Character Shape Language: Designing Personalities Through Geometry

Can you still identify who it is?

This magic lies in the power of shape. The most iconic characters all originate from mere outlines and are instantly recognizable even in their simplest form.

This concept, known as shape language, is not just an artistic choice but a tool to weave stories.

In this article, we study different basic shapes and how to use them for storytelling, using examples from famous animations. By its end, you'll have a general idea of what to look for in your next character design and perhaps useful references to learn more about shape language!

What's Shape Language?

Shape language uses psychological and emotional associations we have with different shapes. It is the art of using familiar geometric forms to convey a character's essence, personality, and role within a narrative. 

Take, for example, the work of Genndy Tartakovsky, the creative genius behind Dexter's Laboratory and Samurai Jack. Tartakovsky expertly uses basic geometries to telegraph character traits: Samurai Jack's sleek, angular design speaks to his righteousness and determination, whereas Dexter's boxy form highlights his squareness, orderliness, and methodical nature. This brilliant use of shape language makes his characters both instantly recognizable and deeply memorable.

Why Shape Language?

Shape language is as crucial to character design as color.

First, it tells a story. Just as words form sentences, shapes build narratives that audiences can follow visually. Po from Kung Fu Panda has round shapes to tell us he is warm and friendly.

It reveals personality. Designers can suggest subtleties of character traits. You can instinctively tell who is a bad guy and who is a hero. In The Lion King, Scar is designed with angular, sharp edges and narrow features to communicate his villainous nature, while Mufasa's large, round, and robust shapes emphasize his strength and benevolence.

As previously mentioned, it contributes to good character design with visually cohesive and expressive characters. In Pixar's "Incredibles," each family member's shape reflects their superpower, like the blocky, solid build of Mr. Incredible suggests his strength, and the slim, elongated design of Elastigirl showcases flexibility and agility.

Let's have a look at common shapes to learn how animators use them.

Line

A filiform, or thread-like, character shape often denotes weakness, elegance, or comedic value. Take Luffy from One Piece for example. His elongated form suggests a carefree and flexible nature, aligning perfectly with his adventurous spirit.

Lines in character shapes are also key to conveying emotional tones and physical traits.

In terms of line direction, a horizontal line suggests calmness and stability to depict tranquil and grounded characters or settings. Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro has a round, horizontal orientation to give a sense of calm and stability while symbolizing the peaceful nature of the forest spirit.

Vertical lines, in contrast, express power, growth, or ambition, suitable for characters that embody strength or upward mobility. The tall, vertical stature of Superman, along with his iconic upright flying pose, conveys his strength and morality.

Diagonal lines, charged with dynamism and unrest, indicate change and development, adding tension and excitement to a scene. Think of Spider-Man swinging through the cityscape. The diagonal lines formed by his body as he moves through the air echo how he constantly evolves to adapt to the challenges he faces.

Circle

The circle is frequently used to imbue characters with a friendly and approachable vibe. The round edges imply safety, softness, and welcoming nature, so characters with circular features often come across as amiable and open-hearted.

Circles also symbolize unity and wholeness and are changeable, allowing for a range of emotions from joy to surprise.

Baymax from Big Hero 6 has a circular design that immediately communicates his role as a nurturing and protective healthcare robot. His round form emphasizes his harmlessness, and his soft, squishy quality makes him infinitely huggable and endearing to audiences. When Baymax is weaponized to fight crime, the contrast with the shape adds depth to the character and subverts the audience's expectations for drama.

Square

Squares and rectangles are synonymous with stability, strength, and reliability. These shapes portray characters with solid, dependable, and supportive characteristics, while they can also hint at stubbornness or heavy-handedness.

Consider Sulley from Monsters, Inc. His broad, rectangular stature underscores his robustness and dependability as Monstropolis' top scarer. Yet, despite his formidable frame, his character arc reveals a softness, balancing his physical presence with emotional depth.

Triangle

Triangles introduce a sense of dynamism to character design: with their sharp angles and directional points, triangles can signify danger, unpredictability, and movement. The sharpness also suggests an edge or cunning, making them ideal for characters that evoke caution or intrigue.

In The Lion King, Scar's triangular design contrasts Mufasa's squared design. His angular features underscore his menacing and calculating nature, reinforcing his role as a villain in a visual language that speaks volumes before he even utters a word.

Spirals

Spirals are fascinating shapes often used to symbolize cycles of life, creativity, and growth. They provide a dynamic flow, mimicking natural patterns found in everything from galaxies to seashells and storm systems.

The spiral is artistically explored in works like Junji Ito's Uzumaki, where it symbolizes chaos and an uncontrollable force of nature. The Uzumaki family symbol in Naruto represents the ongoing cycles of life and personal growth.

Spirals are especially common for eye designs. In One Piece, Sanji's eyebrows are spiral-shaped.

Japanese animation often relies on spiral eye patterns to symbolize strong wills or commanding presences, while Western cartoons only use them to imply unconsciousness or confusion.

Shape Synergy

While individual shapes carry distinct meanings, blending shapes allows for intricate character designs that harmoniously reflect multifaceted personalities. Characters are rarely just squares or circles. The genie in Disney's Aladdin has a swirling, smoke-like lower body to underscore his magical and fluid nature, while his muscular upper body conveys strength and confidence.

Different characters can also have similar or contrasting shapes to denote their relationships. In a character team like the Powerpuff Girls, each character embodies unique shapes that correlate with their personalities, but they look like a cohesive unit together.

Same with synergy between character shapes and background designs. Legendary animator Paul Grimault uses vertical elements to introduce awe and height, as seen in the towering structures of The King and the Mockingbird, to contrast with the characters and obtain a surrealist feel.

Break the Rules

While traditional symbolism holds significant power, there's an undeniable allure in breaking the rules to surprise and intrigue viewers. By subverting expectations, animators add layers of complexity to make characters more memorable.

Spongebob Squarepants' square body humorously hints at rigidity and steadfastness, contrasting with his carefree and joyous personality.

But before you can effectively break the rules, you need to thoroughly understand traditional symbolism and design principles. Knowing the norms allows for a mindful rupture that feels deliberate and impactful rather than accidental. It's a powerful tool to encourage viewers to change their assumptions.

While subverting expectations can add intrigue, maintaining harmony in your composition is key. You can, for example, break conventional form but still use the golden ratio to ensure visual appeal.

Conclusion

Shape language is an essential element of character design, so make sure to think with shapes during your initial sketches! We covered basic shapes, but there are many more out there you can use for different effects.

It's a powerful visual tool that, when combined with thoughtful color design and consideration of character personality and the story they inhabit, contributes to creating unforgettable characters. Just as shapes guide the structure, colors add depth and emotion, resulting in a harmonious.

If you want a final reference, Les Shadoks is a great example of pushing shape language to its limits. The series uses simple, geometric shapes to craft its unique character and world designs, predominantly featuring ovals, triangles, and rectangles. This minimalistic approach demands that each form communicates beyond its basic structure, making every character instantly recognizable and emotionally resonant through exaggerated and abstracted silhouettes. The stark, often absurd lines and shapes capture the essence of the characters' whimsical and nonsensical world, proving that complexity, including colors, is not necessary to achieve rich storytelling.