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In visual arts, a model sheet, also known as a character board, character sheet, character study or simply a study, is a document used to help standardize the appearance, poses, and gestures of a character in arts such as animation, comics, and video games.^[1]

Model sheets are required when multiple artists are involved in the production of an animated film, game, or comic to help maintain continuity in characters from scene to scene. In animation, one animator may only do one shot out of the several hundred that are required to complete an animated feature film. A character not drawn according to the production's standardized model is referred to as off-model.^[2]

Model sheets are also used for references in 3D modeling to guide proper proportions of models.^[3]

Purposes

Model sheets have also been used in the past to maintain graphic continuity over the years for long lasting cartoon productions of short or short features such as the Looney Tunes or Merrie Melodies series.

Model sheets are drawings of posed cartoon or comic strip characters that are created to provide a reference template for several artists who collaborate in the production of a lengthy or multiple-edition work of art such as a comic book, animated film or television series. Model sheets usually depict the character's head and body as they appear at various angles (a process known as "model rotation"), includes sketches of the character's hands and feet, and shows several basic facial expressions.

Model sheets ensure that, despite the efforts of several or many artists, their work exhibits unity, as if one artist created the drawings (that is, they are "on model"). They show the character's structure, proportions, attire, and body language. Often, several sheets are required to depict a character's subtler emotional and physical attitudes.

Depending on the whim of animation direction, deviations from the model may be permitted in the course of final animation; this "tightness" of model is a major distinguishing factor in overall animation style, as it constitutes a tradeoff between expressiveness and smoothness/consistency. As such, the usage of models varies widely between studios and projects.

Model sheets can also be used in the construction of costumes or sculpted figurines.

Specific annotations

Model sheets also provide notes that present specific information about how to develop particular features of the character, such as his or her head shape, hair length and style, size and position of the eyes and the mouth.

Examples

Some model sheets are specific to particular completed or ongoing projects, whereas others are more general and inclusive of a studio's entire collection of characters. Animation studios besides Disney and fans also post model sheets on their Internet Web sites. Larry's Toon Institute provides a generic model sheet for the purpose of introducing the concept of model sheets.^[4]

Copyright and fair use

Model sheets are not typically in the public domain, but are copyrighted material owned by the animation studio which created it.

Although model sheets originally are intended for artists who work for the studios that own the characters for which these templates are developed, other artists, such as those who create fan art, profit from them by adapting their characters to their own uses.

References

^ Marx, Christy (2007). "Backgrounds and character design". Writing for animation, comics & games. Amsterdam; Boston: Focal Press. pp. 28. ISBN 9780240805825. OCLC 70230693.
^ Beiman, Nancy (2013) [2007]. Prepare to board!: creating story and characters for animated features and shorts (2nd ed.). New York: Focal Press. pp. 218, 334. ISBN 9780240818788. OCLC 779740447.
^ Chaudhuri, Parag; Kalra, Prem; Banerjee, Subhashis (2007). View-dependent character animation. London: Springer-Verlag. pp. 3–12, 31–56. doi:10.1007/978-1-84628-762-6. ISBN 978-1846285912. OCLC 71285570.
^ "Larry's Toon Institute: Character Model Sheets". Awn.com. 1999. Retrieved 2011-03-16.