CHARACTER DESIGN
CHELITA, COMO ME DUELE QUERERTE
These are characters I designed for the student film I wrote and am currently Co-directing inspired by the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. It follows a clumsy young baker trying to get his first love to recognize him after discovering she has become an Adelita (Female soldier) in the Mexican Revolution. The Designs were influenced by both actors of that era of film as well as people from that historical period.
The turnarounds I have included below are from a dance sequence in the film that take inspiration from ballet folklorico, a traditional type of Mexican dance. These costume variations are based on the clothing worn in the dances from the Jalisco region.
CABARET
This is a line up I designed based on the musical Cabaret. I was inspired by the graphic styles of Cartoon Saloon for these designs. I wanted to create a contrast between the characters who perform in the Kit Kat Club, the cabaret club featured in the show, and the citizens of Berlin. These designs would be for a project aimed more towards older audiences as this story deals with heavy themes from rise of fascism in Weimar Germany, before WWII.
Here is some of my process and exploration for the characters. I took inspiration from different interpretations of these characters on stage and combined them to create some ideas for these designs.
CARLITOS Y LA FABRICA DE CHOCOLATE
This is a design of the protagonist for a Visual Development project I have been woking on which is a Mexican reimagining of Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This is the design for Carlitos Cubeta (Charlie Bucket), a poor young boy whose dream it is to visit the nearby factory of world-renowned chocolatier and candy maker, Willy Wonka.
FAIRY PLAY
This is the design and turnaround of the main character of this 3D animated short film. The film follows a wooden toy soldier in different vignettes that are meant to represent his journey as he discovers his identity.
SPIDER-VERSE SELF PORTRAIT
After watching "Across the Spider-verse" I was inspired to create a self portrait using the style from the film. I studied the style very closely to replicate it in this character design to the smallest of details. (Zoom in to see the comic halftone textures)
MOONESHINE & CO.
The following work is for the main characters for a concept inspired by the Appalachian region in the United States. These are the Moone Brothers and their best friend Umm. One night (after many many drinks) the two brothers discover that they're able to gather moonlight in a liquid form and it tastes delicious. Their "Mooneshine" business is very successful but what will they do when the moon runs out?
FRITZ VON STRUHEN
This design was done for a master controller rig which would later be used for clean-up in an animated scene. Fritz is a spoiled german boy who is in search of a long-lost wish granting idol that is being hunted for by number of explorers, experts, and thieves
