Animation Source Forums

I think this could be helpful cause all the rules about the character are not put on the rules page. Then I'll explain what we do on the french side since already two years and this works pretty well !


First of all, before starting to make a character and send something on the site, think a little bit about it. Make a character is not just making a design, giving it a nice name and send it. You'll have to take a lot of time on it to make it " perfect ". As well, the character's page is not about your fursonna or your canin alter ego. There is nothing wrong with this kind of character when it's on deviantart, forum etc ... But on the site, this is for making some character to have a relation to Balto univers and creat your own version of the officials characters past, present and futur.
Then, let me explain how to make a good one with some simple tips.


- The character's physical :

This is probably the part all of us prefere to do, but this is not the most important.


- The character's design :

To make a good design who will be accept on animation source, be carefull about the color. Here on Balto source, the characters have all naturals or at least cartoony colors. Mean that you can't use a flashing blue for your character but a grey-ish blue would be accepted ( cause this looks natural, a grey-ish green would not work as well ). If you are affraid to use to much unatural color, you can still help you with characters colors from the movie or use some real dogs photos. This would help you a lot to don't have some " sparkle " problem. You can make the design quicly on a free lineart or on one of your already made image/fanart to see if the colors are ok for you.


- The character's image :

This looks a little more important than the design, cause this will be your character's first image and the one for it's page. You probably have an idea of what you want, then keep this in mind, but here are some advices or ideas. First, if you are a render or a lineart user, be carefull to chose an image who will feats to your character. Don't use a wolf image for making a dogs one ( EXCEPT if you can edit it to make it looks like a dog ). This is important, cause this can make your character looks like something strange. Don't be shy to make chatacters who are fater, muscular, fluffy or anything that can make it looks unique. This is not an obligation, but this can be really great on a character =D

Since we are arround 1925, animals don't have the same accessories than now ( for example : dogs collar ). Then, don't abuse with them to stay in the same universe that the movie. The same about hair, making a little like Balto ( which looks more like fur ) is ok. But long hair is not realistic or just on some dogs breeds who have many fur on the head.

Well, how is looking your character now ? =D I think this is better, no ?
Then, now that you have a character who looks good for you and respect site rules, we can go to the next step.




- The character description :

This is the most important part of the character's page. You'll probably tell me " but why ? " and I'll reply to you " cause it's what's inside who is important ". And there is some little things you have to do on it.


- The basicals informations :

This part will be made quicly. In this, you can find the character's name, the age, the breed/specie ( for an animal ) and the gender. If you want to make a complet description, you can add your characters family, friends, enemies etc ... And finaly, some of you had some " likes and dislikes " ( I personaly don't use it cause I prefere to talk about it on the personality ).

Well, this were fast, no ? Yup, but now here are starting with be longest parts of the character page !


- The personality :

Some of you will probably say " but only some worlds can make a personality ", to this I would say no. A personality can't be resume like that. Then take your time to write something how will be as close as possible from what you have in mind for your dear character. You can chose the personality of course, but an advice I can give you is that no one is completly bad or completly good. This is nice to point the good and the bad, the qualities and the defaults.

Good, you are approching to the end ! But there is the most important part of the description to do, courage !


- The story :

Make a good story is not only about thinking about what will be your character's life. There is much more to think about. Then, we will make it point by point, this will be easyer.

- Since your character HAVE to be Balto related, you'll have to think about what will be his/her relation and with who. Be carefull that say in the basical description that your character is Balto related is not enough. Then, you'll have to explain it in the story and this is the most important part cause this will have to take a long part of your story. Don't forget that there is not only the main characters to be related with. If you think that there is to much Balto's father or Jenna's children, then use an other character

- When you'll have chose what's will be your character relation to Balto take the time to think about the movie univers. This point is important too, cause there is a big difference between what was nome arround 1925 and today. what would be perfect to do is to see the movie again before creat a character. Or, if you really want to be as realistic as possible, document you about Balto's real story or about other movies, documentary etc ... This can help you to find some good ideas that are not much explore on this site.

- Now you can write your story. There is probably only two things I can tell you now. First, you don't have to write all of it in one time. Then, take the time to explain all that you want and don't "run". This would makes look your story badly made. And to finish, respect the Balto's story on the movie ! This is important, you can imagine a lot of thing after or before the movie, but what is on the movie have to be respected ( for example : don't make Balto dies before the end of the 3rd movie ). The " What if " version are nice, but in fanfiction/images/fanarts/other, but not on characters



And now, you just have to credite for the lineart/blank render you use if you have use one and, here is your character !




I hope this is helpful for all the one who are not really ok with making a character's page ( since all the rules are not on the site's page ) and that this will help the others to improve about creat one


( Please, don't comment to complain about this post or complain about members, this is to help, not to creat drama. This would maybe be nice to close this to the comments )

Very nice, guide, Hecate!

However (I'm not meaning to start any drama, I just want to share my thoughts on the matter), I think the physical structure of a character is important. Rendering or using linearts takes away from the originality, especially if the character was rendered from Balto. Seeing character's that have Balto's build is boring and uncreative. Drawing the character yourself makes it your own and stands out in the crowd.

But like I said, this is a nice guide. People should definitely take a moment to read this.

That's what I was trying to say ^-^ It's good to personalise a render by changing some details or mix some characters part.

Thanks a lot for posting this! These guides are very needed. :3 Well done!

Great work Hecate, this is a really helpful guide ;3 This should be useful to people new to creating characters, nice job! c;

With Hecate's agreement, I'm posting some tips adapted from my guide on Spirit Source - character-creation-guide-t35630.html
I'll try not to reply what's been already said by Hecate though.

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. Even "evil" characters need their reasons. Do not try to copy movie events ("no one wanted to adopt her because she was a wolfdog, so she ran away and joined wolf pack"), it's boring and not creative.


Movie and history accuracy:
*Names - Keep the names simple and acurate to time and reality (don't go Radioactive Rayban for an animal that lived around 20'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 - There are no overpowered, magical creatures in Balto. There is a very little amount of spiritual kind of magic, but you must be very careful with it. It's very easy to cross the line of what's acceptable and accurate.


Design & breed:
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.
As Hecate meditioned, dogs in Balto movies have diferent shapes and this is also a part of character designs. Not all your female huskies need to look like Jenna and not all your male wolves or dogs need to look like Balto.

Movie relation:
Just because your character has to be Balto related, it doesn't mean it has to be blood-related to Balto (or any other character) himself or that it even has to be a dog or wolf. 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. Look up what animals lived in Alaska around this time. As long as your characters have good, believable relation, they can be elks, bears, foxes or birds. Be creative!



Useful links:
Mary sue/Gary Stu test - http://www.springhole.net/writing/marysue.htm
Character design tutorial - exaggerating anatomy - http://fav.me/d3fkufz
List of possible Siberian Husky colours - http://www.huskycolors.com/colors.html