Thanks for the tag @wannabecatwriter

Using this picrew, create a bag for one or more characters.

This is for Josie if you couldn't tell by the color XD

Tagging: @izayoichan @mahvaladara @amuhav @holocene-sims @stargazer-sims @kimmiessimmies @anamoon63

Before there was Mallory Bash, this was a cartoon series concept I’d been toying around with. I’ve been slowly reworking the art and story and building a pitch bible for it, but it’s always been a throwback type of cartoon–back to classic 90’s-style characters and story. It’s coming along! It’s about an English lizard who moves from London to a little backwater town in Arizona called Rusted Rock, but his escape turns out not so peaceful when he discovers that the town is plagued by corruption, scavengers, shady drifters, and even aliens! But that’s not the half of it. Check out the pages below to find out how everything in Geoffrey’s house comes to life. This is one I always thought would be a solid match for @nickanimation @nickelodeon  There will be more edits, of course, but this is a pretty solid rough start. #intelligentlife #illustration #pitchbible #animation #animatedseries #characterdesign #storydevelopment #characterdevelopment #geoffrey #chap #audreyfoxburn #puddles #rustedrock #rustedrockarizona #seriesconcept

It’s wonderful how Vee has this recurring thing of being given time to heal before returning to places of trauma for the sake of loved ones, and eventually replacing her pain with positive memories there!

Like the cabin where she escaped the isles and was ensnared, now a hangout place to help her friends return home!

Revisiting the Gravesfield Historical Society, risking an encounter with her kidnapper Jacob Hopkins... Only for it to be where her friend Masha works!

Returning to the Boiling Isles for Luz’s King-ceanera, knowing her siblings are safe with Eda...

Even something as relatively minor as visiting giraffes again with her family!

Vee's spent her whole life trapped in an endless circle of torment. she escaped the demon realm with the hopes of finally finding somewhere safe and peaceful, a place where maybe, just maybe, she could belong like everyone else. Vee and Luz share a similar dream, one that could have never come true in their birthplaces. It wasn't until found that portal that the possibility become true. While Luz wanted a life full of adventures, Vee wanted a life without conflicts. So is heartwarming to know that both receive exactly what they wanted, a place to belong, a place where they could be themselves.

"For I am the Good Witch Azura, Warrior of Peace!"

Quoting the fantasy she isn't a part of, but hopes to be.

"For I am Luz the Human, Warrior of Peace!"

Including herself in the fantasy now that she has a chance, albeit with the acknowledgement she isn't a witch.

"For I am the Good Witch Luz, Hunter of Monsters!"

Fully recognizing herself as a witch.

"For I am the Good Witch Luz, Child of the Human Realm, Student of the Demon Realm, and Warrior of Peace!"

Acknowledging not just herself as a witch, but as a human; These are not irreconcilable, and both defy Belos despite his claims to eradicate one for the other. Luz makes sure to specify herself as the result of those around her, who helped Luz get to this point. Luz has finally achieved the fantasy, and she’s grinning this time; No need to act dignified, Luz has won and she’s allowed to have fun and enjoy it. She’s earned this.

NOW EAT THIS SUCKA

Lilith accepted that she wasn’t an inferior sister, and finally got recognized for what she could do.

Camila realized the way she was treated was wrong, and by loving her daughter, she got to love herself.

Hooty was a misfit among misfits, but was finally valued by the rest, and got another misfit as a friend.

Vee recovered from her trauma and didn’t have to hide who she was, finding her own face without having to copy others.

The Collector learned they couldn’t force friendship from others, and gained a better understanding of life.

I think it was a post @bcbdrums made about Kim’s development or lack thereof throughout the show that put this brainworm in my mind for how that character development might happen.

I imagine that, of all things, it’d be Bonnie who provides Kim a wakeup call to the degree of codependency she has with Ron, probably via some offhand comment meant to be mean. Perhaps her sisters have been all… Rockwaller since graduation and maybe Junior has been occupied or something, leaving her extra catty and she takes it out on Kim, naturally. Something like “Good luck dealing without your crutch, K.” After clarifying that by crutch she means Ron, Kim probably says something cute like “Did you mispronounce crush?” “Crushing only happens before dating.” Cut to Ron doing something Ron-ish. “I assure you, it’s possible to do both at once.” Bonnie calls Kim out on being honestly kind of… pathetic without her dork or her saving-the-world gig. Refer to: the episode where Kim tries to cope with Ron having other plans on a Friday. 

