My Character Re-Designs- **MASSIVE UPDATE! *Revised Kitana * FROST, KIRA & SINDEL added! *Quick-Link Menu Added to First Post!

Member Since

02/11/2011 02:57 AM (UTC)

Hey Guys!

So I've been using this site for years now just catching up with lastest games news and reading through others opinions and whatnot, but I've never really contributed at all.
The never-ending wait for this next game to be released has proven very effective in fuelling my inspiration for new concepts and ideas for various characters in the MK Universe, particularly those with the more lackluster representations this game around..

And so I thought why not start posting my concepts up here and actually show people the crazy costumes that run through my head so many times a day. Starting with an extremely minor character: Kia!

Click for Kia!

I wanted to include both Kia and Jataaka in my re-visioning of the Mortal Kombat cast as I feel they both come under some seriously undue hate for being boring clones of Sareena. My aim now being to hopefully prove to you they can be anything but boring and uninnspired.

My vision for Kia would have her as having always been a loyal follower of Shoa Kahn, one entrusted with the task of shadowing Quan Chi as a result of Kahns fears of being overthrown by any of the realms more powerful beings.
Her defeat at the hands of the elder Sub-Zero leaves her wounded and trapped in the Neatherrealm, where her combat skills are honed and maximised to their most brutal capacity. Surving for a period longer than many could even hope for Kia managed to regain access to Outworld via the portal used by Quan Chi, Scorpion, Moloch and Drahmin.
Finding her way to the blood-soaked throne room of her former master she makes a personal vow to hunt his killers. She witnesses the rise of the Dragon King and the return of her unscathed ruler, to whom she reaffirms her unquestion loyalty.

While I'll admit its not the most revolutionary or ground-breaking story I hope that it serves its purpose of diversifying her character and proving her abilty to be more than just Sareena without a white streak in her hair.

Costume wise I tried to basically go for a female version of the Kahn guards seen in Armageddon's konquest mode, taking elements from both Reiko and Kahn, aswell as her orginal attire seen in Mythologies. The armbands she wears serve the purpose of covering the tattoos she acquired while posing as a member of the Brotherhood of the Shadow, but her facial markings remain as a reminder of the lengths she took to prove her devotion.

Comments and Critiques are very welcome as I'd love to hear what you all think. This concept is unfinished and uses a temporary base template while I work on a final pose for the finished concept. Unfortunately I'm unable to credit the creator of the template just yet as I cannot find the source I discovered it on last year, someting i hope to amend ASAP.
Drawn and coloured entirely in fineliners.

*EDIT*: Just to give this thread a slight bit of order from now on, every time i post a design I'll add it to the list of clickys here :) :

Kia // Sareena // Skarlett // Kira // Sindel // Tanya // Khameleon // Kitana // Jade // Sonya // Taven // Kabal // Kai // Ermac // Rain // Johnny Cage // Kobra // Mavado // Scorpion // Hotaru // Baraka // Smoke // Kitana // Frost // Kira // Sindel //

Hope you guys like them!!
-Dan

Jaded-Raven

@Jaded-Raven

•02/11/2011 03:25 AM (UTC) •

:O
She has no face...
WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER FACE?! YOU MONSTER!!!

Okay, but seriously, this is a nice concept art and quite the cool storyline you got for her. ^^

•02/11/2011 06:15 PM (UTC) •

Jaded-Raven Wrote:
:O
She has no face...
WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER FACE?! YOU MONSTER!!!

Okay, but seriously, this is a nice concept art and quite the cool storyline you got for her. ^^

Ahah! Well who knows how well Kahn reacted to her dissappearence and defeat. Temporary face removal could be and effective lesson to prevent it happening again.

Thanks though! It's nice to see that somebody actually thinks my concept could work and I'm really glad you liked the design.

