Character Design Questions
💡 3. Has creating a character ever made you realize something about yourself?
((Oh absolutely! I could write a book about everything I’ve learned from my own characters over time, but I’ll try to keep it short: Whether I realize it or not, my character’s traits, usually flaws and beliefs, tend to mirror my own. Over time, I gradually become more aware of how I relate to my own characters, thereby accidentally learning more about myself! Having fictional characters and not being afraid to impress yourself on them can be quite the experience.
🎇 14. When writing for specific characters, is there anything you have to do to get into the right mindset?
MmMmm, for some of my characters I do, for others I don’t. For example, antagonistic characters in particular (as much as I love them) don’t come as easily to me as my main characters do. Pretty frequently I have to look around for inspiration before writing them. I want them to act and sound at least somewhat like an actual person would, but I also want to avoid having them become cliched or more complicated then they need to be. It’s a hard balance to strike. :T
🏆 19. What’s more important to you: visual design, unique personality, a trendy character aesthetic, etc? If you’re not sure, then what’s the first thing you usually nail down in a character?
HoO geez that’s tough, since all those elements do appeal to me. Generally speaking though, for me to really fall in love with a character I make and stick with them, an enjoyable personality and reliability matter most. It’s really a matter of personal preference, but I like characters that feel human! Visually speaking, as much as I like to include attractiveness and aesthetic in my character designs, I do try to prioritize expressiveness (again, for relatability and personality’s sakes!)
