History Main / CharacterDepth

'''Depth:''' How the audience's perception of the character changes the better said character is known. If your [[WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}} ogres are like onions]], they do indeed have depth.

'''Breadth:''' Variation within a character. The amount of different traits that define them and how well these interact.

This is often known as a character being [[FlatCharacter One-Dimensional, Two-Dimensional]], or [[RoundCharacter Three-Dimensional]].

'''Height:''' The most outward traits of a character. One or two of such is most often enough to give a one-dimensional character something to be defined by.

You can go further, it's just optional. Related to this is whether a character is [[DynamicCharacter Dynamic]] or [[StaticCharacter Static]], these can maintain or increase the dimensions of a character, or simply "move them sideways" to change their nature without adding depth. Related to CharacterCalculus, at least in that the farther away a character is from the POV or Focus axes, the less developed they are likely to be.

'''Height:''' How important the character is to the story/society/main character. Most one-dimensional characters are defined by this and one or two character trait(s).

'''Depth:''' How the character changes the better you know them. If your [[WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}} ogres are like onions]], they do indeed have depth.

* A minor character in a story told to little children. Not that kids can't understand character depth. Just that they are likely to give that attention to major characters.

Keep in mind that [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools not all characters have to be three dimensional]], nor is there [[TropesAreNotBad necessarily something wrong with a character who is not]]. The genre, audience, plot, and role of the character affects the minimum depth needed for the character to maintain WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief. Go at least that far, and you're good with the audience.

Keep in mind that [[TropesAreNotGood not all characters have to be three dimensional]], nor is there [[TropesAreNotBad necessarily something wrong with a character who is not]]. The genre, audience, plot, and role of the character affects the minimum depth needed for the character to maintain WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief. Go at least that far, and you're good with the audience.

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<<|CharacterizationTropes|>>

[[AC:Only One Dimension Needed]]
* It's a victim of TheVirus, like a zombie. Unless one zombie has a major role, what more do you need?
* An extra in a crowd.
* A {{Mook}} in most VideoGames.
* CannonFodder, unless the show is focusing on the horrors of war.
* Any character in a game with an ExcusePlot.
* A minor character in a story told to little children. Not that kids can't understand character depth. Just that they are likely to give that attention to major characters.

[[AC:At Least Two Dimensions Needed]]
* A Virus victim in a major role.
* Most victims in a SlasherMovie.
* Minor characters in most movies.
* Major characters in a BMovie.

<<|CharacterizationTropes|>>

* A minor character in a story told to little children. Not that kids [[ViewersAreMorons can't understand character depth]]. Just that they are likely to give that attention to major characters.

'''Depth:''' How the character changes the better you know them. If your [[{{Shrek}} ogres are like onions]], they do indeed have depth.

This is how "deep" a character is. It involves questions like why the character does what the character does, what the character thinks, feels, desires, and hates, [[BackStory where the character came from,]] and/or how the character sees the world. It may be there in SubText, but it still affects the depth of the character.

'''Depth:''' How the character changes the better you know them. If your ogres are like onions, they do indeed have depth.

* Most victims in a SlasherFlick.

* Minor charcters in most movies.

This is often known as a character being [[FlatCharacter One-Dimensional]], Two-Dimensional, or [[RoundCharacter Three-Dimensional]].

'''Height:''' How important the characer is to the story/society/main character. Most one-dimensional characters are defined by this and one or two character trait(s).