Abstract

This article defines the character turnaround and explains its function in a 2D animation production. A character turnaround, or model sheet, is a set of drawings that shows a character from multiple angles, establishing a 360-degree view. The standard views include the front, side, 3/4 front, 3/4 back, and back. The primary purpose of a turnaround is to create a definitive blueprint for a character. It ensures that the character’s proportions, volume, and design details remain consistent, regardless of which animator is drawing them or what pose they are in. The article explains that this consistency is achieved by using horizontal construction lines (or guidelines) that align key features like the eyes, shoulders, and waist across all views. This process forces the artist to solve visual problems, such as how a 2D shape translates when rotated in space. The turnaround serves as the primary reference document for all artists on a production team, including animators, layout artists, and riggers, to keep the character “on-model.”

Keywords

Character Turnaround, Model Sheet, Character Design, 2D Animation, Construction Lines

In 2D animation, a character might be drawn thousands of times by dozens of different artists. To prevent the character’s design from changing from one scene to the next, the production team relies on a foundational document: the character turnaround.

A character turnaround, also called a model sheet, is a set of drawings that shows a character from multiple standardized angles. It acts as a 360-degree guide to a character’s design. This document is the primary blueprint that all animators on a team use to ensure their drawings of the character look correct and consistent.

The standard views

While turnarounds can vary in complexity, a standard sheet includes five key views:

  • Front View: The character facing forward. This view establishes the baseline height and width.
  • 3/4 Front View: The character turned partially toward the viewer. This is often the most-used pose as it shows the most dimension.
  • Side View (Profile): The character seen directly from the side. This view is critical for defining the character’s posture and the depth of features like the nose and chin.
  • 3/4 Back View: The character turned partially away from the viewer.
  • Back View: The character facing directly away.

These views are drawn standing in a neutral pose, often called a “T-pose” or “A-pose,” which simply refers to the position of the arms.

Maintaining consistency

The main purpose of a turnaround is to solve design problems before animation begins. How does a character’s flat, cartoon eye look from the side? How does their hair style look from the back? The turnaround forces the designer to answer these questions and lock in the design.

To ensure all views are accurate to one another, artists use construction lines. These are simple horizontal guidelines drawn across the page that connect key features. An artist will draw the front view first, then draw a line from the top of the head, the bottom of the chin, the center of the eyes, the shoulders, the waist, and the feet.

When the artist draws the side view, they must make sure all of those features land on the exact same guidelines. This practice ensures the character’s height and proportions remain identical as their body rotates. It translates the 2D drawing into a functional 3D object by maintaining its volume and structure.

A tool for the team

The character turnaround is one of the most important documents in pre-production. Once approved, it is distributed to the entire animation pipeline. Animators use it as their main reference for every drawing. In 2D puppet animation, a rigger uses the different views to build the digital puppet. In 3D animation, a modeler uses the front and side views as a direct guide to build the character’s geometry.

The turnaround sheet is the single source of truth that keeps a character “on-model” (looking like themselves) throughout a production.