How To Create The PERFECT VILLAIN Character For Your Manga | Ft @GummKid

Summary

In this insightful video, the focus is on crafting compelling villain characters for comic, manga, or webtoon narratives. The presenter, Gum Kid, an independent comic artist, emphasizes the importance of villains as they highlight the hero's journey and introduce conflict. Villains are not just evil; they have their own motivations and goals, often seen as the heroes of their own stories. The video differentiates between villains and antagonists, noting that while all villains are antagonists, not all antagonists are villains. It also touches on the concept of anti-heroes and provides examples of well-written and poorly written villains. The key takeaway is to give villains depth, making them more than one-dimensional adversaries. The presenter suggests using character interview sheets to flesh out their backgrounds, motivations, and goals, and stresses that a villain's motive and goal are crucial for creating conflict and driving the story forward. The video concludes with the idea that villains and heroes are often a matter of perspective, and encourages creators to view their villains as complex individuals with their own stories to tell.

Takeaways

• 🎭 **Villains are Essential**: A great villain character is crucial for showcasing the hero's heroism and understanding the conflicts and dangers they face.
• 🧐 **Defining Villains**: Villains are characters who oppose the protagonist and are often seen as evil, but they can also be complex individuals with their own motivations.
• 🤔 **Antagonists vs. Villains**: Not all antagonists are villains; villains are a subset of antagonists who are more significant and typically embody evil.
• 👶 **Origins of Villains**: Villains are not born evil; their character development and life experiences shape their goals and motives.
• 🔥 **Conflict and Tension**: Villains add conflict and depth to a story, making their goals and motives as important as the forces that drive the heroes.
• 🌟 **Villains as Heroes in Their Own Story**: A villain is the hero of their own story, and their opposition to the protagonist is often due to conflicting goals.
• 🏆 **Noble Villains**: Villains whose goals may be more noble than the hero's can create compelling storytelling and moral dilemmas.
• 🤓 **Everyday Villains**: Some villains are not evil by nature but are forced into evil actions due to circumstances, making them relatable and complex.
• 🚫 **Poorly Written Villains**: Lack of depth, reasoning, and purpose can lead to poorly written villains who are one-dimensional and fail to engage the audience.
• 🔄 **Villain to Hero Transformation**: Villains can become heroes under certain conditions, such as a greater threat or a change of heart, which can be a controversial but interesting plot device.
• 📝 **Character Development**: A well-written villain should have a backstory, clear motives, and goals that make their actions coherent and understandable to the audience.

Q & A

What is the primary role of a villain character in a story?

The primary role of a villain character is to serve as the antagonist who opposes the main character, creating conflict and tension, which in turn highlights the heroism of the protagonist and the dangers and challenges they face.

How does a villain character differ from an antagonist in general?

While all villains are antagonists, not all antagonists are villains. A villain is typically a more significant evil force in the plot, whereas an antagonist could also play the role of an anti-hero, someone who opposes the protagonist but may not necessarily be evil.

What are the four main types of antagonists mentioned in the script?

The four main types of antagonists are villains, conflict creators, inanimate forces, and internal conflict characters.

What is a common trait between villains and heroes according to the script?

Both villains and heroes believe in the rightness of their actions and are the heroes of their own stories. Their perspectives and the way they perceive their goals and motives are what differentiate them.

Why are villains' goals and motives important in storytelling?

Villains' goals and motives are important because they add depth to their characters, create conflict necessary for the story, and allow the audience to understand the reasons behind their actions, making the story more engaging and believable.

What are some examples of well-written villains with noble goals?

Examples of well-written villains with noble goals include Funny Valentine from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Yoshikage Kira from the manga/anime series Death Note.

How can a poorly written villain be identified?

A poorly written villain can be identified by the lack of depth in their reasoning, clear motives, or purpose behind their actions. They may be evil for the sake of being evil without a compelling backstory or rationale.

What are the three ways to justify a villain character becoming a hero?

The three ways to justify a villain character becoming a hero are: introducing a greater threat that requires the villain to work with the protagonist, creating a situation where working with the protagonist will benefit the villain, and having the villain come to a realization that their side is wrong.

Why is it important to write a villain's backstory and experiences?

Writing a villain's backstory and experiences is important to shape their motives and make their actions coherent and understandable to the audience. It adds depth to the character and helps to humanize them, making the story more relatable and engaging.

What is the advice given for not treating villains like villains?

The advice is to treat villains as people too, with their own quirks, issues, and perspectives. This approach helps to create more complex and relatable characters that go beyond one-dimensional stereotypes.

How can a character interview sheet template be useful for developing a villain character?

A character interview sheet template can be useful for keeping track of a villain character's goals, motivations, and other important traits. It helps to organize and clarify the character's background, making it easier to ensure consistency and depth in their portrayal.