Why I think Whis character design is a masterpiece

Original post by Symphony

In a crowd, my eyes are always drawn to Whis instantly - now I figured out why:

Whis seamlessly blends the modern with the ancient:  His hairstyle, dress, pants, and shoes are modern style/elements while his "armor" outer layer is an ancient element.  Together, they create a sense of TIMELESSNESS.

His staff with the floating sphere adds a fantasy element.

Combined with his delicate, feminine facial features and lean physique, the design perfectly conveys his ethereal, Angel status.

Now let's look at the brilliance of his color scheme:

Whis wears a predominantly warm (maroon) garment, contrasted with cool tones (blue and white) in his sash, staff and shoes, all grounded by a neutral (black) outer layer.  Notice that Toriyama avoids aggressive warm tones (like bright red, orange, yellow), opting instead for a quiet maroon with a brightness level that is "just right".  The result looks perfectly balanced: regal and elegant without becoming excessive.

Another advantage of this color scheme is that it allows Whis to blend seamlessly into cool-toned environments (such as Beerus Planet with its blue trees & grass, or Earth with its green trees and blue sky) while still standing out.

His cool (blue) skin is paired with a predominantly warm (maroon) outfit.  This harmonious combination of contrasting warm and cool colors makes him stand out in a crowd.

By comparison, other Angels dressed primarily in cool colors (green, blue) often fade into the background, visually "lost" in a crowd.

Overall, Whis' design is bold and flamboyant, but at the same time very neat and elegant, never over-the-top.

A true masterclass in character design!  Easily one of the top five character designs of all time.