Any Budding Character Designers Or Script Writers?

Howdy all. As some of you may know, I'm currently studying animation, and have just started my final year. The major project this year is a short (2-3 minute) animation. I have my story mostly laid out, but I'm looking for a little help refining a couple of elements, and designing the characters. I have a pretty fair idea what I want with the characters, but I can't draw for shit.

Before you ask, no, I'm not cheating. It's actually part of the assessment to bounce test the story on an audience, and also okay to have someone else design characters/sets/etc., as long as I'm directing and doing the actual animation.

That being said, here's the story I have so far:


Now the main issue I have, which I'm just looking for some random input for, is that I feel the ending is a little disjointed. I originally wanted her problem to be something that is easily solved in todays age, but probably would have been a real issue in the middle ages. That way, her resolution would be to pick up the ready made solution for her problem from a nearby stall, rather than the magazine. But maybe you all think the magazine ending works?

As for the fighting, the only thing I really have in mind is a fireball, a lightning attack, and a holy hand-grenade, so I'm looking for some spell suggestions too.

Onto the characters:

The setting is medieval, but may have a little bit of a modern/futuristic twist (yes, I'm heavily influenced by Final Fantasy). As such though, there's no requirement for anything to be historically accurate, which is my main motivation there.

Mage:



This guy is a cocky knob. He thinks he's king shit. He's trying to look like a traditional wizard, shooting for style and missing. He also can't grow a proper beard, but at least he gets points for trying.

Not so sure about the frilled collar.
The Gauntlets could be more bracelety, and especially have bigger emblems/jewels.
I'd like the boots to come up a bit higher, incorporate knee-pads, but go no higher.
The black and red image next to the bracelets is the sort of thing I want to do with the material of the coat, but no decision on design or colours yet.
Would also like some shoulder pads perhaps.

I'm okay for this guy to be mismatched, and in fact I'd probably prefer it. A few patches and stains would fit pretty well too.

Templar:



This guy is like a used car salesman, sneaky, weaselly, slimy and annoying. He has such a "better than thou" attitude you just want to punch him in the face. He's big and tough enough to look like he belongs in armour, but without being overly brawny.

I have a fair mismatch of gear here, but I'd like this guy to actually match, since it'd be a uniform he's wearing. The body, gloves and feet in this image are all a bit heavier than I'm really thinking, he should be reasonably light armoured.

Helmet: I think the cross noseguard is quite important, but not sure that I want to have the cross as the religious symbol, or make something up. I'd like it to be reasonably ostentatious, but not sure whether or not I want the spike.

Bracer: I'm pretty happy with that design, but will have the religious symbol engraved on it too.

Gloves: I like the ostentatiousness (that's apparently a word) of them, but I'd rather they were fingerless.

Pants: I like the utilitarian brown leather pants, but also like the stitched on crosses of the black pants, and think they would work well together.

Feet: As I said earlier, they're too heavy, but I liked the engraving on the shin guards. I couldn't find a better image, but I'm thinking leather, perhaps with a couple of steel plate insets, which could have the engraving on.

Shield: I really liked this half shiny/embossed look, but the logo will be the religious symbol (be it a cross or made-up). I couldn't care less about the shape.


Lady: I'm not too phased about the design here. I'd probably prefer her wearing shirt and pants than a full dress, as it's much less hassle to deal with animating. Same reasoning applies to braided hair over loose. A bit of boobage is good, as it gives more motive for the wizard and templar to be fighting over her as a customer. I also have some reference pics for her, but it's pretty typical medieval type garb really.


So that's where I'm at. I'm mainly just looking for some feedback on the story, as I can build the characters up from what I have already, but if anyone wants to take it on and draw some sketches it would be massively appreciated. There's no money involved, but do a good enough job and your name will be in the credits of an animation I'm hoping to get into festivals.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and if nothing else, maybe I've stirred up some interest in my animation, although it won't be finished until the end of November :p