This document discusses characterisation techniques for comics, including direct and indirect characterization. Direct characterization describes a character's physical appearance, job, or interests. Indirect characterization describes a character through their thoughts, actions, speech, and dialogue. The document recommends using both techniques to give insight into a character's inner and outer worlds. It provides questions to consider to develop characters, such as their goals, backstory, strengths/weaknesses. Character design can use shapes, body language, and signifiers to represent traits like strength or conflict. A case study examines the character design of Mob Psycho 100's Shigeo Kageyrama, which changes when his emotions overflow. The document concludes with character development prompts and an activity to

1. Characterisation in comics
WIP Creating Comics – 20/06/2020

2. Characterisation in comics
McCloud (2006) p. 63
We’ll be focusing on this
part and how to relates to
character design.

3. What is characterisation?
There are two type of characterisation…
Direct Characterisation
“Direct characterization, or explicit characterization, describes the character through their
physical appearance, line of work, or passions and pursuits.” (Masterclass, 2019)
Indirect Characterisation
“Indirect characterization is the process of describing a character through that character’s
thoughts, actions, speech, and dialogue.” (Masterclass, 2019)

4. Use direct AND indirect characterisation!
Using both makes sure that you indicate to the reader how
they interact with the outer world…
…whilst also giving insight into their inner world, making
them feel more two-dimensional.

5. How to develop a character…
Begin to develop your character by asking questions (Terribleminds, 2012)
• What are your character’s goals? Do these conflict with what they need?
• How does this cause conflict with the world and plot?
• How has the characters backstory impact their views and personality?
• What are your character’s strengths and weaknesses? How does their
personality help or hinder them?
• Why should we care about your character, what makes them relatable?

6. Exercises for character development
• Try the vice and virtue exercise (Grime, 2019).
• Put your character in an unfamiliar place.
• Put your character in a particular scenario.
• Create exercises focusing on your character’s senses, speech, and aspects unique to
them. This website has some good examples! (Bookfox, 2017).

7. Character design: A quick recap!

8. Concept of shapes in character design
Characters can usually be simplified into shapes, (CIA, 2014; Al-Ali,
2019; Tomatatoro, 2016)
Can represent…
• Strength.
• Dependability.
• Honesty.
• Traditional
Can represent…
• Soft characters.
• Friendly/Non-threatening
persona
• Caring personality.
Can represent…
• Sharp, sinister characters.
• Thrill-seekers.
• Conflict.
• Dynamic.

9. Body language
Observe people. What are their mannerisms? How do they reflect their personality?
But how can you emphasise a character’s body language in comics?
• In this video, Strip Panel Naked (2018) discusses using silent panels to show
characterisation.
• Moment to moment transitions can focus on a character’s emotions (Scott, 2006).
• You can “zoom-in” on a character’s body language.

10. Signifiers
Signifiers are images that represent a concept. Using signifiers drawn culture
can sub-consciously tell the reader information about a person or place.
Examples of British Signifiers:

11. Case Study: Mob Psycho 100
Shigeo Kageyama
Repressed and
socially awkward
Strong morals
Naive
Compassionate
Forgiving Easily-manipulated
Humble
Stubborn
Low-self esteem
An middle-schooler who has over-powered
psychic abilities.
Optimistic

12. Mob Psycho 100: Character design
Regular design When Shigeo’s emotions overflow
• Distinctive, bowl shaped
hair-cut.
• Dead-pan, facial expressions
• Middle school uniform.
• Short, slim statue.
• Not meant to stand out.
• Soft edges.
• Hair changes, spiked.
• Harder edges.
• Face more expressive.
• More distinctive, no longer
blends into background.

13. Resources Used…
Bookfox (2016) 50 Fantastic Creative Writing Exercises. [Website]
CIA (2014) Quick Tips for Character Design. [Website]
Grimes (2019) The Virtues + Vices Exercise (for Character Development). [Website]
Hana Al-Ali (2019) The Shape of Character Design. [Website]
Masterclass (2019) Writing 101: Guide to Direct Characterization and Indirect
Characterization. [Website]
Scott McCloud (2006) Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic
Novels. [Book]
Strip Panel Naked (2018) The Silent Reaction Shot | Strip Panel Naked. [Audio-visual
content]
Terrible Minds (2012) Ask A Writer: Building A Better Character. [Website]
Tomatatoro (2016) Character Design Tips. [Website]

14. Activity! Part 1
Characterisation prompts, choose 1 list and develop a character.
List 2
• Apathy
• Spaceship
• Ethics
• Travel
• Secrets
• Solitude
• Broken
List 1
• Anger
• Slice of life
• Countryside
• Compassion
• Family
• Communicate
• Separation
List 3
• Power
• Magic
• Responsibility
• Sociable
• Denial
• Politics
• Uncertainty

15. Activity! Part 1
Take your newly developed character, start to create their design.
Remember to think about:
• Shapes: hard and soft edges.
• Body language, mannerisms.
• Signifiers: visual cues.
Will your character design
compliment the characterisation
of your character?
Or will your character design
subvert expectations,
contradicting your character’s
characterisation?