More stunned than hurt by Bonnie’s barbed commentary, Kim wonders and wanders and talks to anyone who isn’t Ron; when she asks Monique or her mother point-blank whether or not her BFBF is really her crutch, she gets a beat of tight smiles that don’t provide much consolation.  “Mon, I need a favor.”  “Talk to me, girl.”  “I need you tell me Bonnie’s wrong about”  “Bonnie’s wrong.”  “I haven’t told you what she said!”  “Girl, you call that a favor? That phrase is basically free catharsis for me.”  “She called Ron my crutch.”  “… . .” (Cue awkward breaking of eye contact)  “Mooooooon!”

Maybe her mom talks about how unique Ron and Kim’s situation really is, acknowledging all the good it’s done for Kim throughout her life and how lucky she is to have had a friend as steadfast and constant as Ron; on the other hand, it means Kim has never had to cope without that support before.

Kim gets introspective and that introspection spreads to other aspects of her life and things that’ve just been taken care of and who she is or wants to be outside of a hero and Ron’s girlfriend. She talks to her gran, her dad, then thinks she ought to try figuring it out herself and maybe she starts avoiding Ron, whether or not she means to, and the next time Ron sees Kim she’s laying on the couch, head propped at an uncomfortable angle, hair draped up on the backrest cushions. “Hey, uh, what’s up, KP?” Kim, who’s been without a mission or other excuse to physically vent her frustration and has thus fried her brain, flipping through channels with an aggressive CLICK of her thumb.  “I’m marinating.” She grumbles. “You sure? Cause from here it looks like you wanna snap the remote in half after it gave bad news about Club Banana.”

I dunno. Might be a starting point, might organize the above jumbled mess into something more fic-y and coherent at a later date. Just had to get this worm out of my head.

“Fine,” Kim grunts, tossing the remote to the right side of the L couch. “I suck at marinating, then.” “I coulda told ya that, KP.”

Kim huffs, not upset; at least, not upset at Ron. She turns a frown his way and raises her arms, making grabby hands. She’s too worn out and frustrated to worry about dignity.

“Oh,” Ron mumbles. “This is serious.” “Gimme Ronshine.”

Ron would happily deliver, obviously. Kim snuggles into his familiar embrace and decides she doesn’t want to figure out this aspect of what’s bothering her, not right now. He’s too comfortable, too good at hyping her up when she succeeds and supporting her when she struggles; she can’t wrap her mind around the thought of letting that go right now.

So she approaches the other topic. Though pointedly not from the angle Bonnie presented, because… because ew spending more time and headspace on her.

“Do you think we can keep up the website while we’re at college?” “Why not? We did okay in high school.” “Ron, we’ll be adults, maybe in different countries.” “Yeah, that tanks, but” “We have to do our own laundry, maintain dorm rooms; I need to learn to cook for myself!” “Wow, that is a sitch.” “Ron!” Eventually, after a lot of talking, they come around to pulling back on the hero business, maybe altogether, maybe just down to a part-time weekend gig; Kim drafts a notice for the site that includes addresses for Team Go and Team Impossible for anyone who needs urgent rescues during the rest of the week, but she doesn’t post it, not quite yet. She doesn’t get around to the subject of Ron being her crutch; she’s had enough figuring out just one crisis that day.

We’re talking of how Odalia forced the twins to be identical and matching, seeing them as just two parts of a unit and not their own person;

Which of course leads to Emira’s worst fear being trapped with Edric forever. And it’s not that she doesn’t like her brother, but you can really get the sense that she’s tired of being forced to BE with him 24/7, which contrasts with Edric’s fear of being alone forever.

So I love the decision to make these kids their own variation of multi-track, while still illusions as well! It represents the two individuating, no longer being conjoined at the hip because they have different classes now; But at the same time they’re still together. They have their own identities now but are still linked by illusions as they always were! Emira and Edric can now just find a healthy balance between being their own person and being connected to each other, Em doesn’t have to sacrifice her bond with her siblings to self-actualize! I appreciate it a lot given the show’s theme of being able to connect with others while still being your own person, and vice-versa.

