A quick look at what's been cooking lately - we can see some examples of gear progression for Estelle. If we compare these to the earlier developed concept piece, a number of recurring themes emerge, something I want to incorporate in the designs of each character in the story.
On the far right we can see examples of her starting gear, black leggings, a thick shirt with ribbed detailing (not drawn in yet) and rolled cuffs revealing a burberry lining. I want to keep the 'lots of belts for no reason at all' theme present where possible, because... come on - belts, guys! For no reason at all!!?
On the left we see the next step in the gear ladder, her typical white stockings with leather garter, her dark shorts with burberry lined cuffs, a leather bustier and metal breast plate and single pauldron. White long gloves with burberry detailing and more belts around the waist and leg complete the gearset. To its immediate right, we have an unfinished design which was folded into the middle design, the third rung to the ladder. Babydoll top with leather breast armor, metal breastplate over top, small puffy detached sleeves with leather detailing and burberry lining, shorts with small leather hip detailing and burberry cuffs, more intricate stockings, and small leather gloves with similar design elements.
In terms of the hair, we have a long ponytail, reaching to her mid back/hips, two braids in the 'side bangs' slot, and a three-part arrangement in the front. Her large, perhaps oversized bow ties the whole look together and adds dimension to her face, offsetting the vertical movement of her braids, bangs and ponytail with some horizontiality (yes, I made that word up).
All in all, the design is coming together - expect to see a more polished rendition of Estelle's design in all 6 stages in the near future, and following that.... the pilot chapter of Sword Arte Online!
楽しんでね～～
Really cool!!
ReplyDeleteShe is also starting to look more and more unique!
I like the use of red, the hints of burberry, and especially the bow-tie, uniquely awesome with red and burberry, but reminiscent of Saber Lily.
I really like where this is going.
I even like your new choice of eye colour. It's a little dark, it's blue, and it gives off a glimmer of "quiet", "kind-hearted", but especially "mysterious".
I especially like it in combination with her expressions, which to me match this flavour. For example, the lower right expression. Actually, all of the expressions seem to parallel what I'm imagining.
What is your take on it? What are your ideas for her specific personality traits?
Keep up the good work!!
~Yukigami
Lets see... Well for starters, when I'm thinking of this character, or a character in general I'm thinking at least two sides - two distinctly different 'feelings' - like for example: Lelouche when he's with Nunally or when he's Zero talking to random 黒の騎士団
ReplyDeleteIn that example, its a very polarized difference - he's even got a different sounding voice and all that, but none the less, even on smaller scales, every character (or at least the fleshed out one's I'd say) have this kind of 'transformation'
So when we look at we can see her softer, unguarded, fun-time-slice-of-life-personality - and then we can see her tough-as-nails beat-em-up personality
For each end of the spectrum... Think: Sifr Fran (Mai Otome S.ifr), Asuna (SAO: Progressive MANGA Ver. [the characterization is different, trust~]) On the high, happy and frivolous end and: Ryuuko (Kill la Kill), Kallen (Code Geass)... aaaand I'm sure there are many more similar characters, perhaps more mainstream examples even, but I'mdrawing a blank ^^;;
However, the take away message here is that while she's at the same time, a strong-willed, give-it-her-all-to-the-brink-of-death fighters, she's also fairly easy going, expressive, animated, tsundere to male leads that accompany her from time to time, etc
Soon enough there'll be a whole post on the ins and outs and what to expect from her, but that'll follow a general sketch of the direction of the first major story arc as well as a pilot chapter - however, the general gist of her 'image' will be pretty well summed up in the Pilot~