Research into Similar Products : What Makes a Good Protagonist?

Now that I have looked at the antagonist its time to look at the protagonist. We all aspire to be a hero as everyone has thought of themselves saving someone's life. but what makes a protagonist interesting? How does one create a protagonist that is relatable, realistic and interesting enough so the audience feels engaged with their journey from the beginning to the end.  I will be exploring the reasons to why some protagonists are successful and why some ain't. This will then allow me to apply what's effective to my protagonist. An protagonist shouldn't be just cardboard cut out of a "good" person. they are worthy of facing the antagonist yet still conveying an interesting character arc to the story.

 From doing various amounts of research I have found some strong traits of an protagonist:

• He/she has a problem that they need to solve before its too late.
• He/she has a motive to act against the problem. this also may require the help of secondary characters 
• He/she always has something to lose. In the case of my main character his brother is something he can lose if he is not successful
• He/She has something to gain from their encounter with the antagonist therefore leading to eventual change due to their victory 
• He/She has a compelling quality that makes them interesting along with an interesting flaw to accompany
• He/She has a secret that creates interesting tension between characters and creates mystery for the audience 

Some successful protagonists that are memorable due to their look 

Indiana Jones from the Indiana Jones Franchise. Wears a fedora which suggests an investigator type of character which is seen as a good member of society who is looking to solve a problem. This is different to our usual hero as he doesn't have guns and body Armour. This became the symbol of the franchise known globally and became instantly recognizable when the hat was accompanied by the whip in which he carries. the light colours of his clothing suggests at heart a good character who want to do right by people however the dark clothing suggests there is a dark side to this character as he feels no shame in killing people who get I his way and putting innocent people lives on the line if needed. He is a character which is intimidating yet brave and daring. For viewers an element of sex appeal may be present for female viewers. 

 Obi - Wan from Star Wars is a good protagonist as he appears to be older then a lot of characters from the star wars films which suggests he is old yet wise. His outfit is a beige colour which connotes the goodness within him yet the simplistic lifestyle as a council member he has. The brown scarf round his neck implies a gritty and hands on individual who is willing to get involved where he is needed.  It may also suggest that their is a darkness within obi-wan and that he is still willing to take up arms against his enemies, which we see at the end of episode 3 and throughout. He appears as old and not that dangerous yet has experience which aids him greatly.  He is brave and quite quirky making him relatable to the audience

James Bond is one of the most well known action stars of all time. What sets James Bond different from other protagonists is the formality of his character. We constantly see him in a suit or shirt in his films. This suggests a level of discipline and sophistication therefore leading to audience members looking up to Bond as he is portrayed as the perfect man. The colour of his clothing varies throughout his films. Some would say this shows a battle within him between him as he has lived with trying to come to terms with the death of his parents. This would create pity for the character but also admiration for the character as he carries on even though he's been through tough times. He is brave.

Captain America is a stereotypical protagonist as he appears fully equipped to take on the antagonist. His outfit however is unique as it shows a patriotic look for Captain America. It implies a sense of liberty as he is representing America with his colours. He is clearly physically capable and has the ability to act. He also has a unique shield which sets him apart from other protagonists. His outfit is bright suggesting a good character overall. His outfit looks to be military in nature therefore showing a soldier background

Conclusion


Overall what I have learnt that protagonist in action flicks have some form of distinguishing feature that makes them immediately identifiable and sets them apart from the other characters. Clothing itself can suggest a lot about the different protagonist and implies the protagonist's ethos through light colours and colours which connote messages and ideas such as 'white' is pacifism and light. Some protagonists have a backstory which can create pity towards the characters and makes them relatable.