Leatherhead

Leatherhead from TMNT!

Once again the goal was to play with the character design by adding more animal elements while staying true to the Konami video game sprites and action figure.

The first renditions were very similar to the action figure with a low profile body almost like a real alligator. It was interesting concept, but it didn't feel right at all.

I never saw an episode of TMNT with Leatherhead until I was an old-ass grown adult, but when TMNT was in its prime I played the games often. He was rendered the same way he appeared in the TV show, a hulking brute with a Alligator head and tail. There was something about that overbuilt, intimidating look that I wanted to recapture with this drawing. The tricky part was making this monster still have a dominant animal appearance and not humanizing the design to the point of ridiculousness. Deliberately avoiding a normal human character with an alligator tail and head.

Also, my friend Aaron said that making a cool biped Alligator couldn't be done.