As someone who got invested in and concerned about a potential conflict between Emira and Edric’s desires, seeing Edric be able to make his own bonds without his sister and not have to be codependent with her, which then frees Emira to do her own thing, but they don’t have to leave that close thick-as-thieves sibling bond they really do pride... It means a lot to me seeing them reconcile these seemingly contradictory fears/goals. It’s definitely an improvement from the Clawthorne sisters splitting apart; Eda wanting to do her own thing and separating from Lilith, and Lily taking it personally, trying to drag her sister into the conforming Emperor’s Coven with her for companionship!

Filburt from Rocko’s Modern Life is great because in season one he was just a background character they kept reusing, and by season four he’s the most developed character in the entire show. Like, he got engaged, married, and had children over the span of three seasons.

From a pony who hated friendship to a pony who strongly values friendship

Why I love Damian Wayne

He started out like this:

and developed into this:

Damian started out as a spoiled and murderous brat but became so much more. His mother and grandfather raised him to be a killer but his father, Alfred and Dick raised him to be better than that. He learned to have compassion. He learned to no longer be a killer. Can he still be a brat sometimes? Yes. But he’s still a child and he’s still come a very long way. That’s why I love Damian Wayne.

Cartoon Criticism Dictionary

(aka phrases I use here to describe very specific things)

Sameface Syndrome: when various female characters all have their faces designed according to the exact same formula, in a way that detracts from the story and is clearly done only to make them “beautiful.” Does not apply to stylistic choices, and does not mean that the characters literally all have the exact same face. Ex. The women in Frozen were designed with major Sameface Syndrome.

Keaneface: currently the most common female face in Western animation, consisting of a heart-shaped face with large eyes and a small, low-placed nose and mouth. Popularized (though not invented) by legendary Disney animator Glen Keane.Ex. Moana has a different body type, but she still definitely has some Keaneface going on.

Girly-Tomboy Compex: when all female characters in a movie or show can be defined as either “girly-girls” (typically feminine clothing and interests) or “tomboys” (actively rallying against feminine clothing and interests, and/or interested in “boy stuff”). Ex. GoGo Tomago and Honey Lemon are pretty much complete stereotypes! They really exemplify the Girly-Tomboy Complex.

Usagi Syndrome: when a female character is criticized for traits that are universally accepted in male characters, such as being annoying, lazy, or gluttonous. Named for the protagonist of Sailor Moon, Tsukino Usagi.Ex. The publisher told me that the protagonist of my novel was too immature for her age. I guess she got hit with Usagi Syndrome.

Girl Power Quota: the practice of having your female character(s) act tough throughout most of the film and/or save the male character(s) at least once, only to suddenly become helpless during the climax.Ex. How come that character who knows kung fu was suddenly incapacitated by someone grabbing her arm? Guess the writers hit their Girl Power Quota.

Strong Independent Woman™: also called the Strong Female Character™. Refers to a method of writing female characters where, instead of giving the character an actual personality, the writer instead makes them “strong” with shortcuts like making them needlessly violent, having them constantly sass others, decrying all typical feminine traits as “weak”, etc.Ex. I was excited that they decided to add a female character to the action hero team, but she was too much of a Strong Independent Woman™ to be interesting. The writers clearly don’t know what women are really like.

Historical Accuracy Fallacy: the claim that it is okay for a story to star mostly white characters because of historical accuracy, even though the story uses fantasy elements that are obviously not historically accurate, not to mention many historical time periods had more POC than we realize.Ex. I got an anon message saying that there shouldn’t be black people in How to Train Your Dragon because the vikings were white, but I guess they were still fine with the dragons! They fell right into the Historical Accuracy Fallacy.

Chipette Principle: making female characters who are essentially exactly the same as the male characters, except with gender signifiers like eyelashes, pronounced lips, the color pink somewhere on their person, or clothing. Coined by Lindsey Ellis. Ex. Classic Disney characters rely way too much on the Chipette Principle, what with Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck.

Feel free to suggest more!

there’s a difference between character development and completely changing your character’s personalities with no explanation

Kinda like The Simpsons really.