Character Development

 In film, television, and literature, character development is essential, as is evolution. It is a creative process that few talk about, but the truth is that the evolution of characters is a fundamental and necessary practice in literary creation.

Character development is accompanied by character growth. It is an elementary practice when creating a script or a book. In this post, we will talk about its definition, importance, examples, and how to generate an effective character evolution. 

What is character development? 

In cinema, television, and literature, the construction or development of characters consists of building the members of a story and this includes doing it in a three-dimensional way, what does it mean? Include depth, thoughts, and clear goals. 

In turn, in this context, the evolution of characters also refers to the changes they may undergo as a result of their acts and actions. On the other hand, regarding the definition of character in psychology, it is part of the staging and how it reflects their feelings, and emotions, among others. 

character meaning

The meaning of character, according to the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), says "Each of the real or imaginary beings that appear in a literary, theatrical or cinematographic work". 

In this sense, it is understood that it adapts to both real and imaginary events. The process occurs differently depending on the type of art. It is not the same to develop a character in the cinema as in literature, they are two different processes. 

These are different stages, however, the importance is the same. In the following sections, we will give you some tips to develop your characters and adapt them according to what you want to create. 

Why is character development important? 

In a novel or a movie, character development is as necessary as water. This means that the character and the plot are inseparable because a person is what happens.

If you don't have a clear idea of ​​the character, his limitations, feelings, and fears, it will be difficult for the viewer or reader to connect with him and you won't get the expected success. 

So, different characters can interact within a plot, however, it is necessary to be clear about the definition of the protagonist and he is the one who will have the greatest participation, in addition to the fact that the drama can revolve around him.

How do develop a character? 

In this section, we will mention how to develop different types of characters. Not only the protagonist but also the antagonist and secondary characters. 

Remember that every good story is made up of characters who are against the protagonist, and others help him, but all must be well constructed to publish an elite novel or book. 

How to make development a protagonist? 

The creation or evolution of the character is at the discretion of the author, some prefer to start with the antagonist, others with the secondary ones, however, it is more advisable to start with the development of the main character. 

Locate the character As the premises on the development of characters in psychology indicate, it is necessary to locate the character with a name, surname, family, city, and situations from the past that have made him the person of the present. 

Flaws to the protagonist 

The protagonist should not be perfect and doing so would be a resounding mistake. It is key to the development of literary and cinematographic characters. Keep in mind that the best-known characters are reborn from the ashes, after recognizing their flaws. 

An arc to the protagonist 

In the scripts, the "arc" are difficult situations that the protagonist goes through. Thanks to this he transforms, evolves, and becomes a different person. In some cases, the creators choose not to provide a change to the protagonists and this is also valid. 

How to create a villain? 

Among the types of characters in science fiction and other novels, the villain is one of the most popular. In this section, you will find some guidelines to generate an excellent antagonist. 

Morality 

Whether it's character development in film or literature, every villain needs a load of morality. What do we mean? You must give him reasons to be mean. For example, if he is a murderer, why does he do it? What made him so upset to do it? 

Can 

Among the examples of how to generate a villain character, we have to mention power. For the villain to be at the level of your protagonist, he has to be more powerful and seem “superior”, even if it is in the first instance. 

In this way, the protagonist will have the need to look for some alternatives to become even more powerful and the necessary allies to defeat them. 

How to create secondary characters? 

As we mentioned before, the secondary characters are also essential in the story. In this case, you just have to follow some simple tips.

Protagonist's complement 

The main character cannot be alone, they need best friends, family, and allies to help them overcome the setback of the story. These can be adventure partners and emotional support, but their existence is necessary. 

opposite point 

Just as there are main characters who fully support the protagonist, in turn, there are those friends who accompany him, but they have the opposite point. They do not support his decisions and become a kind of "conscience". 

Character Development Examples

It's time to show examples of character development and character evolution. 

Two examples in the cinema 

We will show the evolution of characters in the cinema and how they changed from the beginning of the film until it ended. 

King Kong 

Since his first appearance on the big screen in 1933, King Kong has become an iconic character that has won millions of followers. From his departure from Skull Island to his arrival in the city, he only caused fear... Until he discovered a weapon that appeased him: love. 

It is one of the most prominent evolutions in cinema and continues to be an example. 

Travis Bickle

In American cinema, Travis Bickle is an icon. He is one of the most important characters in Robert De Niro's career and it happened in the film Taxi Driver. 

It shows from within everything that disturbs the protagonist, the reason for his decision to be a taxi driver and the need to find a radical solution to put an end to everything he believes is wrong with society. 

Types of characters in a novel

In the novels, there are also different types of characters and their evolution. We select two. 

Harry Potter 

In both literature and film, one of the most surprising developments is that of the young magician. Throughout the books, Harry becomes a powerful character, taking on new forms and ways to save the wizarding world. 

Not only does it evolve on a physical level, but it also does so on an emotional and mental level. The development of the novel largely depends on him. 

Elizabeth Bennett

Elizabeth proves that love is the only feeling capable of changing someone's attitude. At first, she is shown as a hermetic, skeptical character, while she falls in love with her, her life changes completely, just like hers. 

Regardless of whether it is the development of anime, film, or television characters, throughout this post, we have emphasized the importance of doing it and knowing how. When it comes to character development nothing can be left to chance.