Character mannerisms.

[5tephen]

One thing I noticed when reading Strip 688 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0688.html) was Belkar's pointing across his body, in the 4th panel when his eyes first turn violet.

As I read that, part of my mind said "Oh, that is SO totally a Belkar gesture."

I realised that I was used to Belkar's body-language. I've raved in these forums before about how good a storyteller Rich is, and how well he develops characters, but this was the first time I realised that he has a movement characterisation for each of the order (and the other characters as well, of course.) Belkar ALWAYS points his finger in that declamatory way when he rants at someone, or defends himself.

It's hard to realise at first, because we don't see them move, but they each do have a certain way of holding themselves, or certain gestures that they always make.

Can anyone else think of some good examples of the character's body-language?

[Ted The Bug]

Roy's Picard facepalm?

[veti]

Roy has an annoying - at least, I find it annoying when people do it in real life - habit of holding up one finger to people while he's talking to them. (Actually several characters do that, but Roy does it most.)

Vaarsuvius holds up the same finger, but not at people - she seems to address her lecture at everyone at once, rather than specific individuals.

Elan actually dances, or possibly skips, when he's happy.

[Kaytara]

Elan tends to touch a hand to his face when wondering or worrying about something. He does (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0683.html) it (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0688.html) thrice (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0682.html) in the last couple of comics already. :)

I love this type of little touches that make the comic so awesome. :D

[Meg]

Xykon facepalms as well, usually when the MitD is asking about the gate.

[Nimrod's Son]

Mr Scruffy is the most catlike cat of all cats that have ever been in comics. He likes lasagne and hates mondays and doesn't afraid of anything.

Just check him out. In practically every panel that Mr Scruffy appears in, he's doing EXACTLY what a real cat would be doing in that same situation. Either Rich owns a cat, or at some point in his life he's seen one. Perhaps both.

[The_Void]

I've noticed that Haley seems to put her hands on her hips whenever she's annoyed.

[Haven]

Elan tends to touch a hand to his face when wondering or worrying about something. He does (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0683.html) it (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0688.html) thrice (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0682.html) in the last couple of comics already. :)

I love this type of little touches that make the comic so awesome. :D

I know Haley does that too. Here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0474.html) (bottom row) is one example. Apparently (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0382.html) it's a feature of her intellect.

I'd have to go back but I think it's a gesture Elan picked up recently, probably from her, which is awesome.

[Zedd]

It's also nice to see how every character flying is a little inclined and using its stretched arms for balanced.

In this comic we see Thog likes to fly superman style.
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0059.html


And Haley's parts of personality have each a different way, too.

[T-O-E]

I realised that I was used to Belkar's body-language. I've raved in these forums before about how good a storyteller Rich is, and how well he develops characters, but this was the first time I realised that he has a movement characterisation for each of the order (and the other characters as well, of course.) Belkar ALWAYS points his finger in that declamatory way when he rants at someone, or defends himself.


All the characters do this. Belkar just has shorter arms than everyone else. He physically cannot get them to go beyond his torso.

Haley does this in panel 5.
The man in panel 1 does this too. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0687.html)
Hank is a halfling and does the exact same thing in panel 2 and 5. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0604.html)
There are many, many more but I'm not going to list them.

[ThePhantasm]

Rich has already said he has a number of saved gestures, positions, and stances for each character to cut down on strip-creation time. So a lot of those are reused or only touched up a bit, that's why there is so much consistency. It shouldn't be too surprising, really.