19 Midjourney Prompts for Character Design Illustration

As an art enthusiast, I’ve been blown away by Midjourney, an AI image generation tool that has revolutionized the way I approach character design. With its ability to generate stunning and unique images from text prompts, Midjourney has opened up a whole new world of creative possibilities for me and countless other artists, writers, and designers.

I’ve always believed that character design is at the heart of storytelling, whether it’s in video games, comics, animation, or graphic novels. The right character design can make all the difference in capturing an audience’s attention, conveying emotion, and leaving a lasting impact. That’s why I’m so excited about Midjourney and its potential to help bring even the most imaginative characters to life with unparalleled detail and creativity.

In this blog post, I want to share with you 19 Midjourney prompts that I’ve personally experimented with, each showcasing the tool’s incredible potential for character design illustration.

Prompt 1

For this first prompt, I wanted to create a simple yet striking character design of a beautiful girl with long brown hair. The prompt I used was:

Illustration of a beautiful girl with long brown hair, wearing a black turtleneck and yellow earrings. She is looking to the side against a red background, cartoon style. –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A beautiful girl as the main subject
• Long brown hair, a defining feature of the character
• Black turtleneck and yellow earrings, providing a simple but stylish outfit
• The girl looking to the side, adding a sense of mystery or contemplation
• A red background, creating a bold and striking contrast
• Cartoon style, giving the illustration a playful and approachable aesthetic

Prompt 2

For the second prompt, I wanted to explore a more minimalist and graphic approach to character design. The prompt I used was:

A vector illustration of a man with short hair and sunglasses smoking in the style of simple shapes, bold color palette, bold lines, flat design, graphic design inspired, minimalistic background, portrait format, symmetrical composition, red pink and blue colors. –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A man with short hair and sunglasses, providing a cool and mysterious vibe
• The act of smoking, adding an edgy and rebellious element to the character
• Simple shapes, bold lines, and a flat design, creating a striking minimalist aesthetic
• A bold color palette of red, pink, and blue, making the illustration pop
• A minimalistic background and symmetrical composition, focusing the viewer’s attention on the character
• Portrait format, emphasizing the character’s face and upper body

Prompt 3

For the third prompt, I wanted to create a more dramatic and atmospheric character design, so I chose to depict a viking warrior standing on a cliff. The prompt I used was:

A viking warrior with braided beard, fur cloak, and a battle-worn axe, standing on a cliff overlooking a stormy sea, highly detailed, dramatic lighting, oil painting style –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A viking warrior, a powerful and iconic character archetype
• Braided beard, fur cloak, and battle-worn axe, providing authentic and detailed viking attire
• Standing on a cliff overlooking a stormy sea, creating a sense of drama and atmosphere
• Highly detailed and dramatic lighting, adding depth and realism to the illustration
• Oil painting style, giving the image a rich and textured appearance

Prompt 4

For the fourth prompt, I decided to go back to a more minimalist style, this time focusing on creating a flat vector avatar of an Asian male. The prompt I used was:

A flat vector avatar of an Asian male with short black hair, wearing glasses and smiling at the camera, featuring a minimalist style –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• An Asian male as the main subject, promoting diversity in character design
• Short black hair and glasses, providing simple but recognizable features
• Smiling at the camera, conveying a friendly and approachable demeanor
• Flat vector style, creating a clean and modern aesthetic
• Minimalist style, keeping the focus on the character’s essential features

Prompt 5

For the fifth prompt, I wanted to create a fun and whimsical character design of a cartoon girl scout. The prompt I used was:

A cartoon girl scout wearing glasses, with brown shorts and hiking boots holding an envelope in her hand. She has a big backpack on her back and is carrying books. –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A cartoon girl scout, evoking a sense of adventure and curiosity
• Glasses, adding a touch of intelligence and quirkiness to the character
• Brown shorts and hiking boots, providing a classic and recognizable girl scout uniform
• An envelope in her hand, hinting at a potential story or mission
• A big backpack and books, suggesting a love for learning and exploration

Prompt 6

For the sixth prompt, I wanted to create a more introspective and atmospheric character design, so I decided to generate a digital painting of an Asian girl with glasses. The prompt I used was:

A digital painting of an Asian girl with glasses, resting her head on one hand and looking thoughtfully at the camera. She has long hair tied back in two buns, wearing black short sleeves, and is holding onto a plastic cup that contains blue liquid. The background features vibrant colors and shapes, creating a lively atmosphere. –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• An Asian girl with glasses, promoting diversity in character design
• Resting her head on one hand and looking thoughtfully at the camera, conveying a sense of introspection and contemplation
• Long hair tied back in two buns, providing a unique and memorable hairstyle
• Black short sleeves and a plastic cup with blue liquid, adding visual interest and hinting at a potential story
• A background with vibrant colors and shapes, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere
• Digital painting style, allowing for a rich and textured appearance

