#memorable characters

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This is what came up when I sat with thinking of memorable lines from the second installment of 'Zootopia'.

Ooh de lolly yes indeed! I can quote this movie backwards and forwards lol. My favorite animated Disney movie by a pretty wide margin. Honestly as I'm looking at my list right now, it could even be higher than #10.

1. My Fair Lady

2. 90s historical epic, incredible soundtrack

3. 90s costume drama based on a book

4. 70s blockbuster

5. SNL spin-off

6. 60s historical epic based on true events

7. Hunt for the Wilderpeople

8. Early 00s chick flick --self-indulgent

9. Gone with the Wind

10. Robin Hood (1973)

11. Fantasy epic

12. Pride and Prejudice (2005)

13. Tombstone

14. Classic movie musical set in the US

15. Animated non-Disney musical

16. Early 00s chick flick --fun and quotable

17. 60s historical epic based on a book

18. Pixar movie

19. John Hughes joint

Memorable Characters 

Books often have lots of characters.  This is good. A diverse story should inculde a multitude of people. However,  it is integral to comprehensive stories, especially larger novels,  that the said multitude are individually recognisable.  This is not to say that every character has to have an over the top quirk, but, that is certainly one way of  keeping track.

Neil Gaiman does this exceptionally well. I always think back to Neverwhere and  "How the Marquis Got His Coat Back", Neil Gaiman was able to title an entire story about his character’s recognisable quirk. 

For a more personal example i am writing a book about a photographer who loves bird watching,  and in the book, the only times that birds are even mentioned are when my character is noticing them. None of my other characters ever notice the birds. This isn’t a plot device. The birds have no puropose in the book, other than to help the reader feel familiar with my character.  

if there’s one about memorable characters to think about, it’s that they never fall flat. they aren’t cardboard cutouts and they can’t be replaced by sexy lamps. these characters have personalities, habits, traits, phobias, and lives. you read about these characters and relate, because they strike something within you. they act, they think, and they make complex decisions that move the plot. 

my tips are

become knowledgeable about your characters. pretend you’re getting to know someone. as any person, they’re new and exciting and your readers should think so, too. 

develop their backstory as thoroughly as you can. this is kind of tied in with number one, but don’t leave it as just their backstory. think of their memories, think of their families, think of their friends, etc.

outside of these tips, i went around looking for some helpful articles. i, myself, have a difficult time conveying what makes a character memorable when asked.