Character Archetypes Character Study Character Alignments Basic 9

Character Archetypes Character Study

Character Alignments

Basic 9 -Slot Chart

Anime-Specific Archetypes

Tsundere Mean/violent at first Softens later on Strengths: bold, driven, clever, loyal Weaknesses: dishonest, manipulative, resentful • Alignment: neutral or chaotic good • •

Yandere • • • Sweet at first Violent (often murderous) later on Strengths: strategic, decisive, quick thinker Weaknesses: jealous, emotionally unstable Alignment: neutral evil

Kamidere • God complex • Strengths: gallant, decisive, strategic • Weaknesses: overconfident, can’t take criticism • Alignment: Lawful Evil

Himedere • • Princess complex Strengths: keen, persuasive, driven Weaknesses: childish, manipulative, sensitive Alignment: chaotic neutral

Deredere • Always very sweet • Strengths: very compassionate and understanding • Weaknesses: too trusting, overly sensitive • Alignment: neutral good

Bakadere • Generally very stupid; the fool character • Strengths: tries their best, headstrong • Weaknesses: highly unintelligent, doesn’t learn from mistakes • Alignment: chaotic good

Dandere • Anti-social • Strengths: genuine, thoughtful focused • Weaknesses: indecisive, easily frazzled, selfloathing • Alignment: neutral good

Kuudere • Unemotional at first, but opens up gradually • Strengths: focused, precise, observant, selfmotivated • Weaknesses: lonely, defiant, vengeful • Alignment: chaotic neutral

BEWARE THE MARY SUE

Generic Archetypes

Heroes • Willing Hero • Unwilling Hero • Loner Hero • Group-oriented Hero • The Idiot Hero

Anti-Heroes • • Cynical Anti-Hero Tragic Hero Byronic Hero Knight in Sour Armor Loveable Rogue Jerk with a Heart of Gold Noble Demon Serial-Killer

“Villain”/Evil Types • • The Evil Overlord Diabolical Mastermind God of Evil Dimension Lord Multiversal Conqueror Galactic Conqueror Eldritch Abomination

Anti-Villain • • • Byronic Hero Fallen Hero Friendly Enemy Hidden Heart of Gold Forced Into Evil Obliviously Evil Poke the Poodle Well-Intentioned Extremist Punch Clock Villain

Other Notable Archetypes • • • The Fool The Trickster The Herald Wizard Classic Wicked Witch Rebellious Spirit Classic Princess Dumb Muscle The Good King The Cynic

Roles in a Story

Protagonist • Main character in story • NOT necessarily the “hero” of story • Protagonist ≠ good • Typically round

Antagonist • Opposing force to protagonist • Antagonist is not always super evil villain (except perhaps from protagonist’s P. o. V. ) • Antagonist ≠ evil • Typically round

Supporting Characters • Can be round or flat • May or may not have own development arc • Supporting ≠ unimportant

Minor Characters • Typically flat • Exist in only one or two scenes, usually • Make the world seem larger • Usually completely unrelated to plot

Group Sizes

The Lone Protagonist

The Duo #1 #2

Power Trio #1 #3 #2

The Quartet Choleric Phlegmatic Sanguine Melancholic

“The Group” Leader Chick Big Guy Lancer Smart Guy