Okay so here's a quick go at Sareena I did when i first started working on these designs a while back. Basically it just feeds off of the idea of her being on the run from Quan Chi and later the Lin Kuei during the events of Armageddon.
I tried to create a design which could be assembled from various materials already possibly at her disposal such as the fishnets and Brotherhood of the Shadow flap, combined with items she would obtain while on the run:

Sareena!!

The main part of her top is the skin of a creature slain in battle kept in place with leather strips, a creature whose fang also features on her wrist strap.
She still retains a worse for wear version of her brotherhood of the Shadow flap, but now has a semi transparent one covering it, attained during her time with the Lin Kuei.
Emphasising the fact she's on the run and in a hostile enviroment are the holes in her fishnets and a broken strap on her left boot.

I'm extremely happy with this design despite it still being unfinished and hope you all like it too.

Again comments and critiques are welcome as any feedback on these designs can noly improve the final versions.

-Dan

About Me

•02/11/2011 07:07 PM (UTC) •

Very nice stuff here.

How much would I have to pay you to make a blonde Skarlet concept? ;)

•02/12/2011 01:04 AM (UTC) •

Bezou Wrote:
Very nice stuff here.

How much would I have to pay you to make a blonde Skarlet concept? ;)

Thanks for checking my stuff out, glad you like them :)

As it happens no payment required! aha. My intention is to eventually get through the whole roster so Skarlett was inevitable. It was also nice to think about and work on a character I havn't been revising over and over all this time, so thanks for the request! Was a nice break from the Sindel and Tanya concepts I'm working on.

So here's a Skarlett design I basically just put together in the past two hours. I was slightly hesitant about creating her design prior to knowing anything about the story direction the team will take her on with the new game as I don't really like the idea of my design contrasting the canon story, but here goes:

Clicky for Skarlett!!

My version of the character has her influenced very much by travellers and mystics and that kind of thing; a character type I think the current roster is lacking, particularly on the female side.
The glove on her right hand turned out abit 'off' from how I intended, it's actually just a half-glove that only covers the four fingers and half of the actual hand leaving her thumb and wrist exposed; something I don't think is clear in this draft of the costume.
I'd also like to point out her hair didn't turn out too well either. Basically the left side of her head has her hair corn-rowed and leading up to the mass of curls and tangles which falls the her right side.
Kind of like a more messy/curled version of this!

Hope you like it Bezou!

Like the other designs this was created using a premade base template and is drawn and coloured entirely in fineliners.
More to come soon

-Dan

Zmoke

@Zmoke

•02/12/2011 10:04 AM (UTC) •

Very nice art, Boy! Keep 'em coming.

Bezou Wrote:
Very nice stuff here.

How much would I have to pay you to make a blonde Skarlet concept? ;)

I have an unfinished Skarlet picture uncolored. Maybe I should finish it one day, with blonde hair.

About Me

•02/12/2011 05:19 PM (UTC) •

Finally, someone with actual artistic talent has brought blonde Skarlet to life!

Gorgeous.

The others were great as well, just so you know. I'm not sure if I had mentioned that already.

•02/12/2011 07:54 PM (UTC) •

Bezou Wrote:
Finally, someone with actual artistic talent has brought blonde Skarlet to life!

Gorgeous.

The others were great as well, just so you know. I'm not sure if I had mentioned that already.

Thankyou, thats very kind, and I'm glad you liked the result!

Here's my design for Kira. I really loved alot of elements of her primary outfit and wanted to build on what I felt really worked in that design. With this concept I tried to fully maximise the biker- chick badass that i think wasn't fully acheived in her other costumes.

Hope you like:Kira!!

-Dan

•02/12/2011 10:24 PM (UTC) •

and continuing my run I bring you Sindel!

For this concept i wanted her to actually look like a woman of high power, a queen to her people, and also a kick-ass bitch. Without a doubt Sindel is one of the more respectable yet powerful characters in the entire roster and as much as I love the update of her MK3 outfit for the new game; a black and purple bathing suit doesn't really scream royalty as I'm sure most of you will agree.

