Anaksha.com - Official Forum

Just thought I'd show you all how her visual look developed.

Thanks for the pictures, Arif! I love looking at character designs Based on the in-game artwork I assumed you were an experienced comic artist, but these sketches show how little time you actually had to reach the level seen in the game, which just makes it all the more impressive

I'm so glad you got rid of the red lipstick. And I see the nose ring wasn't among the initial ideas. I'm still waiting to see the bindi which you've mentioned but which has yet to actually appear.

I also like the physique you settled on ie. not too bulky. I don't want Anaksha turned into an all-purpose adventurer who jumps and climbs and grapples like most female protagonists in commercial games, and I appreciate that you've emphasized her sniper qualities

Thanks!
Yeah I didn't want her to be another [INSERT VIDEO GAME SEX SYMBOL HERE]

Her physique is slender for a few reasons. 1) She needs to move quickly. 2) She practises yoga which tends to slim you down, and 3) Well... it just looks good!

I'm still thinking of a design for her bindi. I wanted a flame but unfortunately thats been done in an Indian comic called Devi written by Shekhar Kapur (the guy who directed the bandit Queen). The comic is based upon Indian mythology.

http://www.virgincomics.com/Devi/

Although I was actually thinking of a black tribal flamel... hmmm... I don't know

Hey, Anaksha originally had a tattoo under her eyes! Yeah it was a little rows of black spots under each eye which got progressively smaller as they reached the outer corners of the eyes. I took em out in the end, but I'm thinking of reintroducing them above the brows as stick on jewellery (rather than tattoos), in the traditional Indian style.

Theres lots for me to think about!

The only commercial game heroine I would compare with Anaksha is Samus Aran. I believe the rest never attempted to have the same literary impact in the first place, and so they didn't. Since we're posting comic links I might as well post this one:

http://www.mechadrake.com/metroidmanga.html

Regarding the bindi design, how about a lightning bolt? It's got simultaneously the mythological symbolism (vajra) and the practical gameplay manifestation (Kiss of Death), and it would match the thunder when she appears in the opening sequence. If you make it gold-coloured, it would also match her nose ring



My first reaction as a fan is that I don't want her beautiful face cluttered up with too much stuff. I imagine those eye close-ups in the cutscenes and I think black spots around her eyes would have spoiled it. But I may be wrong. How about another concept sketch?

Its weird cos I've known about Metroid for years, yet I would have never guessed Samus was a girl.
I only found out recently!



Interesting, but the traditional bindi shape (although sometimes circular) is usually a tear-drop and it needs to be something similar (in order to look like a bindi). Hmmm... I might experiment around a bit and see what turns up.



Yup that was the reason I removed the spots - they looked weird! Now if I put them above the brows they might have a different effect because thats where some Indian women traditionally wear stick-on jewellery or even coloured-markings on special occasions.

http://www.boingboing.net/images/bindichip.jpg

I might give it a go and see how it looks, but I've got a feeling the bindi and the nose ring might be enough for her face.

i love the nose ring, gives her a little more attitude, was wondering if you ever thought about giving her a lip ring. i personally have 2 i think it shows attitude and can give a really mean look.

I actually tried giving her more piercings, but it just made her face look cluttered. As it stands she has a nose ring, a tattoo and a tribal bindi for when she's on a mission. She looks pretty awesome!