Microteaching Session

Character Creation Workshop: 
Developing Original Characters through Object-Based Exploration

PG Cert Padlet https://padlet.com/kimnoce1/CC2023   The password is TTP2023
MA Animation Padlet https://artslondon.padlet.org/knoce1/characters

Abstract:

In the microteaching session, participants learned how to construct and develop an original character using objects in their immediate surroundings. The purpose of this activity was to encourage creative thinking and enhance understanding of the importance of character development in storytelling and animation.

Introduction: The workshop focused on “Fictional characters”, defined as imaginary persons represented in a work of fiction, with various inherent attributes that determine their moral and ethical actions and reactions. Participants were informed that a successful character is one that elicits empathy from the audience, often possessing identifiable personality traits that create a sense of immediacy.

Methodology: Participants were instructed to select 1 to 5 small objects from their environment and assemble them into a visually appealing shape. They were then asked to add eyes to their creation by drawing them on paper, cutting them out, or directly onto the objects. Once complete, participants were instructed to take a photograph of their character and upload it to a designated online platform (https://padlet.com/kimnoce1/creating-characters-coyrbrnya7tvkcf2)

Subsequently, participants were asked to name their “character and provide a 50-word description of their personality. To assist in this process, they were encouraged to use an interview technique, posing questions to their character, such as “What does the character like to do?” or “What makes them happy/angry?”.

Outcome: The workshop facilitated the creation of unique and original characters through an engaging, hands-on activity. Participants demonstrated an understanding of character development by crafting characters with distinct personalities and attributes resulting from the inventive use of everyday objects.

Intent: This workshop aimed to demonstrate the process of constructing and developing original characters using accessible materials. The activity aimed at fostering creative thinking and highlighted the significance of character development in storytelling and animation, providing participants with initial insights and playful, practical experience.

Conclusion: This reflection evaluates the workshop’s effectiveness, identifies areas for improvement, and discusses the implications of the results. The workshop’s objective was to illustrate the process of creating original characters using accessible materials, fostering creative thinking, and highlighting the significance of character development in storytelling and animation. The workshop provided participants with initial insights and a playful, practical experience.

Participants: The workshop generated positive feedback from colleagues, though a subsequent session with students showed different reactions. Students focused more on creating narratives rather than exploring character creation. Interestingly, their character map displayed characters distributed globally, unbound by their current or birth locations.

Reflection: This workshop was delivered for the first time, incorporating object-based character creation. Despite providing an engaging experience, the 20-minute session might have included excessive information, leading to inefficiency in explanation. A last-minute idea to add the newly created characters to a Padlet map to diversify historical funding was partially successful but resulted in overtime.

Implications: The workshop revealed the difficulty in finding non-Eurocentric characters in the animation industry, highlighting the need for increased diversity. This observation was corroborated by participant feedback, indicating colonialism’s persistence in the field.

Areas for Improvement: In future iterations of this workshop, it is essential to allocate time more effectively and consider questioning one’s teaching methods and content, (including further research and adding citations). Allowing space for self-reflection and inquiry can lead to improved delivery and deeper engagement with the subject matter.