I decided to make a series of posts about “Great Character Design,” talking about artists who have created characters whose appearance and design is spot on. There’s so much good stuff out there, and there are so many talented artists to learn from!

The first characters I want to look at are from a manga series called “Tegami Bachi,” which translates to “Letter Bee”. This is a really charming series with an amazing premise, fascinating setting and truly gorgeous characters. While reading, I often find myself just staring. The stark black and white style used for most of the characters is really appealing and gives a little oomph to their appearance.

Here are some images the artists, Hiroyuki Asada, put between chapters.

These two main characters, Lag Seeing and Niche, just blow me away. Their outfits (along with those of the rest of the characters) are so intricate and interesting to look at. So pretty…

Another thing I love is how well their appearance supports their personality. Niche’s expressions almost never change. She’s sort of like a cat in that regard, and indeed, there’s something very feral about her behavior. She’s a really fun character because of that.

That’s all for our first Character Design session! For anyone else who is a fan of Tegami Bachi, who is your favorite character, and what do you like about their design?