Sunday, 12 October 2014

Final Project: The Lost Character Design...


Here we have a character design that didn't make it past the Development stage; the Hellhound. Name and design are fairly self-explanatory. It was originally supposed to be the 4th Horror character, but I realised once I'd finished it that it didn't really work and abandoned it in favour of the Eye-Maw

Final Project: Horror Character #6- Cryptid

An alien predator hides in the dark corners of the universe, waiting to be discovered by its next prey…

Unique Character Identifiers: 
Gaping Maw with no Face (H), Tongue (H), Wings

Colour(s): 
Pale Green

Design Notes: 
The Cryptid was essentially designed to be the next Xenomorph; an iconic horror monster for a science-fiction setting. Like the Plague Doctor, the Cryptid borrows some elements from other prototypes; its wings came from a fly-man design. The tongue was suggested by a friend and is meant to be how the creature ‘sees’. Instead of using sight or sound, it ‘tastes’ the air around it like a snake to detect its prey.

Design and Development sketches for the Cryptid

Cryptid Final Concept

Final Project: Horror Character #5- Happy

A twisted mechanical monstrosity stalks an abandoned fairground…

Unique Character Identifiers: 
Rusted Clown Mask (H),  Buzzsaw/ Pincer Weapons, Spider Legs

Colour(s): 
Rust, White, Red

Design Notes: 
Happy’s design is the logical conclusion of combining three well-known fears: Clowns, spiders and homicidal robots. At the point when I came up with his initial prototype, I had already created a variety of others based on the other two, and upon trying to come up with ideas for the last one, I found that a combination of the three made for a terrifying design. He’s also heavily inspired by Babyface from Toy Story

Design and Development sketches for Happy

Happy Final Concept

Final Project: Horror Character #4- Eye-Maw

A bizarre, twisted abomination of unknown origin…

Unique Character Identifiers: 
Eye-in-Mouth (H), Chest Mouth, Hand Mouths

Colour(s): 
White/ Pale, Red

Design Notes: 
This weird creature is based on one of the early concepts for the Medusa redesign, which was itself inspired by the final boss from Resident Evil 4; both had a single, glaring eye staring out of a gaping mouth. It also draws inspiration from the Pale Man from Pan’s Labyrinth.

Design and Development sketches for the Eye-Maw

Failed early draft of final design

Eye-Maw Final Concept

Final Project: Horror Character #3- The Plague Doctor

This insane doctor seeks out ‘patients’ to provide his cruel and unusual brand of mercy…

Unique Character Identifiers: 
Bone Bird Mask (H), Hat (H), Executioner’s Axe

Colour(s): 
Black, Bone, Red

Design Notes: 
Obviously, the primary inspiration for this character is the medieval doctors who treated the bubonic plague; I found their appearance, particularly the bird masks, to be both memorable and unsettling. However, I also incorporated some elements from other prototype characters, including his weapon and the clothing on his lower body 

Design and Development sketches for the Plague Doctor

Plague Doctor Final Concept

Final Project: Horror Character #2- The Reaper

The personification of death hunts for wandering souls in limbo…

Unique Character Identifiers: 
Skull Head (H), Gaping throat Mouth, Sickle Arms

Colour(s): 
Black, Bone

Design Notes: 
As its name and general appearance suggests, the Reaper is very much inspired by the classic depictions of Death (the personification of it, not the act of dying). This mostly due to the fact that it was actually intended as a redesign of the Grim Reaper; it isn’t just inspired by Death, it’s actually my interpretation of the iconic personification of demise. Naturally, I wanted it to be as otherworldly as possible, hence the smoke-like body and gaping maw in it’s throat

Design and Development sketches for the Reaper

Failed Early Draft of Final Design

Reaper Final Concept

Final Project: Horror Character #1- Sharkopath

The ocean’s perfect killing machine now walks on land…

Unique Character Identifiers: 
Gaping Jaws (H), Shark Body, Pincer-like Legs

Colour(s): 
Blue-Grey, Bloody Red

Design Notes: 
The idea for the Sharkopath came when I asked a friend for ideas of what people are scared of. He mentioned how some are scared of things attacking them from underwater, which made me immediately think of the iconic Great White Shark. This in turn led me to the popular and terrifying notion of a shark that could follow you onto land. I also added a couple of elements to make it more horrifying, namely scarring around the mouth and hollow eyes.

Design and Development sketches for the Sharkopath

Sharkopath Final Concept