Final Heart - Character Concept Art
I learned a lot for this project in the Character World-Building class taught by Brandon Vuong, in The Workshop Academy!
https://www.artstation.com/bvdconcept
Thank you also to peers for feedback and paintover, to help me push to a final especially for the demon.
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A touching story about self-acceptance in a fantastical post-war world, where humans and inner demons live in “peace”. Due to
a curse, humans no longer pass from old age, but by the mark of Inner Demons who devours their soul by a certain time.
Demons are unable to be harmed by their Human counterpart.
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Human veteran who was looking for the meaning of life, but was cut short when he is marked by his assigned Inner Demon.
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However, this Inner Demon stumbles clumsily and is not of the sinister image as expected, leading gradually to an unexpected (and initially rocky) friendship.
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Demeanor initially intimidating, even to the demon, he gradually sheds the hardness of his heart as he guides the demon to finishing his job.
This story follows an unlikely friendship between the devourer and devoured, and that like all things, must ultimately come to a close.
The Demon was designed to look strong – big chest and armor equipped for battle, but the goofiness of his proportions implies a character that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
He’s a wiggly and bouncy goober and loves sharing (and eating) food! The eye on his chest loves eating too but desires something else.
His hair is great for emoting, like a tail but on his head. No need to comb as long as he stays in one emotional state, which may be hard for a Demon.
The grimoire is given by the Demon faction as a manual…which he resourcefully uses as a sandwich holder, dirtying it with his crumbs.
Reading is definitely not in his books.
A traumatized Human. He is designed to appear more demonic than his “Inner Demon” with a baggage that is mysteriously unknown. He hunts other people’s demons for them as they cannot do it themselves.
Stoic but when in action, swings! Narrative-wise, the Human is a dynamic character compared to the Demon, who is a more static character in the story. How he changes and evolves, comes from growing with and accepting his Inner Demon.
As a demon hunter, even after that link has been severed forcefully for others, those human becomes a husk of themselves, devoid of emotions…mirroring as a metaphor of running away from acceptance.
The eyes in his baggage and weapon came from other people – or rather other people’s demons. Each belt is a representation of the Demons he had slayed, given that humans cannot hurt their own demons so he does it for them.
From the very start, I wanted to flip the script around – Human as a “demonized” character and the Demon more “human” than the human itself. I focused on shape motifs – both the outside silhouette and the inside shapes, to deliver a somber impression.
As for the Demon, I focused on the roundness and “bounciness” of his shapes. At one point, showcasing his flamboyancy through a dress. At another, a travelling buddy who carries essentials while the Human is carrying something for his own benefit.
A feedback with Demon not having legs, help differentiate the two characters more, while giving the Demon disproportioned silhouette (big top -> smaller bottom) can help sell the goofy goober.
Some amazing feedback that impacted my final design, were that the roundness of the silhouette was too similar to the Demon (which he became more stoically angular later) and how the weapon was not grounded in reality, giving the viewer less relatability.
Joint thumbnailing. What if, plot twist – Human was actually a Demon! How would that happen! The method of demon-devouring are through their pupils + “shine”, which are actually mouth + teeth.
Figuring out how old Human is, at what stage of his life and how energetic the Demon is, are attributed to the color choices I chose.
Initial Pitch + Moodboard