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Designing Fun Animal Characters

with Rodgon
4.7 (187)
Learn how to draw awesome and adorable animal characters from scratch!
English, Spanish, 4 more French, German, Italian, Portuguese English, Spanish, 8 more French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Japanese [Auto], B. Indonesia [Auto], Polish [Auto], Turkish [Auto]
6+
hours
28
lessons
Beginner to Intermediate
level
Rodgon

Your Instructor

Rodgon is a San Diego-based illustrator, who has worked in both comics and animation. He shares many art tips on his social media to inspire up-and-coming artists.

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6+
hours
28
lessons
Beginner to Intermediate
level
English, Spanish , 4 more
Languages
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Portuguese
English, Spanish , 8 more
Subtitles
  • French
  • Italian
  • German
  • Portuguese
  • Japanese [Auto]
  • B. Indonesia [Auto]
  • Polish [Auto]
  • Turkish [Auto]

What you’ll learn

  • Create a variety of adorable animal characters
  • Master simple perspective techniques to make your character feel more 3D
  • Use references to accurately portray animal characteristics and features
  • Draw dynamic poses that express the character’s personality
  • Simple techniques to create outfits and accessories
  • How to use Adobe Photoshop for raster-based drawing
  • How to use Adobe Illustrator for vector-based drawing
  • Learn versatile drawing techniques to make any character look cute and chubby
  • Handy tools and techniques to level up your digital illustrations and workflow
  • Use your creations for different purposes, like product design, brand identity, stickers, etc.
  • Follow a client brief to design a character professionally and export it in the right formats
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Description

Do you want to learn how to draw awesome animal characters? This course will show you how! Led by Rodgon, master of fluffy creature design, this course will teach you how to draw super cute cartoon animals from scratch and refine them into masterpieces you can share with the world!

If you’re already a working artist, Rodgon will also show you how to increase your value to employers and clients alike in the huge global market of cute animal art. The world is your oyster (especially if you draw adorable oysters!) 😀

But that’s not all! You’ll also gain invaluable skills in digital drawing, professional illustration, and raster and vector design. With each lesson, you’ll level up your artwork, boost your confidence, and increase your drawing skills.

Don’t miss out on the fun and excitement of creating charming animal characters that will capture the hearts and imaginations of your viewers! You’re guaranteed to have a blast with this course, so join Rodgon today and start learning!

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Who is this course for

  • Anyone interested in drawing cute animal characters
  • Those wanting to create cartoons from real-life references
  • Artists wanting to learn both raster and vector-based drawing processes
  • Those wanting to pick up new drawing techniques and tools and learn new skills
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This course includes

  • 6+ Hours of on-demand videos
  • 4 Assignments
  • 13 Reference images
  • Layered Photoshop files
  • Bonus material
  • Certificate of Completion
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What you'll need

  • Just a paper/sketchbook and a pencil
  • Digital drawing software such as Clip Studio Paint or similar (see examplesAffinity Photo, ArtRage, Artweaver, Astropad, Clip Studio Paint, Corel Painter, Krita, Inkscape, IbisPaint, GIMP, Rebelle 4, Photoshop, Paintstorm Studio, Procreate, MediBang Paint, SketchPad, SketchBook, TwistedBrush, Vectr...)
  • Vector drawing software such as Adobe Illustrator
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Lesson Plan

with Rodgon
Expand all sections
00

Introduction

20:03

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Meet Rodgon, a pro at designing cute and cuddly creatures, and your course instructor today!

He’ll summarize what’s in store for you in this value-packed course. You’ll also discover how in-demand animal characters are worldwide and why it’s a great idea to learn to draw them!

Get ready, it’s gonna be loads of fun!


0.1
Introduction
02:09
0.2
Mini Lesson - Drawing in 3D
17:54
01

Learning Through Using References

31:06

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The first step to creating cute animals: Drawing from Reference!

