# Character design A character that is only a correct figure is a mannequin in a costume. At 16–32 px identity comes from three things the viewer takes in before any face: the silhouette, how the head / torso / legs masses compare, and one or two strong elements. Decide those first; detail only decorates what the shape already says, and a generic outline cannot be rescued by shading. ## Rules 1. **Write the brief before the first pixel.** One line: role, personality, one strong element ("lazy, kind cowboy with a huge hat"). From it choose the dominant shape (rule 2) and a head count (`rules://30-proportions-by-size`). 2. **Shape language sets the first read.** Circle = friendly, young, cute, safe. Square = sturdy, reliable, heavy, confident. Triangle = aggressive, sinister, fast, dangerous. Organic and irregular = natural, unpredictable. Apply it to the whole silhouette first, then echo it in hair, costume and props. A villain in a friendly game keeps triangles but rounds the vertices; keep one corner treatment across the cast. Templates `design-shape-trio-24`. 3. **Silhouette test before shading.** Fill the sprite with one flat colour at 1×; can you name the character? Include hat, hair, weapon. For a roster, fill every sprite black and line them up: each must be identifiable. If not, change the shape; shading will not repair it (`rules://03-silhouette-and-form`). 4. **Three different masses.** Give head, torso and legs one small, one medium and one large share (32 px: head 12, torso 8, legs 10). Never three equal steps. Push the contrast until it looks wrong, then back off one step. 5. **Straight against curve.** On a limb or torso make one edge a clean straight run of 3+ px and the opposite edge a stepped curve. All-parallel or all-curved contours go to mush. 6. **Design the negative space.** The 1–3 px holes between arm and torso, between legs, under a cape are part of the shape. Make them different sizes; never let an arm fuse with the torso. 7. **Vary features by size and spacing, not by adding detail.** Three eyes-nose-mouth of one size evenly spaced is a generic face. Template `design-face-variation-12`. Change at most three axes between two characters at 16–32 px: overall head shape (round / square / long), hair silhouette, one accessory or colour. 8. **Differentiate a 16 px cast by** height (±2 px), head share, a silhouette accessory (plume, pointed hat, horns), and one saturated hue each. Faces carry almost nothing at this size. Template `design-cast-lineup-16`. 9. **Archetype recipes** (head count and shape): *cute* — head as wide as the body or wider, no neck, pear body, short tapering limbs; *heavy* — small head, barrel chest ≈ 50 % of height, small hips, short legs, long arms, big hands; *tall-thin / screwball* — long head, skinny neck, small pear body, thin legs, huge flat feet; *goofy* — head forward of the feet on an S spine, drooping arms, big feet, no chin. Template `design-archetypes-24`. If four of them are not distinguishable at 32 px, exaggerate the defining ratio. 10. **Head count as characterisation:** child / imp 3–4; kid 5–6; commoner 6–7 with wide shoulders (≥ 2⅓ heads); ordinary adult 7½; hero / knight 8; elf, noble, villain 8½–9, narrow; brute 7–8 with shoulders 3 heads wide (the child, commoner and brute rows are extrapolated from Loomis). 11. **Danger vocabulary:** snake and spider shapes, very long thin limbs, spikes and sharp complicated edges. Give every design one strong identifying element (a flat head, treads, a sword on the back). A ruined thing has a ruined silhouette. 12. **One detail level for the whole cast.** Choose the eye style once — 1 px dot, 2×2 with highlight, or full eye — and use it for every character; an iconic mouse beside a realistic girl clashes. 