Favourite Character Design

Duo · Post by **Duo** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:18 am

"Shin" Boo was a phrase I coined about a year or so ago because I was, at the time, trying to get as far away from using common fan-made terminology as possible. It carried over to a few on MFG (SS2 Vegeto included) and, in my opinion, is a much more suitable term for that form of Boo than the term "Super". He is "purified" of any good within himself and made "new" and stronger than ever before. Super is much more generic and over-used.

But now I just try to avoid using prefix's for Boo in general. Just "Chibi" and a couple others.

[/off-topic]

TAS · Post by **TAS** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:44 am

I myself am really big into character designs and I'll try not to let personal prefrence or bias get in the way here, so...

Cell
Mirai Trunks
Piccolo
Super Saiyan 4
Scouter(s)
Saiyan Armor
Hair Styles (Goku, Vegeta, etc)

...are just a few examples of some really unique designs for their time, or things that really draw your eye.

I'd love to go through and pick apart the styles, characters, designs, etc, bit by bit with my various opinions or details, but I'm tired.

That, and she looked 12 when she was really barely younger than Goten and Trunks.

Don't forget though that Trunks and Goten look act like teenagers in GT when they're really in like their mid 20's, or how about Pan who looks like she's 12, but actually is around 16. Stupid don't know how to draw characters their own ages designs. Although on the plus side of GT's designs TOEI and Toriyama managed to make most everyone look very unique or individual compared to one another more so then in Z where a lot of designs ran together or repeated.

future_trunks · Post by **future_trunks** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:20 am

Its GT what do you think?

Acually I liked a lot of Gt's design. Just when stuff like Vegeta come out, I get freaky.

Cell was pretty good also and I liked the overall look Tullece. I liked the color of his armour and the way he was drawn was really sweet.

CoolerEX · Post by **CoolerEX** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:00 pm

Frieza's whole family looked cool and interesting to me. I also liked Janemba's final form, and first form Cell.

Mr.Piccolo · Post by **Mr.Piccolo** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:02 pm

CoolerEX.. post in the introduction section so I can ramble off-topic about what I assume your favorite character(s) are.

-Rick

Mr.Piccolo · Post by **Mr.Piccolo** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:03 pm

Simon says double-post.

-Rick

future_trunks · Post by **future_trunks** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:07 pm

Agreed... I love rambling off topic in the intro section

As Zarrarotto said once

"You think I can get up to this post count without off topic posts"

Son_GokouSSJ4 · Post by **Son_GokouSSJ4** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 3:22 pm

Goku super saiyan 4 definetelly! Then all of his other forms.

I especially like the SSJ4 drawn by Toriyama (as you can see by my avatar).
I also like Broly in his super saiyan form (without the device), and Gotenks in SSJ3.
Cyborg 17 is also one of my favorites, as well the Super-17 in GT.
There are so many characters...I would go on forever!

Amiable-Akuma · Post by **Amiable-Akuma** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 6:26 pm

Piccolo is one of the greatest, most unique, and "attractive" character designs of all time. His head, his ears, the pattern on his arms - and then his clothes both with the cape/turban and then without. It's absolutely amazing and does not get any better.

Freeza too. Such a unique-looking and memorable villian. His design is probably one of the greatest villian designs of all time. Maybe the best. I mean, the design of Lex Luthor and Joker has nothing on him. Maybe Darth Maul or Venom come close...but that's it.

mAcChaos · Post by **mAcChaos** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:42 pm

Freeza too. Such a unique-looking and memorable villian. His design is probably one of the greatest villian designs of all time. Maybe the best. I mean, the design of Lex Luthor and Joker has nothing on him. Maybe Darth Maul or Venom come close...but that's it.

What about Cell? His design is awesome. He has his own personal Pope hat.

Amiable-Akuma · Post by **Amiable-Akuma** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:00 pm

^^^Yeah, Cell's awesome too. Just that Freeza is the more iconic/recognizeable/famous villian in the DB universe. Actually, when I first watched the Cell series many years ago - I remember thinking that it was absolutely genius how Toriyama designed and wrote all his transformations throughout the episodes - and then led up to the last which was so cool or "perfect" (pun intended).

I will say this though about the final Cell design. One look at it and you can immediately tell that a lot of heavy thought and work were put into it. This is usually not a good aspect for "true" character design. You don't want to be watching a character and then consciously thinking about it's design instead of the story/his actions. The best character designs aren't overly complex or detailed, IMO - because an artist wants the design to be very versatile, easily drawn from different angles, and to not create a feeling of "ooooh, the artist really put a lot of work into that one" from the audience.

So that's the difference.

Piccolo and Freeza's designs seem, um, "effortlessly brilliant". I think that's what most creators aspire too. Like how Micky Mouse is so simple/elegant that he's even immediately recognizeable in silouhette.

Not that Cell isn't...but, ah, - you get my point.

To use a Samurai Shodown analogy - generally you want a character to look more like Ukyo:

And less like the final boss, Amakusa (whether you still think he looks "cool" or not):

Then again too, Cell may be one of the very rare exceptions to that rule. Just like how the design of "Beast" from the Disney film "Beauty and the Beast" is somewhat "too complex/detailed" - but also probably one of the most striking/amazing designs ever as well.

Jodaku · Post by **Jodaku** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:30 pm

I can't let this thread pass with mentioning Cell Game-era SSJ2 Gohan, espcially in one armed battle-damaged form.

What a badass!

Friezafan120 · Post by **Friezafan120** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 4:06 pm

I gotta go with Freeza and Cell. Piccolo is awesome too.

I also like the design of Babidi, goofy yet kind of creepy looking.

Mystic Jack · Post by **Mystic Jack** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:18 pm

Yeah he looked liked a gremlin.... thingie.

mAcChaos · Post by **mAcChaos** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:20 pm

I liked Pui Pui too. Looked like a Freeza era bad guy.