Using references is key to learning the features and characteristics that make each animal unique and identifiable, ensuring their proportions are correct from the get-go. This gives you a solid foundation to work off when stylizing your creatures as adorable cartoons.

Rodgon demonstrates how to do this using several different animals as examples, giving you lots of handy tips and advice along the way.

Build your mental library to fuel your imagination today!


1.1
Learning Through Using References
12:30
1.2
Stylization
05:11
1.3
Red Pandas - Drawing Different Angles
13:25
02

Developing your Character

45:34

Use a jellybean shape to create adorable characters

Discover the power of a simple bean bag shape to create a vast array of chubby creatures. This versatile shape—and other simple ones—will serve as great building blocks for your characters’ structures.

Rodgon also teaches an essential skill for drawing anything at all, (not only animals): creating 3D forms and starting with big shapes.

You’ll also really enjoy doing fun assignments with Rodgon, where you’ll get to practice the new skills you’ve learned.


2.1
Developing your Character
18:32
2.2
Modifying the Bean Bag Shape
18:22
2.3
Assignment
08:40
03

What to do with Your Character

49:41

Cute characters used in marketing and branding

There is a whole range of uses for adorable animal illustrations and in this lesson, Rodgon will show you a ton of ways to use your designs.

It’s important to take the purpose of the design into consideration before starting, as it will influence various aspects of your artwork, eg: size, format, colors, resolution, level of complexity, etc.

The two major fields that use animal designs are:
– Illustration and Animation
– Branding/Marketing

Look forward to discovering the fascinating characteristics and cool sub-categories of each field, and understanding that it involves much more than just the ability to draw!


3.1
What to do with Your Character
13:28
3.2
Illustration and Animation
17:19
3.3
Branding and Marketing
18:54
04

Mock Client Brief: Step-by-Step Guide

02:23:00

Create an animal cartoon illustration in Adobe Photoshop

Rodgon will give you a detailed walkthrough of molding a character from a concept sketch to final design, using a mock client brief to simulate a real-life project.

You will learn the ins and outs of drawing raster-based artwork in Adobe Photoshop. Rodgon will also share his expertise and advice for designing with a professional workflow (fewer headaches!)

This lesson is packed with a ton of amazing, EASY drawing tips to level up your artwork, from creating 3D rounded forms,, making a character look younger, inking cleanly, tricks for drawing furry textures and much more!

It’s going to be SO much fun. So buckle up!


4.1
Mock Client Brief: Step-by-Step Guide
05:57
4.2
Analyzing References
10:52
4.3
Sketching Initial Ideas
15:28
4.4
Adding Expressions and Details
17:08
4.5
Action Poses
22:40
4.6
Refining your Final Sketch
20:26
4.7
Clean Line-Art
16:09
4.8
Coloring your Character
17:36
4.9
Coloring your Background and Adding Final Details
16:44
05

How to Finish your Project Properly

01:24:36

Create an animal cartoon illustration in Adobe Illustrator

Your amazing illustration is done and dusted! Now it’s time to save it in the right formats. This will ensure your artwork is presented in the best possible way that looks professional to both clients and followers.

Lesson 4 focused on raster-based drawing in Adobe Photoshop. This lesson, instead, will teach you vector-based drawing in Adobe Illustrator.

If that sounds complicated, not to worry! Rodgon will explain each step, concept, tool, and term in a way that’s VERY easy to understand! (Sweet relief!)

You’ll also explore different kinds of file formats commonly used for final artwork and learn why and how to use each one.


5.1
Vector vs. Raster
06:22
5.2
Setting up your Image
05:11
5.3
Inking Tools
08:48
5.4
Inking, Part 1
19:46
5.5
Inking, Part 2
18:03
5.6
Coloring
12:00
5.7
Final Details and Adjustments
09:04
5.8
Exporting your File
05:22

Student Feedback

187 customer reviews & ratings

4.7

Course rating

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5 star
83 %
4 star
13 %
3 star
3 %
2 star
0 %
1 star
3 %
Best Suited for
Beginner
The level is determined by a majority opinion of students who have reviewed this class. The teacher's recommendation is shown until at least 5 student responses are collected.

