Okay so I've started my next project.
Started being more aware of stereotypes for both genders.
So hopefully with any 'unpopular' traits for characters in games i can still create some likable character!
If i were to give these characters an environment/ story i would say they go to school where they are judged for not following the 'norm' of there gender.
Sort of the underdogs but it's not like they get physically beaten and bruised, all have divorced or dead parents. I'd like to make it seem more believable then the other the top hero stories.
The main. Tetra.
Gender: Female
Tetra is an energetic girl she also has a fairly big mouth on her.
She prefers to be thought of as 'one of the boys' and just hates displaying any physical feminine features.
Although she is thoughtful, emotional, and kind. Somehow these good traits seem to be linked more to feminine than masculine.
Although she isn't afraid to get dirty and rough house with the other boys, and make really dumb faces.
Although due to her behavior in school she is often called 'Dyke' or 'Gay'.
Most girls don't seem to get along with her.
Boys tend to be okay with her, although they leave her out of any of there sports games of general competitions as they wouldn't want to be beaten by a girl.
The sidekick. Weathercoats
Gender: Male
In contrast with Tetra masculine features, Weathercoats is quite feminine.
He cares more about how clean his clothes are clean, his hair is kept neat. And he would most likely run away from conflict.
Him and Tetra understand each other and accept each others breach of the 'rules' for there own gender.
In school he is called 'Gay' 'Faggot' as people would assume it from his appearance.
So majority of his friends are female, although they to assume him to be homosexual.
The negative attitude from others has caused him to be terribly skittish and nervous to act.
The 'Manly' one. Chris.
Gender: Male
He is closer to the more 'regular' personality for a guy. More masculine.
He is pretty protective over his sister, although his bark is worse than his bite, he has yet to brawl with someone.
He's fairly closed off emotionally, he only ever confides in his sister Bex reminding her to not tell anyone about the things he tell her, majority of his confiding in bex is for some sort of support of his sexuality, as he is homosexual but feels it would threaten his masculinity if he was 'out' and be treated differently, although out side of school when around people he trusts he is okay to come out to them.
He is lazy most of his time is spent sat, possibly drinking and smoking with people. Or alone.
He gets along perfectly fine with other boys, and finds is easy to talk to girls, generally sociable though he never gets to 'deep' with other people.
The 'Girly' one. Bex
Gender: Female
The oldest of the 4 'kids' being 18 and in her last year of sixth form.
She is very shy when talking to people in general, she would rather hide behind her laptop which she carries around with her as though it's her child.
On the internet she is very good at speaking to others, even strangers.
Drinking also helps her speak to others as well. This is her main way for meeting guys. She will often bring guy's home on her late nights out and sleep with them.
This isn't because she has a problem with self esteem or her sexuality. She enjoys it, it's how she wants to live her young life.
Although she has gotten the labels of 'Slut' and people only really know her for that.
Girls don't particular get along with her as she is not good at talking to people to begin with.
Guys in school try to chat her up and feel entitled to sleep with her because of the rumors from outside school.
The 'Brawler'
Gender: Female
She's been through the name calling and assumptions about her due to her appearance.
She has learnt to love herself and ignore any stigma she may get.
She's basically the 'kids' go to person for whenever they feel stressed or bullied and feel they can't talk to there parents about it, although she usually has an uncaring attitude to the kids due to the thick shell she has had to build to shield from everyone else but she does feel for the kids and there problems.
And also if they need a strong person she is willing to smash!
Also i tried doing them as humans, I prefer them as animals.
A reference for what there skin tones are though.
In one of my uni lectures there was a talk by Candy Guard, an animator. Who animate very simplistic cartoons. She said she feels the simpler the character is the more universal it is. as her character were just outlines, they didn't require colour, so were relate-able to any race.
I found it difficult to put a skin colour on Moo Chris and Bex.
I also have friends who think of Tetra and moo as white girls.
So i feel it's more universal if they aren't human.
