groups. They might score better in verbal skills and short-term memory. Men generally score
better in mathematical, mechanical, and spatial skills. Assertiveness is likely to be higher in
males. Males tend to do more exploring and may be more creative. Women often overcome
problems with support from their friends. Men tend to deal with problems more on their
own. Remember, however, that not all males or all females are the same. Today there are
plenty of stay-at-home men and plenty of women who are CEOs. Try seeing sexuality in
broader terms with warmth and love for all ages. Instead of describing people by their attrac-
tiveness, try describing them by intelligence, style, or uniqueness. Try giving your characters
traits that are opposite from the norm.
Everyman vs. One-of-a-Kind
As human beings, there are qualities that we all possess. A character who is everyman is
someone who represents us all, and we’ll always be able to identify with that character. Real
people are a combination of the qualities that we all possess and specific, unique traits. Char-
acters should also be a combination of those global qualities and the unique characteristics
that make them one-of-a-kind.
Complex and Original Characters
If you want to develop characters for a feature or a series that you hope will become a
classic, then you probably want to develop more complex characters than the character types
just listed. Classic characters who will be loved and remain on the toy shelves for decades
are usually unique characters that we can all relate to and like. You want to give those char-
acters a complete personality and an attitude toward each other. The more personality and
individuality your characters have, the better your stories will be.
Starting a Profile
Not every question that follows will be applicable or necessary for each character you
develop. The most important information is what will help you delve into the thoughts, feel-
ings, and emotions of your characters. Feelings and emotions are key to good writing! You
might even want to write down your own character profile and delve more deeply into the
things that make youtick. Tapping into your own emotions, often buried deep inside you,
may help you hit pay dirt in understanding the complexity of your characters and getting
inside their skins. Some people feel that it’s better to write a character profile in the first
person, as if it were an autobiography, so you really get inside the soul of each character.
Your characters should be allowed some room to grow as you write more about them. The
more you know about your characters, the better.
Character Profile- Name (name may give us a clue: Precious, Cowboy, U.R. Steel, or Ted D. Bear)
- Sex
62 Animation Writing and Development