"Character Designer" vs "Concept Artist" Whats the difference anyway? 

dont worry trent, you have fans too

Well, doesn't matter to be a superstar Character Designer. What I just want is to work with others for a project. I want my art to be one of the pillars of beloved videogames or movies. I used to want being hugely famous, but as years pass, I just want to be part of a team and proud of what we achieved :) (... and to brag to my friends about having participated in the creation of a the game they are playing :p )

Right. I'm in Gamedev studio from Japan. Japanese company tend to appreciate long-term contract for employee. It might be because of difference of law which does not allow to firing ppl without extreme circumstances such as in case of employees commit a crime or something. Also, some employer assume ppl are kind of betrayer when they leave their job especially it was long-term relationship. Lack of freedom, but have more job security.

Wait, isn't character design a sub category of concept? since concept art is about finding the ideas and putting it down into paper, the only difference would be that it is more generalize, it can be props, environnement, vehicules and characters.. but that's what I think before the video, let's watch.

Honestly, as someone who just loves the process of designing, I don't really care what I'm called, whether it be character designer, concept artist, I just want to be able to work and do what I love!

Character designer is definitely a position in the animation industry, but I get the impression that with games, they want you to be able to be more of a concept art generalist. I was at ctn expo two years ago and got a lot of feedback on my character design portfolio from various studios, but when I spoke to the only game industry rep there (from Blizzard), he basically pointed at a bit of promotional art and said “this is what we want.” I asked him what a character design portfolio for games should look like and he told me that they really were more interested in whether or not you could paint something to their standard, and the only portfolios they wanted were concept art portfolios because the concept artists would be doing character design, too. So character designer does seem to be a job in gaming, but it’s often under the umbrella of concept artist. But I know that there are people who specialize in only characters, especially when it comes to modeling and sculpting. So you can be a character designer in games, but it depends on your skill set and the studio. And to your point about character designers being famous in Japan, a lot of them are artists that were already famous from manga or anime. And I think comic, animation, and game artists are just more well known there in general. Like, the average American person probably doesn’t know who Jim Lee is, but I’m sure general Japanese audiences would recognize the name Akira Toriyama.

There definitely are rock star concept arts and illustrators in the game industry but I think they are more known to the art and game dev community than the fandom.. on the flip side there are rockstar "game designers" that are more generally well known to the fandom.

See what I’ve taken from a collection of your videos is that the most efficient way to earn a living being a concept artist is being as valuable to your team as possible, which means as you say not always being the rock star character concept artist but being the guy or girl who makes door assets for games. It’s not as fun I’m sure at times but being able to help out teams in more than one area is beyond valuable. I personally don’t care what I’m called while working at a studio or gaming company or whatever as long as I get to draw/paint. And doing it Trent style with some style and freakin passion! Awesome video Trent!

So true. We fantasize with the idea that most art projects are done by one person. I think (at least for me) it comes from reading manga where one guy draws and write the story. But even that is false since they can hire help and get editors.

Great artwork and great sharing of truths that you have experienced. ....priceless. Thankyou

Thanks for this insight Trent! I always wondered this.

Very clear and informational video. Thank you for this insight!

I love your videos, they are so informative and you have such a great personality! I would love to be doing what you’re doing what day! Btw, I had a lecture in Japan from a Japanese professor of business and he said that in japan basic company practice is that once you join a company you have a job for life, it’s sorta their job safety policy! So you’re right on that!

This was so informational, thank you!!!

Looked like a nice animated sequence happening there, ending in her face (philosophically) reflecting on the actions. Very nice.

Years late to the party, but I have wondered about this for a long time, and now I'm trying to get into the industry after being a caretaker for 6 years, I'm now left trying to play catchup and build skills. I got a long road ahead as I really do not want my degree to go to waste

*"But he's designed some of the most iconic characters for that game"* If it's not our lord and savior Teemo, it's not iconic to me.

Just found your channel. Love your work. For me, in any artistic pursuit, you're going to have a sub specialization that really inspires you. But just because you are passionate about that subcategory doesn't mean you shouldn't diversify your skill set. In fact, switching subject matter breaks the repetition and often teaches me some techniques that I can use in what I enjoy most. Nerd moment, this reminds me of the Avatar episode where Iroh teaches Zuko how to redirect lightning. It was something he learned only by studying water bending and then applying those lessons back to fire bending. In respect to concept design/character design, I imagine that those involved in designing Marvel's Groot spent some time "drawing trees" so that they could apply that knowledge to Groot's characteristics.

