The Murder Drones animated series, created by Glitch Productions, features a unique cast of robotic drones locked in a post-apocalyptic battle for survival. These characters blend cute cartoon aesthetics with menacing mechanical designs—inspired by real-world drones, quadcopters, and UAVs. Drawing them requires mastering angular shapes, glowing visors, retractable wings, and nanite acid tails. Whether you’re a fan artist or aspiring animator, this guide breaks it down into simple steps. We’ll cover materials, basic anatomy, character-specific tutorials, and pro tips to bring Uzi, N, V, and more to life on paper or digitally.
Essential Materials and Tools
Before diving into sketches, gather your supplies. Murder Drones art demands precision for mechanical details like joints and blades, much like diagramming FPV racing drones.
Traditional Drawing Tools
- Pencils: Use HB for light sketches and 2B-6B for shading. Mechanical pencils (0.5mm) mimic the clean lines of drone schematics.
- Erasers: Kneaded erasers for subtle lifts, vinyl for hard cleanups.
- Paper: Smooth Bristol board or sketch pads (80-100gsm) to handle ink without bleeding—ideal for detailing wings like those on racing drones.
- Inks and Pens: Micron pens (03-08 sizes) for outlines; brush pens for dynamic tails.
- Markers: Copic or Prismacolor for vibrant colors on metal bodies.
Digital Tools
Digital drawing shines for Murder Drones‘ glowing effects and layers.
- Software: Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, or Photoshop for easy color adjustments.
- Tablet: Wacom Intuos or iPad with Apple Pencil—think of it like a controller for micro drones.
- Brushes: Custom metallic and glow brushes to simulate LED lights on drone visors.
Budget tip: Start traditional if you’re new; digital allows infinite undos for perfecting proportions.
Mastering Basic Anatomy and Proportions
Murder Drones characters follow consistent designs rooted in drone engineering. Worker drones like Uzi are compact (about 4-5 heads tall), while disassembly drones like N and V are taller (6-7 heads) with elongated limbs for agility.
Core Body Structure
- Head: Large, rounded rectangle with a single digital visor eye (X-shaped for disassembly drones). No nose or mouth—emotions show via visor expressions.
- Torso: Boxy with vents and panels, like a UAV fuselage. Add seams for realism.
- Limbs: Thin, segmented arms/legs with claw hands. Disassembly drones have elbow blades.
- Wings and Tail: Retractable X-wings (three blades each) and syringe tails with glowing tips.
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