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Published: 2014-02-21 05:07:26 +0000 UTC; Views: 1871; Favourites: 44; Downloads: 26
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Description
Thoughts: Robotnik is rather literally seated at the center of his empire. A simple point or flick of his wrist can send legions of robotic minions to any of hundreds of differing tasks.One wonders how advanced his interface with the many systems of his happens to be. It's level of interconnectivity and reaction may be tied to any number of different command modes, be it verbal, gestural, subvocal, spoken, or anything more esoteric. Could it possibly extend to being triggered by anger, or surfacing tensity? What of the order of how reading his emotions comes about? There is a wide difference in the situation of that creeping unease or distaste, knowing infiltrators are within his city, versus that pre-existing disgust of knowing he will eventually encounter resistance - quite like unwanted pestilence - if his robotic forces are elsewhere while seeking resources or artifacts.
In a situation where he is dealing with a foe that reacts quicker than the untrained eye can track or predict, the ability to issue commands, and to have his forces react accordingly, is pivotal.
Details: A sketch for a friend.
Materials: Mechanical pencil, sketchbook paper, graphite stick, and col-erase pencil.
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Comments: 28
Man, if there's anything about SatAM worth watching, it's Jim Cummings' Robotnik. I suppose given the nature of the show it was inevitable they'd ham it up, but it's still the most menacing portrayal I've seen in the entire franchiseβthe only way they could've topped it is if they'd hired Tony Jay. This sketch captures that aura of authority lacking in the Eggman design: he's in control, and he knows it.
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I can only agree with you, and that version is one which many fans miss sorely to this day.
Overall, I don't pay heed to any of the new Sonic materials at all, not to mention that the overall complexity of Robotnik is nigh left to waste, officially. Furthermore, there's such a plethora of scantly developed villains that I see little more than a repeating pattern in their overall structure.
In short, nothing redeemable. It's the original SatAMΒ universe that holds my fascination, primarily, one where a good potential story is still to be found.
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Thank you for the thought and comment.
It's an older work, and Robotnik has been a character I've wanted to return to for some time. Other projects intrude, but I still find that he is a villain of rich circumstance and great presence in creativity.
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I find Robotnik to be an awesome villain as well.
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love your Robotnik drawings. They're always so awesome.
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Thank you, Code-E. Admittedly, I hardly work on Robotnik at all, but he is no less a dynamic and nuanced character to return to - and, moreover, fellow fans love seeing any depictions of him. So, that much is always good.
To be frank, I wish I had as much time as I do ideas (or points of focus). Alas, I'm on the same boat as many an artist. Nevertheless, ideas of Robotnik remain, latent or not.
Take care, Code-E, and thanks again!
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Nice work once again. :3 You know Stalin had a slightly withered left arm due to a childhood accident
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I'm certainly no shining anatomist, especially when working with proportions on a figure whose build kind of warps one's thinking. Overall, those large, sweeping shoulderpads and his forward-reach play havoc with what is meant to be a relaxed rest of his hand on his belly.
Taking into account his considerable girth, he'd have to reach forward and around, which kind of doesn't work, unless the gauntlet was considerably heavy, or he were consciously holding his arm up that way. The flare of that shoulder armor also alters where one would consider his shoulders or proportion to rest, which makes his cranium seem a rather small.
Overall, mostly I just shake my head, and let the sketch be as it may. I'm a firm adherent to Sturgeon's Law ('90% of everything is garbage'). And, I find it holds true, at least so far as my sketchbooks indicate, either in notes, asemic-notes, or sketches (or just thumbnails in planning).
In any case, it's good to share a laugh at those shortcomings. I certainly don't fail to humor myself for my lack of skill, or this outcome or that.
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I was more referring to the fact Robotnik's left arm is also disabled 
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Ah, I was thinking so, but I was not sure.
