Apr 2017
9 / 47
Apr 2017
Feb 12
zetina
Apr '17

i've never tried counting them for actual stories. mostly cuz i don't know yet what characters i'll need;; there's also lots of "filler characters", meaning they're there to make friend circles or important groups look populated. and i usually do have names, designs and simple personalities for them (somewhat unavoidable to think about the character as you draw them in your world, huh). for my current comic, as far as major characters go... my current count is at... 12. there's definitely way more tho, like i said;;

several main characters is deff hard to juggle. Oda of One Piece juggles 9 of them and has taken to splitting the main cast apart to make room for arc-relevant characters. but it can be done! i do think you gotta prioritize and have some idea of why that character exists, i think. like in One Piece, you can get a sense for which strawhats are more prominent and in what situations - they each have a role that comes from their job in the crew, allowing them all a chance to be useful to the events.

AmysGames
Apr '17

I don't even want to count because I always end up making more characters as I need them, haha.

That said, most of them are side characters, characters who only show up when they're needed. I think having too many characters is only an issue when they're all main characters, because after a while it gets hard to keep track of them all.

miesmud
Apr '17

For my ongoing comic I have two main character and one almost main character. But they all have a lot of family and friends and pets and classmates and team-mates and teachers and what not. I don't even want to count! cold_sweat

R.n.P
Apr '17

I have 43 episodes so far and I have 26 characters introduced now though some are just minor characters or one time appearances but I plan to have at least 100 characters introduced in my comic
THE LAST SAMURAI1

timinabox
Apr '17

no way I feel like counting them but I'm guessing about 50?
10 of only the most main ones and then the list goes on forever

NickRowler
Apr '17

Currently (in my current series), about 20. Though that might increase. I have a bad habit of creating new characters. Also, keep in mind that many of my characters are related.

My old series had about 10 characters. It was also much shorter.

Redsheis
Apr '17

In my comic I have 9 characters. In my loar I have10.
In my opinion its not how many characters you have or don't have; Its if the story needs them and the purpose they serve to drive the story forward wink

Kirstin
Apr '17

oh gosh I have so many >.<

About 5 main characters and about 14 total, not including the really minor characters

Most of my characters are all in the same place throughout the story and are seen together so the reader doesn't have to keep track of all of their separate lives.

I think as long as each character is clearly distinguishable both through design and personality you're good!

ahhvecadoes
Apr '17

3 main characters, an antagonist, and at least 15 supporting that come into play at different points in the story. I didn't want the 2 human main characters to feel like they're completely isolated, so I took care to make a good background cast, even if they don't show up a lot.

Cielle
Apr '17

there are 7-8 characters in my comic who have been named and make a physical appearance (one of them has only been in a painting), but there are at least 15 more characters who have yet to even be mentioned yet. Obviously they aren't all main characters, but...there's a lot +_+ There are only 2 main characters, though, so I guess that's pretty average?

shazzbaa
Apr '17

Major characters that play a significant role in the plot: about 9-10
Maybe 5ish characters who are involved with those characters but very secondary.
And around 15?? background folks with speaking parts have shown up so far (3-5 each chapter, so, many more to come), but I don't usually count them. Even though they do get designs and personalities, they don't get names.

Nebulous
Apr '17

Like WAYYYY too many. There are a lot of one time/one shot characters, so maybe 25-35 ish main ones??
Gosh, that's so many still

insomniascrawl
Apr '17

For (Semi) Super I have 3 main characters that are set to the story and a bunch of regulars to be introduce that aren't technically main characters.

rmdooley
Apr '17

There are six main characters in my comic1. The number of named characters grows with each chapter but for about half of those are singular to that specific chapter

Vanesalisa
Apr '17
1

eight main characters but not yet shown so just two main characters and later would be three characters and bunch of recurring characters

wander_creature
Apr '17

Outer Spaces1 is a bit of an anomaly for me. Typically I have a trifecta of main characters - (looking back now, I realize it tends to be one gruff and weathered character, one intellectual, and a spirited youngster) - but in a novel I'm concocting, there are something like 20-30 characters whose actions are relevant to the plot, and in Outer Spaces, there's only two central characters. There's about 10 Inks that I've given much story-time to, and they're the driving force in the plot - but there's also a host of monsters, anxieties, and other creatures that don't stay quite so long. Honestly, a story with generally few characters is a first for me.

2
AnnaLandin
Apr '17

Grassblades currently has 12 characters that have or will turn up in more than one chapter, as well as a handful of single-chapter secondary characters. I'll be adding another character to the reoccurring cast, to make it 13.

I tend to try to stick with fewer characters, as that lets me be more focused and in-depth, and it's easier for both me and the readers to keep track of who is who and what they want.

For oneshots, I try to limit the scope even more, usually sticking with 2-4 characters.