foot?

You could also give him some fingers?
(unless minimal detail is intentional, then excuse me)

[mozza]

I don't know but I think it looks as if I am looking at the character's back. I think it could be the trench coat or maybe the shape of the head or both. Other than that it looks pretty good.

[Akumayo]

Here's an update.Ã,  Since I too liked the style on the left (smaller glasses) I went with it for this style.Ã,  In the top frame, his head and coat have been modified for what is hopefully a more obviously forward facing view, as mozza had a good point, it kinda looked like his backside, it also tries out ManicMatt's idea on the feet... I personally think both style's look okay... maybe somewhere inbetween.Ã,  Thoughts?Ã,  The bottom frame is my concept of his backside (still has an un-altered foot concept)

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Which feet look better?  And is the head more obviously forward facing?  Other comments?

[mozza]

I think it looks like he is facing forward now which is good but in the back view his left foot is pointing down when I think it should be pointing up. Just see what it looks like.

[Akumayo]

I couldn't really find a way to fix his foot in the back-view frame, because the pitch of it lies in how you look at it, not the pixels themselves.Ã,  I will work on trying to acheive more depth by shading later, but first, here's my attempt at the "in-between" concept for his feet.Ã,  I like this one more than the frames with the same feet on both sides, he looks more casual here, but that's my opinion.Ã,  EDIT:Ã,  Added another concept, it's him without his coat on.. I know... very rough... but it's still in work.

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What do you all think of the new foot and coatless view?

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I made a quick paintover and tried to keep it in the style you were going for.

His head is a little smaller and I changed some of the tones to add more contrast.


To make it look even more like he is being viewed from the front you could change the view so he is turned somewhat.

[Akumayo]

Oo, that does look better, I'll begin revising mine soon.Ã,  The folds at the collar make the most difference in my eyes I think, it makes the view more... real.Ã,  The lock of hair also helps quite a bit I think, like I said, I'll begin revision soon and add some of your ideas.

EDIT:Ã,  Trying to do justice t progz's excellent modifications, I came up with these changes.Ã,  The view on the left is the old one, and the right is the modified one.Ã,  I am very content with these changes.

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I'm still not totally satisfied, but I think this was a great improvement.Ã,  Any more ideas?

EDIT AGAIN:

I went back and tried attaching a collar to the guy, what'dya think now?

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Which one looks better?  Left or right?

[Krysis]

his head is too big. Looks very unnaturall.

[MarVelo]

I like it like this----

[Akumayo]

I like it like this----

Hrm...Ã,  I prefer the new "boxed" glasses style.. and he's not allowed to have a nose, only an optional mouth, and if he has a mouth, it may only be one pixel thick.Ã,  (He's based on a comic character I drew up with some friends)
I'm going to work on the head soon... it is rather... watermelon-like.

EDIT:

Okay, I went back and tried my hand at shrinking his watermelon of a head.Ã,  I think I might have ruined it... but maybe there's still hope.Ã,  Now he kinda looks like Tiny.

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Keep it?  Burn it?  What?  Is it as horrible as I think?

[MarVelo]

I think you have it, looks nice

[Akumayo]

I made a few more modifications (keeping the smaller head style)  I added some German/Russian flags, modified the arms, and tethered the coat at the bottom.Ã,  I feel like it's much closer to completion now... but still something is missing... out of place...

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Ideas on improvement?

[bigrd32]

He is starting to look a little like an astronaut (don't know if that's good or bad).  Also, I think if you show the bridge of his nose it will be a little more clear that his face is being covered.