Character Design for Video Games Course

Editorial Take

Character design is the soul of many memorable video games, and this course from CalArts delivers a concise yet powerful exploration of how iconic characters are conceived and refined. By combining foundational theory with masterclasses from industry legends, it offers a unique hybrid of education and inspiration tailored for visual artists.

Standout Strengths

• Industry-Driven Curriculum: The course leverages real-world expertise from Andy Ristaino, Jacky Ke Jiang, and Robertryan Cory, whose work defines modern animation and gaming aesthetics. Their involvement ensures authenticity and relevance, bridging academic concepts with studio practice. This access to top-tier designers is rare in online learning platforms.
• Diverse Design Philosophies: Each masterclass showcases a distinct artistic approach—whimsical exaggeration in Adventure Time, minimalist emotional resonance in Journey, and cartoonish expressiveness in SpongeBob. This variety helps learners identify which styles resonate with their own creative goals and expands their visual vocabulary significantly.
• Visual Storytelling Focus: The course emphasizes how design choices communicate personality, backstory, and function without dialogue. Learners gain tools to craft characters whose appearance tells a story, a critical skill in games where narrative is often non-verbal. This strengthens both artistic and narrative design capabilities.
• Professional Workflow Insights: Observing designers work through ideation, iteration, and refinement offers a transparent view of studio processes. These demonstrations demystify how concepts evolve from sketches to final designs, giving learners a realistic expectation of professional pipelines and creative decision-making.
• Concise and Focused Structure: At four weeks, the course avoids fluff and delivers targeted content ideal for busy creatives. Each module is tightly themed, allowing deep dives into specific aspects of design without overwhelming the learner. The pacing supports steady progress without burnout.
• Strong Foundation for Portfolios: The principles taught—silhouette, readability, proportion, and expression—are directly applicable to building a compelling portfolio. Even without graded assignments, learners can apply lessons to personal projects that demonstrate professional-level thinking to employers or clients.

Honest Limitations

Minimal Hands-On Practice: While the observational format is insightful, the lack of structured assignments or feedback loops limits skill reinforcement. Learners must self-direct practice to truly internalize concepts, which may challenge beginners seeking guided development. Active engagement is essential for meaningful growth.
• Assumes Artistic Background: The course presumes familiarity with drawing fundamentals and design software, making it less accessible to complete novices. Those without prior art experience may struggle to apply concepts effectively, reducing the course's inclusivity and widening the skill gap for entry-level learners.
• Short Duration Limits Depth: Four weeks is sufficient for exposure but not mastery. Complex skills like character turnaround creation or expressive posing require more time and repetition. Learners seeking comprehensive training may need to supplement with additional courses or self-study to build proficiency.
• No Peer or Instructor Interaction: The absence of community forums or critique sessions reduces opportunities for collaborative learning and feedback. In creative fields, peer review is crucial for growth, and its omission may hinder learners' ability to refine their work based on external perspectives.

How to Get the Most Out of It

• Study cadence: Complete one module per week with dedicated sketching time after each video. This rhythm balances content absorption with creative application, ensuring concepts are internalized through practice rather than passive viewing alone.
• Parallel project: Develop an original character throughout the course, applying each week’s principles. By week four, you’ll have a polished concept that integrates silhouette, personality, and narrative function—ideal for portfolios or pitch reels.
• Note-taking: Sketch alongside the instructors during masterclasses, noting design decisions and iterations. This active observation builds analytical skills and helps you reverse-engineer professional workflows for future use.
• Community: Share your work on platforms like ArtStation or Reddit’s r/learnart to gain feedback. Engaging with other artists online compensates for the course’s lack of built-in interaction and fosters growth through critique.
• Practice: Redraw characters from your favorite games using the course’s framework. This reverse-engineering exercise strengthens analytical skills and helps you understand how successful designs solve visual and narrative challenges.
• Consistency: Dedicate at least 3–5 hours weekly to watching lectures and creating artwork. Regular engagement ensures continuity in learning and allows for iterative improvement across the short course duration.

Supplementary Resources

• Book: 'Color and Light' by James Gurney provides deep insights into visual storytelling and mood, complementing the course’s focus on expressive design. It’s ideal for understanding how color influences character perception.
• Tool: Use Procreate or Adobe Fresco for digital sketching and iteration. These tools support the kind of rapid ideation shown in the masterclasses and are widely used in the industry.
• Follow-up: Enroll in CalArts’ 'Digital Arts' specialization to expand into animation and environment design. This builds on character work and creates a more holistic skill set for game development.
• Reference: Study concept art from games like 'Hollow Knight' or 'Ori and the Blind Forest' to see how character design integrates with world-building. These titles exemplify strong visual storytelling aligned with course principles.

Common Pitfalls

• Pitfall: Relying solely on passive viewing without creating original work. Without active practice, learners retain little. To avoid this, treat each lecture as a prompt for immediate sketching and experimentation.
• Pitfall: Copying styles without understanding underlying principles. Imitation is useful, but true growth comes from adapting techniques to your own voice. Focus on why choices are made, not just what they are.
• Pitfall: Neglecting narrative function in favor of aesthetics. A visually striking character may fail if it doesn’t serve the game. Always ask: Does this design support gameplay, story, and player connection?

Time & Money ROI

• Time: At 4 weeks and 3–5 hours per week, the time investment is manageable for most learners. The compact format suits those balancing work or study, offering high-density learning without long-term commitment.
• Cost-to-value: Priced as a paid course, it delivers strong value through access to elite instructors. While not free, the insights from award-winning designers justify the cost for serious artists aiming to break into the industry.
• Certificate: The credential adds credibility to creative portfolios, especially when applying to art schools or junior design roles. While not a standalone qualification, it signals initiative and specialized training.
• Alternative: Free tutorials exist online, but few offer structured learning from this caliber of professionals. For learners serious about growth, this course is a cost-effective alternative to formal art school modules.

Editorial Verdict

This course stands out in the crowded field of online art education by offering authentic, behind-the-scenes access to artists who have shaped beloved franchises. It doesn’t teach generic theory—it reveals how real designers think, iterate, and solve problems under creative constraints. For intermediate artists, this is a rare opportunity to learn from the masters in a structured, digestible format. The lack of assignments and feedback is a drawback, but motivated learners can turn this into a self-directed boot camp by applying each lesson immediately.

We recommend this course to aspiring game artists, indie developers, and animation students who want to elevate their character work beyond imitation. It won’t replace a full degree, but it delivers targeted, high-impact learning that can accelerate creative growth. Pair it with personal projects and community feedback, and it becomes a powerful catalyst for portfolio development. If you’re looking to understand not just how to draw characters, but how to design them with purpose, this course is a compelling investment.