Either way, the many contexts one could read into Robotnik's roboticized/artificial arm is surely a volume in itself. Be it from appearance, design, his own history, or from any technology he incorporates into it (or that it alone might be the single most murder-capable part of him - whether he chooses to make use of it that way or not) could play into a wide span of situations.
All the more of a look into a dark and terrifying mind. Unfortunately for others, that framework is literally illuminated by a tyrant's iron fist.
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I've read alot into all of this and some believe it was Stalin's physical and psychological shortcomings that shaped his rather unique (for the time) brand of tyranny.
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I know little of such history or biography (unfortunately), but it does sound legitimately interesting in it's workings. Certainly in many ways, life is just as rich and strange (and possibly frightening) as fiction, and there is ever plenty to call forth from many a chronicle of events and lives past.
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Stalin's son Yakov , whom he had with his first wife Ekaterina Svanidze , shot himself because of Stalin's harshness toward him, but survived. After this, Stalin said, "He can't even shoot straight." [328] Yakov served in the Red Army during World War II and was captured by the Germans. They offered to exchange him for Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus , who had surrendered after Stalingrad, but Stalin turned the offer down, stating, "You have in your hands not only my son Yakov, but millions of my sons. Either you free them all or my son will share their fate." [329] Afterwards, Yakov is said to have committed suicide, running into an electric fence in Sachsenhausen concentration camp , where he was being held.
(thanks wikipedia.)
Heart of Iron.
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Indeed! Thank you for the curious bit of information. I appreciate you passing it along. 
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I can't belive it! You did another Robotnik after such a long time 
This expression absolutely underlines your thoughts about Julian. His eyes are almost "bored" because of the easiness he can control this world. Robotniks left hand lying on his belly at least gives me this idea.
However, his left hand seems to be a bit too small on this picture. Or probably his belly is a bit too big compared to the rest of his body. This may just be my idea of him, don't take it serious if this is the way you wanted to draw him
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As a work, I decided simply to let this be - or, express what it may, either in design or mannerism. The only dominating factor behind it was it's essence of gesture, which seemed intuitively important. (Despite that factor, I can't speak for my skill in actually rendering the work.)
That aside, I did want that aspect of relaxed ease and, yes, a kind of directness or boredom as well - that sort of expression that rests on the edge of a moment. In this case, Julian's expression could as easily morph into cold calculation as it could, in twisting that relaxed hand into a crushing gesture, become one of fury.
Perhaps you are misinterpreting the structure of the gauntlet? The hand is about 2/3 of the forearm, and his hand could easily cover his face... The general basis of proportionate build. Admittedly, there's a bit more of a gracile look to his fingers, due to them resting at an angle on his belly, being viewed essentially at the side rather than from the top.
Generally when one is seated, especially considering for his arms to normally be able to rest easily at his sides (and the shape that gives his chair), it would push his belly rather farther forward. Also considering if he was leaned back or resting easily, it would again make his girth seem to come forward all the more. Accounting for this in his pose is still a bit of a trouble, what with his proportions, armor, and any other nearby objects or surfaces taken into account.
As a realist, that is my manner of thinking, because it effects some small parts of a gesture, and thus also some elements of portrayal - the angle of a wrist, the articulation of an action. While not the be-all and end-all of a visual work, it certainly has it's presence.
Thank you for offering your thoughts, Skotty! I understand that my works of Robotnik are very rare, but my respect for Robotnik hasn't waned in the least.
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Well, look who seems to be back in action.
I see more contemplation more than anything; sorta like he wants to robotize the viewer but he's also wondering if the viewer has any sort of information that might be of some use. So, it's as if he is looking (for the time being) towards something more than just another robotic minion.
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Thank you for adding your thoughts, Britt. They are most certainly welcome, and I am glad that you've enjoyed the sketch.
While much of this sketch was simply done and left to what details it had taken of it's own flow and accord, the gesture and nature behind Robotnik was it's one clear element.
