In the world of animation and game design, a single drawing is rarely enough to bring a character to life. Whether you are working on a high-budget feature film or an indie 2D platformer, your characters need to exist in a three-dimensional world. This is where the turnaround comes in. Also known as a rotation or a model sheet, a turnaround is a collection of drawings that depict a character from various angles.
Subject: Cyborg Character Turnaround Model Sheet Studio: Warner Bros. Animation / DC Entertainment Chris Battle credited as a character designer on the show
Think of the turnaround as a visual blueprint. Its primary purpose is to maintain consistency. When a character moves from one artist to another, or from a concept sketch to a 3D model, the turnaround ensures that every detail remains on model. It teaches the team how the character’s volume, proportions, and unique features behave as they rotate through space.
Choosing Your Views
The number of angles you need to draw depends largely on the requirements of your project. A four point turn is often the baseline for most productions. This typically includes a front view, a three quarter front view, a side profile, and a three quarter back view. If you are working toward an industry standard, you will likely produce a five point turn which adds a direct back view to that list.
Artist: Don Towsley Title: Character Model Sheet for Goofy (The Goof) Date: August 4, 1937
For complex characters or asymmetrical designs, studios might require eight or more views. These extra angles help smooth out the rotation and prevent any awkward jumps in the design. In these high-end productions, you might even draw off-center views like the five-eighths or seven-eighths angles. 3D pipelines introduce even more specific needs. Artists often produce a T-pose with arms stretched horizontally for rigging, or an A-pose with arms angled down for a more natural shoulder deformation.
T Pose by TB CHOI-https://www.artstation.com/artwork/baR6Vr
The Step-by-Step Creation Process
To create a successful turnaround, you must rely on technical precision. The most vital tool in your arsenal is the guideline. By drawing horizontal lines across your canvas or using your digitals guidelines capabilities, you can align key landmarks such as the top of the head, the eyes, the nose, the shoulders, and the feet. Using different colors for these lines can help you avoid confusion as the page gets busier.
Masters of ANATOMY- https://www.mastersofanatomy.com/ This is a helpful reference for a basic character turn around
The workflow begins with the front view. This acts as the anchor and the ruler for the entire sheet. Once the front view is established, you move into the three quarter and profile views. This is where the illusion of depth is born. In a three quarter view, the far side of the body undergoes foreshortening, appearing narrower than the side closer to the viewer. When you reach the side profile, you finally reveal the true curve of the spine and the shape of the nose.
Artist: Krenz Cushart Title: How to Draw Human Body in Perspective (About Perspective Vol. 1) https://krenzcushart.gumroad.com/
Title: Hogarth Head Turnaround (Production #297020) Production: The Iron Giant Date: February 6, 1998 Publisher/Studio: Warner Bros. Feature Animation
Technical Rules and Industry Cheats
Character design is rarely about geometric perfection. In 2D animation, artists often utilize a technique known as the cheat. This means you draw what looks most appealing from a specific angle rather than what is mathematically correct. A classic example is Mickey Mouse, whose ears are almost always drawn facing the camera to preserve his iconic silhouette.
Artist: Ward Kimball Title: Mickey Mouse Ear Rotation Guide Publisher/Studio: Walt Disney Productions (© W.D.P.) Subject: Character Construction and Silhouette Consistency
However, some rules remain strict. You cannot simply flip a three quarter front drawing to create a three quarter back view. Because of the curve of the spine and the tilt of the pelvis, the silhouettes do not perfectly match. You must adjust the posture and the belt line to reflect the anatomy accurately. For television productions, you might even need to design a distance model. This is a simplified version of the character with fewer details, such as removing shoelaces or simplifying eyes, specifically for shots where the character is far away from the camera.
Steven Crewniverse. "What is a distance model? When a character is going to be very small on screen, their design is simplified so that it doesn’t look messy!" Tumblr, 13 Mar. 2014, stevencrewniverse.tumblr.com/post/80083383616/what-is-a-distance-model-when-a-character-is.
FINAL SPACE CHARACTER TURNAROUND BY ADAM FAY- https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Lq6LA
Refining the Rotation
Artist: Unknown Possibly Bruce Timm (Warner Bros. Animation Department) Title: Batman Main Models (Model #406-006) Production: Batman: The Animated Series
The final stage of the process involves the back view and the cleanup. The back view often starts with a silhouette transfer from the front view to ensure the height remains identical. This is the time to account for draw-throughs. If the character has a cape, long hair, or a skirt, you must sketch the anatomy hidden underneath so the animator understands how the body moves behind the clothing.
Artist: Rudy Hill Title: character turnaround https://www.artstation.com/artwork/dKOwO1
As you move from rough sketches to final tiedowns, focus on maintaining a consistent line weight. A common trick to check your work is to flip the canvas horizontally. This mirror method instantly highlights if your character is leaning too far to one side or if the perspective is off. By the time you reach the final ink stage, your character should feel like a solid, tangible object that is ready to move.
Artist: Anya Butler (MEPPiTY) Title: Eddie Turnaround Project: FIREWORKS (Upcoming Film) Website: https://www.meppity.com/character-design
Helpful Video Tutorials!
Again BAM has some of the best videos!