Concept:
The character was designed in the glory days of Nintendo game
development. Some of the most memorable games of many people’s childhoods were
spawned from this time. As the game was made in 2000 the actual aesthetic in
terms of graphics are fitting of the time I.e. they are not considered good
graphics now. Therefore I think it’s more important to talk about this
character in terms of concept as that is really why I have chosen this
character design. To this end: There are three key elements of the concept
which I want to point out
1.
The influence of Japanese culture
2.
The importance of the character writing the game
storyline
3.
The character design is synonymous (You associate it
with the Nintendo brand) with the game.
The influence of Japanese culture
The afterlife and spiritualism plays a big part in Japanese society and
culture. The use of the masks in the game, particularly the skull kid is
heavily influenced by Japanese myths. Japanese masks have a role in the Shinto religion
and have influence modern theatre. The masks are used to represent gods and
characters in stories and plays. Likewise in the game the character of the
skull kids dons the ‘majoras mask’ which is said to house an evil deity.
The importance of the character writing the game
storyline
The character is the antagonist of the story. But he is unique in the
sense that he only appears as the villain in one game. The normal villain of
the game series is usually played by another character- this has lead fans and
gamers to associate this character with this specific game. Moreover the
character is essentially more humanised in this game than the other game- which
is why he has the appearance of a child and also has a back story. I think this
is key because it helps users relate to the game but also has a relation to the
fact it is also thought of as a coming of age game in terms of the series as a
whole.
The character design is synonymous (You associate it
with the Nintendo brand) with the game.
As mentioned the character makes a unique appearance in this game, for
that reasons fans are able to easily identify him to the specific game and by
extension the Nintendo brand. The games have joined in a recent retro movement
where games of this era are considered nostalgic and are much loved by this
gaming generation
How this informs my work
I think there are several links here to the character I have designed.
The simplicity of my character design is referential of this golden age of
gaming. The style is considered retro and is a highly influential and still
popular style. Likewise the Japanese influence and use of masks in pop culture
is associated with not only this game and Nintendo but also Shintoism
mythology. I am very interested in this aspect of Japanese culture. For example
it appears in various animations and games (see spirited away). For this reason
the association with the spirit through this aesthetic has been the basis of my
character design.
The artist intention
I think there are several intentions which the artist brings: first the
reference to the icon of the spirit/Shintoism through the use of masks. I think
the use of this Icon was to conjure feelings of unease and create supernatural
vibes with the character. By doing this he highlights the character as the villain/antagonist
of the game. However I also think that by using the childlike physique he also
makes the character to have more than one dimension, beyond simple villain.
This to me is very important, for a character to have depth and more than one
persona.
I think It evokes a strong feeling of nostalgia. The kind of unsettling
feelings the character conjures have been important to my own design.
Conclusion: Points that I will use in my project
l The mask
(Japanese culture)
l Creating an
emotive character and character depth
l 90s style of
game artwork
l How I can
convey my intentions through my work
References
National
public radio. 2015. Q&A: Shigeru Miyamoto On The Origins
Of Nintendo's Famous Characters. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/06/19/415568892/q-a-shigeru-miyamoto-on-the-origins-of-nintendos-famous-characters.
[Accessed 19 February 2018].
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