10 year old characters

The only suggestion I have is that if you have characters that you can't come up with stories for, maybe you shouldn't be working with those characters.

One of the first things you learn about in Concept development classes is that it is MUCH more difficult to create a story around a character(s), rather then create the character(s) around the story. First decide what kind of story you want to tell, then decide what kind of character(s) you need to tell that story. Remember story is king, and if you are still trying to force ten year old characters into some sort of story you probably shouldn't be using them. Plus anything you did 10 years (and if I recall you are still in high school) I am pretty certain isn't as good as you are now (conceptually and artistically). Hell, stuff I did a year ago doesn't hold a candle to what I do now.

hey guys, i have a few characters that are 10-years old and i don't know a story to write about. i'm open to any suggestions.

Really Really nice designs.
I wouldn't want to suggest another school cartoon.

Think about when you were 10.

I've viewed your site; it's all right.Thing,though,man,is that when your 10-

year-old characters concept becomes a TV show: get the dudes' voices

RIGHT. DO NOT, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT, recruit WOMEN to bring your 10-yr-

old dudes to life. This practice ENRAGES me NO END, and I feel that this

is just some feminazi gobij being rammed into my soon-to-be-37-ageyears

mind. I've always said that,when I decide to become an animation producer,

I'll ALWAYS RESPECT THE MALE CHILD. Boys hearing female voices coming

out of animated boys' mouths:Most of them won't tell you,but this here MAN

will:They're being duped! The WAR AGAINST BOYS is REAL AND TRUE,and I

just WON'T BE A ONE IN IT. I just think that boys need to hear THEMSELVES

in/through the art/industry of animation.

Plus anything you did 10 years (and if I recall you are still in high school) I am pretty certain isn't as good as you are now (conceptually and artistically). Hell, stuff I did a year ago doesn't hold a candle to what I do now.

I think he meant that his character's ages are 10, and not that the designs are 10 years old.

I think he meant that his character's ages are 10, and not that the designs are 10 years old.

ah hah. Well I still think the process should be story first then characters. :)

Geeze Legendary Supertoonist, you have some really strong views on this issue. Got to admit it made me chuckle. So where do producers find 10 year male talent?

Pat

I also think you should work on the story first, but...
You could just force a random stroy on you characters and learn from the experience. For example, make them members of Stargate or use one of the many reality TV shows.

I'm with Graphiteman. 10 is one of "the ages" for personality. Ten years old is when you peak in your childhood lying capabilities, when you're getting "the gang" kinda friends, you're out of imaginary ones...total rambunctiousness...

The girls get girly and the guys get dirty.

I should know -- by the look of my avatar, that was just last year!

I had that problem a while back. I solved it by going for a really detailed back story. Who are they? where are they from? what are their family like? what jobs do the parents do? do they enjoy school? friends etc etc.. do as detailed as possible.

This really helps because stories then start to come out of the characters rather than you trying to force a story apon a character.

When it comes to age groups - both have real advantages. I think it depends on your target audience. At 14 your growing up going through the things you do at 14 - does this appeal to your audience?

Hope that helps

Jon

In another country!

...(A joke dealing with out-sourced jobs)...Hope it didn't offend anyone

reread/watch/listen to all yor favorate works of fiction involving 10-14 year olds. your right - there's a big differance between 10 & 14. is the kind of story you want a 1-off a series or a serial? should it be a wacky cartoon, a thriller or a slice-of-life?

There's eight million stories out there for any age.

The "Little Rascals" were anywhere from four to ten and they had something like a hundred short films.

How many Dennis The Menace strips have been written and he's (always) six?

I agree though, you need to decide what kind of a story you want to tell, and then get age appropriate characters. Dating or puberty issues won't work with ten year olds, and 14 year olds don't hunt for frogs and carry rocks.