Cartoon Background Research

Below I have researched into some cartoon backgrounds via Google Images.

Cartoon Arms and Legs Research

Below are some images of cartoon arms and legs that i found using Google Images:

Facial Features Research

Below I have put together some images from the research that I conducted using Google Images:

Colour Swatches

To make sure that I had the right colours for the two characters, I made a series of colour swatches in order to see which one worked best for the character. From the research that I conducted all the examples showed bright and colourful characters which is why I chose the brightest yellow and plum purple.

Visit to Pershore

Below are some of the images that I took when we visited Pershore in order to have a look at the different marker points that will appear on the trail which gave us more of a perspective when creating the trail maps and the marker posters.

Character Design- Draft One

Below is the first draft of the plum character. This was before we were told that we needed two characters to match the two mascots. The feedback that was given about this first draft is:
- Two characters are needed- male and female- linking to the mascots.
- Male character should be yellow and female should be purple.
- The character should be more oval shaped, like a plum rather than circular.

Children's Character Sketches

Below are the initial sketches that i did in order to start thinking about the characters which will go on the marker signs for each point on the trail. From the research earlier on that i completed about Pershore and the plum festival in the past, it was come to my knowledge that there is in fact (or at least there was) plum mascots which feature a male plum which is yellow and called Eggbert and a female plum which is purple and called Prunella.

I have decided to base my sketches around the mascots (image below) as i want them to be recognisable to everyone.

(http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/resources/images/5261155/?type=responsive-gallery)

I based my sketches on these two mascots but as i wanted to give them my own touch,  i decided to make them more cartoon like and add special touches such as the yellow bow on Prunella's head. I also added comical smiles and facial expressions which i took from the research on children's characters and also the bright colours from the plum mascots, i made them brighter.

Eggbert- Plum Character

Eggbert- Plum Character

There were different scenarios in which the characters needed to be in for each marker point as it needed to tell a story which is part of the children's trail leaflet. Below are some of the items that i am going to put with the characters in order to tell the story.

Children's Character Research

Below are some examples of children's characters that are already being used on the market. This research is so that i can see what has already been done and what is working in order to see which characteristics i can bring to my own characters. I have looked at just cartoon characters as this is what i am going to produce.

(http://www.spyderonlines.com/image-html.php?pic=/images/wallpapers/cartoon-image/cartoon-image-2.jpg)

(http://www.clipartbest.com/cliparts/dir/oBX/diroBXe6T.jpeg)

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/c9/03/34/c90334d0ae9083f00ee2b919fa7c3419.jpg)

(http://knowledgeoverflow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/powerpuff_girls.jpg)

All of the above characters are brightly coloured and feature a positive and happy facial expression which is what i am going to use when i design and produce my characters.