Whether we're looking at Shakespeare or SpongeBob, there are
common character archetypes that appear in stories across time and
cultures. Archetypes are characterized or classified by the role they
serve or their purpose in a story. The classical archetypes of a good
story include the protagonist and antagonist, the mentor, the sidekick,
and the love interest. Let's take a closer look at these five archetypes
and how animation studios bring them to life.
The Protagonist
This
protagonist is the main character in a story, show or movie. In many
cases, this character turns out to be the hero. It is usually easy to
identify the protagonist because the storyline revolves around them and
their lives, problems and internal conflicts. Roughly, in Greek, the
word protagonist translates to "player of the first part" or "chief
actor."
Why is a protagonist so important? They aren't always the
heroes; sometimes they are just the focal point in a show or even in an
advertisement. A protagonist is typically on the "good side," and
follows a moral compass that many deem good. The protagonist is likely
to change throughout a story and that action expresses the theme of a
story an animation studio is trying to put out. A protagonist serves as a
doorway into an emotional story or an emotional heart. They tend to
draw a viewer or reader into the story. The best protagonists are
characters that people can relate to. As a viewer, you may have shared
hopes, fears or goals with a protagonist.
When we look to
animation and some of the most well known protagonists we see characters
like Buzz and Woody or Superman. Though heroes in our eyes,
protagonists are far from perfect. They hold some type of flaw, whether
it be internal or within their environment. The conflict they face then
causes them to fight back or fall back from the big obstacle, and the
way they choose to react to a situation is how we choose to interpret
the character's qualities.
The Antagonist
Classical
forms of storytelling feature a main character known as the protagonist,
which we discussed. This character will typically enter the story
first. Then enters the antagonist. This character is typically depicted
as the "bad guy" or the "villain." Antagonists are without a doubt
entertaining and bring a moral conflict to light, which as a result puts
our hero at a fork in a moral road.
These characters serve to
teach viewers wrong from right. These characters are an essential
component to any story for many reasons. They are the primary opposition
for a protagonist. They elicit the protagonist in the story to change
their perception and try to live in a less flawed world, no matter who
or what they must hurt to attain it.
When an antagonist or a
villain in any story is personifying a central conflict, it brings a
different element to a story that will benefit it. The pressure an
antagonist puts on the protagonist eventually brings forth inner
conflicts. These characters typically test their counterpart's moral
compass and commitment to being morally just.
The Sidekick
The
role of a sidekick was once referred to as the "close companion." This
role dates back more than a century. Specifically, we have our first
literary glimpse at a sidekick in The Epic of Gilgamesh, which features a
protagonist-sidekick. The main character seeks not only friendship, but
also advice from Enkidu. This character has defined many of the
consistent and quality characteristics we seek in a great sidekick in
regards to a production of a film, book or television series and more.
Gilgamesh
was unarguably the main character. However, the epic reveals that the
secondary character, Enkidu, played a smaller but still meaningful role
in the story. When Enkidu is killed, Gilgamesh responds aggressively
because he has grown close to his friend and confidant. The depth of the
reaction Gilgamesh has not only adds depth to him as a character, but
also lets the audience know how significant the bond was between the
protagonist and sidekick.
Another common trope of the sidekick is
to infuse the story with humor. This is especially true of animated
characters. Where would Bugs Bunny be without Daffy Duck to set him off?
Some may see Daffy as more of an antagonist, but he's not really out to
get Bugs. The two characters play off of each other and add lots of
laughs along the way.
Other great sidekicks in time include Dr.
Watson and Sancho Panza. These sidekicks perform different roles and
functions in support of the main character they assist throughout a
storyline. They serve a grander purpose than simply being a companion or
assistant. They humanize the characteristics of a protagonist. They are
also the character that moves the story.
The Mentor
The
mentor is usually a great help for the protagonist in any story. They
guard or protect them during a big quest or journey that involves both
physically harmful obstacles as well as emotionally harmful obstacles.
They can take many forms. Typically we imagine a grey-haired and aged
man, but sometimes the mentor can take the most unsuspecting form.
These
characters usually provide support and guide their "student" toward the
right path. Mentors are known for having high morals and standards that
can often challenge the student they are looking after. They always
find a way to inspire them and push them to aspire for something good.
The Love Interest
This
character might often be over-looked, but also plays a very important
role in many stories. They are the person with whom the main character
falls in love with. They serve, as a catalyst in the journey a
protagonist must go through. Depending on the ultimate goal of the
protagonist, the person who is their love interest can be of great
assistance and motivation, much like a mentor can be.
So the next
time you're watching your favorite cartoons, pay close attention to more
than the character design quality. Look into the roles you believe each
character plays and their significant contribution to a story line.
You'll find it is hard to have a compelling story without these staple
archetypes.
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