Super deformed
From Wikinfo
Super deformed or SD is a specific style of Japanese caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby, with stubby limbs and oversized heads, to make them resemble small children.
The style is called chibi by some fans, though chibi is a different concept that refers more to a person's stature rather than the art style. Many amateur anime artists enjoy drawing super deformed characters because the style is considered cute and is relatively easy to draw.
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Japanese media
The super deformed style is part of Japanese culture and is seen everywhere from advertising and subway signs to anime and manga.
It is often also used on anime and manga in brief interjections to show an extreme or exaggerated emotion, such as anger or surprise, that would be difficult to portray or would seem out of character if expressed on a more realistic face. They are meant to be cute and are often used in humorous diversions from the storyline.
Recent trends in anime have shifted away from super-deformed character designs, yet the traditional anime character designs remain.
Proportions
In life, heads are usually one eighth of a person's height.
The head of a super deformed character is normally anywhere between one third[1] and one half the character's height,[2] often a golden ratio (38 percent), with the eyes taking up much of the space on the head. Some artists may use alternate proportions. There are other exaggerated proportions (such as the 1/5th proportion, as used by Tales of Eternia, etc) that are popular in anime, but are not considered SD.
Examples
GunbusterSD.png
In Gunbuster, characters appear in super deformed style at the end of an episode to explain the pseudoscientific aspects of the episode. |
See also
References
External links
- Chibi Land Sailor Moon site devoted to Chibis and Super deformed
- Super deformed defined at Anime News Network.
