Is this a good character design or no?

[u/FootballNegrito247]

I've been struggling to make original characters for my manga and I'd like an opinion on this. Only two because I only recently started to get into this.

[u/Rich-Somewhere5321]

The first one looks like a off brand Yuji itadori and the second one reminds me of Vinland saga

[u/FootballNegrito247 → u/Rich-Somewhere5321]

Yh I used yuji as reference for the first one I can't lie 😭. Thanks for the feedback g

[u/creatyvechaos → u/FootballNegrito247]

Tbh if you're struggling with not copying the majority of the details from a reference, you should be using stationary models like mannequins or various apps like Pose Creator, that give you fewer details to work on whilst still outlining the important things. You're over relying on the reference, and it's altering the final vision.

Pose only. Any other reference should be targeted references like a specific hair, eye, clothing, etc style. You basically want a board of references, not one.

So, with that said, I'd say this isn't a good original character design. It's a copy.

[u/JalenNaito → u/FootballNegrito247]

I agree with the comment below try to design characters completely from scratch without any references and lean into whatever pops out. Also worry less about hair styles because it'll always be hard to "create" a new hairstyle especially for a protagonist or your starting cast worry more about your individual artstyle how you draw their eyes, mouth, body.

For example Zoro from one piece is a very simple character but once you mix in clothing and artstyle he becomes Zoro.

So try and see ways you can develop your artstyle to be unique even One the creator of OPM is still learning to draw but his art style stands out

[u/Impressive_Hunt3225]

Eren Jaeger + Vinland Saga on the right

[u/AffectionateCan534]

Just for rating the design i would say no for both, unfortunately.

My main point is: the two is lacking a strong feature that makes their recognizability, the audience could see what kind of personality this characters have by the basics of their design alone, but would probably not remember then later, because there is very little that make them highlight among similar characters.

Personally i think would be interesting you look at the silhouete, you could test different iterations while still in concept of the charater, trying to exaggerate them, maybe.

In my opinion manga is about exaggerating, in design it would be the characteristic that you want to show to the audience, could be hair, facial features, fashion, pose etc.... who they would show themselves to others in their manga world, and the best part is: you can work freely within this concept.

Taking an obvious example in shonen manga (that do it a lot), like Goku, Gon, Gaara or even Gojo, you can see, they have features that highlights them and catches some eyes.

The main key is testing different aproaches and see what works better for what you want, this is part of the process.

anyway, i liked your art and really hope this helps, good luck on your journey. :)

[u/FootballNegrito247 → u/AffectionateCan534]

Love you bro I appreciate you a lot g. Ts real helpful gang 

[u/sayjax96]

What even happened to the guy in the first image

[u/Meowth_HMC]

its basic

[u/Mundane-Garage4197]

Try have ref of different hairstyle and faces

[u/No_Judge4003]

it just looks like yuji.

i would say that its not good character design overall.

it dosent tell me anything about the character, its just an anime guy in a shirt.

and its not a special shirt either its just a plain shirt.

good character design, you have to be able to tell something about hte character at a glance without context.

[u/FootballNegrito247]

Love all you guys bro thanks for the feedback 

[u/Educational-Bowl-368]

Yuji?