Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1.2 Character Archetypes in Feature Films
Shrek
Mulan
The Incredibles
Howl's Moving
Castle
The
Hero
Shrek
Mulan
Bob Parr, Mr.
Incredible
Sophie
The
Mentor/Friend
Donkey
Mushu
Elastigirl
The Boy, Markl,
Calcifer
The
Herald
Farquaad's soldier,
the mirror on the wall,
Gingerbread man
The Ancestors
Mirage
The Scarecrow
The
Shadow
Farquaad
The Huns
Syndrome
Howl
The
Threshold
Guardian
Dragon
Shang
The Robot
The Witch of Waste
The
Trickster
Donkey
Army buddies
The Kids: Dash, Violet,
Jack-Jack
Calcifer, Madam
Sulimen
The
Shapeshifter
Fiona
Mulan
This is a story about
superheroes—everyone
changes form!
Sophie, Howl, the
Scarecrow
In Table 1.2 we can see how these characters manifest themselves in selected movies.
Sometimes more than one role is fulfi lled by the same character.
It is important to note here that an archetype is not a stereotype. Here is the difference. A
stereotype is a simplifi ed generalization about a specifi c group of people. Example: All
elderly people have blue hair, dementia, and arthritis.
An archetype, on the other hand, is a character attribute that can manifest itself in any
human (or in animation, nonhuman) body and that is a recognizable icon by the audience.
For example, in
Iron
Giant
, the giant is the child that has to be taught. In
Ice
Age
, Manfred
becomes the great mother—of both the Indian child and the “herd.”
Exercise:
1. What is your favorite feature fi lm? Watch it carefully while you track plot points against the
Hero's Journey. Observe the characters and fi gure out which archetypal role they fulfi ll.
Universal Confl icts
Confl ict is the situation or problem that is getting in the way of the character's goal. It is a dilemma
that creates tension for the character. It is something that puts the character in jeopardy.
With all the infi nite problems and predicaments that face humankind, you would think that the
expressions of confl ict in story would be equally infi nite. But again, we fi nd recurring motifs of