Prompt 7

For the seventh prompt, I decided to create a whimsical and adorable character design of a little boy in a forest setting. The prompt I used was:

A cute little boy in the forest. He is wearing shorts and hiking boots with a backpack. He has big eyes and blonde hair. He is a cartoon character with colorful butterflies around him and a happy face. –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A cute little boy, evoking a sense of innocence and wonder
• Shorts, hiking boots, and a backpack, suggesting an adventurous spirit
• Big eyes and blonde hair, giving the character a friendly and approachable appearance
• A forest setting with colorful butterflies, creating a magical and enchanting atmosphere
• A cartoon style with a happy face, making the character feel warm and inviting

Prompt 8

For the eighth prompt, I wanted to create a fun and quirky character design that could fit well into a fantasy RPG game. The prompt I used was:

Character design of a cute fat frog adventurer for an RPG game, with a white background, in a simple art style using simple lines and shapes with low details and no shadows or shading. –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A cute fat frog adventurer, combining an unconventional character concept with a classic RPG archetype
• A simple art style with simple lines and shapes, creating a clean and approachable aesthetic
• Low details and no shadows or shading, emphasizing the character’s basic form and silhouette
• A white background, allowing the character to stand out and be the focus of the image

Prompt 9

For the ninth prompt, I decided to create a mysterious and intriguing character design in an anime style. The prompt I used was:

Vignette Hunter, gray hair and black coat, red eyes, dark metal gauntlets, in the style of anime. –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• Vignette Hunter, a name that suggests a dark and enigmatic character
• Gray hair and black coat, creating a striking and mysterious visual contrast
• Red eyes, adding an unsettling and supernatural element to the character
• Dark metal gauntlets, hinting at a combat-ready and potentially dangerous persona
• Anime style, allowing for expressive and stylized character design

Prompt 10

For the tenth prompt, I wanted to create an adorable and whimsical character design that could capture the hearts of audiences across different media. The prompt I used was:

A cute penguin adventurer with a backpack, character concept art, full body shot, digital painting –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A cute penguin adventurer, combining an endearing animal character with an adventurous spirit
• A backpack, suggesting a readiness for exploration and discovery
• Character concept art, emphasizing the design’s potential for development and adaptation
• Full body shot, allowing for a complete view of the character’s design and proportions
• Digital painting, creating a rich and textured visual style

Prompt 11

For the eleventh prompt, I decided to create a friendly and approachable character design in a cartoon style. The prompt I used was:

cartoon portrait of smiling girl with long brown hair in braid, big eyes and freckles wearing white shirt with suspenders, simple background –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A smiling girl, conveying a warm and friendly demeanor
• Long brown hair in a braid, adding a youthful and dynamic element to the character
• Big eyes and freckles, creating an endearing and relatable appearance
• White shirt with suspenders, providing a classic and timeless look
• Simple background, keeping the focus on the character’s face and expression
• Cartoon style, allowing for exaggerated and expressive facial features

Prompt 12

For the twelfth prompt, I wanted to create a whimsical and imaginative character design that could fit into a fantasy or fairy tale setting. The prompt I used was:

A cute little goblin sitting on top of an old log, he has yellow hair and blue skin with orange eyes, his head is made of fire, wearing a red cape, cartoon style, fantasy art –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A cute little goblin, combining a traditionally mischievous creature with an endearing appearance
• Sitting on top of an old log, adding a sense of place and context to the character
• Yellow hair, blue skin, and orange eyes, creating a vibrant and otherworldly color palette
• Head made of fire, introducing a magical and unexpected element to the design
• Red cape, providing a bold and heroic accessory that contrasts with the character’s size
• Cartoon style and fantasy art, emphasizing the whimsical and imaginative nature of the design

Prompt 13

For the thirteenth prompt, I decided to create an elegant and captivating character design in an anime style, featuring a beautiful woman in traditional Japanese attire. The prompt I used was:

A beautiful woman wearing a red kimono, with big eyes and double eyelids, her hair in an updo with black and brown curls, in the style of anime, red earrings on her ears, against a simple background –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A beautiful woman, emphasizing the character’s elegance and attractiveness
• Red kimono, providing a striking and traditional Japanese garment
• Big eyes and double eyelids, creating an expressive and alluring gaze
• Hair in an updo with black and brown curls, adding sophistication and complexity to the character’s appearance
• Anime style, allowing for exaggerated and stylized facial features
• Red earrings, providing a subtle accessory that complements the kimono
• Simple background, keeping the focus on the character’s beauty and details

Prompt 14

For the fourteenth prompt, I wanted to create a character design that exudes mystery, power, and an otherworldly aura. The prompt I used was:

A mysterious archer with glowing blue eyes, intricate braided hair, and a cloak made of shimmering leaves, digital art, highly detailed, cinematic lighting –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A mysterious archer, suggesting a skilled and enigmatic character
• Glowing blue eyes, adding an otherworldly and supernatural element to the design
• Intricate braided hair, providing a complex and visually interesting hairstyle
• A cloak made of shimmering leaves, creating a unique and magical garment that blends with nature
• Digital art, allowing for a highly detailed and polished visual style
• Cinematic lighting, adding depth, drama, and atmosphere to the character’s presentation

Prompt 15

For the fifteenth prompt, I decided to create a character design that pays homage to the classic comic book style, featuring a charming and expressive portrait of a girl. The prompt I used was:

Close-up portrait in the style of comic book art, girl with black hair in a ponytail and bangs, blue eyes, yellow jacket with a red collar, white background, soft colors. –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• Comic book art style, evoking a sense of nostalgia and classic storytelling
• Close-up portrait, focusing on the character’s facial features and expressions
• Girl with black hair in a ponytail and bangs, providing a youthful and dynamic hairstyle
• Blue eyes, adding a striking and expressive focal point to the character’s face
• Yellow jacket with a red collar, creating a bold and iconic color scheme
• White background, allowing the character to stand out and emphasize the comic book aesthetic
• Soft colors, providing a gentle and approachable visual tone

Prompt 16

For the sixteenth prompt, I wanted to create a character design that embodies the gritty, survival-driven world of a post-apocalyptic setting. The prompt I used was:

A post-apocalyptic scavenger with a gas mask, tattered clothes, and a makeshift weapon, wandering through a desolate wasteland, gritty textures, muted colors, realistic style –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A post-apocalyptic scavenger, suggesting a hardened survivor in a harsh world
• Gas mask, tattered clothes, and a makeshift weapon, providing visual cues of the character’s resourcefulness and adaptability
• Desolate wasteland, creating a bleak and hostile environment that challenges the character’s survival
• Gritty textures and muted colors, adding a sense of realism and atmosphere to the design
• Realistic style, grounding the character in a believable and immersive world

Prompt 17

For the seventeenth prompt, I decided to create a character design that explores a more emotional and introspective side of fantasy characters. The prompt I used was:

A cute little fairy with dark hair sits on the ground looking sad. She has her chin in one hand. –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A cute little fairy, evoking a sense of innocence and vulnerability
• Dark hair, providing a contrast to the typically light and ethereal fairy aesthetic
• Sitting on the ground, suggesting a state of dejection or contemplation
• Looking sad, with chin in one hand, conveying a sense of emotional distress or pensiveness

Prompt 18

For the eighteenth prompt, I wanted to create a character design that showcases the simplicity and charm of flat design illustration. The prompt I used was:

A cute white girl with short hair holding her cat in the style of flat design and simple color blocks, character illustration, game art, pop portrait –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A cute white girl with short hair, providing a simple and endearing character base
• Holding her cat, adding an element of companionship and warmth to the design
• Flat design and simple color blocks, creating a clean and minimalist aesthetic
• Character illustration, game art, and pop portrait, suggesting versatility in application and style

Prompt 19

For the nineteenth and final prompt, I decided to create a character design that combines cute and colorful elements with a distinctive personal style. The prompt I used was:

A cute illustration of an Asian girl with long blue hair, wearing pink glasses, smiling, hand drawn style. –ar 3:4

The key elements of this prompt are:

• A cute illustration, setting a tone of endearment and approachability
• An Asian girl, promoting diversity and representation in character design
• Long blue hair, adding a unique and eye-catching color to the character’s appearance
• Pink glasses, providing a fashionable and quirky accessory that complements the hair color
• Smiling, conveying a sense of happiness and friendliness
• Hand-drawn style, giving the illustration a personal and artistic touch

Through this exploration of 19 diverse Midjourney prompts, we’ve seen the incredible versatility and creativity that AI-generated character design can bring to the table. From the whimsical charm of a cute penguin adventurer to the gritty realism of a post-apocalyptic scavenger, each prompt has showcased a different facet of Midjourney’s ability to bring unique and compelling characters to life.

What’s truly remarkable about these designs is how they manage to capture the essence of each character through a carefully crafted combination of visual elements, from clothing and accessories to facial expressions and body language. By paying close attention to the details that make each character unique, Midjourney is able to create designs that feel authentic, relatable, and emotionally resonant.

Moreover, the sheer range of styles and genres represented in these prompts is a testament to the boundless potential of AI-generated character design. Whether you’re looking to create characters for a fantasy epic, a sci-fi adventure, a slice-of-life comic, or anything in between, Midjourney has the tools and the flexibility to bring your vision to life.