13. **Colour:** 2–3 colours per character, a main and a sub; 6–12 total at 16–32 px. Make the hair or one accessory the saturated accent against muted clothes. Warm = energetic or dangerous; cool = calm or mysterious; high saturation = young or heroic; low = aged (`rules://20-color-for-pixel-art`). 14. **Keep an anchor feature.** Palette swaps, upgrades and costume changes keep one fixed group (a 3×2 hat, a red scarf, the hair shape) at the same position. 15. **Mirroring decides asymmetry.** A sword hand, scar or parted fringe flips when W is made from E: design symmetrical accessories, or budget a separate W set (`rules://37-views-and-directions`). 16. **Design for animation.** Ask what moves independently (weapon, cape, tail, hair) and draw it on its own layer; mock the resting pose first; avoid details that vanish in motion (`rules://06-layers-and-rigging`, `rules://45-secondary-motion`). 17. **Work in rounds.** Blue-sky first: 6–10 tiny silhouettes at 16×16, pick, then polish. Redraw fresh instead of editing the same drawing; recombine the best parts; push the chosen design ≈ 10 % past comfortable, then pull back one step. 18. **State the intent:** *simulation* (faithful), *emotion* (chibi, big eyes), *function* (an action silhouette that shows the weapon), or *conservation* (tiny and economical). Style is the set of choices you make about size, shape, colour, contrast and complexity. 19. **Costume carries personality.** Baggy and high-collared = pensive; stripes and V-necks = studious; short and bright = outgoing. The same uniform on different bodies slumps, stretches and bulges differently; use that. 20. **Animals and monsters:** pick one level on the scale realistic → simplified → cartoon → anthropomorphic and hold it. Caricature = 3–5 defining traits exaggerated (`rules://50-quadrupeds`, `rules://54-monster-design`). ## By size | canvas | what carries identity | |---|---| | 8 | Colour and hair shape; height ±1 px; no face. | | 16 | Silhouette accessory, head share, one hue, height ±2 px; eyes 1×1 at most. | | 24 | Costume blocks in 2 colours, hand held item, eyes 2×2; shape language visible in the overall outline. | | 32 | Hair silhouette, armour pieces, facial suggestion, a held prop; negative spaces designed. | | 48–64 | Costume folds, expression, materials; the risk is noise, so keep the shape rules and cut detail. | ## Templates ```grid design-shape-trio-24 S = silhouette #2b3a4a E = accent-eye #f2d16b --- ....SSSSSS...........SSSSSS.............SS...... ...SSSSSSSS..........SSSSSS............SSSS..... ..SSSSSSSSSS.........EEEEEE...........SSSSSS.... ..SSSSSSSSSS.........SSSSSS...........SESSES.... ..SSESSSSESS.........SSSSSS.......S..SSSSSSSS..S ..SSESSSSESS....SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS..SSSSSSSSSSSSSS ..SSSSSSSSSS....SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS...SSSSSSSSSSSS. ..SSSSSSSSSS....SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS...SSSSSSSSSSSS. ...SSSSSSSS.....SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS....SSSSSSSSSS.. ...SSSSSSSS.....SSS.SSSSSSSS.SSS....SSSSSSSSSS.. ..SSSSSSSSSS....SSS.SSSSSSSS.SSS.....SSSSSSSS... .SSSSSSSSSSSS...SSS.SSSSSSSS.SSS.....SSSSSSSS... .SSSSSSSSSSSS...SSS.SSSSSSSS.SSS......SSSSSS.... SSSSSSSSSSSSSS..SSS.SSSSSSSS.SSS......SSSSSS.... SSSSSSSSSSSSSS..SSS.SSSSSSSS.SSS.......SSSS..... SSSSSSSSSSSSSS..SSS.SSSSSSSS.SSS.......SSSS..... .SSSSSSSSSSSS...SSS.SSS..SSS.SSS......SS..SS.... .SSSSSSSSSSSS...SSS.SSS..SSS.SSS......SS..SS.... ..SSSSSSSSSS........SSS..SSS..........SS..SS.... ...SSSSSSSS.........SSS..SSS..........SS..SS.... ...SSS..SSS.........SSS..SSS..........SS..SS.... ...SSS..SSS.........SSS..SSS..........SS..SS.... ..SSSS..SSSS........SSS..SSS..........SS..SS.... ..SSSS..SSSS.......SSSS..SSSS........SSS..SSS... ``` `design-shape-trio-24` — flat silhouettes, 24 px tall, columns 0–13 / 16–31 / 34–47: **circle** (friendly: round head, round body, stub legs), **square** (sturdy: small block head with visor slit, wide block torso, arms apart from the body), **triangle** (menace: hooded