Well hello there.
I decided to make a topic guide on how to make a complete, good and accurate fan character on Spirit source. Those tips may be as well used on general character making and for other universe fan characters.
Before you start: Ask yourself some questions: Do you really want a new character? Do you need it? Do you have anything to do with it? Do you have any ideas for it? Character making is not a competition. It's better to have less, but better characters than a whole buch of unused cliches.
Starting: Do not start from a design. Most of the time it would end as undeveloped, rushed character with no bigger purpose. At first think about character's story, personality, relations etc. Take your time. If you develop a character, you'll eventually be able to choose a fitting design or "adopt" or request an one.
Story: Don't go Mary-sue here. There are some really overused and boring plots (you can read many of those advises in anti-sue topics). Be original and accurate. If you're going to make some story twists - give them a context and explanation. If some characters are going to act a certain way - explain why (For exaple Scar killed Mufasa because he was jealous. Why?). Even "evil" characters need their reasons. Do not try to copy movie events (captured by Cavalary&escaped then get to Lakota tribe etc etc.), it's boring and not creative.
Movie and history accuracy:*Names - Kepp the names simple and acurate to time and reality (don't go Radioactive Rayban for an animal that lived around 1700's). Animals don't have surnames neither. They can have titles (Alexander The Great, Eric The Red etc.) but they don't have super long, fancy familly names (like Roderic B. LaRosa, Hans Von Heidenberg). This is very stupid and lame way to make your characters unique. There are many other ways to make your character good and unique instead of giving them unbelievable names, unable to read, write and prounce.
*Character abilities and look - There are no overpowered, magical creatures in SSoTC. Your characters won't have any magical, unusual powers. Cut off any weird decorations on your horses. If your character is an Indian horse then he/she'd probably have some paintings and accesories on them - but keep them accurate. Look up some native American symbols for paitings. Feathers, braids and some ribbons and jewels in mane are good, but your character definitely won't wear any fancy gems, necklaces and belts.
*Places, factions, behaviours - Don't stick witn only few places shown in movie. Cavalry camp seen in SSoTC is probably a training camp for new horses and your horse won't stay here forever. They would travel from fort to fort, from town to town around America. There's a lot to do with your character here. Lakota (Sioux) tribe is not the only Native American tribe there as well. And despite what many people may think after watching the movie - Cavalry did not threat their horses bad. In fact, horses were really important and cared for very well.
Design & breed:Your character needs to have some believable breed and design. Most possible breeds are Mustangs, American Paints, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses. Draft horses would be used in town as working horses and wouldn't just roam free unless they were freed somehow. Same with other unusual breeds (eg. Arabians) there needs to be some explanation on how they ended up where they are.
Your designs don't have to be super complicated and detailed. Good/complicated design does not equal a good character and for an animated movie, where designs are rather simplified, a simple, clean design is perfectly okay. Base your designs on real-life horses and you'll see how nice markings&colour combinations you can come up with. Keep in mind that some markings, like chimera (brindle) are very rare and it's not good when several people suddenly come up with brindle horses to be "original"
Horses in SSoTC have diferent shapes and this is also a part of character designs. Not all your mares need to look like Rain and not all your stallions need to look like Spirit. There's a difference between Spirit, Granite and Lakota stallions. There's also a difference between Esperanza and Rain. Consider those different face shapes while designing your character.
Movie relation:This has been said many times before. This is a
fan site and you are creating a
fan character. Your character HAS to be Spirit related. However, it doesn't mean it has to be blood-related to Spirit (nor any other character) himself or that it even has to be a horse. There are many ways that you can relate your character with either movie events or characters. Your character can be a friend, enemy, mentor, adopted child, a friend to your other fan character. It can be related to Lakota tribe, Cavalry, cowboys (the ones who captured Spirit). They can be deers, bears, coyotes, bisons, birds. Be creative!
Useful links:Mary sue/Gary Stu test -
http://www.springhole.net/writing/marysue.htmComplete horse colours&patterns guide -
http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/ ... 412m28.jpgBlackhorsebet's article about Native American horse paintings -
/spirit/e ... id_film=16Answered question about SSoTC movie locations -
/spirit/e ... 24055.htmlDon't be afraid to ask if you still want to know somewthing and
good luck with your characters!
