Creating Cartoon Characters that Kids & Parents Love

Many of the best family movies these days appeal to both kids and parents. Creations such as Inside Out 2 aren’t just kids’ movies; adults enjoy them too. To cite another example, Despicable Me 4 succeeds on many levels, not the least of which is the focus on the family as Gru, Lucy and their daughters welcome a new baby into the family, which inserts a new level of chaos into the plot, one with which many parents can identify.

The cross-generational appeal of such depictions often goes deeper than the characters. For example, the Inside Outmovies try to help viewers visualize the inner life of human emotions and aspirations. As a writer, I can appreciate the effort, even if the depiction leaves out an important dimension of the inner life: the soul.

That’s something we kept in mind at TruPlay as we created the RhymVerse, an imaginary world of animal characters—some of whom wear the costumes of other animals. That choice might appear redundant to some, and it did complicate things for our talented artists. But the idea isn’t a mere gimmick; there’s a real purpose in it.

For example, Maple the Tiger Bunny, who is featured in many of our games, videos, and comics, is our most asked-about character, particularly regarding her unusual get-up: why does she wear a tiger costume? Well, the truth is that bunnies are often misunderstood. They can be fierce, particularly in their defense of their young. Rabbits are intelligent, affectionate, and playful, which is why they’re popular pets. But bunnies get a bad rap in popular culture, often depicted as frozen in fear in the face of danger.

But Maple knows better. She aspires to be a strong and courageous bunny. She can jump high, chew through anything, and will always defend the weak. Imagine how frustrating it might be to see yourself as brave and up for anything, but all anyone else sees is a stereotype. I think we all know what it feels like to be reduced to a set of characteristics.

Tigers, however, have it pretty easy when it comes to PR. They’re unrivaled predators. Everyone respects a tiger. I know I would feel very different confronting a tiger than even the angriest bunny. Maple knows that too. So what do you do if everyone looks at you and can only see the big front teeth and the ridiculously long ears? For Maple, the answer was simple. She put on a costume that represents how she feels on the inside.

This is not a new concept. Wearing a mask or communicating our feelings through our choice of clothing is as old as human existence. And, while the youngest players may not grasp the real question, older kids–and their parents–may, and that is whether Maple will grow into the understanding that she is enough as she is, created by God for a purpose. That happens to be the real question for all of us. Will we move into a place of understanding our identity in Christ to such a degree that we can take off our masks? Perhaps someday Maple will no longer need the costume to convince others that she has the heart of a tiger...and, I hope, the children who play our games, such as Maple and the Forest of Words, will come to similar realizations about themselves.