Of Elemental Affinities - Introduction and Fire

Get ready for another series of posts on character design!

Although this generally applies to fictional stories of a fantastic nature, many characters are associated with a particular "element". I say element in quotes due to the fact that the term does not simply encompass the traditional European or Chinese elements. Depending on the story, an element will be just as likely to take the form of a special ability as it is to be expressed as a motif for a character. The shape the element will take (or not, as the story's universe permits) is quite literally limited only by the imagination of the writer.

I'd like to take a closer look at the character types that wield these elements (standard and non-standard alike). Just think of it as a repository for characters with similar abilities. With that said, I'd like to establish a few rules by which I will use in these examinations:

The elements present in the story must be capable of being called upon in some shape or form and be able to interact with the physical world in some way.
Characters in possession of these powers must be human. Animals, machines, and what have you that lack a human-like anatomy are forbidden.
Characters that wield multiple elemental abilities will not be included unless one of their elements is clearly the predominant one.
Examining how a character's physical attributes relate to their element is also forbidden. Not only that, this line of discussion is pointless in that such relationships are, for the most part, painfully obvious, i.e., fire-users are more likely to have red or orange eyes or hair, water/ice users are more likely to have blue eyes or hair, etc.

With that out of the way, let's get this show on the road.


Fire

Fire is unique in that it is as much an element of death as it is one of life. It is as beautiful to look at as it is dangerous to directly touch it. Left unattended it could grow into a devastating conflagration and destroy everything that comes into contact with it. When properly controlled, though, it can bring heat and comfort, cook food, and be used as a light in the darkness.

Let's state the obvious: fire is so prevalent as a special ability, especially for a main character, that it could be considered ubiquitous. The reason as to why this is the case should be equally obvious: it's popular eye candy. Fire is naturally attractive due to its bright and lively colors, and most importantly, it is capable of huge explosions, and everyone loves a good blast. A diverse array of character types have been seen wielding flames.

Arguably, the most commonly seen main characters with this ability are quick to act before properly thinking things through. They're brash and sometimes reckless but are nonetheless good people. In a way these traits are a reflection of what fire is like, and for those who read Japanese manga or follow anime, these are all typical personality quirks of the shounen lead archetype. Lina Inverse, Stahn Aileron, Adell, Kyo Kusanagi, Batsu Ichimonji, Sol Badguy, Natsu Dragneel, and the Human Torch are prime examples of this, though at different degrees. According to Capcom Fire Man would also fit this description but he is considered an antagonist - more on that later. Robin Sena, Shana, Mario, and Terra Branford are notable exceptions. In particular, Terra's docile and insecure nature couldn't be more incompatable with the destructive power she wields. This goes to show that not all flame wielders are hot heads.

This leads me to the next most common character with this ability: the competent ally. From a story-telling perspective, these characters exist to serve as a foil for the protagonist - they may be more serious than the impulsive hero, physically attractive, intelligent, or more skilled than the main character. Whatever the case, they are simply better than the main character in one or more aspects. In some cases, they may even be their rival. Characters like Roy Mustang, Fujiwara No Mokou, Sailor Mars, Lucca, Ken Masters, Red Mages, and Captain Yamamoto all have something that makes them better than the main character. Of course, as with the main character types, there is a flip side to this coin. Less-than competent characters seen using fire include Kyouko Kirisaki, Shishigami Bang, Shippou, and Wheeler. What I mean by this is that though these characters have great power there is something holding back their true strength - Kyouko's ditzy, Bang is unaware of his weapon's dormant powers, Shippou is young, and Wheeler's a dumb American stereotype. Blaze the Cat could also fit in here. A fire user who was teased to the point where she comes to dislike her own natural ability has to count for something.

Lastly, let's take a look at pyromaniacal characters. They have a tendency to indiscriminately burn everything around them, to say nothing of their obvious psychological deficiencies. They're simple psychos that are easy enough to understand, so it should come as to no surprise that many of are low-tier villains. Oddly enough, throughout the course of my research I only came across male characters who fit this description. Some baddies that fit this description are Zancrow, Firefly, Dario Bossi, Matthew Patel, Quartum, and Inferno. Compare and contrast these villains with those who have a more composed nature. As opposed to their simpler counterparts, these types of antagonists are more intelligent, conniving, and they exhibit incredible control and mastery over their power, making them exceptionally dangerous opponents. Interestingly enough, these traits stand in stark contrast to fire's random and destructive nature. If pushed enough, the villain's cool facade may start to crack and give way to their underlying insanity, though. Villains of this type are often powerhouses of the highest caliber that include the likes of Hao Asakura, Axel, Dark Phoenix, Uchiha Sasuke, and Firelord. Iori Yagami falls somewhere in between the former and later descriptions fo the fiery antagonist in that he is wild and psychotic (especially in his Chi no Bousou state) but not so much that he is incapable of cunning plays and, most surprisingly, displays of kindness.


That's all for now. I hope you all had a hot time. Next time I'll be diving into Fire's opposing element, water - unless you guys would rather I tackle a different element first.