Character Design System — Character Design Methodology
Expert knowledge used by the storyboarder and image-generator agents when designing characters and generating consistent images.
Why a System Is Needed
The biggest challenge in AI image generation is character consistency. If the face changes from panel to panel, the comic falls apart. A systematic character sheet and prompt strategy are the keys to consistency.
Character Sheet Design
Required Components
Character Sheet
├── Full-body front view (default pose)
├── Full-body side view
├── Full-body back view
├── Face close-up (3/4 angle)
├── Expression chart (6 basic emotions)
├── Outfit design (default + variations)
└── Props/Accessories
Character Specification Template
## [Character Name]
### Basic Info
- Age: / Gender: / Height: / Body type:
- Role: Protagonist / Antagonist / Supporting / Extra
### Key Visual Traits (AI Prompt Fixed Values)
- Hair: [Color], [Length], [Style] (e.g., "short black hair, messy")
- Eyes: [Color], [Distinctive features] (e.g., "sharp dark brown eyes")
- Body type: [Type] (e.g., "athletic build, broad shoulders")
- Distinguishing features: [Scars, glasses, tattoos, etc.]
### Outfit
- Default: [Detailed description]
- Variations: [Context-specific outfits]
### Prompt Anchor Phrase
"[gender] [age range], [hair], [eyes], [body type], [clothing], [distinctive feature]"
-> Insert this phrase identically into every panel's prompt
Silhouette Test
Good character design should be identifiable from the silhouette alone.
Silhouette Differentiation Elements
| Element |
Differentiation Method |
| Body Type |
Exaggerate height and build differences |
| Hairstyle |
Give each character a unique silhouette shape |
| Posture |
Assign different default poses (habitual stances) |
| Props |
Items they always carry (staff, book, hat) |
| Clothing Silhouette |
Capes, coat tails, hoods, etc. |
Key Character Differentiation Checklist
Expression Chart (Expression Sheet)
Six Basic Expressions
| Emotion |
Eyes |
Eyebrows |
Mouth |
Other |
| Joy |
Crescent-shaped, narrowed |
Raised |
Wide open/Smile |
Flushed cheeks |
| Sadness |
Drooping, moist |
Inner ends raised |
Downturned |
Tears, head lowered |
| Anger |
Sharp, narrowed |
V-shaped downward |
Clenched/Open |
Forehead veins |
| Fear |
Wide open, small pupils |
Raised |
Open |
Sweat, trembling |
| Surprise |
Wide open, dilated pupils |
Raised |
O-shaped |
Leaning back |
| Contempt |
Half-closed |
One side raised |
Smirk/One side up |
Head turned away |
Character-Specific Expression Variations
The same emotion is expressed differently based on character personality:
| Emotion |
Energetic Character |
Cool Character |
Timid Character |
| Joy |
Cheering, jumping |
Subtle smile |
Shy smile, averted eyes |
| Anger |
Shouting, violent gestures |
Cold stare |
Teary-eyed, clenched fists |
| Surprise |
"Whoa!" exaggerated reaction |
Eyes widen slightly |
Steps back, covers mouth |
AI Image Generation Consistency Strategy
Reference-Based Generation
- Generate character sheet first as a reference image
- Use the reference in all subsequent panel generation prompts
Prompt Consistency Rules
- Anchor Phrase: Copy identical character appearance description into every prompt
- Style Lock: Consistently use the same style instruction (e.g., "Korean manhwa style")
- Negative Prompt: Include prevention phrases like "different face, inconsistent design"
- Reference Image Required: Always include the character sheet as reference
- Outfit Changes Must Be Explicit: When outfit changes, start with "same character, new outfit:"
Handling Consistency Breaks
| Problem |
Cause |
Solution |
| Face changes |
Appearance description missing from prompt |
Reinsert anchor phrase + reference |
| Body type changes |
Distortion from angle |
Explicitly specify body type ("athletic build," etc.) |
| Outfit changes |
Outfit not specified in prompt |
Always include outfit description |
| Color changes |
Lighting variation |
Specify intrinsic colors ("always red jacket") |
