Understanding Jake as a Character

Jake is one of the main characters in the TV show Adventure Time. His stretchy body allows him to morph into anything (for example a chair (below)); he is perceived as quite lazy at times, enjoys food, and is loyal to his best friend Finn.

His character design has changed slightly over time; in the later seasons he looks slightly rounder, with a lighter shade of yellow. I think they made these changes to make Jake more visually appealing to a younger audience. It could also represent how much Jake has eaten and changed weight over the period of time between seasons.

First season

Design change

The use of his ears, tail and the bridge of his nose all help to identify the character as a dog, with the use of round shapes help the younger audience to understand that he's supposed to be a dog, despite his human (and inhuman) characteristics.

What I find interesting about the design is how you can interpret it to look both male and female, just by adding a few simple features such as eye lashes for a female and a tie on the male. 

The main character's parents