Creating Characters Using Personality Types
This past summer I have worked on something pretty exciting. I have been a key part in a team evolving a family storytelling brand that has existed for the past 25 years.
In my role as the Creative Content Developer for a family experience brand called KidStuf, I have the unique pleasure learning current, relevant trends to connect young families using storytelling and familial social techniques. Our whole goal is to inspire families, ages 5 to 95, to grow, learn, and, most importantly, connect together.
Since my main passion is storytelling, it’s no wonder that this has been my main directive as I’ve pitched concepts to my team.
Say Goodbye to the Past
KidStuf has thrived as a multimedia experience for families since I was 4 years old. So, it was my goal to upgrade and focus this strategy as this organization heads into the 2020’s. Now, we wanted to push this show into the future as a Disney Channel-style sitcom, with all of the fun and energy that comes from that, but with a relational depth we could direct toward family connection.
There were a number of ways we zeroed in on this new strategy, many of which I’d like to share in later blogs. But this time, I’d like to talk about my utilization of the Myers Briggs personality colors as it pertains toward strong character development.
The show experience of KidStuf has always consisted of mainstay characters that have incrementally evolved over the years. But it has done so very slowly as to not disrupt the long-term investment families have made with the brand, and even more so the characters. The characters have mostly revolved around fun, but dated stereotypes. The nerd, like Screech from Saved by the Bell or George McFly from Back to the Future. Or, the cheerleader, like Kelly from Saved By The Bell or Brittany from Glee.
It was time to move on from stereotypes and move into nuanced characters. We decided to stick with the sitcom style, as we utilized video storytelling in our show experiences, but do it in a way that told more complex character stories that had more to say about relational conflict than situational, stereotypical conflict.
Using the Myers Briggs personalities, here are the character breakdowns I originally pitched for this fresh take on family-based entertainment.
LANDO
After 25 years, this was the first character on my list.
The personality type YELLOW. They are perfectionists, but like to party. They have high expectations, big plans and are the type of people who spend a lot of time dreaming and imagining how things could be.
They’re fun, have a great sense of humor, and exciting to be around. When they are in a bad mood, they may act mean and aloof, but fortunately, this is only temporary. (adapted from https://psychologia.co/personality-color-yellow/)
Lando is just this. He is fun, funny and thebiggest dream from his group of friends. This is distinct from the former character stereotypes that KidStuf has created as he is nuanced. A sophisticated dreamer AND a jokester, bring complexities that invite the viewers to examine their own personal complexities as they engage in their relationships.
Especially in 2019, research shows kids are feeling this way too. They are more than just one thing. They want to be the goofball, but they are sophisticated in the way they interact with the world.
This is Lando.
MAYA
Maya is the relational center of the group of friends. But even more than Lando, she brings complexities of her own. She is the Myers Briggs color profile of GREEN.
People who are “greens” are very loyal people. Maya is a caring individual who is a good listener and sincerely cares about others and their well-being; even more so, she tends to forget their own needs while taking care of others.
Her ability to see the big picture helps her friends make correct decisions, however they dislike details and prefer to leave details to someone else. Green types are also good at learning and understanding new concepts due to their natural ability to grasp the main idea. (adapted from https://psychologia.co/personality-color-green/)
Maya was based around this idea. Everyone has a friend that they lean on. Maya is that type of character. Her best day is when all of the people she cares about are in one room. In fact, when plans for that are disrupted, that is when she faces the most conflict.
Many kids today find stability in strong relationships around them, especially in a growing world of artificial, screen-based relational capital. Maya was created to be that warm center that all of us want in the human experience. She is the one her other friends turn to. She is the one bringing peace and stability to others, which is so much of what kids need today.
This is Maya.
LEX
Lex is an especially interesting character. As a writer, she can easily be utilized as a relational bulldozer because this girl is a winsome, competitive, and powerful, RED.
People with the red personality type love attention and are willing to work for it. These people are quite competitive and are not willing to settle. Another positive trait is that they love originality and strive to bring something new; they want to add to this world.
Types like this can be considered dreamers, but they do not just dream. They are ready to work to reach their goals.
Lex is a powerhouse. As we worked through this character type, we quickly assigned her to the role of producer of the YouTube videos the friends make. She has what it takes to get things done.
In addition, we attributed the enneagram type #1 (for those that are familiar with the Ennagram) which is the perfectionist. Not only is she a go-getter, but she wants everything to be perfect as she does it. It is perfect as a character storyteller because she stirs up a lot of relational conflict in her wake.
Due to the idealistic worldview she has and the fragile relational circumstances that would inevitably arise from her personality type, we also wanted to give her a deeper struggle with anxiety in her life. When all of her personality traits add up, she must have a deeper struggle with the lack of control in her life. So, we wanted to showcase something that many kids struggle with today in have anxious feelings and thoughts.
This is what gives a special warmth and bond between Maya and Lex as best friends. When Lex is struggling with her anxiety, Maya (as a green type) is a good listening ear and shoulder to lean on. It seemed like a perfect match for great, young female characters.
This is Lex.
BEN
Ben might be my favorite character of the bunch. I have a fondness for the quieter, witty types of characters. They don’t long for the spotlight, but when they are given the opportunity to step out (along with enough courage), these types are moving to watch. Ben is a BLUE.
He is best friends with Lando and supports whatever crazy idea comes to his head. He has an interest in knowledge, art, and comic books. (And, he let’s his true passion for superheroes show later on in the episodes.)
Though the YouTube and sitcom style always push higher energy kids to the front, I wanted Ben to stay true to his quieter roots; supporting his friends as best he knows how. He is confident in who he is. It’s ok to be a quiet artist.
Another attribute I added to his character is something many Generation Z kids go through. He has anxiety. It’s shown in his cautiousness to do things and, especially, bolstered by his overprotective mom. She keeps him in a cast beyond what the doctor ordered. It’s something he shrugs off, because… well… he loves his mom.
This is Ben.
RILEY
Riley came from a necessity we wanted to explore in our sitcome-style environment. We wanted to explore the terrain (on a relational level) of mixed families. Riley is the new step-sibling of Lando. A new sister that is encroaching on his friendships and social life. She is a few years younger than him and shares much of his personality type. She is a YELLOW/GREEN.
Knowing people are more than just one thing, we wanted to explore Riley as an amalgamation of more than just YELLOW and more than just GREEN.
She is in a fish out of water scenario, moving in with Lando and his dad. She is willing to try anything and wanting to find her place in this new group of friends. This comes out when the kids are wanting to make a new video. If they need a DJ, she’ll be a DJ. If they need a dancer, she’ll be a dancer. If they need an underwater basket weaver, she’ll try her best.
She loves being the center of attention, but more importantly wants to find a safe, peaceful place to call her own. It is the perfect blend of the yellow and green type.
This is Riley.
It may be a simple assortment of characters, but they have quickly become relevant and identifiable to our diverse audience. Part of it has been the attention made to ethnic diversity (an important quality I’d love to talk about in another blog), but specific personality types have made an excellent blueprint for a sitcom environment.
In particular, as this is designed for families, I have enjoyed seeing kids identify their own personality traits as they grow due to the character counterparts they see on the screen at KidStuf.