The other side of it was ambiguity, the very bridge between moments and decisions. It lets one interpret Robotnik as one may - yet also, it lets one know that his ways are calculating, fickle, and demanding. His angle on seeing someone or something as a resource is a bleak spectrum to examined under, yet also a necessary and scathing light for a mind accustomed to grand, complicated designs and careful order and use of resources.
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When you see Robotnik's face twitch, you know your f*cked.
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I agree entirely with that statement, Raziel.
Fury, in his case, comes in many forms, and certainly his anger - be it outright and blazing, or cold and maniacal - is met with the same meticulous calculation as any of his efforts... And nothing good ever comes of that.
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I really like the design you gave him.
Classic SatAM/Early Archie Robotnik with a modernized flare.
It's much the way I envision Robotnik in mt fic Shard in the Bone.
Only mine is a little thinner, with some of Modern Eggman mixed in...and no shoulder spikes. The Robotnik I've created for SitB is as dangerous on foot as he is in a giant mech or at his Command Center.
Calm, calculative, charismatic, and aloof, hiding a well hidden resivoire of malicious fury and incalculable greed.
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Certainly a fair choice, and sensible. I've never understood why Robotnik would ever fail to at least attempt to make himself as capable a fighter as possible. Although his capability might not be outright as great as the extremes as others, he should never be one anyone would be wise to underestimate, yet alone presume that they've seen the extent of his hidden resourcefulness or fallback strategies and tactics.
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The Robotnik I envision should not be underestimated even if he had no access to his robots.
His cybernetic right arm had a built in roboticizer in the palm that can convert anyone he can touch.
Though since he is still mostly organic he has to use a replaceable power source after 7 conversions or one very big conversion (someone like a rhino or elephant) and the arm must be opened to replace the Chaos Drive it's power by.
It also it able to fire the hand and use it in a way reminiscent to Scorpion's spear in Mortal Kombat.
His eyes also incorporate lasers and various vision modes. and his cybernetic ears incorporate an active sonar.
and Of course he is much stronger than his fat form appears and with cybernetic assistance he can semi-accurately predict where Sonic will be and counter attack accordingly.
And if he does have access to his machines he can command them with simple gestures and mental links, vocal commands just make it faster and easier for them to understand specifics.
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I see you have a developed and clear set of how you wish for your concept of Robotnik to be, and how he would articulate his threat. Excellent. A compelling basis is often the cause of many a great creation.
It's good to see some enthusiasm, and I hope that it serves you well. Art and ideas, be they via visual methods, writing, sculpting, or digital media, can be demanding over the long term... But with the passage of time, and exposure to new media, ideas can often germinate into something quite formidable.
... A factor I am sure that Robotnik knows in his own way, and can use with deadly efficiency. How ideas permutate and advance in his understanding would be cause for fear amid any of his foes.
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Very, very true.
Now I'll I need to do is concentrate on it! I like my dark and gritty reboot fic Shards in the Bone but I seem to be putting most of my energy into the brighter and less gritty Super Sonic X: Renewals.
But thanks for the compliments! I hope to see more Robotnik (and maybe other characters) from you soon! And good-luck with whatever goals in life you have set for yourself.
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Thank you very kindly, Raziel.
Likewise, I wish you luck in finding your own balance amid your work. I understand quite well both how ideas can spiral out of one's hands, and into a swarming multiplicity. I don't know how many ideas remain little more than a line of notes or set of thumbnails in my sketchbooks or notebooks.
More than likely, you might see an appealing villain or two amid some Tron: Uprising sketches of mine, which is where my focus was recently. Most notably, General Tesler; a rather bloodthirsty fellow, manipulative, virtually genocidally bent on enforcing order, and with a hatred of the authorities above him. He also sports a set of artificial lower arms or gauntlets (later modified in the series to become even deadlier), but their history and his reason for having such unconventional weapons isn't answered in and of itself.
Thanks again, Raziel! I hope you find many good inspirations and new art, here in the great ocean of DA.
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