With this series I've been trying to have characters from the same realms or clans look like they actually are connected, or at least shop at the same stores. With the Edenians I chose to include chiffon as a considerably well used material in their costumes. The majority of purple in this costume is chiffon and so has a semi transparent element to it, much like Mileena's veil.

I'm personally very happy with this Sindel design and think I've managed to give her a strong feel of elegance and power while retaining the gothic queen roots of her character.

Like the others I used a base figure template for this initial concept piece, and it was drawn and coloured completely in fineliners.
Comments and Critiques always welcome!

-Dan

About Me

•02/12/2011 10:31 PM (UTC) •

I really like your character concepts. Kira and Sindel are both great. I like how they're radically different from what we've seen before but absolutely fitting to the character. I'm not good at critical analysis, but I know what I like. And I like your stuff.

•02/13/2011 12:26 AM (UTC) •

Bezou Wrote:
I really like your character concepts. Kira and Sindel are both great. I like how they're radically different from what we've seen before but absolutely fitting to the character. I'm not good at critical analysis, but I know what I like. And I like your stuff.

Thankyou!!!

It's really nice to hear that my designs work for each respective character and that someone actually likes the costumes I've come up with.

Final upload for now is Tanya!

Obvious egyptian influences in this design and it's a style I think would work really well for an ambassadors daughter.
I tried to take the traditional bathing suit those Edenian gals love so much and make it more interesting as a costume. As a result i came up with this loose fitting shiffon version which has the black leather motif strategically keeping her dignity.

I wanted to keep something familiar with this design as I loved the update she received for Deception and wanted to take that update even further.
Hopefully this works.

-Dan

About Me

•02/13/2011 12:57 AM (UTC) •

Wow, man, you have real talent. If any of these showed up in MK2011 as alt costumes, I would be a happy gamer.

Tanya benefits greatly from an Egyptian influence. So much east asian influence in Mortal Kombat. We have a whole world here of inspiration to draw from. And you're doing well to remind us why.

Jaded-Raven

@Jaded-Raven

•02/13/2011 12:54 PM (UTC) •

JADE JADE JADE!!!

... I mean... would you like to make Jade some time? ^^

RazorsEdge701

@RazorsEdge701

About Me

•02/13/2011 01:11 PM (UTC) •

God damn, I love that take on Kira. The Egyptian theme on Tanya really does seem fitting, too.

•02/14/2011 12:04 AM (UTC) •

Thanks for the comments guys! It's really nice to see that you like the concepts I'm coming up with. I was really happy with quite afew of them and it's really great to see I wasn't just tooting my own horn there =p

Jaded-Raven Wrote:
JADE JADE JADE!!!

... I mean... would you like to make Jade some time? ^^

Aha! I was waiting for this!! :D
I've actually got a fairly finalised Jade concept but I've got some concerns it's too much like her Decption iteration and want to put some more time into making it more 'my' version of her before I show it off.

Most likely to appear next are Khameleon, Frost or Ashrah.
Critiques would be much appreciated aswell as I'd love some feedback to make the concepts better in all ways possible.

Again, thanks for the feedback guys!
-Dan

Rhuth

@Rhuth

•02/14/2011 12:28 AM (UTC) •

These are all exceptional! I especially love your concepts on Sindel and Tanya.

The looser attire you gave Sindel really works for her, and I love the overall design and even her pose. And I know your focus is on the costumes entirely, but only if her...breasts...had more...umphhfff...(now I feel like a kid trying to ask my behavioral health teacher an awkward question).

As for Tanya, others have already hit on the surprisingly appropriate Egyptian accessories. But I think that the bracelets almost make her seem stiff and rigid, or perhaps that's just the stance she's in. Meh.

