Any tips for people (like me lmfao) who wanna start their own gacha series? because i really wanna start mine but it’s very time consuming and I HAVE IDEAS BUT IDK WHERE TOO STARTTT… your videos r kinda my inspiration ngl what would be your thoughts on where to start?
I actually have a lot of things that helped me when making my own series! (Sorry it took me so long to answer, I don’t usually check the asks on my main account 😭)
So here are some things I personally recommend:
1. Be considerate with your time
This is something I learned from my old series LL + NB.
I eventually couldn’t manage it anymore because school was preventing me from making full episodes, which made story progression much slower than I wanted.
So I highly recommend picking a format that works with your schedule and your energy- especially if this is just a hobby or side project!
Making music videos, shorts, Wattpad stories, and comics for Tongue Tied really helped me expand the story at a pace I enjoyed while still making content that was realistic for me to produce.
Your series doesn’t have to be made in one specific format!
It is completely okay to change things later or diverge from your original ideas. Stories naturally evolve!
However, having a plan at all helps make everything much clearer.
a list of videos of chapters
Even a simple list of what you want to make next can help a lot!
Personally, I keep a list of music videos and general videos I want to make so I don’t have to constantly come up with new ideas from scratch.
This also applies when making individual videos- highly recommend brainstorming and storyboarding before jumping straight into production.
3. GET TO KNOW YOUR CHARACTERS AND STORY!
I cannot emphasize this enough!
Before you even start your series, take time to understand your characters and the world you’re creating
Even knowing the basics helps make everything you create feel much more intentional.
Build your characters beyond their basic archetypes:
What are their personalities?
Why do they act the way they do?
Use writing prompts, make character bios, create random scenarios- whatever helps you understand them!
The same applies to your story. Think about:
What themes do you want to explore?
Where do you want the story to go?
What kind of journey are your characters going through?
BUT don’t feel pressured to have everything permanently set in stone!
Tongue Tied’s story has changed a lot behind the scenes, and my characters have evolved in ways the audience hasn’t even seen yet.
Changing your ideas doesn’t mean you failed. Sometimes it means your story is growing!
4. Figure out your target audience
Even if it’s something simple like kids, teens, adults
Knowing who your story is for can help you decide what themes, topics, and storytelling choices fit best.
For example, Tongue Tied is mainly aimed toward teenagers and above because it explores more mature themes that I wouldn’t recommend for younger audiences.
Your target audience doesn’t have to limit your creativity, but it can help guide your choices.
5. Don’t be afraid to make things nobody will see
A lot of entertainment studios create things that never reach the audience:
And that’s completely normal!
Don’t be afraid to make beta designs, test videos, alternate outfits, or random edits of your characters.
Even if nobody else sees them, they help you understand your own series better.
This one is VERY important
A story can have many different plots and characters, but having a central emotional theme helps everything feel connected.
LL was about finding value in yourself even when you believe you don’t have any.
Tongue Tied is about finding your people and figuring out who you want to become.
You can explore multiple themes (especially with side stories or spin-offs), but having one main idea holding everything together can make your story feel much more cohesive.
This also applies to your visuals and storytelling style!
How do you want your story to look?
How do you want it to be told?
What makes your series recognizable?
Do you want it to feel like a movie?
For Tongue Tied, I use a mixed-media approach with handmade details, character aesthetics, and realistic textures in 2D spaces.
Your production style can become part of your series’ identity!
7. Don’t be afraid to make it personal!
This can help your series stand out A LOT.
One reason I feel more connected to Tongue Tied compared to LL is because Tongue Tied includes parts of my own experiences growing up in urban Philippines and attending a small Catholic private school.
You are allowed to include your culture, childhood experiences, memories, things that shaped you
Those personal details can make your story feel like something only YOU could create.
Don’t always make what you see.
8. DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE UNIQUE!
Tongue Tied has its own fans (which I’m incredibly grateful for), but I also know it probably won’t become TMF levels of fame and THATS OK!
A series doesn’t need to be the biggest or most popular to have value
Sometimes unique ideas get overlooked because they aren’t following trends, but there will always be someone who connects with what you make.
Trends eventually fade. Personal style doesn’t.
So don’t be afraid to surprise people, experiment, and create something that feels like YOU.
