The planet is being attacked by a terrifying alien race that aims to colonize the Earth and subjugate its humans. To defend itself, the earthlings count on a group of mysterious mechanical beings, christened the Ultrarobots, who for millions of years remained buried deep underground and only a few chosen pilots, descendants of the previous race who once populated the planet, can handle them effectively. The future of humanity itself rests upon the perfect unity of these forces.
1. SKETCHES
Mecha series are a true classic of Japanese anime. In this image we pay homage to the genre, representing all the classic elements: plenty of action, colossal robots, and impossible suits.
2. STRUCTURE
We created the characters using ovals to help us define a dynamic scene. The curved axes provide more movement in the postures.
3. VOLUME
In this step we traced the robot’s body based on the initial design. We defined the silhouette of the characters based on the skeleton outline.
4. ANATOMY
While the robot represents strength and the girl represents elegance and restraint, the pilot has to be energetic. Being young people, the heroes’ bodies have to be trim and slender.
5. DETAILS
We put outfits on the two youths and colored them in with thick, defined lines with large swaths of black to give edginess to the image.
6.1. COLOR
We painted the flat colors and shadows at the same time in different layers in the Multiply Blend Mode. With so many areas, it is important to organize and group together different elements.
6.2. COLOR
With a rather saturated group of base colors that emulate cartoon colors typical of the 90’s, we applied the color layers in different Light Layer Blend Modes (Soft, Hard, Brightness).
6.3. COLOR
We applied new lighting effects on the highlights in the images, and we added additional shadows.
6.4. COLOR
Around the characters we created a purple halo that would later be used as a background overlay. We added new highlights on the robot’s headlights in the Hard Light Layer Blend Mode.
7.1. BACKGROUND
We set the dark blue background around the characters to see them stand out, exactly as we planned in the previous step.
7.2. BACKGROUND
With different brushes we created a texture that emulates the universe, and we set the layer in a Hard Light Blend Mode on top of the previous background.
FINISHING TOUCHES
- We drew semi-translucent rays on a new layer in Lighten Blend Mode at 45% opacity.
- We added bright-pointed stars in the Overlay Blend Mode.
- We adjusted the image highlights to make the pilot stand out from the background.
Tips & tricks
- To keep the characters from looking stiff, we always have to design dynamic postures. This way, the characters take on life and transmit much more to the viewer.
- To construct characters, many artists make the mistake of beginning with the eyes and head and then drawing in the rest of the body. It is better to make an initial sketch of the full body, approximating the locations of each of the parts, and then polishing up the details.
