Overview

Character Design for Graphic Novels not only showcases the best in character design from the world's leading artists onscreen and on the printed page, but provides you with a hardworking guide to the process behind the evolution and development of character design, the key milestones of the art, the genre busters, and the genre definers. This stunning book offers a unique insight into the creative process, interviewing the genre's leading artists, showcasing their work, and showing how it is done so you can benefit from their expertise when creating your own graphic novel characters. Throughout the book biographies of the major artists in each field, their inspirations, their achievements, and their finest hours, are highlighted to give you the inspiration required to succeed in this competitive field. Learn how popular characters evolved from sketches, drawings, and initial inspirations, through fine-tuning, discussion, and alternative proposals, to onscreen debut and first-edition publication on the printed page. Featured artists include: Colleen Doran (Illustrator on the Neil Gaiman's - New York Times bestselling author- Sandman series), Kurt Busiek (Writer for Marvel Comics), Eddie Campbell (Illustrator of Alan Moore's acclaimed 'From Hell')and Stan Sakai (creator of the famous character Usagi the bunny).

Full Product Details

Author:   Steven Withrow (Writer and editor, based at Rhode Island, USA, he authored Toon Art: The Graphic Art of Digital Cartooning and co-authored Webcomics : Tools and Techniques for Digital Cartooning .) ,  Alexander Danner (Writer of the Web Comic The Discovery of Spoons (Web Cartoonist's Choice Award 2005) and the ongoing comic Picture Story Theatre . Based at Rhode Island, USA.)
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Focal Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.929kg
ISBN:  

9780240809021

ISBN 10:   0240809025
Pages:   192
Publication Date:   13 April 2007
Audience:   College/higher education ,  College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   Awaiting stock  

Table of Contents

Contents Foreword Preface: Graphic Novel Characters and Seven Precepts Section I: The Graphic Novel What Is a Graphic Novel? History and Geography The Graphic Novelist: Singular Vision The Design Team: Collaboration and Oversight Section II: The Character Story and Archetype The Central Character and the Opposition Contrast and Commonality The Supporting Cast Character Histories: Motivation and Conflict Section III: Elements of Design Unity and Sequence Tools and Techniques: Character Model Sheets Speech Patterns: Dialogue, Balloons, and Lettering The Face The Human Form The Nonhuman Form Case Study: Eric Shanower Line, Contour, and Sequence Case Study: Eddie Campbell Section IV: Design Style The Character Design Spectrum: Abstraction to Hyperrealism Genre and Tone Minimalism: Tom Gauld and Jeffrey and Brown Cartooning: Colleen Coover and Jef Czekaj Verisimilitude: Miriam Katin and Don MacDonald Reality and Imagination: Jeff Parker and Colleen Doran Case Study: Leah Hernandez Case Study: Jeff Nicholson Section V: Appearance & Reality Subtext and Symbolism Wardrobe and Props Expression, Motion, and Gesture Case Study: Jenn Manley Lee Case Study: Brendan Cahill Case Study: Metaphrog Section VI: The Expanded Cast Group Identity and Storytelling Case Study: Jason Little Case Study: Dylan Meconis Case Study: Busiek, Anderson, and Ross Case Study: Stan Sakai Section VII: Knowing Your Audience Age Appeal Gender and Culture Case Study: Wendy and Richard Pini Case Study: Bryan Talbot Case Study: Andy Runton Case Study: Mark Crilley Section VIII: Modern Methods Digital Design Internet Research Case Study: B. Shur Case Study: Scott Christian Sava Case Study: Ryan Estrada Section IX: Putting It All Together Symmetry and Synthesis Judging and Refining Your Character Design Conclusion: Into the Future Suggested reading Online resources Glossary

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Author Information

Steven Withrow is a writer, editor, and the author of 'Toon Art: The Graphic Art of Digital Cartooning' (Watson-Guptill/Ilex Press, 2003) and, with John Barber, 'Webcomics: Tools & Techniques for Digital Cartooning' (Barron's Education Series; Ilex Press, 2005). His comics stories, poems, essays, and other works have appeared in several anthologies and online. A graduate of Emerson College and Roger Williams University, Steven lives in Rhode Island with his wife and daughter. Alexander Danner writes the ongoing comic, 'Picture Story Theatre' (illustrated by Bill Duncan), which has been published by ModernTales.com since 2004. His short comic, 'The Discovery of Spoons,' (illustrated by John Barber) received a Web Cartoonist's Choice Award in 2005, and was later featured prominently in a New York Times article on the burgeoning art of webcomics. In addition to serving on the editorial advisory board of 'The Webcomics Examiner', Alexander also writes for 'Comixpedia', where he recently began a monthly column about writing webcomics. Alexander received his master's degree in writing, literature, and publishing from Emerson College. His comics and other writings can be found through the website TwentySevenLetters.com. Alex is based in the USA.

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