anonymous17 asked recently for more Roles, but picking the right ones to add is proving not so easy!

Protagonist
Antagonist
Protagonist's Nakama
Antagonist's Nakama
Supporting
Sub
Extra
unset

There was Tritagonist and Deuteragonist for a short while, but doesn't really apply to every series, and the words need a Wiki entry to make sense.


I think for most short series, this should be enough. Other longer running series, where each arc has a new Antagonist ... I'm not sure if there's some way we could do better.


So are Sub Characters and Supporting Characters more or less the same thing? Any distinction we could make?

As for Nakama... every otaku should know that word! ;-) But if someone wants to argue for Allies/Friends instead of Nakama, I'll change it.

[ Edited Jul 11, 2011 ]

私は日本語を少し読むと書くをできます。あなたも？

Using Nakama instead of friends is fine.
As for sub and supporting characters I have no idea if they're the same or if they're different.
Maybe sub character means secondary character? No clue. I looked up supporting character and the results I got were:
A supporting character is a character of a book, play, video game, movie, television or radio show other form of storytelling usually used to give added dimension to a main character, by adding a relationship with this character.

a subplot character or minor character who helps to raise the stakes for the main protagonist, or who reflects the same problems or issues of the protagonist, while providing texture or dimensionality to the setting.

A character that plays a part in the plot but is not major

I asked because I needed some easy definitions when adding characters to games with many playable, but not valuable to the plot line characters.

The best way i see solving the sub vs Supporting is with a couple of examples.

I will use Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood as an example:

I would classify Colonel Mustang as a Supporting Character yet I would classify the Fuehrer's "wife" as a sub-character.

Colonel mustang: A long-time reoccurring character who made multiple impacts to the plot.

Mrs. Bradly: A very small role but who has made at least one moderate contribution to the overall story.

So as recap, I would say the difference between sub and Supporting is overall contribution level.

An extra classify as a COTD/ one liner etc.

As for extra long runners (Bleach, one Piece, etc). We may need to divide those shows into "arcs". Looking something like this Franchise-Series-Arc. Where all characters appear in the series but not in an arc.

I think I understand the difference now. Thanks for the help!

Thanks for the examples CaptainBrain!

Seems like the right set of Roles for now. I've give some thought to how we could break series into Arcs. Easiest way might be labeling them "Title - Arc" then assigning it to the franchise. Then we'd need some way of ordering them.

私は日本語を少し読むと書くをできます。あなたも？

I would actually object to "nakama". If you'll pardon me saying so, it does seem more nerdy than it needs to be. "Friends" should be just fine.

Well, we have neither "friends" nor "Nakama". Furthermore, why do we have both protagonist AND main character? They are the same thing right?