Cartoon Characters and Their Universe: Create Another World
A course by Butch HartmanCartoon Artist
A course by Butch Hartman, Cartoon Artist
Build your own cartoon narrative filled with endearing characters using a combination of analogue and digital tools
A strong character lineup can make or break a show’s popularity. Cartoon artist Butch Hartman seeks to create a wholesome yet fun entertainment experience through simple and appealing character design. He has worked with studios like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon and has been nominated for several Emmy Awards for his work on iconic shows like The Fairly OddParents.
In this course, Butch guides you through how to design simple and professional-looking animated characters. Discover how to illustrate a colorful cast filled with personality using a combination of both analogue and digital tools. Are you ready to create your own cartoon world, filled with endearing characters?
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 22 downloads
The Cartoon World
20 minutes, 54 seconds
The Concept
16 minutes, 10 seconds
Equipment and Inspiration
22 minutes, 21 seconds
First Sketches
20 minutes, 11 seconds
Lead Characters 1
14 minutes, 51 seconds
Lead Characters 2
14 minutes, 17 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin by getting to know cartoon artist Butch Hartman. He talks through his creative career which has seen him work with studios including Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, along with the influences that inspire him
Dive into the world of cartoons and the things to consider when creating one of your own. Then explore your concept, with Butch as your guide. He takes you through his process for coming up with ideas before looking at the materials needed for the course and where to find inspiration.
Time to create your characters! Start with the initial sketches of each using a pencil and pen. Transfer the drawings of your protagonists onto your iPad and refine them in Procreate, experimenting with different poses and scale. Then move on to your supporting characters before putting your whole cast together in a lineup and adjusting their size based on the story you want to tell.
Discover how to give personality to your characters, starting with color. Sketch your characters in different scenarios before deciding on the final scene and adding the finishing touches by adjusting things like brightness, saturation, and more. To finish the course, Butch shows you how to create a Show Bible that’s ready to pitch to studios and potential buyers.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create a professional-looking character lineup for an animated show.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in elevating their character design skills and in learning how to create a cast for an animated show.
Requirements and materials
Knowledge of drawing, writing, and storytelling is required.
Butch uses an iPad and the Procreate app to create his characters but you can use a drawing tablet and program of your choice. You will also need sketching materials like a notebook and pencils.
Reviews
- 4 months ago
Toller Kurs, es werden süße Figuren von Hand und am PC gezeichnet. Hat mir viel Spaß gemacht.
- 5 months ago
Me encanta el curso, muy inspirador.
- 1 year ago
Me está encantando este curso. Super recomendable.
- 1 year ago
Excelente curso e inspirador ver a Butch Hartman realizar su proceso y los consejos que da. Alguien que creció viendo los padrinos mágicos va a disfrutar de este curso. Si bien es algo muy básico llega a ser un buen punto de partida para aprender mas. Lo recomiendo
- 2 years ago
Muito legal fazer um curso com o criador de um desenho que eu gosto. O melhor é que achei ele engraçado e ele ainda dá dicas de Procreate!
Since then, Butch has gone on to work for studios like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network on iconic cartoons including, Tom and Jerry Kids, Droopy Master Detective, Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, and more. His work has received multiple Emmy Awards and he himself has been nominated for several. Butch also created his own children’s app, The Noog Network, and has written and produced live action films, including one for his famous animated show, The Fairly OddParents. He has also grown an impressive social media following with over 800,000 subscribers on YouTube and 1.7 million followers on TikTok, and he hosts his own podcast, Speech Bubble.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Creating A Cartoon World
- The Cartoon World
- The Concept
- Equipment and Inspiration
- U3
Character Creation
- First Sketches
- Lead Characters 1
- Lead Characters 2
- Supporting Characters 1
- Supporting Characters 2
- Putting the Characters Together: The Lineup
- U4
Finalizing Your Cartoon World
- Coloring Our Character 1
- Coloring Our Character 2
- Conceiving a Character Scenario
- Finalizing the Scenario 1
- Finalizing the Scenario 2
- Introduction to the Show Bible
- FP
Final project
- Cartoon character design for beginners
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers foundational skills in cartooning, character design, storyboarding, and pitching animated show concepts.
You’ll need basic sketching materials (pencil, pen, paper) and, for digital lessons, access to an iPad with Procreate or similar digital illustration software.
You’ll learn how to design original cartoon characters, storyboard, write theme songs, pitch animated shows, and use digital tools like Procreate to bring your ideas to life.
No prior experience is required. The course starts with the basics and gradually introduces more advanced techniques for both traditional and digital cartooning.
Topics include storyboarding, character design, comic strip techniques, pitching animated shows, creating cartoon villains, digital inking, mood boards, scene composition, and voice direction.
Yes, the course guides you through developing original show concepts, creating a show bible, and pitching your ideas effectively to potential stakeholders.
Absolutely. The course covers Procreate techniques like digital inking, coloring, layer management, and creating character lineups on the iPad.