Brainstorm what special characteristics your character may have, based on the genre. For example, if the story is science fiction with a lot of fight scenes, your animal should have paws in order to hold their weapon. A snake would, therefore, not be a sensible choice, but a dog or a cat could work well. For historical fiction you may even want to research the types of animals, which were popular or present during that time. If you are writing about the Jurassic Period, a dinosaur may make sense, but if your story is set in the future, suddenly, T-Rex seems out of place, unless of course you have a time-traveling dinosaur!
Your audience should play a role in determining potential designs and details. Keep it fairly simple for children. You don’t need to feature a character who is super nuanced unless you’re appealing to an adult audience as well. [1] X Research source
Try stories like The Jungle Book, Watership Down, Charlotte’s Web, The Tale of Despereaux, The Chronicles of Narnia series, Bunnicula, or your favorite story featuring animals. When reading the story, ask yourself: Does this character work? Do they seem real to me? Why or why not?
Think of the characteristics which define an animal in this particular role. For example, if they are the sidekick, but are always saving the day for the hero, think of how this will shape their persona. Consider whether your animal character will be living amongst other animals (Warrior Cats, for example) or if they will be working alongside humans (think, Black Beauty). If, for example, your character is living independent of humans, they may be able to walk and talk and take on other human-like characteristics. However, if they exist in a human’s world, their role would differ dramatically, as they may still have animal characteristics and wouldn’t be able to talk or wear clothes, unless they are Stuart Little!
Accessories should be an important consideration. [4] X Research source Is your character well-read? Maybe he has reading glasses or a monocle. Gender and height are just another dynamic in creating a look. Consider taking a normally small creature and making them big.
Write down words that describe your character’s personality. This will come in handy when introducing them to your audience, but could also be incorporated into their name. Try choosing personality traits that are commonly associated with that type of animal. For example, you could make your cat character aloof and independent since cats are typically like that. [5] X Expert Source Lucy V. HayProfessional Writer Expert Interview. 16 July 2019.
Be creative, but consider how their unique qualities tie in with everything else you’ve already determined. Don’t fall into stereotypes, as that only produces boring characters. [6] X Research source It’s up to you to break the mold and to give your character qualities that will set him/her apart.
You don’t have to dwell on the character’s past. Bambi is a good example of this. Ultimately, his sad past helped to shape him into the confident and courageous leader that he became. However, his past wasn’t necessarily the theme throughout. More than anything, the fictional characters that you create need to feel like real, living creatures to the readers. [8] X Research source
