2D character design

Creation and development of 2D character and game model designs

A vivid, memorable 2D character (2D model) is a key element of visual storytelling and gameplay in two-dimensional games, one of the main components of emotional attachment and user engagement. Professional creation of 2D models and characters forms a recognizable style of the project, adds depth to the atmosphere, brightness to the gameplay, and diversity to the interaction of users with the game world and with each other.

Creating 2D characters for games is one of the key areas of work for the Arionis Games team: we create thoughtful heroes and characters that evoke a response.

What is 2D character design?

Character design for a 2D game (2D models) is the process of creating visual images of characters in a two-dimensional plane: developing appearance, style, facial expressions, poses, and other details that make them expressive, recognizable, and consistent with the overall concept of the game.

Developing 2D characters for games is an important factor in the success of a game development product. Each hero of the story affects the emotional connection of players with the project, their involvement, level of interest and return. Therefore, the success of the release depends on how well each detail of the hero is worked out (appearance, emotions and gestures, poses, clothing and other elements).

A 2D character artist works in several areas:

• creating a unique, expressive image that will distinguish the hero from other characters;
• conveying character and emotion through visual elements;
• compliance of the hero's appearance with the style of the project (realism, pixel art, etc. - it can be a 2D pixel character, fantasy, realistic, etc.);
• preparing materials for character animation or further game development (including drawing layers, interchangeable clothing, etc.).

Online 2D character creation is usually ordered for 2D games: platformers, puzzles, visual novels, strategies, RPGs, action-adventure games with open interconnected worlds and non-linear progression, etc. You can also order 2D character design at Arionis Games for cartoons, mobile applications, AR/VR projects, and marketing campaigns.

Advantages of ordering 2D character design:

• High demand despite the development of 3D technologies.
• Time saving – thanks to the combination of various tools, two-dimensional models can be quickly “brought to life”, which speeds up the launch of a project and can play a decisive role in its success.
• Affordability – the cost of 2D character design services is significantly lower compared to similar work for 3D projects (it's easier and faster).
• Technical optimization – two-dimensional design allows you to optimize performance and game weight, providing vivid visualization with stable operation on a larger number of devices (it is easier to optimize for platform limitations).

What result does the client get?

What is included in the development of a 2D character (characteristics of the result that the customer receives upon completion of this stage of game development):

• 2D character sprite – the main image of the character in a static or basic pose;
• animations (frame-by-frame or skeletal) – hero movements for story scenes and game interaction (walking, running, jumping, characteristic emotions and poses, attack, etc.);
• views of the character from different angles (turnaround) – front, side, back.

2D models allow game character designers to quickly integrate characters into a project, controlling their visual states and behavior through transitions and animations.

Stages of creating 2D character design and 2D models for games in Arionis Games

Creating a 2D character for a game is a sequential process consisting of several stages:

• Briefing, analysis, planning

At this stage, the game concept is discussed, its theme is researched, the market and competing projects are analyzed. Our specialists collect information about the hero, his role, discuss with the customer ideas for the design of anatomy, textures, environment, and make the first sketches and drawings.

• Creating sketches and silhouettes, concept art

Visualization of the overall concept of the hero. At this stage, the 2D game character takes on shape, style, and contours - the designer uses detailed drawings to create general features and small details that will distinguish the hero from other characters in the game.

• Selection of style and palette

At this stage, the color composition is selected - before creating a 2D character online, you need to choose colors that will natively reflect his character, role and place in the game world, taking into account color perception (color psychology). For example, dark shades are more often used for negative characters, and light and clean ones are more often used for positive ones (but this is not an axiom).

• Final rendering

This is the final drawing and preparation of layers – the final stage at which the character for a 2D game is ready for integration into a game dev product. At this stage, sprites, assets are created, exported in the required formats specified in the game's specifications, etc.

Arionis Games Studio creates 2D models and characters iteratively - with approval of the results of the work at each stage of production. This allows us to draw a 2D character that fully meets the customer's expectations and the terms of the design document, which is drawn up at the initial stage of cooperation.

What happens next?

Creating 2D models and characters is the initial stage. Next comes animation, testing, and iteration.

• Animation. Sprite animation visualizes the movement and behavior of the finished character. Animation can be skeletal, frame-by-frame, or hybrid.
• Game Integration . Once the 2D character sprites and their animations are ready, developers (level designers and programmers) integrate them into the game to ensure organic inclusion in the game world and correct interaction with other gameplay elements.
• Testing and Iteration. After integrating a 2D character into a game, it is important to test the result – whether there are any errors or incompatibilities in the design, and whether the graphical solutions correspond to the intended gaming experience for users. Testing and collecting feedback help refine the product, making it more interesting, engaging, and memorable.