Good stuff. Khameleon? :3

Jaded-Raven

@Jaded-Raven

•02/14/2011 01:27 AM (UTC) •

DandyBoy Wrote:
Thanks for the comments guys! It's really nice to see that you like the concepts I'm coming up with. I was really happy with quite afew of them and it's really great to see I wasn't just tooting my own horn there =p

Jaded-Raven Wrote:
JADE JADE JADE!!!

... I mean... would you like to make Jade some time? ^^

Woot! I'll be patient then. ^^
So far, Kira's new look is my fave out of the ones you made so far. That's a badass look for her.

daryui

@daryui

About Me

•02/14/2011 06:47 AM (UTC) •

I love Kira and Kia. Tanya's is really great also. I hope to see Nitara sometime soon.

•02/14/2011 03:40 PM (UTC) •

Wow! It's really flattering to see so much love for some of these designs. Doing these started out as a little project to pass the time until the new game comes out and give me a distraction from uni work but your comments are definately assuring me I should carry on with completeing the roster. Eventually I'm gonna start' with the male side of things aswell so that'll be quite alot different, and probably harder too.

Rhuth Wrote:
These are all exceptional! I especially love your concepts on Sindel and Tanya.

The looser attire you gave Sindel really works for her, and I love the overall design and even her pose. And I know your focus is on the costumes entirely, but only if her...breasts...had more...umphhfff...(now I feel like a kid trying to ask my behavioral health teacher an awkward question).

As for Tanya, others have already hit on the surprisingly appropriate Egyptian accessories. But I think that the bracelets almost make her seem stiff and rigid, or perhaps that's just the stance she's in. Meh.

Good stuff. Khameleon? :3

Thankyou! That's really kind :)
I know what you mean about Sindels 'chesticle' region, for these intial costume desgins I've been using basic templates so I don't have to worry about poses and such just yet, hence why I've churned so many out this quickly.
When I come to drawing the final versions I'll definately be working more in to differentiating the characters in terms of figure sizes.

With Tanya again I do think the stifness may be down to the stance, like you said, The bracelets are made of gold and so would be solid, but I kept them away from both elbow and wrist joints so it would be practical for movement.
I love that everyone is appreciating the egyptian look. In my mind it works for her quite simply cos I see her as an aristocratic snob who would think of herself as some important Pharaoh type surrounded by worshippers and servants. Also I think the exotic nature of Edenia allows for that kind of freedom in cultural influences, it seems appropriate that powerful figures and families in their realm would dress or live like the rulers and royalty of our historic periods.

Ramble over anyway!
Here's a sneak peak at whats going on with Khameleon.

Photo taken on my phone as I'm now back at uni and without a scanner until friday!
Hope you like what you see :)

-Dan

About Me

•02/14/2011 03:54 PM (UTC) •

Interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

JediSith

@JediSith

About Me

The enemy of my enemy of my enemy is my enemy.

•02/15/2011 12:26 AM (UTC) •

I hate all you amazing artists....I can't draw to save my life....

MKKitana

@MKKitana

About Me

•02/15/2011 09:01 AM (UTC) •

Some nice ideas here.

Liking Sareena, I had a similar idea withe animal-skin thing for mileena when I came up with a story that involved her living in a cave as an outcast. Also fits Sareena well.

Kira is a pretty decent costume, and interesting design for Skarlett. Khameleon looks interesting too. No digging the one-piece for Sindel though.

Also, where is Jataaka!!!???

MKKitana

@MKKitana

About Me

•02/15/2011 09:06 AM (UTC) •

Some nice ideas here.

Liking Sareena, I had a similar idea withe animal-skin thing for mileena when I came up with a story that involved her living in a cave as an outcast. Also fits Sareena well.

Kira is a pretty decent costume, and interesting design for Skarlett (thought I dont get why so many people want her to have blonde hair. it doesnt suit a red costume design IMO. She should be a redhead or have black hair). Khameleon looks interesting too. No digging the one-piece for Sindel though.

Also, where is Jataaka!!!???