Our clients asked us to design characters that reflect diverse personalities, representing various ethnicities, nationalities, and professions. The initial character concepts were much more exaggerated and stylized, but they were later adjusted to feature more realistic proportions. I aimed to strike a balance between realism and stylization through toon shading and cartoonish texturing.

Given the diverse nationalities and professions of the characters, background design played a crucial role. We crafted cityscapes showcasing iconic landmarks and spaces tailored to reflect each character’s professional identity.

The client requested a project with a 2D aesthetic, so we began our style exploration using toon render techniques. We proposed two approaches: one with painterly brushstroke textures and another with a bold black cutout cartoon style. In the end, we decided to combine elements from both styles to achieve the final look.

Here are some early-stage style frames side by side for comparison!