Drawing & Character Design

Your characters are the heart of your animation, and this section is all about bringing them to life. We’ll cover everything from basic drawing skills to designing characters with personality, appeal, and purpose. Whether you’re sketching on paper or designing digitally, you’ll learn how to make your characters stand out.

A collection of black-and-white sketches depicting people and dogs is pinned to a wall, each drawing accented with colorful sticky notes containing handwritten reminders. Colored pencils and pens are scattered across the desk below the sketches, creating a creative and artistic workspace atmosphere.

Why Drawing from Life Helps Your Animation

Drawing from life trains your eye for timing, weight, and appeal. Use quick daily gestures and simple routines to make your animation breathe.

Alt text: A colorful workspace with open sketchbooks displaying vibrant character drawings, a laptop showing the text "How to Use Reference Without Copying," and various pencils and art supplies scattered on an orange desk. Black-and-white reference sketches are also visible around the workspace.

How to Use Reference Without Copying: Tips for Beginners

Is using reference the same as copying? Not at all! This beginner-friendly guide explains how to use reference images the right way—so you can…

Drawing for Animation vs Drawing for Illustration: What’s the Difference?

Animation drawings are sequence-based; illustration drawings are one-time visuals. Discover how to think differently depending on your goal—story, motion, or impact.

Cartoon illustration of two young boys with dark skin and curly hair, both wearing t-shirts and shorts, striking dynamic action poses. The background features teal paint splashes. Text in the upper left corner reads: "Give Your Character Personality. Learn how Posing can bring them to Life."

How to Give Your Character Personality Through Pose

Want to create characters that pop? Learn how expressive poses and strong silhouettes can say everything about your character—before they even speak.

A digital illustration features a young person with curly black hair and brown skin, wearing a white hoodie, holding a paper airplane. The background includes abstract shapes in soft blue, orange, and beige. Large text on the left reads, "Using Shapes to Create Stronger CHARACTERS." Smaller text below says, "Learn the Visual Language Personality." The overall design is modern and inviting.

Using Shapes to Create Stronger Characters

Want to design better characters? It starts with shape. Learn how to use circles, squares, and triangles to give your characters clarity, emotion, and…

A colorful illustration featuring a diverse group of cartoon characters with different hairstyles, skin tones, and expressions, all surrounding a large text box. The text in the center reads: "What Makes a Character 'Good?' (It's Not What You Think) Clarity, Personality, Story."

What Makes a Character Design ‘Good’? (It’s Not What You Think)

Think character design is all about art skills? Think again. Here’s what really makes a design work—and how beginners can start strong.

Here’s some alt text for your image: A graphic featuring three stylized character sketches in different poses, with bold text in the center that reads: "3 Drawing Exercises That Make Your Characters Stronger. Fun, Beginner-Friendly Ways to Improve shape, personality and movement." The background is gray with shadowy silhouettes, and the word "blog" appears at the bottom.

3 Simple Drawing Exercises That Build Better Characters

Want to draw better characters? These 3 simple drawing exercises will help you improve shapes, personality, and posing—even if you’re just getting started.