Great characters don’t just serve the plot—they drive it. In this section, we show you how to build characters with goals, flaws, backstories, and arcs that actually matter.
You’ll learn how to develop protagonists, write strong antagonists, and give side characters depth without wasting space. If your characters feel flat or convenient, these guides will help you fix that fast.
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Types of Villains in Film. A Breakdown of Villain Archetypes
Movie villains come in many forms: masterminds who plan everything, brutes who use strength, anti-villains with some good traits, and …
What Is a Character Arc? Definition, Stages & Film Examples
Character arc Definition & Meaning A character arc is a character’s transformation or inner journey throughout a story. It often …
Character Archetypes in Film: What They Are & How to Use Them
Character archetype Definition & Meaning Character archetypes are typical versions of characters that pop up often in stories, like the …
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Character Roles in Film & Literature: A Complete Guide.
Stories are built around characters, each playing a unique role in shaping the narrative. While terms like protagonist, deuteragonist, and …
What Is a Backstory in Film? Definition & Famous Examples
backstory Definition & Meaning The backstory is the history and experiences of characters or events that precede the main narrative …
What is a Dynamic Character? Definition & Film Examples from Film
What is a dynamic character? Definition & Meaning A dynamic character undergoes significant internal change throughout the story. This transformation …
Character Types Explained: Flat, Static, Round & Dynamic
Flat, static, round, and dynamic characters are terms used to describe different aspects of characters in literature and film. While …
What is a Round Character? Definition & Film Examples
round character Definition & Meaning A round character is a complex and well-developed character who exhibits multiple traits, undergoes personal …
What is a Flat Character? Definition & Examples from Film
flat character Definition & Meaning A flat character is relatively simple and one-dimensional, displaying a limited range of traits and …
What is a Static Character? Definition & Film Examples
static character Definition & Meaning A static character remains largely the same throughout the story. Their personality, attitudes, and behaviors …
What is Characterization? Elements Defining Your Characters
Characterization Definition & Meaning Characterization is the process of developing and portraying characters in a story. This involves describing their …
What is a Tritagonist? Definition & Film Examples
What is a Tritagonist? Definition & Meaning A tritagonist is a story’s third most important character after the protagonist and …
What Makes a Superhero Super? Caped Heroes in Film
What is a superhero? Definition & Meaning A superhero is a character archetype with extraordinary or superhuman abilities who often …
What is a Tragic Hero? Definition & Movie Examples
Tragic hero Definition & Meaning A tragic hero is a character archetype who typically possesses noble qualities but is destined …
What is a Hero? Definition & Film Examples
What is a hero? Definition & Meaning In literature and film, a hero is a character archetype who faces challenges, …
What is an Anti-Villain? Definition & Examples from Film
Anti-villain Definition & Meaning An anti-villain is a complex character archetype that blurs the lines between traditional heroes and villains …
What Is a Villain? Definition, Film Examples & Writing Tips
Villain Definition & Meaning A villain is typically a character whose actions, motives, and personality traits directly oppose the protagonist …
What is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl? Meaning & Movie Examples
Manic Pixie Dream Girl Definition & Meaning The Manic Pixie Dream Girl (MPDG) is a stock character usually found in …
What Is a Stock Character? Definition & Film Examples
What is a Stock character? Definition & Meaning Stock characters are immediately recognizable due to their predictable patterns and often …
What Is a Mary Sue Character? Meaning & Film Examples
Mary Sue Definition & Meaning A “Mary Sue” is a fictional, often female character portrayed as unrealistically perfect. Mary Sues …
Character Concepts in Film: Stock vs. Archetypes vs. Tropes Explained
When you work with storytelling, there are many ways to view and work with all the puzzle pieces. A central …
The Mad Scientist in Film. Definition, History & Examples
What is the mad scientist trope? Definition & Meaning The mad scientist is a prevalent character trope in film and …
What Is an Archetype? Definition & Clear Film Examples
Archetype Definition & Meaning An archetype is a typical example of something, such as a character, theme, or setting, recurring …
Jungian Archetypes in Film: Meaning & Key Examples
What are the jungian archetypes? Definition & Meaning Jungian archetypes are core ideas of human behavior and experience proposed by …
What is a Character Trope? Definition & Examples from Film
Character trope Definition & Meaning Character tropes are recurring elements or clichés that convey information about a character through a …
What Is a Femme Fatale? Meaning & Film Examples
Femme fatale Definition & Meaning In cinema, the femme fatale is a stock character known for being mysterious, seductive, and …
What Is a Foil Character? Meaning & Film Examples
What is a Foil character? Definition & Meaning A foil character is a secondary character in a story who contrasts …
What Is a Deuteragonist? Meaning, Role & Film Examples
Deuteragonist Definition & Meaning A deuteragonist is the second-most important character (a main character), working closely with the protagonist. They …
What Is an Antagonist? Meaning, Role & Film Examples
What is an antagonist? Definition & Meaning An antagonist is a character or force that opposes the protagonist in a …
How To Create Compelling Character Bios (Free Template)
What is a character bio? Definition & Meaning A character bio is a few sentences or paragraphs that describe your …
Protagonist vs. Main Character: What’s the Difference?
the difference between a protagonist and main character The protagonist is the “hero” who moves the plot forward while the …
What Is an Anti-Hero? Definition & Film Examples Explained
Antihero Definition & Meaning An antihero or anti-heroine is a main character who lacks traditional heroic traits like morality or …