At Arionis Games, you can order 2D character design as part of game development from scratch, on a project basis, in outstaffing and outsourcing mode. We also offer the services of a dedicated IT team. Our specialists will suggest the best option for cooperation during a preliminary consultation after discussing the details of your project.

What it takes to create a quality 2D character design

Creating a quality 2D design is a synergy of creative and technical aspects. What is a quality 2D character:

Thoughtful appearance and character

To create a memorable character, the developer must clearly understand their role in the game (protagonist, enemy, NPC, etc.), their character traits, motivations, and behavior. All of these details must be conveyed through the character's emotions, style, and personality—their clothing, poses, facial expressions, and accessories:

• easily recognizable silhouette, iconic elements, style;
• proportions and anatomy adapted to the genre and style of the game dev project;
• color scheme that matches the characteristics and role of the hero and the environment.

Working with references and styles

For the authenticity, character of the model and maximum immersion of players into the game universe, it is necessary to collect visual references of the hero's style, era, culture, profession, etc. A computer game character designer ensures that the design of the 2D model complies with the general visual style of the game (cartoony, pixelated, realistic, etc.) and the customer's wishes.

Technical quality of the drawing, adaptation to the gameplay

When creating a 2D design, it is important to work with color, chiaroscuro, contours and textures, because there is no third dimension to create volume, unlike working on 3D models. It is also important to consider the size, "readability" of the hero in the game environment and work out the silhouette so that it is recognizable, prepare different facial expressions, emotions, change of costumes (optional).

That is why the price of custom 2D character design directly depends on the experience and qualifications of specialists - it is necessary not only to draw according to the technical specifications, but also to choose the optimal resolution, comply with the requirements for target platforms, and prepare layers and details for animation (if the hero will move according to the plot).

Documentation, versioning, feedback collection and analysis

Before creating a 2D character, a passport is drawn up with a description:

• The main characteristics are age, gender, race (human, mythical creature, alien, etc.), profession, character, goals, and motivations.
• Role function – protagonist, antagonist, NPC.
• Setting and genre – fantasy, cyberpunk, post-apocalypse, sci-fi, etc.
• Stylistics: anime, cartoon, realism, pixels, etc.
• Visual references – examples of style, costumes, proportions.

Character designers also store source files and intermediate working versions, prepare sprites, export materials in specified formats for animation and import into the engine, and refine 2D models based on feedback from game designers, animators, screenwriters, the customer, and the target audience, taking into account the limitations of the engine and target platforms.

The key to high-quality 2D character design is deep development of the image, artistic skill, and technical skills. Only if all these conditions are met will the heroes of your game world attract attention, be memorable, and make the game recognizable and engaging.

Technologies for creating 2D models and characters

Specialists at the Arionis Games studio use a wide technological stack, which ensures the development of high-quality images ready for integration into the gameplay.

List of technologies, tools and programs for creating 2D characters and models:

• Graphic editors and drawing programs – Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, Krita, Corel Painter, Procreate.
• Tools for animating 2D models – Spine, DragonBones, Adobe Animate, Live2D, Toon Boom Harmony.
• AI and generative technologies: Midjourney / DALL·E / Leonardo AI, Adobe Firefly.
• Game engines: Unity (usually, the creation and animation of a 2D character takes place in Unity - models are drawn on a graphics tablet or created using vector graphics), Unreal Engine (with 2D Paper), Godot.
• Pipeline and version control systems – Figma / Trello / Notion, Git / Perforce / Plastic SCM.

It will be optimal to create a 2D model for the game on Unity or using other tools, largely depending on the genre, visual style and budget. A well-organized pipeline, correctly selected software and tools are the key to the visual appeal of the characters and their compatibility with other elements of the game.

Ordering a 2D character design at Arionis Games

At Arionis Games, qualified 2D character designers with many years of experience in this niche will work on your project.

Our team creates 2D models for games in various genres, for cartoons, videos and other digital products. Deep professional expertise, a structured individual approach to cooperation and an iterative work format ensure consistently high quality of the result and its compliance with the customer's expectations.

We perform 2D casual character design, cartoon, stylized, branded. If you are interested in developing 2D characters for games - contact us, we will implement your ideas into a product that your target audience will like.

We work in the outsourcing and outstaffing format, providing dedicated teams of IT specialists.