Simplification

Simplification is a very useful tool for an animator, not only does it cut down on workload but it also communicates form and even attitude of a character in one of the the simplest ways posable.

A good example of good simplified character design is Simon's Cat, made by Simon Tofield.

Nothing you are seeing is a cat, yet we read it as a cat. You can say that about both of these pictures. You could even say it about a real cat sat in front of you. You're not seeing the cat, you're eyes are just converting photons into electrical signals which are then processed and interpreted by you're brain. The cat was only involved as a reflector of the photons, it only gives its information away by absorbing certain wavelengths of light, what is left we interpret as colour and, in turn, other things like texture when your brain relates to what it is seeing and calls upon memories of the other senses.

Human interpretation is partly conditioned by culture. So it comes as no surprise that Western cartooning is different to Eastern. However all of them have something in common, that is they are all simplified versions of objects, animals or people via the human mind. We can understand the two dimensional medium of pencil and paper (or in the case of Simon's Cat, graphics tablet and computer). We cant expect a real cat to understand a cartooned illustration of a cat as a cat.