ARCHETYPES

HERO=the main character, we see the story as a POV through him/her. Central focus of the audience. Always faced with a problem. We MUST bond in someway with the hero or the story will not engage. (ie: Jeff in Rear Window)

SHADOW=the main opponent, usually a villain. The hero's problem (one of them). Can be a manifestation of the hero's dark side (ie: Darth Vader)

MENTOR=Usually older and wiser, but can be inverted. (ie Gandalf the Grey) Have pre-experienced the hero's experience, and can provide guidance. (ie: Morpheus)

HELPERS=Help the hero on his quest. Support the goals of the hero(ie the elf, dwarf etc. in Lord of the rings, and others help Frodo)

GUARDIAN=Another opponent or obstacle for the hero. Blocks the path or test him/her is some way. (ie in Greek tragedy the guardian is the Sphinx, who blocks the gate to Thebes) or the 3-headed dog that block the sorcerers stone in Harry Potter..

TRICKSTER=Sometimes a serious threat and ally of shadow character. Trickster is a mischief maker who holds no more power over the hero, but can distract him/her form the goal. The also can be funny or fun characters.

HERALD=Provides information to the hero, often changing direction of the story. Often at the beginning to indicate the hero to action. (ie: Raiders of the Losk Ark..professor tells Jones about the situation with the Ark, information giver, is his sole purpose) Or the three witched in McBeth that tell of the coming events. Heralds are very useful to set up future events and set story direction.

PROTAGONIST=the main character as the hero, promotes the main action of the story. Problems for the protagonist can be VERY complex. depending on how much time you movie/game/animation is. Physiological and conscience issues can add amazing layers of appeal to a protagonist, and we want to know and follow them. protagonist can have a TRAGIC FLAW.. the protagonist WANT is usually born out of this flaw. Mac Beth is an example of an ambitions man coming to bad because of a personal weakness)

ANTAGONIST=the opponent, direct opposed what the protagonist wants. It could be just a competition of the same goal. Antagonistic can be "Mistaken Antagonist" someone who later is reveled ass being innocent. "Exaggerated Antagonist" one-dimensional/cartoon like. or "Realistic Antagonist" who can be complex, mild mannered, or even non nondescript The antagonist can grow fro one to another throughout the movie. An example is Alex (woman) in Fatal Attraction. Seemingly normal at first she becomes more evil at time goes on and the story plays out. ANTAGONISTS in this way are MORE important to develop that the protagonist is many ways, because they present the problems the protagonist must face.

ANTIHERO=Someone who is the main protagonist of the story, but is a bit, to extremely, imperfect. they can be morally bad, or make very bad choices, yet we are still watching for them, and hoping for better. (Walt White, Tony Soprano, etc.)

PIVOTAL CHARACTER = Close to the protagonist, sometimes a sidekick, husband, wife, animal, best friends,..etc..someone that helps the character see a truth..can be a child..

SIDEKICK= companion to the protagonist. Used in classics hero stories. Young and usually naive/unaware of the protagonists true burdens.

LACKEY= Villains sidekick usually. A yes-man. sycophant or "toad". usually intellectually dim, but receives detail from the villain, so the audience can hear the villain's plan.

HENCHMEN= Or minion, are in service the the villain. Even more mindless than lackeys, and operate like binary allies or soulless creatures, who only want to do the bidding for bad intent. (ie The Orks in The Lord of The Rings)

MOLE= the guy who is behaving like he is doing good but who is actually serving the villain. (Cipher in the Matrix)

(what kind of character is he?( in the first Jurassic Park) both trouble maker and later unexpected hero?)