Whether we’re looking at Shakespeare or SpongeBob SquarePants, there are common character archetypes that appear in stories across time and cultures. Archetypes are characterized or classified by their role or purpose in a story. Classic archetypes of a good story include protagonist and antagonist, mentor, sidekick, and love interest. Let’s take a closer look at these five archetypes and how animation studios bring them to life.

The protagonist

This protagonist is the main character of a story, show, or movie. In many cases, this character turns out to be the hero. It is usually easy to identify the protagonist because the plot revolves around him and his lives, problems and internal conflicts. Roughly, in Greek, the word protagonist translates as “player of the first part” or “main actor”.

Why is a protagonist so important? They are not always the heroes; sometimes they are just the focal point in a show or even an advertisement. A protagonist is usually on the “good side” and follows a moral compass that is considered good by many. The protagonist is likely to change throughout the story and that action expresses the theme of a story that an animation studio is trying to publish. A protagonist serves as a gateway to an emotional story or an emotional heart. They tend to draw a viewer or reader into the story. The best leads are characters that people can relate to. As a viewer, you may have shared hopes, fears, or goals with a protagonist.

When we look at animation and some of the more well-known protagonists, we see characters like Buzz and Woody or Superman. Although heroes in our eyes, the protagonists are far from perfect. They have some kind of fault, either internal or within their environment. The conflict they face causes them to defend or back down from the big obstacle, and how they choose to react to a situation is how we choose to interpret the qualities of the character.

the antagonist

Classic forms of storytelling feature a main character known as the protagonist, which we discuss. This character will normally enter the story first. Then the antagonist enters. This character is usually portrayed as the “bad guy” or the “villain”. The antagonists are certainly entertaining and bring to light a moral conflict, which as a result puts our hero at a fork in a moral road.

These characters serve to teach viewers evil from good. These characters are an essential component of any story for many reasons. They are the main opposition for a protagonist. They cause the protagonist of the story to change their perception of her and try to live in a less flawed world, no matter who or what they must hurt to achieve it.

When an antagonist or villain in any story personifies a core conflict, they bring a different element to the story that will benefit it. The pressure that an antagonist exerts on the protagonist eventually generates internal conflicts. These characters often test their counterpart’s moral compass and commitment to being morally just.

the buddy

The role of a sidekick was once called a “close companion”. This role dates back more than a century. Specifically, we get our first literary look at a sidekick in The Epic of Gilgamesh, which features a leading sidekick. The main character seeks not only friendship, but also advice from Enkidu. This character has defined many of the quality and consistent characteristics that we look for in a great sidekick in regards to producing a movie, book or TV series and more.

Gilgamesh was indisputably the main character. However, the epic reveals that the supporting character, Enkidu, played a smaller but significant role in the story. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh responds aggressively because he has become close to his friend and confidant. The depth of Gilgamesh’s reaction not only adds depth to him as a character, but also lets the audience know how important the bond between the protagonist and his mate was.

Another common sidekick trope is infusing humor into the story. This is especially true of animated characters. Where would Bugs Bunny be without Daffy Duck to provoke him? Some may see Daffy as more of an antagonist, but he really doesn’t want to catch Bugs. The two characters play against each other and add plenty of laughs along the way.

Other great sidekicks in time include Dr. Watson and Sancho Panza. These sidekicks perform different roles and functions in support of the main character they help throughout the story. They serve a greater purpose than simply being a companion or assistant. They humanize the characteristics of a protagonist. They are also the character that moves the story.

the mentor

The mentor is usually a great help to the protagonist in any story. They guard or protect them during a great quest or journey that involves both physically damaging obstacles and emotionally damaging obstacles. They can take many forms. We usually imagine a gray-haired, elderly man, but sometimes the mentor can take the most unprepared way.

These characters often provide support and guide their “student” to the right path. Mentors are known for having high morals and standards that can often challenge the student they are caring for. They always find a way to inspire them and push them to aim for something good.

the love interest

This character can often be overlooked, but he also plays a very important role in many stories. They are the person the main character falls in love with. They serve, as a catalyst in the journey that a protagonist must go through. Depending on the end goal of the protagonist, the person who is their love interest can be of great help and motivation, as well as a mentor.

So the next time you watch your favorite cartoons, pay close attention to more than just the quality of the character design. Research the roles you think each character plays and their significant contribution to a story. You’ll find that it’s hard to have a compelling story without these basic archetypes.