point, inverted-triangle torso, spiked shoulders, thin legs). One colour for the body, a second only for eyes or visor. ```grid design-archetypes-24 S = silhouette #2b3a4a E = accent-eye #f2d16b --- ...SSSSSSSS............SSSSSS.............SSSS.... ..SSSSSSSSSS...........SSSSSS............SSSSSS... .SSSSSSSSSSSS..........SESSES............SSSSSS... SSSSSSSSSSSSSS.........SSSSSS............SESSES... SSSSSSSSSSSSSS......SSSSSSSSSSSS.........SSSSSS... SSSSSSSSSSSSSS....SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.......SSSSSS... SSSEESSSSEESSS...SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS......SSSSSS... SSSEESSSSEESSS..SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS......SSSS.... SSSSSSSSSSSSSS..SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.......SS..... .SSSSSSSSSSSS...SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.......SS..... .SSSSSSSSSSSS...SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS....SSSSSSSS.. ..SSSSSSSSSS....SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS...SSSSSSSSSS. ..SSSSSSSSSS....SSS.SSSSSSSSSSSS.SSS...SSSSSSSSSS. ..SSSSSSSSSS....SSS.SSSSSSSSSSSS.SSS....SSSSSSSS.. ..SSSSSSSSSS....SSS..SSSSSSSSSS..SSS....SSSSSSSS.. ..SSSSSSSSSS....SSS..SSSSSSSSSS..SSS.....SSSSSS... ..SSSSSSSSSS....SSSS..SSSSSSSS..SSSS......SSSS.... ...SSSSSSSS.....SSSS..SSSSSSSS..SSSS.....SS..SS... ...SSS..SSS...........SSSSSSSS...........SS..SS... ...SSS..SSS...........SSS..SSS...........SS..SS... ...SSS..SSS...........SSS..SSS...........SS..SS... ..SSSS..SSSS..........SSS..SSS...........SS..SS... ..SSSS..SSSS..........SSS..SSS........SSSSS..SSSSS ..SSSS..SSSS.........SSSS..SSSS.......SSSSS..SSSSS ``` `design-archetypes-24` — **cute** (columns 0–13: head wider than body, no neck, 2×2 eyes), **heavy** (16–35: 6 px head on a 20 px barrel, long arms, fists 4 px, short legs), **tall-thin** (38–49: 8 px long head, 2 px neck, small pear body, 2 px legs, 5 px feet). Same height, three different mass distributions. ```grid design-face-variation-12 S = skin #f2b48a E = eye #3a2433 n = nose-shade #c47a5a m = mouth #8a3b3b --- ...SSSSSS.........SSSSSS.........SSSSSS... ..SSSSSSSS.......SSSSSSSS.......SSSSSSSS.. .SSSSSSSSSS.....SSSSSSSSSS.....SSSSSSSSSS. .SSEESSEESS.....SSSESSESSS.....SSSSSSSSSS. .SSEESSEESS.....SSSESSESSS.....SSESSSSESS. .SSSSnnSSSS.....SSSSnnSSSS.....SSESSSSESS. .SSSSSSSSSS.....SSSnnnnSSS.....SSSSnnSSSS. .SSSmmmmSSS.....SSSSSSSSSS.....SSSSSSSSSS. ..SSSSSSSS.......SSSmmSSS.......SSSSmmmSS. ...SSSSSS.........SSSSSS.........SSSSSS... ``` `design-face-variation-12` — one 12×10 face three ways (columns 0–11, 15–26, 30–41): **generic** (every feature a similar size, evenly spaced — the face to avoid), **sized** (small eyes, large nose, small mouth), **sized and spaced** (wide-set eyes set low, small nose, mouth 1 px off the axis). Same oval, same palette; the difference is personality (rule 7). ```grid design-cast-lineup-16 a = knight-steel #9aa7b8 b = mage-violet #6a4fc8 c = rogue-green #2f8f6a d = brute-rust #c4583a e = imp-amber #e0a030 E = eye #f6f2e8 --- ....a..........b...................ddddd............ ...aaa.........b...................dEdEd............ ..aaaaa.......bbb.......cccc.......ddddd............ ..aEaEa.......bbb......cccccc....ddddddddd...e.....e ..aaaaa......bbbbb.....cEccEc...ddddddddddd..ee...ee .aaaaaaa....bbbbbbb....cccccc...ddddddddddd...eeeee. aaaaaaaaa....bEbEb......cccc....dd.ddddd.dd..eeeeeee aa.aaa.aa....bbbbb.....cccccc...dd.ddddd.dd..eeEeEee aa.aaa.aa.....bbb.....cccccccc..dd.ddddd.dd..eeEeEee aa.aaa.aa....bbbbb....c.cccc.c..dd.ddddd.dd...eeeee. ..aaaaa......bbbbb....c.cccc.c..ddd.ddd.ddd....eee.. ..aa.aa.....bbbbbbb.....cccc.......ddddd......eeeee. ..aa.aa.....bbbbbbb....cc..cc......dd.dd.....e.eee.e ..aa.aa.....bbbbbbb....cc..cc......dd.dd.......eee.. ..aa.aa....bbbbbbbbb...cc..cc......dd.dd.......e.e.. .aaa.aaa...bbbbbbbbb...cc..cc.....ddd.ddd.....ee.ee. ``` `design-cast-lineup-16` — five