Some of the greatest movies and books are based on gripping character arcs. Someone stumbles, struggles, learns a lesson and gets back up to conquer the world. The writing is well thought-out, creative, and captivating. Think The Godfather, Schindler’s List, Gone Girl, and even Toy Story.
But character arcs aren’t only reserved for entertainment. They’re playing out every day, all around us, in real life, too. Unlike fictional characters, real human beings don’t get the luxury of a well-scripted story. Some endings are victorious, others are messy, and a few are absolutely tragic.
There’s an online community that showcases “character arcs in a photo.” The page is a wall of screenshots that perfectly encapsulate what it means to be human, how each of us has our own unique story to tell, and how our opinions or attitudes can change over time. Bored Panda has put together a list of some of the best posts from r/characterarcs for you to scroll through while you contemplate your own personal development.
#1 Billionaire President
Image source: Economy_Elephant6200
#2 Makeup
Image source: Resto_Bot
#3 The Discovery
Image source: CrispySheepie
In short, a character arc is how a character grows or changes through a story. It’s all about internal growth, and not about aging or getting taller.
According to Editor, Writer and Instructor September C. Fawkes, there are four types of character arcs: change positively, change negatively, remain steadfast positively, or remain steadfast negatively. These can also be described as moral ascending, moral descending, transformational, and flat.
“Usually, the plot should have stakes, costs, and crises powerful enough that they push the character to his or her limits–they push the character to change or grow,” explains Fawkes, adding that there are a couple of rare exceptions. How the character proceeds will put a value on a worldview or belief system, he says.
#4 Bro Won
Image source: SensitiveCow770
#5 Parents
Image source: Cydrag07
#6 Females
Image source: Loose_Relationship60
“In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch changes his worldview of Christmas when he realizes that Christmas doesn’t come from a store. In Wonder Woman, Diana believes we should fight for the world we believe in and proves this true at the climax of the movie,” says Fawkes.
“In Star Wars: A New Hope, Luke comes to rely on faith (the force) instead of technology. In Harry Potter, Harry learns that love is the most powerful magic in the world,” adds the expert.
#7 Notvotingarc
Image source: current_thread
#8 On A Video About Borderline Personality Disorder (Bpd)
Image source: anon
#9 Really Rare
Image source: Someone101064
So why do characters need an arc? It’s all about evoking emotion, or feeling, in the viewer or reader, and getting them invested in the story.
“A character arc makes characters relatable, interesting, and vulnerable,” notes Dabble, an online platform for writers. “A fantastic character arc can bring tears to our eyes, drown us in dread, or cause us to cheer in triumph.”
Dabble‘s experts go on to say arcs make characters meaningful, and help to hold the attention of the audience. “If people don’t understand, relate to, or care about your characters then no amount of action, romance, or terror will keep them engaged,” the site explains.
#10 This Is What A Perfect Character Arc Looks Like
Image source: GlitteringHotel8383
#11 Bro Had A Recovery 🥹🥹
Image source: JulPfl
#12 Was Looking At Comments For That “Please Don’t Go To School” Song And Found This Gem
Image source: dNorsh
Many film afficionados agree that Michael Corleone (played by Al Pacino) in The Godfather trilogy had a brilliant character arc.
At the beginning of the book and film, he’s a decorated war hero who tells his girlfriend that his family’s violent ‘business,’ aka the mafia, is not him. By the end of The Godfather, Corleone has taken over New York to become the most powerful mob boss in the country.
#13 Quick Time Event Passed
Image source: Captain_Lesgate
#14 Gotta Make Him Go Back And Get Some
Image source: Key_Associate7476
#15 Vtuber Arc
Image source: Super_Yreddit
There’s a difference between character arcs and narrative arcs. While the character arc is about the internal journey, the narrative arc focuses on the external journey, or the path of the plot. “It’s another way to refer to the story as a whole,” says Fawkes.
