The trend in character design is increasingly focused on creating Anthropomorphic and Highly Relatable Figures, which may include animal or fantastical characters that exhibit profoundly human-like emotions and complexities. The success of modern animated works often hinges on the audience’s ability to emotionally connect with non-human protagonists, requiring designers to imbue their creations with authentic, nuanced personalities through expressive eyes, subtle posture changes, and distinctive mannerisms. This focus moves beyond mere visual appeal, concentrating instead on the psychological depth that makes a character believable and endearing.

Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on performance and visual psychology, training students to use the principles of human acting and emotion to inform their character designs, regardless of the figure’s species or form. Students learn to develop comprehensive character bibles that detail personality traits, backstories, and emotional arcs, ensuring the design choice—from a character’s clothing texture to their height—serves the overarching narrative. This holistic design process is crucial for creating intellectual property that resonates globally, equipping our graduates to design iconic, story-driven characters for major studios and original content creators.