Innocent square man

[m0ds]

Today at work I drew an innocent/cute looking square man and have tried to draw him in PSP, the final result isn't as cutesy as I'd liked.



I'd love to scan the original but don't have a scanner, so my main question is, is there any way I can make this computer version more cutesy? Perhaps shortening his arms and legs and body might work, i'm not sure. And what colours would you suggest for him?

[MrColossal]

don't you have a digital camera? take some pictures of it in good light and then we could see, eh eh?

[nope!]

I have the feeling that "square man" needn't colors: he could "live" in a paper world: drawingboard or something like that...

Moreover, colors could be used only to express his feelings/health (anger=red, frozen=blue;sick=green...)

Concerning his shapes, It depends on the way he moves.
The only thing that bugs me is the circle shape of his eyes

[m0ds]

Good point, eric. Here's the original;



nope!, you're right - I think he would look better in a more papery world. He's actually going to live in a square-ish world, but things like wheels are still round (rather than square cos that would just be silly), so things like eyes would need to be circular too really, because it's more of a person than a robot.. LOL.

The way he looks is square, but the way he moves is normal, pretty much. I like the idea of colours for his feelings/health.

[MrColossal]

Just showing you some more cartoony bendy lines. If everything is straight always forever then don't mind these sketches, but the little bit of bend adds a little more personality

also, to make him cuter i'd put his mouth in between his eyes and high up like in the 1st sketch.

[m0ds]

Thanks eric, those are nice sketches! I'm still worried about the "larger" (or longer) body is contributing to the fact he looks less cute, but I may be wrong. Bendiness is fine, (except in the head).

I might try some different variations. The problem with making him more bendier is a) I can't draw and b) I have to animate it somehow. The bendier he looks I'd presume the bendier his animations would need to be.

[Penguinx]

You could have different scenes be diferent colored pieces of paper taped together at the edges. There could even be a sense of dread whenever an edge of paper was met... IE, will the character fall off?

[Farsight]

The character looks good. You could use it in a world like the program 'Chalkzone' where there are a lot of 2d characters going around in a 2d world. Also a side question, how do you make and post multi frame animated gif files. I would really like to know.

[Ashen]

First off, I can't draw to save my life, so feel free to ignore this. That said ....

I think the problem with the PSP version is that it's TOO square, as MrColossal said. Depending on what version of PSP you're using, you should be able to skew the shapes you're using for the head and body, which would make it more like the original without making it much harder to animate.

Something like (man, I hope this works):

[m0ds]

Geocities is a sucker for hosting images, but I took a look at it, thanks Ashen! I'm going to have a stab at a newer, curvier PSP version in a moment.

And on an un-related note, your name reminds me of the bad guy in a film I once wrote, who was also called Ashen.

EDIT; Okay, I've made his body, arms and legs a bit smaller, and made his body a little more curvier.

[Gravity]

Message deleted.

[Ashen]

This may sound a little strange, given that I'm basically talking about a stick figure, but the new version looks more like 'Innocent square Boy', rather than 'Innocent square Man'. Something to do with the proportions I guess - the shorter, rounder body, and the bigger smiling mouth.

Much cutesier, though, which is what you wanted.

What, if anything, are you going to use him for? I guess that would affect exactly how cute you want/need to make him. Ah, forget it, I'm just bitter you didn't like my version best.

Gravity: Thanks, I'll make a note of that in case I end up joining and posting more often.

[m0ds]

I like your version, Ashen - my only concerns are that he is a little "too" square. It's a good adaption on the first one I drew, certainly.

Funnily enough, I'm going to use him for an adventure game.

[m0ds]

Woot, now he talks!

[glow=black, 1,1]Hi, I'm a foo![/glow]

And thanks to Mr Schlaepfer he walks!

[Ashen]

Love the Walk anim, but I'd be interested to see how you deal with the side view. I had doubts, but seeing it animated, you definately made the right choice with the body shape.

[DragonRose]

Glee! He's very cute.  I like the shorter body, but as said previously it does make him look more like a child.

However, I'm not too sure about the hair in the walking animation.  The movements of his arms and legs are very fluid, but his hair is stiff.  Maybe changing the curve of it as it moves would look a bit better. Yeah, it's more work but I think it would be worth it.

[InCreator]

cute! yes!  
One of greatest characters in CL for a long time!
Especially three pieces of hair, this gives most of his looks. I'd sure like to play a game with so cutesy characters.
Make him blink eyes once during talking! And idle view with watching around + blinking. And maybe waving hand to player!

** Increator stands up and gives an applause **

[Gravity]

Message deleted.

[Haddas]

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Haddas/Critiscism%20objects/sqarequrlidles.gif

I just wanted to make a girl one. Sorry for the smoothened gif. I have the frames in .png format too if you want 'em

[m0ds]

LOL. Super, Haddas! Would be great to use her for the game. Next task, animate him putting on suction boots and walking up the side of a building.

And thanks for all the notes, inspiring! He does look boyish but I think it'll work. ^_^