___HERO    ___HEROINE    ___SIDEKICK    ___KING    ___QUEEN    ___RULER   ___PRINCE    ___PRINCESS   ___REBEL

___MOTHER    ___FATHER    ___WISE OLD MAN   ___WISE OLD WOMAN   ___TEACHER    ___GENIUS   ___COACH   ___SEEKER   ___CAREGIVER

___UNDERDOG    ___CREATOR    ___INNOCENT         ___JESTER     ___BUFFOON    ___IDIOT   ___VICTIM    ___MAGICIAN     ___WARRIOR

___VILLAIN    ___DESTROYER    ___WITCH   ___DARKSIDE CHILD   ___ORPHAN    ___MIDGET   ___GIANT   ___GHOST   ___MYTHOLOGICAL, e.g.: TROLL

 © 2000 YMS / The Character Lab / Innertainment Inc. 

 

Whether your "Character Program" consists of only 1 character, a character and a sidekick, or a whole cast, it's critical to design the character or characters as the archetype(s) that will maximize the consumer/audience's IDENTIFICATION. (See next Model). When a cast of characters is designed, the character "mix" is critical.

 

The Star Wars cast of characters for example, appears to have it all: Hero (Luke Skywaker), Wise Old men (Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi), Heroine/Princess (Princess Leia), Rebel (Hans Solo), Genius (R2D2), Buffoon (C3PO), Main Villain (Darth Vader), many other Villains.

 

Other examples:  Tony the Tiger (muscular Hero), Chester Cheetah (cool Rebel), Lucky the Leprechaun (mythological),Bugs Bunny (clever Hero), Miss Piggy (Darkside Child), The Joker (Villain), Casper (Ghost), Mervyn (Magician)

 

 

● Character Identification Patterns

 

An "Identification Pattern" is essentially  the relationship the child has with a "character"

- either human or animal, anthropomorphic/ cartoon-like or real human personality. 

That is, how does a child relate to and interact with the human or animal? There are

5 Identification Patterns that children become involved with in their relationships to dolls,

animals, and human and cartoon characters of all types:

 

NURTURING    In this relationship, the child either nurtures the toy doll, animal, etc., (e.g.: a Cabbage Patch Doll), or is nurtured by it (e.g: Big Bird, Mr. Rogers, Barney).    Or, nurturing impulses arise in the relationship.   This ID pattern is strong typically with younger children.

LIKE ME                  A "Like Me" relationship  or identification pattern with a character or doll means that the child sees the doll, animal, human or cartoon character as like themselves in some way.   e.g.: A little girl might see  a Strawberry Shortcake mini doll or Dora the Explorer as somewhat like themselves - as a little girl, approximately her own age.  Or a little boy may sense that some of the emotions of a stuffed bear character are like his own.   This ID pattern is typically the weakest given narrower opportunities for identification.

EMULATORY   In an "Emulatory" Identification Pattern" the relationship is one in which the child emulates or "wants to be like" the human or animal character / object.  (e.g.: A Power Rangers figure, a Barbie Doll, Arnold Schwartzenegger.)   This ID pattern is typically extremely powerful as  the human need for control/power is very strong.

ENTERTAINING   In this relationship, the individual's expectation of the character is one of being entertained.    The consumer/viewer may not want to be like this character or see it as either nurturing or "like himself", rather, the point is the "character's role is to entertain me,  especially through HUMOR.“   Many examples: Tasmanian Devil, Daffy Duck,  Sponge Bob Square Pants and Jim Carrey characters

DISIDENTIFICATION   This is a different type of "Identification" in which the child does not want to be like the character, animal, or personality, but is attracted to and involved with them because of their "darkside" or negative attributes.   e.g.: Villains are typical objects of disidentification - such as Darth Vader, Luther of Superman,  Angelica of the Rugrats, or soft villains such as Wil E. Coyote .

 

 ● Sample Character Power Quadrant

 

                                                      

                                                

 

CHARACTER NAME:  GARFIELD

HIGH POWER                                                                                           HIGH POWER

POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION	POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION
___Lightside Character	_√_Unique/Different
___Vulnerable	_√_Hero/Winner Archetype
___Tender	_√_Intelligent/Clever
___Innocent	_√_A Leader
___Loving	_√_Happy/Carefree
___Shy	_√_Independent
	___Warm/Friendly
	_√_Multidimensional
	_√_Funny/Humorous
	_√_Exciting/Stimulating
	_√_Competitive
	___Nurturing
	_√_Self-Assured/Confident
	_√_Physically Appealing
TYPICALLY WEAK APPEAL / POWER*	_√_Emotionally Expressive
___Physically Unappealing
___Loser Archetype	ATTRACTING DARKSIDE APPEAL
___Non-Unique, Passé	_√_Darkside Character
___Dupe/Stupid	_√_Mean
___Follower	_√_Manipulative
___Dependent	_√_Moody
___Unidimensional	_√_Abusive
___No Humor	_√_Obnoxious
___Predictable	_√_Impulsive
___Boring/Non-Emotional	_√_Rebellious

 LOW  POWER                                                                                           HIGH POWER

                                                                                    

* While often weak in overall power and not effective as cast leaders, there are

   many support characters that are effective being stupid or unidimensional.

   e.g.: Eyeore of Winnie the Pooh and the Dumb and Dumber duo.

 

  © 2000 YMS / The Character Lab / Innertainment Inc.                

 

 ● Sample Character Summary/Personality Worksheet

 CHARACTER NAME: GARFIELD

 © 2000 YMS / The Character Lab / Innertainment Inc. 

 

 ● Character Dynamic Sample  

When a cast of more than 2 characters is being created or maximized, it's extremely useful to

arrange the characters in what we term their "Character Dynamic". This model illustrates the

relationships between the characters with arrows, and also shows positive and adversarial

relationships via the green and red arrows. In addition, the sizes of the circles represent the

relative importance of each character.

 

 

                                       

 

 

Please feel free to talk to us about how the creation of, or maximization of, a "Character Program" for your

company or enterprise could result in significant youth impact. CONTACT US