Character Design Ideas: 10 AI Prompts From Concept to Character Sheet

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Character Design Ideas | portraymedia

When you’re stuck on a blank canvas, AI can give you rough character design ideas to react to. These ten prompts take you from a first idea to a character you can draw again: a builder for your own concept, six starters for everyday, fantasy, sci-fi, cute, dark and anime characters, and three character sheets.

Use the results as starting points for your own drawing.

On this page
  1. What Makes a Character Memorable
  2. Design a Character in Five Choices
  3. How to Get Better Results
  4. Character Sheet Prompts
  5. Keep It the Same Character
  6. How to Improve Your Concepts
  7. From AI Concept to Your Own Design

What Makes a Character Memorable

A memorable character shows who they are before they do anything. Worn boots, a mended coat or a nervous pose can suggest a whole backstory. Decide one thing about your character’s past first, then let that guide the design.

Design a Character in Five Choices

Before you write a prompt, make five quick decisions. They give the AI something specific to draw, and they give you a character rather than a costume.

  1. Role: what they do, such as a night-market cook or a retired knight.
  2. One detail from their past: something visible, such as a scar, a patched cloak or borrowed armour.
  3. Main shape: the shape their body and outfit are built from (see the table).
  4. Colours: two main colours and one small accent. More than that makes a character hard to remember.
  5. Signature item: one object people will link with them, such as a lantern, a broken watch or a scarf.
Main shapeHow it readsSuits
Circles and curvesFriendly, soft, easy to likeSidekicks, healers, mascots
Squares and blocksStrong, steady, dependableGuards, mechanics, mentors
Triangles and pointsSharp, restless or dangerousRivals, thieves, villains

Put your five choices into the builder prompt below.

Character Builder

Character design of a <ROLE> with <ONE VISIBLE DETAIL FROM THEIR PAST>, body and outfit built from <MAIN SHAPE> shapes, wearing <OUTFIT> and carrying <SIGNATURE ITEM>, colour palette of <TWO MAIN COLOURS> with a small <ACCENT COLOUR> accent, <POSE THAT SHOWS THEIR PERSONALITY>, full body, plain light background, clear readable silhouette, concept art style — aspect ratio: <AR>

Replace the highlighted text with your own details before you run the prompt.

How to Get Better Results

Vague prompts return vague images, so add your own details about age, job, mood and setting. Each starter prompt below can take those details. Replace the aspect ratio with your own; in Midjourney, that looks like --ar 16:9.

Character Design Ideas | portraymedia

Everyday Slice-of-Life Character

Original character, everyday modern outfit, relaxed posture, subtle facial expression, natural proportions, clean illustration style, soft lighting, simple background -- aspect ratio: <AR>

Replace the highlighted text with your own details before you run the prompt.

Character Design Ideas | portraymedia

Fantasy World Character

Fantasy character design, unique clothing inspired by a magical world, layered fabrics, symbolic accessories, expressive eyes, strong silhouette, illustrated concept art style -- aspect ratio: <AR>

Replace the highlighted text with your own details before you run the prompt.

Character Design Ideas | portraymedia

Sci-Fi Character Concept

Futuristic character, sci-fi outfit with sleek materials, functional details, confident stance, clean high-tech aesthetic, cinematic lighting -- aspect ratio: <AR>

Replace the highlighted text with your own details before you run the prompt.

Character Design Ideas | portraymedia

Cute Stylized Character

Cute character design with rounded proportions, oversized head, soft facial features, simple shapes, pastel color palette, friendly and playful mood -- aspect ratio: <AR>

Replace the highlighted text with your own details before you run the prompt.

Character Design Ideas | portraymedia

Dark & Mysterious Character

Mysterious character design, moody expression, layered clothing, dramatic shadows, subtle texture details, cinematic illustration style, minimal background -- aspect ratio: <AR>

Replace the highlighted text with your own details before you run the prompt.

Character Design Ideas | portraymedia

Anime-Inspired Character

Anime-style character design, expressive eyes, dynamic hair, detailed outfit, emotional pose, polished illustration look, soft background -- aspect ratio: <AR>

Replace the highlighted text with your own details before you run the prompt.

Character Sheet Prompts

Once you have a concept you like, a character sheet turns it into something you can draw again. Paste the same description into each prompt below, word for word. Use a wide shape such as 16:9 for these, so every view fits.

Turnaround Sheet

Character turnaround sheet of <CHARACTER DESCRIPTION>: front view, three-quarter view, side view and back view, standing in a neutral pose, full body, the same outfit, hairstyle and colours in every view, evenly spaced on a plain white background, clean line art with flat colours, no text — aspect ratio: <AR>

Replace the highlighted text with your own details before you run the prompt.

Expression Sheet

Expression sheet for <CHARACTER DESCRIPTION>: six head-and-shoulders portraits in a 3 by 2 grid showing happy, angry, sad, surprised, scared and thinking, the same face, hairstyle and outfit in every panel, plain light background, consistent line weight and colours, no text — aspect ratio: <AR>

Replace the highlighted text with your own details before you run the prompt.

Outfit and Prop Details

Character design detail sheet for <CHARACTER DESCRIPTION>: separate close-up studies of their <SIGNATURE ITEM>, their shoes, their hands and each main piece of their outfit, front and back where useful, plain white background, clean concept art style with flat colours, no text — aspect ratio: <AR>

Replace the highlighted text with your own details before you run the prompt.

Keep It the Same Character

AI tools forget your character between images. Save your best turnaround sheet, and upload it as a reference image whenever your tool allows it. Keep a note of the exact words you used for the face, hair, outfit and colours, and change only the pose or setting in each new prompt. For more on this, see how to keep the same character across images.

How to Improve Your Concepts

  • Start simple. Add details once the basic idea works.
  • Change one thing at a time. If the mood is wrong, change only the lighting words.
  • Check the silhouette. A strong character is recognisable as a solid shape.
  • Combine results. Take the hair from one image and the boots from another.

From AI Concept to Your Own Design

Generate plenty of rough concepts quickly, then choose the one that interests you and redraw it in your own style. If you plan to use the character commercially, check the terms of your AI tool, and make sure it doesn’t closely resemble an existing character.

More in AI Anime and Character Prompts

This guide is part of our AI Anime and Character Prompts hub, where you’ll find every related guide, along with tips and common questions.

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