Draw 1930s Cartoon Characters: Pie-Eyed, Rubber-Hose, and Ready to Animate
Step into the golden age of animation and learn how to design your own characters inspired by 1930s cartoons. Think Steamboat Willie, Betty Boop, Popeye, and modern homages like Cuphead—this class is your guide to recreating that iconic, vintage style.
You’ll start with a quick historical overview of early animation and learn why characters from that era looked the way they did. Then we’ll dive into creating the core elements of this classic style: rubber hose limbs, pie-cut eyes, white gloves, oversized shoes, and expressive mouths.
In this class, you’ll learn how to:
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Understand the visual style and history behind 1930s cartoons
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Draw classic design elements like gloves, eyes, mouths, and limbs
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Design original characters based on an inanimate object or animal
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Apply design theory to make your character expressive and appealing
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Break down three example characters with commentary on style choices
By the end, you’ll have created your own unique 1930s-style character. And if you're ready to take it further, you can animate your character in a follow-up class by Jake Bartlett: "1930s Character Animation."
Who This Class Is For:
Perfect for illustrators, designers, animators, and fans of retro cartoons or Cuphead-style art. No animation experience is required—just a love of drawing and creativity.
Tools & Materials:
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Paper and pencil, or any digital drawing software
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No animation software required (drawing-focused)
Class Runtime: Approximately 1 hour 12 minutes