Yeeh I'm in Japan, haha. 🙌 And you are right. The culture here is to start work in a company and die there. So is strange someone who want to leave some company. But it is about to change, I think. I don't know to much because I was not grow up here at all, just live in this fuking strange country. And I don't even speak in japanese enough to get into a company yet. But I live here 😓

My Boi putting out videos like never bafore 👌

Hey, great video. Bit late to the party and i've been wanting to get into concept after i graduate. Something i found in my research in the UK is a position of a Character Artist. So here it seems that there is a roles of concept artist and there are also specialist roles such as environment, character etc. Although the thing about crediting is still there as works belong to the studio and not the artist. But just thought i weigh in

This art looks really good! I wasnt aware I could use that symmetry brush like that. Thanks dude!^^ Regarding the topic of the video-- So what we need maybe, is that indie games(at least) should try their hardest to front character design artists and game designers names so more artists names have a chance to get out there?^^

I really like how you framed this video. I didn't know that Japanese game industry was like that but now that I think about it your right!

Hi Trent, your videos have been a huge inspiration for me in this past year and I’m glad I get that chance to hear from a fun and open professional about how to make it in the pro industry. I was wondering if you had any tips for how to approach professional artists and what sort of professional courtesies should be practiced when speaking with people who are always busy. I don’t want to take up anyone’s time, but I also really want to make those connections and learn more on how I can be a better artist. Thank you for your time and patience.

Would you do a vid explaining how you come up with your character ideas? Or something showing the process you go through to get a final idea. I'd really love to see that.

Hey, Trent. Great video! About the life long employment in Japan. The "you're part of the family" is just spin they sold you. The reality is it's near impossible to fire anyone legally in Japan short of the employee breaking the law. Even if you're trash at your job, show up late every day, etc. They can transfer you, deny promotions, deny bonuses, etc, but they can't fire you. Add to this the fact that seniority is more important than skill in Japan and you get the current situation. Employers can't fire anyone, so they try to squeeze every last drop out of what they've got to work with, and Employees will have to start over from the bottom with the stigma of being a deserter if they leave. As for the "finding wives" bit, it's only half true. The other side to that is they marry said employees off to the women that work for the same company. These relationships actually happen naturally in companies quite often and it's not stigmatized like it is in the west. 99% of the time the woman quits after this happens. The end game is the men settle down and focus on work, and the company has a way to cycle people out since they can't fire anyone.

Character designers in the west are normally people who model the concept art and rig the character model for animation. A lot of the job posts on ArtStation specifically for "Character Designer" are looking for people who can model, rig and even animate characters. It's not essentially the same position depending on the company.

Funny you mention this. I had been pursuing character design for animation for years thinking the job was to design the characters for the show. Little did I know most of the actual character designing goes to the visual development artists during the initial creation of the project. Character designers in TV animation as far as I know do the technical drawings and key poses from storyboards of the already designed characters. But they get to design some minor characters here and there apparently. Then again I’m sure it differs from studio to studio!

The things you said about working in Capcom makes me more impressed Platinum games is even a thing

Hey Trent! I’m a huge fan of your RU-vid videos. They seriously drive me to create what I want to create, and I’m currently working on a sci fi graphic novel series. I’d just like to ask what, in your opinion, is the best or most popular place to publish content. Thanks and keep making these awesome videos! They’re so inspiring!

Hey Trent, found your channel not too long ago and like everyone else I want to be a concept artist. I'm in college and am probably going to stop because they aren't teaching anything I don't already know. And when they do they teach me stuff I don't need to know for the fields I am pursuing. I've seen your other videos on how to get some experience as a concept artist early on like talking to indie game devs and I'm contacting them on unity as we speak. Do you have anymore tips, maybe for people who are more confident in their art skills? Or just more ways to either get experience or get paid.

2:28 in other art scenes, like adopt communities etc, there are people credited as character designers, but its hardly ever with anything big or mainstream like video games etc. it’s usually indie artists doing batches of designs or custom designs that other artists of maybe indie writers then buy.

Yo dude, great video as always

Man youre a MASTER

Hi Trent, I am reading and marvel your World of Twillight Monk v1; do you plan to create process video for your Box Set about environment like on the page of "A fishy fetch- quest"? Would be awesome! I love that artbook so much, very well done! :)

Terminology causes a lot of trouble huh 😅 i also see the term "Character artist" a lot, and i usually tought it meant kind of a character generalist? But apparently is the 3D artist that works in characters. In the end the solution is just write concept artist and hope for your portfolio to do the work at best lol

You've got a large following, maybe you can put it into motion, start adding "character designer" under your name and it might become a thing with time :D

Very interesting insights. Question: I'm working on a Science Fiction novel series with six or more books. I know my characters for the most part but I'm wondering how to go about finding the right artist. What would be the best way to go about finding an artist that could help bring my characters to life and do the covers over the long term? Thanks Trent, you rock!