He uses The Lion King as an example. “Simba’s character arc is about upholding the Circle of Life. The Lion King’s narrative arc is everything that happens in the plot from Simba’s birth to the birth of his cub,” explains the writing expert.
#16 Peak Character Arc
Image source: Last_Cut7326
#17 Saga Of The Hot Bread
Image source: maddielovescolours
#18 Tails From “Sonic” Is Not Gay!
Image source: PhDVa
In some books and movies, the plot arc plays a bigger role than the character arc. “All of the older James Bond movies are a good example where a character has very little growth – we ALWAYS know that Bond is going to stop the bad guy and get the girl,” says Sally Hamer, a teacher of memoir, beginning and advanced creative fiction writing, and screenwriting at Louisiana State University.
Hamer notes that more recently, the franchise has begun to let Bond have an arc. But she adds that certain genres don’t really need a character arc. These are usually more action/adventure, thriller-style films.
#19 Found This While Scrolling Through My Old Posts
Image source: fvkinglesbi
#20 Choices Were Made
Image source: DasBeasto
#21 An Xbox User Reached Out To Me 5 Years Later…
Image source: AdeptnessFlimsy
When it comes to real life, our world view, opinions or attitudes can change. Our emotions and beliefs are formed through experiences, education, and social influences. They can remain the same, or change when we’re faced with new information or social pressures.
#22 Quick Turnaround
Image source: RocksThrowing
#23 The Banana Company That Also Commits War Crimes
Image source: WoooshToTheMax
#24 🥹
Image source: DriedPen
Sometimes, our attitudes or opinions change as a result of cognitive dissonance, a phenomenon in which a person experiences psychological distress due to conflicting beliefs and behaviors.
“In some cases, people may alter their attitudes to better align them with their current behaviors,” explains the VeryWell Mind site, adding that to reduce inner conflict, some people change their behavior to be more congruent with their beliefs.
#25 Lactosemaxxing
Image source: Visible-Literature14
#26 Awakening
Image source: Pharthrax
#27 AI Artisn’t
Image source: PhantomOfTheNopera
#28 Obvious Lie To Unexpected Reveal
Image source: anon
#29 Lesbians
Image source: tangentrification
#30 A Twitter User Actually Admitting To Being Wrong Upon Being Presented With New Information
Image source: isuckatnames60
#31 Her Fingers Were Typing Quicker Than Her Mind Was Thinking
Image source: A-person19
#32 Lesbian Photographer Or Lesbian Photographer
Image source: Lisa_wind
#33 What Having An Uber Successful Indie Show Does To A Person
Image source: MelanieWalmartinez
#34 Turkey Supports Ukraine
Image source: oskar_pawlisz
#35 Femboy
Image source: Crazydrag0n908
#36 Hope This Counts
Image source: Weird-Donut2049
#37 Fortnite
Image source: imcalledaids
#38 I’m Sorry
Image source: International-Try467
#39 Stole This Screenshot Off @transjewtalian On Twitter
Image source: M4B3Y_SL33P1NG
#40 Your Baby Is An Abomination / Gift From God
Image source: FineSharts
#41 Dishonorable Discharge
Image source: Albus_Dumblydorr
#42 Relationship Arc
Image source: Grand_Error_4534
#43 Man Did A Full 180
Image source: SaneYoungPoot2
#44 Polyamory
Image source: prettynebula-
#45 Self Discovery Arc
Image source: SatansGuideToHell
#46 No One Using These
Image source: Enchilada_Chef
#47 Cornball Character Arc
Image source: rrrrziw
#48 Teenager
Image source: General-Pangolin3875
#49 Goth Baddie
Image source: lyalyas
#50 Oh, No
Image source: Zulrambe
#51 Not Very Excited Anymore
Image source: BeginningEconomy6585
#52 This Has To Count Right?
Image source: Nightmare_Freddles
#53 Oh Yeah
Image source: MrNuems
#54 Clapping When The Plane Lands
Image source: JesusShuttlesworth__
#55 Yep, He’s A Vibe Alr
Image source: OutrageousBreath7540
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