DEVELOPING A CHARACTER OUTLINE

1. List the character’s major actions. Start from the end and work backwards. (Don’t analyze how or why; just create a list of actions.) For this, i chose the character Meena from Sing animation  movie. Her major actions from the end towards the beginning include:

• She gains the courage to sing in front of an audience
• She helps out arrange the theatre
• She is caught singing to herself by Buster- the head of the theatre
• She gets stung by Busters' words
• She tries to offer encouragement to Buster
• She helps Buster fix the stage for the next day's performance
• She gets employed as a stage hand
• She goes for a second shot at the theatre
• She chokes at her audition (she is too nervous)
• Meena's mom hands her the flyer for the auditions
• She sings a happy birthday song to her grandfather.

2. Analyse the list to reveal the character’s wants and needs. Is the character aware of what they want?

• Meena wants to sing
• She wants to gain confidence to sing in front of an audience
• She wants to win the prize money 

3. Describe how the character thinks and look at his or her basic psychology. Intelligent? Intellectually engaged? Cognitive Biases? Impulsive? Cautious?

• Meena is cautious, her actions as she approaches Buster, the head of the theatre reveal that to us

• Meena is also intelligent, she accepts to work as a stage hand if that means that she gets an opportunity to be at the theatre. 

4. Describe the character’s superficial affect. How might a casual acquaintance describe them?

• Meena might be described by others as shy but very talented. This is seen as she steps on the stage to sing for the very first time. 

5. List any important physical characteristics

• Meena in the movie is a big sized female elephant