I would love a list of some of the artists he lists. I'd love to check out their work.

Thanks for the info yes is bummer.

Cool video, I really like the analogy with the west about 'employee work relations with the company. Imo Concept artist sounds cooler than character designer, that said, the big character designers in japan do have a noticeable style across all their games. Probably due to their own creative freedom because their names have weight in the profits like you mentioned. e.g. Looking at final fantasy 15 and 8 or even Kingdom Hearts you can just see we're dealing with Nomura. (The difference between 7 and 8 is quite big, 7 and 10 massive, due to his change from typical manga influences towards realistic proportions).

You may have already made a video on this, but do you have any tips on staying focused and on track when doing freelance/at home work?

I love you and I love this channel.

What is your opinion on being over-critical to yourself? I somehow cant get to the point where I can think "this looks good, i am done" even though people say otherwise. I just keep finding something i dont like till it gets "toxic" (if you want to call that) and i get frustrated and quit. Do you have/had to deal with that and if you solved that issue, how?

We should totally change how we credit designers. It’s not that hard to change some text and give special credit to those who are excellent.

hey, have been watching you for a while, and want to buy your photoshop brushset, but it says in the description that you need cs5 or later, i have cc 2018, can i still use the brushset with that version?

THE ARTWORK IN THE VID REMINDS ME OF METAL GEAR SOLID.

Well, now i have the same question about creature designers. But i’m sure that is going to be the same case.

Thanks

the title of the video should have been then "what the difference between character deign vs concept artist in the gaming industry" lol but alot of the information was very helpful thanks

Marco Nelor has done some Awesome Characters for Mortal Kombat, injustice and black panther

You're correct. I've been a loyal fan of Tetsuya Nomura for 13 years now. I worship everything that guy made.

Todd pulled it off with Kingdoms of Amalur. They gave credit to the character designer and writer because they were quite well known in the nerd/gaming community.

Great video! Which program are you drawing with here? Thanks!

I follow Cedric Peyravernay (the designer for Dishonored franchise) because he is freaking awesome. It's hard to imagine certain games if they had gone with a different character designer. Another example would be Bioshock. Weak character design can kill interest and fandom in a game i.m.o.

Golf Art...Good Video... Thank...

Dear trent wout here, How do you make texture on your art like its from stone or wood or dot shading and line shading.

Hi Trent, I am a Graphic/Media Designer (in Germany) and I really love drawing. What would you say are my chances in becoming a Concept Artist with my "skills"? Thanks and have a lovely day!

I agree with what Trent says. Top of my head only 2 westerners come to mind getting any sort of credit on character designs for videogames. And like Trent pointed out they did had previous rock star status from their work on comics...one is Todd McFarlane (Kingdoms of Amalur) and Joe Madureira (Darksiders (1 and 2) and Battlechasers:Nightwar) but he actually cofound a dev studio for those purposes.

What program is that and is there a way I can see the characters you designed for all those games? I'd love to check them out. 😊

great video. so, as a follow-up question, what would you consider the "character artist"? i see job listings for this title every now and then on Artstation, and I'm curious to know what the difference is here.

something I learned from Japan and maybe this is the reason why character design artists like a rockstar in japan is a culture in which they really respect people who are very great in their fields, for example in japan if you are very good at building a gunpla, for example, you will be very appreciated by the Gunpla fan community and even got the title "meijin" which can be interpreted as a master in his field, this also applies in other fields such as Shogi, Igo, ikebana, origami, tea ceremony, novelist, manga and of course Illustrator and character designer, and Japanese people often call this person Sensei which is an honorific title for these people.

See I hope to be a concept artist and know about the whole your not popular thing, but I more so just enjoy people being inspired or in awww at the worlds I create even if no one knows me. Its not much different from know.

Every time try to draw my own character, I never feel satisfied with the design

Hey that twilight monk was bad ass.... Must fight urge to steal idea!!!!

I do have some of my personal research on the Japanese work culture since I was very dedicated to have a concept artist position at Bandai Namco. The more I read, the more I talk to people who worked there ( N3 Japanese flex ), it turned out that Japanese love long-term employees and the kind of people with intentions to leave shortly after will mostly end up freelancing for 16$/hr. If you do cyberpunk manga and anime for any particular studio, you will do that pretty much everyday, well til u die eventually? Japanese studios also "lend" employees for eachother by another weird system to keep their industry going like Bandai Namco to Capcom and so forth. As far as i know, Japanese artists themself hate this kind of work culture and their younger gen are mostly working toward a western job but the major roadblock they hit as always is that they can't fkin speak "hello" properly after 5 years of IELTS grinding. So yeah, seems like the vid went off topic for the half to this and i just think that it might be useful to share my research.

