Year Nine Graphic Communication
Character Design
Drawing and Design Lucha Libre or “Free wrestling” is a term used in Mexico to describe this sport of Passion, Mystery, and Masked Wrestlers. The mask has always been a prominent piece of Lucha Libre since the beginning. Some say it goes all the way back to Aztec influence. Early masks were very simple and were just meant to hide the wrestler’s identity. Slowly though, the designs became more complex to symbolize animals, gods, villains, and heroes.
Outcome 1. – Complete double page spread of researched information including images and your own opinions. Your research must cover the following; What is a ‘Luchador’? What is a ‘luchadoras’? What are ‘Mini-Estrella’? Provide a basic history of Mexican Lucha Libre, What are the features of this immensely popular sport. What are the ‘Tecnicos’ and ‘Rudos’. What happens if a masked wrestler lost a mask match? What happens if an unmasked wrestler loses a match? Who was El Santo or ‘the saint’? – What happened when he died? Who was his arch rival? What were their trade mark masks like? Provide an illustration.
Year Nine Graphic Communication Drawing and Design Masks (máscaras) have been used dating back to the beginnings of lucha libre in the early part of the 20th century, and have a historical significance to Mexico in general, dating to the days of the Aztecs. Early masks were very simple with basic colours to distinguish the wrestler. In modern lucha libre, masks are colourfully designed to evoke the images of animals, gods, ancient heroes, and other archetypes, whose identity the luchador takes on during a performance. Virtually all wrestlers in Mexico will start their careers wearing masks, but over the span of their careers, a large number of them will be unmasked. Sometimes, a wrestler slated for retirement will be unmasked in his final bout or at the beginning of a final tour, signifying loss of identity as that character.
Character Design
Year Nine Graphic Communication
Character Design
Drawing and Design Outcome - 2 print out and stick in to your books, the work sheet entitled ‘Lucha Libra character designs’. Complete the sheet by creating colourful designs for your own character. Use fine liners to outline the features of the masks. Create a final design on the biggest mask. Remember your design can be influenced by animals, gods and ancient heroes. The design can break free of the outlined face. Evaluate the ideas.
Above are key rings which are given out at the door on entrance to a Mexican wrestling match. They are proof that the holder has paid to get in. They will often feature the masks of the wrestlers who are fighting as the main event. Each Key ring contains a small piece of information with strengths, and stats.
Year Nine Graphic Communication Luch Libra character designs’
Evaluations
Drawing and Design
Character Design
Year Nine Graphic Communication Drawing and Design Outcome - 3 download the wrestler mask template illustrator file. Convert your final hand created effect into a vector graphic within illustrator. Embellish your design if you wish to amend it with further complexity. Print out your final design and stick into your book with an evaluation which explains the design choices you have made.
Paper Craft Outcome - 4 Print out the next page. Complete some practice ideas leading up to your final design for a paper craft figure. This can be a different character from the one competed in outcome 3 (if you want). Using colour - complete your final design on the largest version. Outcome - 5 Download the file ‘PAPERCRAFT WRESTLER’. Using illustrator create a new layer to work above the existing one. Adorn the template into your own wrestler design. Print out and construct the figure. Photograph and stick in the image. - Explain and Evaluate the process and outcome. Try printing onto slightly thicker paper to allow your model more rigidity. Use a knife to cut straight lines and scissors to cut curves. - Score with a blunt instrument.
Character Design
Year Nine Graphic Communication Drawing and Design
Character Design
Year Nine Graphic Communication
Character Design
Drawing and Design
Character Animation Outcome - 6 Visit the Warner brothers site “Mucha Lucha” which is a children’s TV programme about Mexican wrestling. The site enables you to design your own character. Once you have saved your character, print it as a PDF and save it to your Graphics folder. http://www2.warnerbros.com/lucha/home.html
Once you have created your character and saved them as a PDF document you are ready to take it into flash. Here you can Modify / Trace Bitmap. This will break it up so that we can animate individual parts.
Year Nine Graphic Communication
Character Design
Drawing and Design
Once you have traced your character within flash, you must download and open the flash file called “Animating wrestler template”. Here is a pre made wrestler with a functioning armature play with this to see how it operates.
By moving the time line and changing the characters legs and arms - Flash automatically animates the figures moves. To upgrade the figure to include your own, you need to find the relevant part in the Library and make a new layer to paste sections from your own traced Mucha Lucha figure. Once you have finished, you can move the figure around on the scene. You can also include your own wrestling introduction by recording your voice and editing it in audacity or any sound editing soft ware. Take screen shots of your animation and stick them in your book. Evaluate the process.
Character Design
Year Nine Graphic Communication Drawing and Design
So my little Mini-Estrella’s, What have you learnt . . . . ? We need to look back over the past weeks, to see what skills you have now mastered? What knowledge have you acquired? What nutrients have you taken in to allow you to show boat your design skills? Have you truly swallowed the golden eagles yolk, it iz thee beeessst? Outcome - 7. Create a final decorated page answering the following questions. What do you know about Mexican Culture as a result of completing this scheme of work? What new skills have you picked up? Are they all technical or are some thinking skills? What aspects of design do you think we investigated and explored? How might the learning help you in the future? What target audiences have we covered?
