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From Sketch to Screen - The Creation of Lixon

Writer's picture: Briana BrissettBriana Brissett

Hello creators, and welcome to "From Sketch to Screen" - The Creation of Lixon. Today, I will be sharing a very special character with you, that became a huge part of my animation semester of school. This is the first time, I've had the opportunity to create an original character and use them to create animations, 3D sculpts and more. Although there is alot more work that this character needs, I feel like it's important to share the design process, thoughts, ideas and everything in between that made this character who he is.


1. Creating the Character (Brainstorming and Design)

What inspired you to create Lixon? Was there a specific theme or concept you wanted to explore through this character?


Lixon was originally created as part of a school project, so there were a couple of specific criteria we had to follow. First, the character had to be a creature of some sort, and secondly, it had to be humanoid (two legs, two arms, a head, feet, and spine). So, nothing too wild like a snake or anything.


As for the name “Lixon”, that actually came from my dad. At the time, I felt like I’d used every possible name under the sun for my characters. Choosing the right one felt particularly difficult because I knew how important it was to get it just right. With a short timeline and a lot of pressure, I decided to go with something that resonated with me. I thought about what I love—animals—and decided to combine my favourite animal, the monkey, with my zodiac sign, the Leo lion. That’s how Lixon came to life.



The First Character Sketches
The First Character Sketches

How did you approach the initial brainstorming process? Did you start with a rough idea or dive straight into sketching?


I started by thinking about the character’s traits and backstory. Usually, I lean towards designing happy, friendly characters, but this time I wanted to challenge myself by going in the opposite direction. I gathered a bunch of reference images and started putting them into my design document. After that, I imagined how Lixon would think, walk, talk, and behave. Gradually, I translated those ideas into sketches, which eventually led to my first project: the character turnaround.


2. Character Turnaround

What were the most important details you focused on during the character turnaround phase?


This was my second attempt at a full character turnaround, and to be honest, I struggled with it in the past. I’d never quite been able to nail it. But this time, I focused on getting the basics and fundamentals down first, letting everything else follow from there.


Did you make any significant changes to Lixon's design during this phase? How did the turnaround help refine him?


Yes, definitely! At first, when I was sketching the monkey aspects, Lixon was looking a little too human. I had to bring him back to a more creature-like design while also keeping within the project guidelines. So, I added small lion features—like the mane and more muscular traits—to make sure the character still had a sense of the wild.


Was there a particular pose or angle that felt most "right" for Lixon when you saw him in different views?

Not really. The poses were straightforward (front, back, side, and ¾ views). However, as I went along, I started getting more comfortable with his overall structure and visual consistency. The character felt right once the proportions were in place.


3. 2D Character Animation

What was the first animation test you did with Lixon? How did you decide what kind of movement would fit his character?


The first animation I did with Lixon was a basic walk cycle with a stop, jump, and recovery. To get started, I drew each frame on a separate layer, almost like a flipbook.


I thought about his movement as a combination of the monkey’s agility and the lion’s strength. That’s what guided me in creating his animations—something both fluid and powerful.


Did you run into any challenges with animating him in 2D? How did you overcome them?

This was by far the most challenging project I’d worked on with Lixon. The character turnaround itself was tough, but now I had to animate him through 20+ drawings in all different poses! I tackled this by starting with simple stick figures and using a path to chart where his movement would go. It helped break down the animation into smaller, more manageable pieces. I used reference images to make sure each pose looked right, which I honestly couldn’t have done without. So, to anyone reading this—use your references!


How did the 2D animation help inform your next steps in bringing Lixon into 3D?

The 2D animation actually helped me a lot when transitioning to 3D. I was constantly referring back to the volume and form of the character in 3D, which helped me understand how the character’s body would move in space.


4. 3D Creature Sculpt

How did transitioning from 2D to 3D affect how you viewed Lixon’s design? Did any features or aspects change during the 3D sculpt?


Switching from 2D to 3D was a real eye-opener. I realised just how crucial understanding anatomy was. Going from a flat 2D image to sculpting a full 3D body meant I had to learn a lot about muscles, skin, and how they all interact with each other. This was just the start of my intense focus on anatomy.


3D Sculpting Version #1
3D Sculpting Version #1

What tools or software did you use for the 3D sculpt? How did they help you achieve the details you wanted?


For the 3D sculpt, I used ZBrush, which is the software provided by the school. It’s incredibly powerful for character modelling, and I’ve enjoyed learning it so far. The software really helped me get into the finer details and structure of Lixon’s body.


Were there any unexpected hurdles during the 3D sculpt process that you had to work through?

Absolutely. There were quite a few technical challenges, and a lot of times, I had to go back to class videos or search on YouTube for solutions. The sheer complexity of the human body’s structure took me by surprise, especially when it came to sculpting small, detailed features like muscles and skin folds. It was definitely a process of trial and error.


Muscles of Lixon's Face
Muscles of Lixon's Face

5. Animatic

What was the purpose of the animatic in Lixon’s development? How did it help you visualise the final animation?

The animatic was meant to showcase the character in an environment, introducing him to the world. It started with a model sheet and environment design to really develop Lixon’s story. For the environment, I decided to create something meaningful to me. With Lixon’s backstory in mind, it made perfect sense to set him in a tech-themed room within a tropical jungle.


How did you approach pacing and timing in the animatic? Did you experiment with different rhythms or flows?


Creating the animatic felt like being back in high school, making video content and bringing my crazy ideas to life. For pacing, I made sure the music, sound effects, and visuals worked together to tell the story. I tested out different timings in Adobe Premiere to see what felt right. The biggest shift during this stage was focusing on the emotional depth of Lixon and how he reacts to the events around him. It wasn’t just about the actions, but about communicating how he’s feeling.




Did you make any significant changes to Lixon’s movement or design after creating the animatic?

That’ll come in the next semester! As the story unfolds, Lixon will evolve, and so will his design and movements. The journey is far from over.


6. Final Thoughts

How has working on Lixon shaped your journey as an animator? What have you learned from creating and developing him?


Working on Lixon has been a lot more impactful than I initially expected. At the start, it was hard to imagine him doing so many different things, but as I’ve developed his personality, it’s become easier to make design decisions that align with who he is. It’s been a valuable learning experience—one that’s pushed me to be more thoughtful in my approach to animation.


What’s next for Lixon? Are you planning on adding more animations or story elements to his journey?

What’s next? Well, there’s plenty still to come. I’ll be rigging the character and animating him further. There’s also the environment to model and bring to life. Plus, I want to dig deeper into Lixon’s backstory, adding more layers to both his personality and physical traits. There’s a lot of exciting stuff ahead!

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