Whether we’re looking at Shakespeare or SpongeBob, there are stock character archetypes that appear in stories across time and cultures. Archetypes are characterized or classified by their role or purpose in a story. The classic archetypes of a good story include the protagonist and the 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 plot revolves around him and his lives, problems and internal conflicts. Roughly, in Greek, the word protagonist is translated as “player of the first part” or “main actor.”
Why is a protagonist so important? They are not always the heroes; sometimes they’re just the focal point on a show or even an ad. A protagonist is often on the “good side” and follows a moral compass that many consider to be good. The protagonist is likely to change throughout the story and that action expresses the theme of a story that an animation studio is trying to publish. A protagonist serves as a gateway to an emotional story or an emotional heart. They tend to draw a viewer or reader into the story. The best leading men are characters people can relate to. As a viewer, you may have shared hopes, fears, or goals with a protagonist.
When we look at animation and some of the more well-known protagonists, we see characters like Buzz and Woody or Superman. Although heroes in our eyes, the protagonists are far from perfect. They have some kind of fault, either internal or within their environment. The conflict they are facing causes them to either fight back or back down at the big hurdle, and how they choose to react to a situation is how we choose to interpret the qualities of the character.
the antagonist
Classic forms of storytelling feature a main character known as the protagonist, which we discussed. This character will usually enter the story first. Then the antagonist enters. This character is often depicted as the “bad guy” or the “villain.” The antagonists are certainly entertaining and bring to light a moral conflict, which as a result puts our hero at a moral fork in the road.
These characters serve to teach viewers evil from good. These characters are an essential component of any story for many reasons. They are the main opposition for a protagonist. They cause the protagonist of the story to change the perception of her and try to live in a less flawed world, no matter who or what they have to hurt to achieve it.
When an antagonist or villain in any story embodies a central conflict, they bring a different element to the story that will benefit it. The pressure that an antagonist exerts on the protagonist eventually generates internal conflicts. These characters often test their counterpart’s moral compass and commitment to being morally just.
the sidekick
The role of a sidekick was once referred to as a “close companion.” This role dates back more than a century. Specifically, we get our first literary look at a sidekick in The Epic of Gilgamesh, which features a sidekick protagonist. The main character seeks not only friendship, but also the advice of Enkidu. This character has defined many of the consistent and quality characteristics we look for in a great sidekick with regards to the production of a movie, book or television series and more.
Gilgamesh was indisputably the main character. However, the epic reveals that the minor character, Enkidu, played a smaller but significant role in the story. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh responds aggressively because he has become close to his friend and confidante. The depth of Gilgamesh’s reaction not only adds depth to him as a character, but also lets the audience know just how important the bond between the protagonist and his partner was.
Another common sidekick trope is infusing the story with humor. This is especially true in the case of animated characters. Where would Bugs Bunny be without Daffy Duck to provoke him? Some may see Daffy as more of an antagonist, but he doesn’t really want to get Bugs. The two characters play against each other and add plenty of laughs along the way.
Other great sidekicks at the time include Dr. Watson and Sancho Panza. These sidekicks perform different roles and functions in support of the main character they help throughout the story. They serve a bigger purpose than just 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 to the protagonist in any story. They guard or protect them during a great search or journey that involves both physically damaging obstacles and emotionally damaging obstacles. They can take many forms. Normally we envision a grizzled, elderly man, but sometimes the mentor can take the most unsuspecting form.
These characters often provide support and guide their “student” to the right path. Mentors are known to have high morals and standards that can often challenge the student they are caring for. They always find a way to inspire them and push them to aspire for something good.
love interest
This character can often be overlooked, but he also plays a very important role in many stories. They are the person the main character falls in love with. They serve as a catalyst in the journey that a protagonist must go through. Depending on the protagonist’s ultimate goal, the person who is their love interest can be a great help and motivation, much like a mentor.
So the next time you watch your favorite cartoons, pay close attention to more than just the quality of the character designs. Research the roles you think each character plays and her significant contribution to a story. You will find that it is difficult to have a compelling story without these basic archetypes.