1---2name: character-design-system3description: A character design system skill used by the storyboarder and image-generator agents. Provides character sheet design, silhouette testing, expression charts, and AI image generation consistency methodologies. Used for 'character design,' 'character sheet,' 'visual consistency,' 'character setup,' and related topics.4---56# Character Design System — Character Design Methodology78Expert knowledge used by the storyboarder and image-generator agents when designing characters and generating consistent images.910## Why a System Is Needed1112The biggest challenge in AI image generation is **character consistency**. If the face changes from panel to panel, the comic falls apart. A systematic character sheet and prompt strategy are the keys to consistency.1314## Character Sheet Design1516### Required Components1718```19Character Sheet20├── Full-body front view (default pose)21├── Full-body side view22├── Full-body back view23├── Face close-up (3/4 angle)24├── Expression chart (6 basic emotions)25├── Outfit design (default + variations)26└── Props/Accessories27```2829### Character Specification Template3031```32## [Character Name]3334### Basic Info35- Age: / Gender: / Height: / Body type:36- Role: Protagonist / Antagonist / Supporting / Extra3738### Key Visual Traits (AI Prompt Fixed Values)39- Hair: [Color], [Length], [Style] (e.g., "short black hair, messy")40- Eyes: [Color], [Distinctive features] (e.g., "sharp dark brown eyes")41- Body type: [Type] (e.g., "athletic build, broad shoulders")42- Distinguishing features: [Scars, glasses, tattoos, etc.]4344### Outfit45- Default: [Detailed description]46- Variations: [Context-specific outfits]4748### Prompt Anchor Phrase49"[gender] [age range], [hair], [eyes], [body type], [clothing], [distinctive feature]"50-> Insert this phrase identically into every panel's prompt51```5253## Silhouette Test5455Good character design should be **identifiable from the silhouette alone**.5657### Silhouette Differentiation Elements5859| Element | Differentiation Method |60|---------|----------------------|61| **Body Type** | Exaggerate height and build differences |62| **Hairstyle** | Give each character a unique silhouette shape |63| **Posture** | Assign different default poses (habitual stances) |64| **Props** | Items they always carry (staff, book, hat) |65| **Clothing Silhouette** | Capes, coat tails, hoods, etc. |6667### Key Character Differentiation Checklist6869- [ ] When three characters are side by side, can they be distinguished by silhouette alone?70- [ ] Can each character be identified when converted to black and white?71- [ ] Can characters be told apart in a reduced thumbnail?7273## Expression Chart (Expression Sheet)7475### Six Basic Expressions7677| Emotion | Eyes | Eyebrows | Mouth | Other |78|---------|------|----------|-------|-------|79| **Joy** | Crescent-shaped, narrowed | Raised | Wide open/Smile | Flushed cheeks |80| **Sadness** | Drooping, moist | Inner ends raised | Downturned | Tears, head lowered |81| **Anger** | Sharp, narrowed | V-shaped downward | Clenched/Open | Forehead veins |82| **Fear** | Wide open, small pupils | Raised | Open | Sweat, trembling |83| **Surprise** | Wide open, dilated pupils | Raised | O-shaped | Leaning back |84| **Contempt** | Half-closed | One side raised | Smirk/One side up | Head turned away |8586### Character-Specific Expression Variations8788The same emotion is **expressed differently based on character personality**:8990| Emotion | Energetic Character | Cool Character | Timid Character |91|---------|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|92| Joy | Cheering, jumping | Subtle smile | Shy smile, averted eyes |93| Anger | Shouting, violent gestures | Cold stare | Teary-eyed, clenched fists |94| Surprise | "Whoa!" exaggerated reaction | Eyes widen slightly | Steps back, covers mouth |9596## AI Image Generation Consistency Strategy9798### Reference-Based Generation991001. Generate character sheet first as a reference image1012. Use the reference in all subsequent panel generation prompts102103### Prompt Consistency Rules1041051. **Anchor Phrase**: Copy identical character appearance description into every prompt1062. **Style Lock**: Consistently use the same style instruction (e.g., "Korean manhwa style")1073. **Negative Prompt**: Include prevention phrases like "different face, inconsistent design"1084. **Reference Image Required**: Always include the character sheet as reference1095. **Outfit Changes Must Be Explicit**: When outfit changes, start with "same character, new outfit:"110111### Handling Consistency Breaks112113| Problem | Cause | Solution |114|---------|-------|---------|115| Face changes | Appearance description missing from prompt | Reinsert anchor phrase + reference |116| Body type changes | Distortion from angle | Explicitly specify body type ("athletic build," etc.) |117| Outfit changes | Outfit not specified in prompt | Always include outfit description |118| Color changes | Lighting variation | Specify intrinsic colors ("always red jacket") |
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