3D Character Design Document

For this project I decided to create a puppet/teddy bear/doll type

character that would later on be imported to Unity and will be customizable.

This is the first out of a series of characters deriving from Japanese culture

(ex. Geisha, maiko, samurai, kabuki actor, noh performer, etc) created for a

learning game around Japanese culture. Each character will move through a

relevant environment and explore different elements. The first out of these

different customizations is the geisha outfit (including everything from clothes

to hair and make-up) that has been designed and implemented for the current

project. The concept was to create something cute and inviting that would

also fit the environment designed for it (Japanese garden with small sinto

shrine) and the purpose of its creation (educational and fun) while remaining

faithful to the characteristics of the geisha. The rest of this document presents

samples of references that were used for each of the different parts that

compose this particular character.

1. Basic Body (Customizable)

The main concept is to create a character that looks like an animal rather than

a human with a cartoony style. The body is smaller than the head with small

hands, big and cute eyes and nose and bear-like belly. At the same time the

body’s and head’s shape must remain neutral to fit any customization with no

problems (no big ears, no tail, etc). The texture is like that of a doll with a

knitting pattern. Considering the next stage involving animation, appropriate

loops have been added around the mouth for showing expressions (in case it

is needed) but not the nose or eyes since it is not desirable to move these

parts (based on the concept up to now).

2. Geisha Outfit

2.1 Clothes

Since the environment will include a Japanese garden the patterns on clothing

and accessories depict natural elements focusing on flowers. They were also

considered more suitable for a geisha. Some of the Japanese patterns include

cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, tortoise shell or hemp leafs. The colors of

the clothing are mainly black, red and gold with little brown. Most of the fabrics

are embroidered with gold to highlight the patterns.

2.1.1 Kimono

The main cloth worn by a geisha is a kimono called hikizuri. Kimono are large

robes, worn with an underrobe.

Since geisha wear many layers of clothing and designing all of them for the

model wouldn’t work for a game character, the whole concept had to be

simplified. Only the crucial parts that could be noticed if they were missing are

kept.

Hikizuri is longer than other kimono and piles up on the floor. This hasn’t been

changed very mush (the kimono is still long enough) but it will be shortened

accordingly later on for animation purposes. Geisha’s kimono’s sleeves have

a standard length and also the part that hangs has an opening from the side

closer to the body. This has been simplified for this project (the gap has been

closed) to make animation process (in the future) smoother.

The underrobe worn under the kimono (haori) is visible when the geisha

raises her kimono to walk or at the side through the sleeves. Of course, only

the parts that are visible have been implemented. Moreover, geisha’s wear

the nagatjuban which is like the underrobe but in addition it has a collar visible

near the neck. Only the collar part of this cloth has been designed.

2.1.2 Obi

Fabric wrapped around the waist like a belt and fastened at the back in a

particular way (folds twice). Covers most of the waist.

2.1.3 Obiage

Fabric used to keep the obi in place. Most of its front part hides under the obi

and is mainly visible at the back of the obi.

2.1.4 Obijime

A long lace folded twice used to further secure the obi. It is placed at the

middle of the obi and the knot is formed at the front.

2.2 Shoes

They wear the geta. A common version worn is the one in the pictures below:

a wooden base with two wooden supports. The laces that keep the foot in

place are made of fabric or sometimes plastic and split the big toe from the

rest. The socks (tabi) are white.

2.6 Hair

The hairstyle of a geisha is unique and quite complicated. Unlike apprentice

geisha (maiko), full-fledged geisha use a wig instead of their real hair made

form human hair. The wig is decorated with different ornaments depending on

the geisha and the decoration is kept usually simple (not too many

ornaments). The only common ornament worn by all geisha is a comb on top

of the head and a small lace around the bun. Hairpins are also very common.

2.7 Make-up

Make-up is also pretty standard for a geisha. The whole face down to the

parts that are visible while wearing a kimono are smoothly covered with white

powder. Only the ears a small part at the back of the neck is left unpainted for

sensuality forming a small W. Eyebrows are painted on top of it with red and

black colors. Part of the lips is painted crimson red and red with black eyeliner

is applied around the eyes. The eyelashes are small. From the above, only

the make-up for the eyes is kept small to fit the character’s big eyes so that it

won’t look excessive.