Room 1 · Characters
Character design for kids: a name, a want, and a problem
Watch this 58-second film with your kid before they open the Characters room. Tek shows how writers build a star that people care about.
What your kid learns
- Writers start with a character, not a plot.
- A good name tells you something about who the character is.
- A story begins when a character wants something and something is in the way.
The steps
- 1
Your kid draws the star on paper, following a guide or drawing anything they like.
- 2
They give the star a name that says something about it.
- 3
They give the star one wish: the thing it wants most.
- 4
They add someone in the way, so the wish is hard to get.
Transcript
Every great movie has someone you care about. That's your star.
Writers don't start with the story. They start with the character.
Step one. Draw your star. Follow a guide, or draw anything you like.
Step two. Give them a name. A good name tells you something. Boo is short, and a little bit spooky.
Step three. Give them one wish. What do they want most? Boo wants to scare someone, just once.
Step four. Add someone in the way. A sleepy cat who never, ever gets scared!
When your star wants something, and something's in the way, you have a story. So, who's your star?
Next room
Story elements for kids: beginning, middle, and end