Canon Characters and the Handling of Them · 5:24pm Jan 20th, 2012
It's something that happens quite often (in fact all the time). You get an idea for writing a story that involves canon characters from the show, be they the mane six, Spike, the Princesses, background characters... the list goes on and on. So, how do you use these characters? Obviously you want to take them in a direction different from the show, since the 'real' world the characters inhabit isn't likely to be as bright and happy and colorful as the show makes it out to be. Or is it? Regardless, it is not an easy thing to include a predefined character such as Twilight Sparkle and to put her in a completely new situation. How does she react to it? How does it affect her as a character? Does it influence or change her perspective on life? The one thing that I think she shouldn't do is brush it off and continue on like it never happened.
So, I ask you, how do you handle using the canon cast in your stories?
I guess it all depends on the intensity of the story. I'm not sure that my story would be a good example though.
I would shove them in the background most of the times but if they had to interact with the main character of the story I would make sure that they would act the same way in the show (e.g. Mane 6) but if they were background ponies I would try and follow them close to what we bronies have made them out to be or just make their own personalities and work from there on. But if I'm writing a dark one I'm making sure Rarity goes crazy killing near on anypony she see and then sacrificing Prince Blueblood or round house kicking him into a volcano. Hope you find my crazy ramblings useful.
Hm.
Well, I'm no expert, but I pay attention to how they act, speak, and emote in canon, then think very heavily about how they'd be likely to act and react in the stories and situations I put them through, and try to cleave to it as best I can.
Going to nerd out a little and talk about how I'd like to use canon characters.
Initially when writing about a Canon character, I try to keep them as close to their depiction on the show, until events begin to take place that would otherwise change them. For instance if I had Twilight meet one of my OC's and it was merely for plot convenience then I'm obviously not going to have her act too different... Unless it was Big Dave but meeting him is a life changing experience
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Now if it's an OC and a main character over a period of time, I'd like to have them change a bit thanks to my character. But I'd try to make it gradual and at least plausible if not believable.
Well for one thing I introduce them with personalities as close to the original as I can possibly make them out to be.
With that said, that is only for the purpose for the reader to relate the character to your story.
With THAT SAID, after canon characters are introduced, I see it fit that you can change there personalities to better fit your stories. Have them do things that that they wouldn't normally do. Now that doesn't mean you instantly change there personality just with a snap of your fingers. No, no, no,, no, you slowly mold the character's new traits to suit your story. If done suddenly or sloppily then you will have people screaming 'OMG THEY ARE OOC!!!' left and right. If done correctly you now have a believable character in the realm of your story.
Now when these characters are confronted with a new situation. One that they are not accouterments to, what I normally do is not think of how they would act. I think of it more as 'how would they act with all these other ponies around them?' I for one honestly think that people and ponies act differently when in the presence of others. So they should act in according to there virtues, things they believe in. These canon characters, whatever their virtue they believe in, whether you have changed it in your story of not. should represent it as closely as possible.
You are asking us to accurately predict the actions of living souls. Which is about as easy to do as hang a fifty foot painting on a wall made of Jell-o.
Overall, when I use canon characters in my story, I introduce them so that they closely resemble the characters from the show. Although as the story progresses, that character may become someone (or pony) that could be an entirely different character from the show. One with a different personality or virtues. All of course to benefit the story.
Hope this helped!
~Athanix,
Peace.
6459 It has indeed! Although now I find myself craving jello
I guess what really prompted me to write this post is Midnight Shadow's blog post on world building, linked here, since to me, characters and the world they inhabit both need a lot of time and thought invested to be believable, and it's great to see people actually reading my blog and responding to it! I know it makes me sound silly, but not a day goes by that this community in particular and the brony community at large fails to astound me with how awesome they are haha