Character writing is one of my favorite aspects of storywriting. It’s very difficult and requires a lot of careful thought and consideration but when done correctly, it can be a truly beautiful story told. One of the best things a writer for any medium can do is experience more stories and try to study and learn from how the characters are written. What are their arcs? How does their growth take shape? Do they change in anyway? Most importantly, do they make you feel anything? I wish I had the time to read more books, watch more movies and shows, play more story-driven games this year but what I have gone through this year still left a strong impression on me.
As always, I’ll try and avoid spoilers but some are inevitable to explain why the character is so great
5. Sunday – Penacony Arc, Honkai Star Rail
One of my favorite archetypes for a character is one who was once evil but on a path of redemption. But the most important aspect of that redemption is that it is not easy nor is it instant. It’s something that requires a lot of soul-searching, time, and effort for the character to make up for the pain and suffering they’ve caused. That’s where Sunday from Honkai Star Rail comes in as he fits perfectly in this archetype as throughout the main story of the Penacony arc we know him to be the antagonist and standing in opposition to the good guys. But while he is the antagonist, we can still understand his motivations and that he truly believes what he’s doing is to help people. I was worried that his redemption would be instant but that’s not the case. He still has a long and difficult road ahead of him and it’s started with a lot of self-realization and understanding the flaws in his beliefs and himself.
4. Kiela – The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
I’m not often one to read cozy and comfy stories as it’s also not really the genre I write or particularly enjoy. That being said, it’s always nice to experience a feel good and cozy story from time to time. I was surprised how much I liked The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst and how much of a feel good story it was. The main reason, of course, is the fact that the main character Kiela is so endearing and it was a genuine delight seeing her slowly come out of her shell as she slowly grows to fit in to her new community. The way she slowly opens up to people felt so natural and I found myself cheering for her as she rebuilds her life opening a cozy shop and living a simple life so many of us dream of.
3. Viviana – Zwillingstürme im Herbst, Arknights
It goes without saying that the reason I love Arknights is because I love the stories they tell. Many often refer to it more as a visual novel series than a game and I would agree with that assessment. It takes the opportunity to tell such a wide array of different stories with multiple different archetypes of characters. Viviana the Candle Knight is one of my favorite characters as she’s such a gentle and kind hearted knight despite the numerous tragedies and betrayals she’s had to endure in her life. While the story Zwillingstürme im Herbst was overall a rather messy but enjoyable story, the portion of it that focused on Viviana’s backstory was so heartbreaking and really made me feel for her as it’s a life of regret and lost chances despite none of it being her fault. There’s even a portion of the story where she sees a multitude of different timelines or versions of what her life could have been and yet they were all tragic. It was like she was always fated to live a difficult and sad life but despite that she finds the resolve to be kind and courageous. I found it so inspiring.
2. Stark – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is such a beautiful and touch story that it’s hard to truly describe it. I’ve never seen an anime that has felt so grounded and real despite being set in a fantasy setting. It really tackles some very relatable regrets and challenges that many of use face in our lives. I thought about all the characters in the series and how all the major characters were so beautifully written and nuanced. But there’s one that stuck with me because of how his story struck me so deeply. Stark’s story was one of expectations and believing you can never live up to them no matter how hard you try yet you keep going. You keep trying your best and keep moving forward. The resolution of one of the episodes centered on him made me genuinely cry and it’s something I think about fondly quite a bit.
1. Theresa – Babel & Absolved Will Be the Seekers, Arknights
The story of the Sarkaz in Arknights is a very complex and tragic story of struggle, persecution and hatred. Considering what they’ve been through, it’s understandable why they view most others with distrust and anger. They’ve had to suffer injustice and persecution at the hands of others for the simple crime of existing. Yet despite the harsh reality that is their lives, there was one who chose to be kind and gentle as she did her best to deliver them to a better future. Theresa chose to take up the Black Crown after deposing the previous King of Sarkaz and lead her people. Unlike the previous kings, Theresa was a gentle and kind-hearted woman with a steadfast desire to free her people from a bloody cycle of war and violence. Despite the opposition from her people, they still genuinely loved her and viewed her as the best of them. She uplifted so many people despite the great personal cost she had to suffer. It made the painful betrayal she suffered so much more tragic because, even facing her bloody and painful end, she was still so kind and gentle.
Honorable Mention: Arcane
Arcane was an incredibly beautiful series and one that deserves a lot of praise. It has some of the best character interactions and dynamics I’ve seen in any medium. The way that characters bounce off of each other felt so natural and never felt out of character as the story progressed. It is one of the most seamless character driven stories out there as nothing randomly ever happens. Whatever takes place to move the story forward is the direct result of one or more of the characters taking action and the consequences being felt by everyone across Piltover and Zaun. For any aspiring writer wanting to improve and study character driven stories, Arcane is one of the best examples out there.
– Raphael
Raph's Cozy Musings 