A smug me: "Aha! How dare you! What about Glen Keane and Aaron Blaise! They're amazing western character designers!" Trent: 10:28 Me: ".....ah. I concede."

06:37 - "Bigger than Todd Mc Farlane"

Did you ever take a major in college for any of this? Currently trying to choose my classes and I honestly want to do something like this when it pertains to the game industry

What's the difference though apart from the general talk and awesome drawing?

In some japanese media you even have the division in the credits of who is the "Character Designer" and who is the "Background Artist" or "Mecha Designer" and stuff

I think in general, the meaning of words can be a little bit different inside and outside of Japan. For example a game designer would be someone who is developing story, level design and so on. But in Japan it would be called game planner. And game design is used for generally for character design, concept artist, 3D design. (Please correct me if I'm wrong). So when someone in Japan is called character designer it's maybe just the same work for a concept artist in the States.

Trent, In your experience and vast knowledge of the video game industry, Do companies typically have in house, full time illustrators that are on their payroll. Or do they they typically contract out to freelancers? For instances does, Riot games hire and maintain illustrators for splash art, or do they have go to freelancers By the way I’m a subscriber, please answer my question lol

Is this only in regard to video games or media in general for character designers?

So how do you do concept art for a living? :D or did you already answer it somewhere?

1:39 what is the name of this screen division with like a mirror reflection?

Comics can be a path to superstar status...Look up Joe Madureira (well he's a star to me at least).

My favorite outro "mañandabans, chao bebe"

In animation Carter Goodrich, Nico Marlet, Stephen Silver to name a few

Hi Trent, I found your channel while I searching " concept art" . I wonder when you tried go get a job in game , animation and etc concept art field, did you had any experiences you didn't get a concept art role in company because of the" concept art style? I mean, I heard a lot like this when I applied my CV " your style isn't right for our company" I am a concept artist too and whenever I found great concept artist( your one of them; I found you today) I love their concept style and tried to follow their work flow. would you give me any support or any feedback?

*Brilliant explanation!*

What app do you use to design your characters that you showed on the video

Just saw a post in a game journal recently where the guy was complaining how "game publications tend to credit a single person for the teams work" and an annotation - "the author of the X game"

I didn't notice till the end, but this dude sounds like Space Dandy. If you know, you know

Is it possible to get a title with a game studio when you specialize in realism art? I’ve only ever done photo-realism portraits and I’m pretty damn good at it, I’m just nervous that it limits my options going into the field. Also, loved the video! Really comprehensive, you’re good at explaining things.

Hi Trent the 1st Software you were using .. I suppose That was Sketchbook by Autodesk right??

I’m going to pretend I don’t know that you’re using the mirror tool. Stylus in each hand - man’s a ninja.

I have a question xD How can you get better at character design? I've been doing ir for 5 or 6 years by now and i never made one that i looked and think "oh thats a pretty good design". So, is there any tips you can give? (Btw: i'm new in your channel so if there's a video about ir already i would love to watch xD) (Btw2: my english is bad bc it's not my first language, sorry)

I dont want to be famous I just want to know If Im good enough to make it into the field.

hahahaha i know of 1 his name is Dondi he is mostly known for the game he works on "The Isle"

this is why i prefer to be a freelancer , i don't like to beg a company to decide what title i need in order to be paid or get some acknowledgment .

Joaquim Dos Santos is what I consider a star Character designer in USA.

Jim lee you could say he has done concept art. But that is also because his company works on character design

Hey trent, how about concept designer. What does that mean? Is it the same as concept artist?

Character Designer is more of a tv cartoon animation studio title than a video game studio title. I was one for a few years. There aren't really concept artists for tv cartoon animation studios unless it's for feature film Studios with high budget like pixar. When I was a character designer I never did iterations. I would work on a 3 quarter view rough drawing of a character and have my director check up on it until it was approved and then I'd have to complete the other views.> side, front, three quarter back and back views of this character.

I guess Joe Madureira fits this description, but he got famous doing comic books.

can someone give me the names of the japanese artists mentioned? Because I am lost in writing their names :D

Have you ever tried out Clip Studio Paint? You can now import abr/photoshop brush files into it. If you have tried it, what's your opinion of it? How long ago did you try it (It's gone through a LOT of updates and added features over the past few years).

at0:38 what software is that

What software you are using Sir