Up - Character Design

Today I was enlightened by watching for the first time the 2009 animation, Up. Such an emotionally captivating animation, but also what I loved was the Ronnie Barker-esque character design of Carl.

When looking at character design sheets I came across this concept image by Pete Doctor who worked on the character design of Carl.

It really brings to the surface the contrast of the balloons and the persona Carl takes on after the passing of his wife. The bright colours of happiness the balloons connote of and the green, stingy aura of Carl as a contrast. They also connote of the times he had with his wife before she passed, which is an emotional concept.

Im glad they never kept this concept fully though. Because Carl should be a liked protagonist, if he was as awful as that drawing suggests, he would not of got such an audience's following which would of made the animation not as heart-warming as it turned out to be.

It was a tough job to achieve on character design. They had make a "grumpy old man" facade of Carl, yet still maintain the friendly, loving, old romantic inside.

I think what helped achieve this was how we watched him grow on screen, physically and emotionally as we stand along side him as he endures both love and loss.

Even though the deep creases on his features make him seem like a man who is always angry, his eyes have that certain sparkle of the loving man within, a great aspect they have achieved in his character design.

I also love the native box shape of his head that becomes more prominent the older he gets. I feel this box shape could be representative of how he boxes up his feelings, reflective of the reserved person he is.