(Based on 187 reviews)

Most Liked
Clarity of Instruction 154
Engaging Teacher 149
Helpful Examples 140
Showing 10 reviews of
187
reviews & ratings
Yuliia L.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
Awesome! That`s what I need, the step-by step information about how to create saleble, good quality art with description of the reasons of each step.
I recommend it for Absolute Beginner
5 people found this helpful
PP
Patrick P.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
RodGon takes you through everything you need to compose beautiful, believable and engaging characters with simple shapes. Before this course I never drew from imagination, only from reference. RodGons approach allowed me to crush that barrier and start developing my own characters from my head, whic
+ Show more
h is SO REWARDING!
I recommend it for Beginner
3 people found this helpful
Carolina V.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
Love it! Everything, from the drawings to the commercial perspective.
I recommend it for Beginner
2 people found this helpful
AS
Annemieke S.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
Taking my drawing qualities to the next level with this Rodgons course. He helps you to understand the basics of the bean bag shape which allows you to draw without having a reference photo. However, if you do need a reference photo: he teaches you how to analyse it and how to translate it to a draw
+ Show more
ing starting with a bean bag. Super helpful! Awesome class!
I recommend it for Beginner
2 people found this helpful
LB
Lior B.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
yes
I recommend it for All levels
1 person found this helpful
Ayslan J.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
Amazing in everything!
I recommend it for All levels
TS
THALIA S.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
Really enjoying this course so far!
I recommend it for Beginner
AS
Annemieke S.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
Taking my drawing skills to the next level with this Rodgons coursed. He helps you to understand the basics of the bean bag shape which allows you to draw without having a reference photo. However, if you do need a reference photo: he teaches you how to analyse it and how to translate it to a drawin
+ Show more
g starting with a bean bag. Super helpful! Awesome class!
I recommend it for Beginner
1 person found this helpful
HB
Hella B.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
I am at the beginning but already love it.
I recommend it for Beginner
1 person found this helpful
CP
Chris P.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
Super fun and engaging. Good knowledge!
I recommend it for All levels
See more reviews

About the Instructor

Rodgon
Cartoonist, Illustrator, Teacher 2 courses

Rodgon (aka Rodrigo Gonzalez) is a San Diego-based cartoonist and illustrator. A late bloomer into art, he began his journey at 18 and has not looked back since.


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21 Draw is an online learning community where students of all skill levels can learn how to be a better artist. Our contributing artists and instructors are the best in the world.

Our streaming platform on www.21-draw.com makes it possible for anyone to watch hundreds of video lessons by industry legends who have worked for Disney, Marvel, DC, Dreamworks, Pixar & more. A membership gives full access to our streaming platform.

On books.21-draw.com you can buy our popular learn-to-draw ebooks and physical books, separate from the courses, and they too are also delivered to you by the heavyweights of the art industry.

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Each class includes 10-20 video lessons that are 7 minutes long on average. Most classes include exercise sheets, assignments, and layered PSD or PNG files.

Some classes include the ability to chat with the instructor in a public forum, e.g. if you want feedback on your artwork.

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We have classes for all levels, even for those with zero drawing experience. In general, artists at all levels can benefit from these courses—whether beginner, intermediate or advanced.

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Many lessons in our courses apply to both digital and traditional art. In a few tutorials, digital drawing software, e.g. Photoshop or Procreate for iPad is required. However, for the majority of lessons it is more about the underlying concepts and all that is needed is a pen and paper.

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If for any reason at all you are unhappy with our courses or feel it isn’t what you are looking for—then just fill out this form or email us at [email protected]. We’ll be more than happy to give you a full refund within 30 days of your first purchase. No questions asked. Just a guarantee you can trust.

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