Critical Role has released yet another behind-the-scenes video for the highly anticipated series, The Legend of Vox Machina. With the first two diving into the writer’s room and the locations for The Legend of Vox Machina animated series, the newest video sheds exciting light on the character design for these beloved characters.
ANIMATION LEGEND PHIL BOURASSA IS LEAD CHARACTER DESIGNER THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA
In Critical Role’s The Legend of the Design of The Legend of Vox Machina, the cast excitedly reveals that animation legend Phil Bourassa is the lead character designer for The Legend of Vox Machina. Phil Bourassa has had an impressive career and is well known for his work as a character designer on numerous DC series and movies such as Young Justice, Justice League, Batman: Bad Blood, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, and many more.
He explains in the video that he has been working in this field for just under twenty years and has spent the last eleven as a character designer for superheroes. But what makes this partnership even more perfect is when Phil Bourassa says, “If I’m known for anything, it’s for the work that I did on the DC superheroes at Warner Brothers Animation. But fantasy is my first love.”
But his experience is not the only thing that should get Critters hyped. In The Legend of the Design of The Legend of Vox Machina it is clear that he has a true understanding of these characters and his collaboration with the cast who created these characters years ago has led to a truly beautiful design for each member of Vox Machina. And the excitement that the cast and crew exude in The Legend of Vox Machina behind the scenes video is clear.
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Critical Role is unique in that the characters and lore of the world of The Legend of Vox Machina have existed for years, but it is first and foremost a world built in the cast’s imaginations. With visuals from fan art, the comics, and the art designed for the live stream there wasn’t a shortage of inspiration for Phil Bourassa to pull from, including the cast themselves. The cast worked closely with Phil to make sure the designs perfectly embodied these characters that they created.
Phil Bourassa explains in The Legend of Vox Machina video, “So much is determined by the performances, what the creators had imbued in their creations. The way Laura’s performance informs the way that I draw the character. She’s got to have some sass, she’s got to have some attitude, whereas Keyleth has this charming naivete, like an innocent aspect.”
The understanding that Phil Bourassa brings to these characters and how the performances that Critters have loved watching on Critical Role for years have a direct impact on how each character has been designed is truly beautiful. The cast is obviously happy with the designs and the details and nuances that he brings. Ashley Johnson talked a bit about Pike’s armor and the scrapes he included on it while Sam Riegel explained that the first design was “kind of perfect” with the only things they worked on being collar size and hair shape.
“They’ve created these original characters, but they’re also very archetypal. Like Percy and Vax are dexterity builds, so they’re very lithe and long to kind of bring out, to show the agility and the dexterity inherent in the class.”
Sam Riegel explained that one thing that was important in creating The Legend of Vox Machina is that it’s distinctly an animated series for adults and that this needed to be reflected “in the world, the background, the atmosphere, and the character designs.” With every new Legend of Vox Machina behind the scenes video the anticipation for Critical Role’s animated series grows. And with two seasons already set for release on Amazon Prime, Critters have a lot to look forward to.
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Critical Role broke records with their Kickstarter for an animated special raising more than $11 million with over 88,000 backers. Because of this Critical Role’s animated special grew into The Legend of Vox Machina animated series which will be animated by Titmouse and exclusively released on Amazon Prime. The Legend of Vox Machina has already been ordered for two 12-episode seasons. Although no release date has been announced at this time.
Are you excited for The Legend of Vox Machina? What do you think about Phil Bourassa joining the team to bring Critical Role into the world of animation? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media and check back with The Illuminerdi for more Critical Role and The Legend of Vox Machina news.
KEEP READING: FIRST LOOK AT THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA ANIMATED SERIES IN NEW BTS FEATURETTE FROM CRITICAL ROLE
