Character Design Contest 79 Winners!

Since this is the holiday season, I'm not going to pick an overall winner for this week's contest. Instead, all of the following Finalists should consider themselves winners, albeit without an actual prize. Thanks for all your creativity this year, everyone, and Happy Holidays!

Last week's winner alvacascus has another frenetic, fun entry with "HomeLate", full of action and holiday frenzy.

In the true holiday spirit, however, alvacascus also put together a handy-dandy guide to doing fur collars.

Martian Blue put together a clever visual pun with "Secret Santa".

Cliff's "Prixy Ornament" is a great concept very well-executed. The lighting in particular is rock-solid and I love the pine tree effect.

I thought dblade's Image-style treatment of Rudolph the Red was very well done. I have had fun today thinking up catch-phrases this guy would probably use, like "Guess who'd driving YOUR sleigh tonight, punk!"

FRM had a lot of good entries this time around, but I thought "The Naughty List Enforcer" hit the right notes the best.

Both of gendonesia's entries displayed a high level of conception and execution.


Gurong7's Kristen FOX features a great pose, excellent item choices, a good color palette, and a great overall concept.

I thought headlessgeneral's "Jack Frost" was one of the best traditional super-hero entries, with a simple yet very effective composition.

Another great fantasy-style entry is Kaylin88100's "Snow Queen".

I loved kyle's "Santa on Vacation" concept. I wish I was wherever he is.

Lime told a lovely story about this Egyptian goddess, and the illustration is perfect for it.

I know no one will believe me, but my favorite part of Moognation's "Christmas Cutie" is the clever gift wrapping in the background.

I thought Myro's "Dreidel" was very clever.

PapaKrok's "Exposure" is just a great scene. Love the lighting.

I loved seeing the new wings on Phatchick's "Snow Angel", and the character herself is really nice.

Zarae's "Shortest Day" not only pays homage to the just-passed Winter Solstice, but looks fantastic as well. I'd believe this was a photo.

This is just flat-out funny, I don't care who you are! Thanks, Skybandit, for "The Three Wise Guys".

Finally, I thought vadnik's "Rudolf II" had a wonderful style and sense of melancholy to it that really struck a nerve with me.

I hope you enjoyed this Holiday Edition challenge as much as I did! Regardless of your metaphysical beliefs (or lack thereof), I also hope you were able to spend this week (like every week) surrounded by love and support. The close of the year is always a great opportunity to take a pause and consider our lives and our goals, to take a moment in the cold and darkness to remember to be thankful for the light.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

21 Responses to Character Design Contest 79 Winners!

  1. Kaylin88100 says:

    Yay! I got a Finalist! 😀
    Interesting that you picked my first version, Jeff – I thought the revised version was better. Or did you intend to pick that one? Anyway, glad you liked it.
    If I had to pick a winner, it would probably be Zarae or alvacascus. Seriously high standard all round this week, and these guys are right up there in “Can’t believe that’s HeroMachine” territory.
    Happy Christmas, folks! (yes I know I’m a day late, but oh well.) 😀

  2. Tarkabarka says:

    Good evening all!

    So first i gratulate the finalist. For my pictures i wrote why i hate and what i think for the christmas eve and this season of the year.

    All make a good work.

    Happy good year for all.

  3. Syntax says:

    First contest without a finalist entry. Oh well, others put in better work than I did. Congrats everybody!

  4. MartianBlue says:

    Jeff, I’m not sure, but I think the entrant you credited to me is actual Blue Blazer’s?

  5. Myro says:

    Thanks for the nod, Jeff. It’s too bad, I had another concept I was working on. I doubt it would have qualified, but what I did was pretty therapeutic given the stress of the season. Still, the idea of me holding a water pistol to my head demanding that Christmas get on with it already, while in the midst of wrapping presents just wasn’t going like I wanted it to. Still, what I did allowed me to vent some frustration.

    Great work all. I have to say that both of gendonesia’s entries as well as alvacascus’ were very eye-catching.

  6. Zarae says:

    ooo?

    thanks, and good job to all yall and so many i thought did such awesome jobs

  7. Cliff says:

    Wow, What kewl entries we had once again.
    alvacascus (thanks for the fur tutorial) and the 2 of gendonesia really pushed the envelope of what HM3 can do. They don’t look like HM3s.
    Zarae’s “Shortest Day” actually has a photo-realism to it which blows me away.
    I had a feeling Moognation’s “Christmas Cutie” would make it because of the package background! Great design element.
    Not at all surprised dblade is on there as well. Definately well done and a bit odd. In a good way.
    Gurong7′s Kristen FOX’s glowing snowflakes really impressed me as well.
    Congratulations to everyone!
    And I am SO glad Prixie made the cut! The little squirt means a lot to me and I really did like the redo on him.

  8. TOOL says:

    I couldn’t think of much for this one for some reason, I made only one but it didn’t make the cut. It gets harder and harder with the growing talents here, congrats guys!

  9. Absolutely incredible entries. Congratulations, everyone!

  10. dblade says:

    Every contest I’m amazed at the stylistic jumps people make with HM3. I may have recalibrate to keep up with the trailblazers.

  11. Kaldath says:

    Congratz to all! alvacascus entry this week and last week makes me think he has a heavy Manga/Anime influence, which is cool by me as I like Manga and Anime!

  12. Whit says:

    @dblade (10) With the stretches of months off I have due to technical difficulties, I’m totally left in the dust anymore. I just wonder the time involved with some of these marvels. Even my good-for-three-years-ago pics take me two to three hours.

  13. Trekkie says:

    Congrats everyone, really great entries this week. Hope you all had a good Christmas and/or holiday.

  14. WolfMoon says:

    Good contest. I really love HomeLate. Good job to you all.

  15. Papkrok says:

    WoW!!! Amazing stuff!!! (I, like Dblade, am beginning to feel old and dated)!! Some really awesome HMing, new masters emerge daily!!!

  16. headlessgeneral says:

    Congrats everyone!

  17. FRM says:

    congrats to alvacascus, and all finalists, and me. i cant believe i was a finalist. the 3 wise guys are a riot, and i love gendonesia’s looking down one, as well as Zarae’s use of the stonehenge background. congrats to all, and Happy Holidays!

  18. The Imp says:

    alvacascus: WOW.

  19. gendonesia says:

    whoa, 2 of mine listed O.o, thanks Jeff!
    congratz to all finalist too, everybody seems has did their best this week ^^

    Happy holiday everybody!

  20. alvacascus says:

    Oh no I’m late!
    Congratulation for everyone especially for all finalist and thanks for all compliments, as a newcomer I feel very honored.. 🙂
    Myro’s “Dreidel” and headlessgeneral’s “Jack Frost” are my favorite entry..
    All made a great work! Good job all!

  21. Syntax says:

    @ Dblade and Papakrok:
    Slap yourselves in the face right now. Do it. Now repeat after me: “We are two of the Holy Trinity of Heromachine. Though some may equal it, no mortal human will ever surpass our skills. Ever.”

    Seriously. You guys will never be dated. You may be getting old (Physically speaking), but you will never be dated.