Stop introducing characters only to have them instantly forgotten. Here's the structure I wish I'd built sooner.

The Spiral gives a structure for introducing your characters that's divided to 6 Levels. Aftet knowing which level your character belongs to helps you create a perfectly detailed introduction for each of them.

• Level 1-6 = Main Cast, Major Antagonist, and Arc Defining Characters.

• Level 1, 2, & 5 = Supporting Cast, faction members, and multi-character introductions.

• Level 1 & 6 = Future/flashback cameo appearances and background characters.

1. Space (Presence Through Absence)

- Show the character's influence before they are physically introduced. Through their actions, fear, reputation, or a problem that only they could fix/create. The world experiences their presence before we see them.

A. Their past actions have left physical traces in the present. Corpse, rumors, damaged locations, or remaining survivors.

B. They invoke fear or respect among people even before they are seen.

C. Create a story where there is a problem that can only be solved by someone like them.

E.g: Mihawk cuts Don Krieg's fleet by half and ends his domination in the East Blue region before he is introduced in the story of One Piece. In The Dark Knight, Gotham's criminals talk about a "freak in makeup" before the pencil incident occurs.

2. Pursuit (First Action)

- Select their first action through a choice - the decision they make when multiple choices are possible. This reflects their worldview without much dialogues.

A. There are two correct ways forward but they have to pick one. The selection made reflects their code value.

B. Create a clear "hero" or "villain" option, but your character refuses both and takes a different path that totally changes everything.

C. They are in a position of power towards another who is weaker. Do they help, harm, ignore, or redefine the situation?

E.g: William Wallace in Braveheart, throws a rock at a British Soldier despite being safer with hiding. Light in Death Note writes another name on the Death Note after knowing how it works & etc.

3. Image (Relational Range)

- Illustrate how the reactions of various types of personalities towards the character define them without disclosing anything.

A. Three or more persons with varied interests reacting differently.

B. One action seen by three or more individuals with varying interpretations.

C. Compare the remarks about them in their absence and presence.

E.g: Tyler Durden in fight club is idolized like a god by men & the narrator needs him as a partner. In JJK, Gojo is adored by Jujutsu students while curses & sorcerers fear him.

4. Rigor (Test of Conviction)

- Introduce the character in situations that escalate into testing whether they would be able to change their philosophy. Is there consistency/adaptation or complete change in their identity.

A. Escalate situations that try to make them deviate from their philosophy and still they remain the same

B. Demonstrate different manifestations of the same philosophy. This shows that their philosophy is fundamental and not circumstantial.

C. It results in an unpleasant result of the philosophy and the character must decide whether to stop or continue.

E.g: in MCU, the Captain America "I can do this all day" is consistently repeated in different movies, thus proving his rigid idealism. In Dark Knight, Batman does not murder Joker despite the fact that it could save thousand.

5. Ability (Power Intro)

- Introduce the character using their powers/skills/fighting style which must convey their philosophy through visuals/mechanics.

A. The power used by the character must symbolize their philosophy in a metaphoric manner.

B. The limitation of their ability should reflect on their philosophy just as much as its abilities do. In other words, what it can't do is almost as much as what it can.

C. Convey their fighting style as a reflection of who the character is.

E.g: Ichigo’s ability in Bleach represents Identity & Responsibility of Protection. His Shinigami, Quincy, and Hollow powers show the struggle of accepting the identity of each part & his combat style of going straight to kill with great speed shows his single-minded commitment to protecting his loved ones.

6. Layer (Recontextualization)

- When there is sufficient progress in the story, reintroduce the character. This time with the full knowledge of the audience behind them, allowing them to create the impression of the character growing.

A. By placing them into a setting which suits their position/history in order to raise the stakes.

B. Showing tangible improvement of the character's skill/setbacks they have faced.

C. The presence of a character who turns the whole atmosphere of a scene or conflict around with his mere presence because of reputation and power.

Example: When Batman reappears against the Joker in the interrogation room. The scene is about his increased powers. All through the movie, it is the Joker who has had total control over the situations, but when Batman appears, everything changes right away.