Elf Creation 101

The most common original character to add to your company for the holiday season is a Christmas elf; they are easy to recognize and link to the time of year. That can be a good and bad thing. Being easily recognized is a good thing because, even though they are original to your company, kids everywhere know that Christmas elves work in Santa's workshop. The problem with that statement is that since they are so easy to recognize, almost every company has elves for the holiday season and they can all start looking the same. So how are we going to differentiate them? By creating a compelling story for this original character! For this blog, I will use as an example my own creation for my company, Sprinkles Gingerfrost.

Let's dive into the basics of creating an original Christmas elf for your company. First off, we need to determine where this elf is going to work at. Saying "Santa's Workshop" is a cliché and we want to avoid stereotypes. Your elf's work location can be a direct link to their name and personality because they all tie with one another. For example, elves can work in the reindeer stables if they are very pet friendly and could be called Jingles or they can work in the post office sorting children's letters and be called Merry because she's happy to receive letters. In my case, my elf is called Sprinkles because she works in Santa's bakery making cookies for Santa and the other elves. Remember that elves are very outgoing and elaborate so having a complex and fun last name can be an ad on!

Once you have established where your elf works, their name and main hobby, you can establish a much better personality for them. Are they outgoing or shy? What's their favorite Christmas tradition? All of those questions are a bonus to add and remember that they need to have a flaw. This flaw can sometimes be linked to the story you want them to tell. Sprinkles used to be sad because she was sorted into the bakery and she didn't work at the toy workshop but, in time, she discovered that every job at the North Pole is important and hers is perfect. She teaches children about the importance of little jobs and making life sweet! Your elf can be an excellent toy wrapper who thought they needed to be fast in order to make more presents but discovered that quality is better than quantity. Take your time writing down this story and make sure that everything connects with your character's reality.

Finally, add connections to your character. Do they have a sidekick? Who is their best friend at the North Pole? How close are they to Santa? Give them links to other characters that will make them more genuine.

Once you have all those points down, your elf is ready to be brought to life! The wonderful thing about original characters is that you can design their movements however you want, give them a unique twist, and add fun elements to their wardrobe. For me, Sprinkles carries a pouch with her gingerbread cookies and spatula. She never goes anywhere without it! Her hair is also complementary to the gingerbread cookies and is a reference to her last name; "Ginger-" is for her talented creations and "-frost" references the iced highlights on her hair.

Now go out there and give your own elf a twist! For more information about creating an original character, check out the "Original Characters Masterclass" at the Academy course library. Have an elf already in mind you want to bring to life? Comment below your elf's name and where they work at in the North Pole!