Retro Character Design for Animation
A course by Venturia Animation Studios , Animation Studio
Joined June 2019
Learn to design characters by recreating the styles of the golden age of animation
Learn to design characters by recreating the styles of the golden age of animation
Joined June 2019
Think back to the classic cartoons that once dominated our Saturday morning TV screens. That nostalgia can act as a major catalyst when it comes to creating, and it’s precisely what motivates Juan Manuel Urbina, director and founder of Venturia Animation Studios in Colombia.
In this online course, analyze different ages of cartoon styles ranging from the 20s to the 60s. Then, choose your favorite era and follow its standard practices to design your own series of characters.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 10 downloads
- 98% positive reviews (250)
- 4,318 students
- 18 lessons (2h 1m)
- 10 additional resources (3 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Choose one of the periods analyzed throughout the course and design a character lineup that fits that era.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone interested in the world of animation who wants to broaden their character design skill set.
Requirements and materials
Basic knowledge of drawing, especially of the human figure, is required. As for the materials, you need paper, pencils, a tablet, and a computer with software that allows you to draw, such as Adobe Photoshop.
Reviews
A course by Venturia Animation Studios
Juan Manuel Urbina is the director and founder of Bogotá-based Venturia Animation Studios. He's also an expert at telling exciting stories using a blend of classic animation and 3D. Venturia Animation Studios has worked on projects for Netflix, HBO, Warner Brothers Records, and Walt Disney World, among others.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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The adventure begins!
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Venturian influences. Venturia's favorites.
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The route of our trip. What will we do in the course?
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U2
Cartooning: the backbone of character design
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The cartooning for Venturia. Definition of cartooning.
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3 basic principles of cartooning. The backbone of the course.
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Volumetric vs. Graphic. Two sides of the same coin.
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U3
20's (rubberhose)
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Rubberhose Beginnings of the golden age of American animation.
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Time to deconstruct! Mickey vs. Felix | Popeye and Oliva.
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Let's design your first character. 20's.
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U4
40's (Preston Blair)
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Preston Blair The master of volumetric style.
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Time to deconstruct! Mickey of the 40's, Snow White Dwarf and Bugs Bunny.
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Let's take your character to the 40's. From the 20's to the 40's.
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U5
50's-60's (Cubism cartoon)
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Cubism cartoon. The "modern" cartoon.
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Time to deconstruct! Pedro Flintstones, Robotina and Dexter.
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Let's take your character to "modernity." From the 40's to the 50's-60's.
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U6
Ink & Paint
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Complementary characters Let's complete your character line-up.
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Ink The first step of the last step.
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Paint The second step of the last step.
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FP
Final project
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x 30s style animation
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.
All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.
The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
sergiomtz_designer
Me ha encantado el curso, la información histórica me ha ayudado a entender la evolución de los personajes.
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rhykelmeoficial
Gostei bastante! O foco é nos cartoons da "época de ouro da animação", e eles ensinaram muito bem como criar personagens nesse estilo. As lições foram claras e cheias de exemplos clássicos, o que me ajudou a entender melhor a simplicidade e as expressões daquela época.
O que mais gostei foi poder desenhar seguindo esse estilo, praticando bastante e recebendo dicas úteis. Achei que poderia ter mais exemplos práticos mas no geral, valeu muito a pena para quem gosta desse visual.
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taggart_and_son_confectionery
This course was a wonderful study of cartooning through different eras. The instructors passion for retro cartoons was infectious. I would love another class from Venturia Animation.
ztp
curso mas teorico que practico no por ello significa que sea malo te dara alguna bases que necesitaras mas adelante
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angi_wb
Extremely knowledgeable tutor! The course is wonderful - it combines history of animation with practical exercises in character design.