characters on one 16 px baseline (columns 0–8, 11–19, 22–29, 32–42, 45–51) told apart by height (16 / 16 / 14 / 16 / 13), head share, a plume, pointed hat, hood, small head on a big body, horns, and one hue each. Recolour to the project palette; keep the shape differences. ```grid design-shape-heroes-32 O = outline #2b1d2e b = tunic-light #4a7ab8 B = tunic-shadow #2f5080 a = round-hero-light #e0a030 A = round-hero-shadow #a8741c c = cloth-plum #8a3b5a C = cloth-shadow #5e2540 s = skin-light #f2b48a S = skin-shadow #c47a5a E = eye #2b1d2e t = trim-gold #e8c547 k = boot-mid #5a3a22 K = boot-shadow #3a2412 --- ..........................OOOOOOOOOO.......................... .......OOOOOO............ObbbbbbbbbBO..............OO......... ......OaaaaaAO...........ObbbbbbbbbBO.............OcCO........ .....OaaaaaaaAO..........ObbbbbbbbbBO.............OcCO........ ....OaaaaaaaaaAO........OBbbbbbbbbbbBO...........OcccCO....... ...OaaaaaaaaaaaAO........OsssssssssSO............OcccCO....... ...OsssssssssssSO........OsssssssssSO.......O...OcccccCO...O.. ...OsssssssssssSO........OsEEssssEESO......OCO.OcccccccCO.OCO. ...OsssssssssssSO........OsEEssssEESO......OcCOOcccssccCOOcCO. ...OssEEsssssEESO.....OOOOsssssssssSOOOO..OccCOcccssssccCOccCO ...OSsEEsssssEESO....ObbbbbbbssssbbbbbbBO.OcccccccEsssEcccccCO ....OSssssssssSO.....ObbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbBO.OCcccccsssssscccccCO .....OSssssssSO......ObbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbBO..OcccccccccccccccCO. ......OsssssSO.......ObbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbBO..OsssccccccccccssSO. ......OaaaaaAO.......ObbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbBO..OsssccccccccccssSO. ...OOOaaaaaaaAOOO....ObbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbBO..OssSccccccccccSsSO. ..OaaaaaaaaaaaaaAO...ObbbttttttttttttbbBO..OsSOcccccccccCOsSO. .OaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAO..ObbbttttttttttttbbBO..OsSOCccccccccCOsSO. .OaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAO..ObbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbBO..OsSOOcccccccCOOsSO. .OaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAO..ObbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbBO..OsSOOCccccccCOOsSO. .OaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAO..ObbbBbbbbBBbbbbBbbBO..OsSO.OCccccCO.OsSO. .OaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAO..OssSObbbBOObbbBOssSO..OsSO..OcccCO..OsSO. .OaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAO..OSSSObbbBOObbbBOSSSO..OSSO.OcccccCO.OSSO. .OAAaaaaaaaaaaaaAAO...OOOObbbBOObbbBOOOO....OO..OcccccCO..OO.. ..OOAAaaaaaaaaAAOO.......ObbbBOObbbBO...........OcccccCO...... ....OOaaaaaaaAOO.........ObbbBOObbbBO...........OccCCcCO...... .....OaaaAAaaAO..........ObbbBOObbbBO...........OcCOOcCO...... .....OaaAOOaaAO..........ObbbBOObbbBO...........OcCOOcCO...... .....OaaAOOaaAO..........ObbbBOObbbBO...........OcCOOcCO...... .....OaaAOOaaAO..........ObbbBOObbbBO...........OcCOOcCO...... .....OaaAOOaaAOO.........ObbbBOObbbBO..........OccCOOccCOO.... ....OkkkkKOkkkkKO.......OkkkkKOOkkkkKO........OkkkKOOkkkkKO... ....OKKKKKOKKKKKO.......OKKKKKOOKKKKKO........OKKKKOOKKKKKO... .....OOOOO.OOOOO.........OOOOO..OOOOO..........OOOO..OOOOO.... ``` `design-shape-heroes-32` — three heroes on one 32 px baseline, drawn from the shape rule: **round** (columns 0–19: round cap and head, pear body, stub limbs, big eyes — friendly), **square** (21–40: helmet block, block torso, block arms and legs, belt — sturdy), **triangle** (42–61: pointed hood, inverted-triangle torso, shoulder spikes, thin legs — menace). Each uses one main colour, one skin and a shade on the lower-right edge; the silhouette alone says which family it is. ```grid design-silhouette-variants-32 O = outline #2b1d2e M = steel-shadow #6b7a8c c = cloth-plum #8a3b5a C = cloth-shadow #5e2540 m = steel-light #9aa7b8 t = trim-gold #e8c547 T = trim-shadow #b8921a v = robe-violet #5a3a9a V = robe-shadow #3a2468 s = skin-light #f2b48a S = skin-shadow #c47a5a K = boot-shadow #3a2412 E = eye #2b1d2e b = tunic-light #4a7ab8 B = tunic-shadow #2f5080 p = pants-mid #3b3f6b P = pants-shadow #292c4d k = boot-mid #5a3a22 --- ..........................................................O...............O................................ .......................................OO................OMOO.....OO....OOMO........OO.......OO............ .....................................OOcCOO..............OmmMO..OOmMOO.OmmMO.......OtTO.....OvVO........... ...........OOOO.....................OcccccCO.............OMmmMOOmmmmmMOmmmMO......OTttTO...OvvvVO.......... ..........OsssSO................OOOOcccccccCOOOO..........OmmMOmmmmmmmmmmMOOO......OTTO....OvvvVO.......... .........OsssssSO..............OcccccccccccccccCO.........OmmmmmmmmmmmmmmMOmMO......OKO...OvvvvvVO......... ........OsssssssSO............OCCCccccccccccccCCCO........OMMMmmmmmmmmmmMMOmMO......OKO..OvvssssvSO........ ........OsssssssSO.............OOOCccccccccccCOOO..........OOOmmmmmmmmmMOOOmMO......OKO..OvssssssVO........ .......OssEssssEsSO...............OssEssssEsSO...............OmmmmmmmmmMO.OmMO......OKO.OvvssssssvVO....... .......OSsEssssEsSO...............OSsEssssEsSO...............OmEEEEEEEEMO.OmMO......OKO.OvssEssEssVO....... ........OsssssssSO.................OsssssssSO................OMmmmmmmmmMO.OmMO......OKOOvvvssssssvvVO...... ........OSssssssSO.................OSssssssSO.................OSssssssSO..OmMO......OKOVVVVssssssVVVVO..... .........OSssssSO...................OSssssSO..............OOOOOOSssssSOOOOOmMO......OKOOOOOsssssSOOOO...... .......OOOOsssSOOOO...............OOOOsssSOOOO...........OmmmmMOOsssSOOmmmmmMO......OKO.OvvvvvvvvvVO....... ......ObbbbbbbbbbbBO.............ObccccccccccBO.........OmmmmmmmbbbbbbmmmmmmMO......OKOObvvvvvvvvvvBO...... ......ObbbbbbbbbbbBO.............ObccccccccccBO.........OmmmmmmmbbbbbbmmmmmmMO......OKOOvvvvvvvvvvvVO...... ......ObbbbbbbbbbbBO.............ObccccccccccBO.........OMmmmmmmbbbbbbmmmmmmMO......OKOOvvvvvvvvvvvVO...... ......ObbbbbbbbbbbBO.............ObccccccccccBO..........OMMMmmbbbbbbbbmmMMmMO......OKOOvvvvvvvvvvvVO...... ......ObbbbbbbbbbbBO.............OcccccccccccCO...........OOObbbbbbbbbbbBOOmMO......OKOOvvvvvvvvvvvVO...... ......ObbbbbbbbbbbBO.............OcccccccccccCO.............ObbbbbbbbbbbBOOmMO......OKOOvvvvvvvvvvvVO...... .....ObbbbbbbbbbbbbBO...........ObccccccccccccBO...........ObbbbbbbbbbbbbBOmMO......OKOvvvvvvvvvvvvvVO..... .....ObsbbbbbbbbbbsBO...........ObccccccccccccBO...........ObsbbbbbbbbbbsBOmMO......OKOvvvvvvvvvvvvvVO..... .....OsssttttttttssSO...........OsccccccccccccSO...........OsssttttttttssSOmMOO.....OKOvvvvvvvvvvvvvVO..... .....OSsSppppppppSsSO...........OSccccccccccccSO...........OSsSppppppppSstttttTO....OKOvvvvvvvvvvvvvVO..... ......OSOpppppppPOSO.............OcccccccccccCO.............OSOpppppppPOSTTTTTTO....OkvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvVO.... .......OOpppppppPOO.............OcccccccccccccCO.............OOpppppppPOOOOOOOO.....OkvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvVO.... ........OpppppppPO..............OcccccccccccccCO..............OpppppppPO............OkvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvVO.... ........OpppppppPO..............OcccccccccccccCO..............OpppppppPO............OkvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvVO.... ........OpppppppPO..............OCCCccccccccCCCO..............OpppppppPO............OkvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvVO.... ........OpppppppPO...............OOOpppppppPOOO...............OpppppppPO............OkvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvVO... ........OpppppppPO.................OpppppppPO.................OpppppppPO............OkVVVVvvvvvvvvVVVVVO... ........OpppppppPO.................OpppppppPO.................OpppppppPO............OKOOOOpppppppPOOOOO.... ........OpppppppPO.................OpppppppPO.................OpppppppPO............OKO..OpppppppPO........ .......OkkkkkkkkkKO...............OkkkkkkkkkKO...............OkkkkkkkkkKO............O..OkkkkkkkkkKO....... .......OKKKKKKKKKKO...............OKKKKKKKKKKO...............OKKKKKKKKKKO...............OKKKKKKKKKKO....... ........OOOOOOOOOO.................OOOOOOOOOO.................OOOOOOOOOO.................OOOOOOOOOO........ ``` `design-silhouette-variants-32` — one base body (head, tunic, belt, pants, boots on fixed rows; columns 0–25) and three silhouettes built on it (columns 27–52, 54–79, 81–106): **wanderer** (wide hat brim plus long coat), **knight** (horned helm, round pauldrons, sword on the right), **mage** (pointed hood, floor-length robe, staff on the left). Only hat, shoulder line, hem and one held item change, and each one still reads when filled with a single flat colour (rule 3). The base body stays on the same rows in all four, so palette swaps keep the anchor feature. ## Procedure 1. Write the brief (rule 1) and the shape (rule 2). `sprite_manage` new at the cast canvas. 2. Thumbnail round: 6–10 silhouettes at ≈ 16×16 on a scratch sprite with `draw` op grid or `rect` / `ellipse` in one flat colour; `look` op preview each; pick 1–2. 3. Blow up the winner to its canvas size, still flat; apply rules 4–6 (masses, straight vs curve, negative space). 4. Silhouette test on a duplicate layer: `recolor` op replace to one flat colour, `look` op preview; for a cast put all sprites on one frame. 5. Add the strong element and the anchor feature (rules 11, 14), then 2–3 colours via `palette` op ramp, one saturated accent. 6. Split independent parts onto layers (rule 16). Mirror-check: `transform` op flip on a copy and look for anything that must not flip. 7. Face last (`rules://32-heads-and-faces`, `rules://33-eyes-and-expressions`); then `validate`. ## Mistakes - Everyone has the same silhouette → only colour differs → change height, head share and a silhouette accessory. - Villain and hero are both round → shape language not chosen → decide the family first. - Three equal chunks (head, body, legs) → design is a snowman → make one mass dominant. - Arms glued to the torso → no negative space → open a 1 px gap or cross deliberately. - Cast looks like it came from different games → mixed eye style and outline logic → one detail level, one outline rule. - Costume swap makes the character unrecognisable → no anchor feature → keep the hat or hair shape fixed. - Great design whose sword hand flips when mirrored → asymmetric prop → mirror the design or draw W separately. ## Review - Flat-filled, the sprite is identifiable; for a cast, each is identifiable next to the others. - The dominant shape family is deliberate and echoed in at least two places. - Head, torso and legs are three different masses; negative spaces differ in size. - The cast shares one eye style, one outline rule, one pixel scale. - An identifying element and an anchor feature exist and survive recolouring. ## Sources Bancroft, *Creating Characters with Personality* (shape families, size relationship, lines, negative space, face recipes, hierarchy of characters, pp. 14–61); Blair, *Advanced Animation* (type recipes pp. 10–15); Solarski, *Drawing Basics and Video Game Art* (Shapes, Level 6 design process, Thumbnail Development, Subverting Conventions); Mateu-Mestre, *Framed Ink* (pp. 96–103); Loomis, *Figure Drawing for All It's Worth* (types, pp. 28–29, 58); Hultgren, *Animal Drawing* (caricature traits); Goldfinger, *Animal Anatomy for Artists*; Pixel Logic (pp. 92–108, 166–181); Silber, *Pixel Art for Game Developers*; Dawe, *Make Your Own Pixel Art*; Saint11 "Character Design 1", "Cuteness"; AdamCYounis "Role of Style"; Game Developer (2012) Robertson interview; Pixnote and GDAD wiki sprite guides.