Target Audience

Initially, I intended to produce a character for an audience above 16 years old, but then I changed my mind and decided to create a game asset for the audience above 12 years old.

According to the company that rates age restrictions for games - PEGI (2020), a video game for the audience 12+ may include"violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy characters or non-realistic violence towards human-like characters would fall in this age category. Sexual innuendo or sexual posturing can be present, while any bad language in this category must be mild. Gambling as it is normally carried out in real life in casinos or gambling halls can also be present (e.g. card games that in real life would be played for money)." 

Another rating company called ESRB (2020) describes games for Teens (13+) as allowed to have violence, minimal blood and suggestive themes. 

The next evidence that I will be analysing is data given by Comic Book Artist is that "Characters [for 12+] are shown to be more believable. They have a more realistic body proportion and show more details. Shading is used more and includes cool and warm colors."

Taking into account this information, I chose to design a wizard that is slightly realistic, but not too much and that does not have blood on his clothes to make them more suitable for this audience.  

While I was drawing this character I took into account an article by Maree Railton "The art of designing appealing characters for your animation". 

The author mentioned that shape language is very important to indicate the targeted audience. According to him squares in the design symbolise sturdiness and reliableness. However, triangles express balance and energy. 

That is why I chose to draw my character with many triangles to indicate power (as a powerful wizard) and sturdiness. I wanted to create a villain instead of a hero, so I avoided including oval shapes on it. 

Bibliography:

Websites:

ESRB, 2020. Ratings Guide [online]. Available at: https://www.esrb.org/ratings-guide/ [Accessed 23/06/2021]

Maree Railton, 2020. the art of designing appealing characters for your animation [online]. . Available at: https://www.explanimate.com.au/the-art-of-designing-appealing-characters-for-your-animated-video/. [Accessed 23/06/2021

PEGI, 2020. What do the labels mean? [online]. . Available at: https://pegi.info/what-do-the-labels-mean. [Accessed 23/06/2021]