Fictional characters are the core of the stories we love, whether they appear in movies, books, shows, or games. They influence and reference the real world with their triumphs, struggles, and transformations that move and inspire us all. The following characters are prime examples of those with incredible character development and exceptional writing, showcasing amazing story arcs that have changed the world’s views and opinions.
1. Iron Man (Tony Stark) – Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Tony’s evolution from a selfish owner of a weapons company and “millionaire playboy” to a superhero who sacrificed himself to save the entire universe is one of the most long drawn out arcs in film and probably one of the most iconic. He made his debut in the 2008 “Iron Man” movie, where he’s first shown as a playboy inventor. After being kidnapped by terrorists, he builds an armored suit to escape and puts an arc reactor in his chest to keep his heart beating. His only superpower is genius level intellect which explains how he’s able to do this, and then he decides to become a superhero, save the world from terrorists, gains the nickname “Iron Man” from the public and publicly reveals that he is Iron Man.
This marks the beginning of his story and Tony abandons weapons manufacturing for heroics. (Even though he’s not getting paid.) In The Avengers, his “genius, millionaire, playboy philanthropist” ego did grow slightly since the original Iron Man series, which combined with the fact he’s a superhero now, is expected. Fast forward to Avengers Endgame, facing extinction, the disbanded Avengers team, and a giant purple people eater who wants to destroy half the universe and rebuild in his own image, he tells his daughter Morgan, “Part of the journey is the end, I love you 3000” before sacrificing himself to save the universe.
In each movie Tony deals with guilt, responsibility, and ego. As well as PTSD after New York, more guilt over Ultron, and conflict over his little civil war with Captain America, ultimately his arc ends with admirable sacrifice. His famous line in Iron Man 3, “My armor was never a distraction, it was a cocoon. And now I’m a changed man,” contrasting his line in Endgame, “I am Iron Man” which he says in his first and last films, both having very different meanings. This rewrites his storyline from selfish to admirable.
2. Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) – MCU (Films & WandaVision).
Wanda Maximoff starts as a grieving orphan turned into an Avenger. Her arc is driven by loss and death. After losing her brother Pietro and then her boyfriend Vision, Wanda’s grief and power grow in sync. In Avengers: Age of Ultron and Infinity War, she shows more telekinetic and telepathy strength, but in WandaVision’s sitcom world she gets a major upgrade. She cries so hard from her grief for Vision that she creates a pocket reality sitcom world as she processes her grief. Until when Agatha Harkness interrupts her, stating that “the Scarlet Witch is not born… she is forged.” Her and Agatha get into a big fight and Wanda “forges” the Scarlet Witch becoming the most powerful being in the universe.
In this pocket reality, she had two kids, Billy and Tommy. Wanda’s identity as a mother is made explicit in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where she pleads “I’m not a monster… I’m a mother,” emphatically rejecting villainy after wizard sanctuary. In that film, confronting Strange and Wong, Wanda refuses to surrender her memory of the children she dreamt of. When Dr Strange tells her they don’t exist in this universe, she replies with “But they do… I dream of them every night”, portraying her Marvel universe dreams as windows to someone in an alternate reality. Earlier, Vision had told her in Wandavision, “What is grief, if not love persevering?” This line pretty much encapsulates her whole journey.
By the end, Wanda destroys the Darkhold, a book created specifically for her but has an evil influence on whoever uses it, in every universe, including the mountain its spells were carved on. She then acknowledges her own power as The Scarlet Witch. Her storyline moves from power-hungry terrorist turned avenger, to blood thirsty witch, to ultimately a redeemed hero. Wanda’s entire character is a metaphor for grief and love, and as confusing as she is, her story arc was truly amazing, and it might not even be over yet.
3. Shrek – Shrek Film Series.
Shrek begins as a grumpy ogre content with solitude in his swamp, as he complains to his friend Donkey, “People judge me before they even know me. That’s why I’m better off alone.” This is a key line in his ideology that “Ogres are like onions, ogres have layers,” (which becomes a metaphor for inner depth.) When Shrek rescues Princess Fiona in Shrek (2001), he discovers love and friendship, challenging his prejudice. Befriending Donkey and falling for Fiona teaches him that even an ogre can have a fairy-tale ending.
In Shrek 2, he deals with insecurity, using a “norm ogre” potion to win Fiona’s parents’ approval, but learns to accept himself and that Fiona loves him for who he is. By Shrek the Third, he has a family of ogre-triplets and tries to be king of Far Far Away, realizing parenthood changes him. In Shrek Forever After, a magically warped reality shows Shrek’s worst fears – losing Fiona and his past. When this alternate life nearly breaks him, his love for family “wins the day” and he returns grateful. Ultimately, Shrek evolves from loner to loving husband/father who embraces community. His character development is summed up by those iconic quotes from “What are you doing in my swamp!” to the insight that “ogres have layers.” Shrek’s story essentially humanizes what fairy tales depict as “monsters”.
4. Ash Ketchum – Pokémon Anime Series.
Ash’s arc is more a never-ending adventure than a dramatic transformation. By never-ending, his storyline lasted 30 years before finally ending. From his first day in Pallet Town, his first line was “I’m Ash, destined to be the world’s number one Pokémon Master!” He goes on one journey after another across regions. He matures from a rookie to a Pokémon Master by never giving up on his goals. Over 25+ years, he catches hundreds of Pokémon, develops leadership as he earns multiple Gym badges and league finals, and forms deep friendships especially with his main Pokémon partner, Pikachu. Ultimately, Ash fulfils his lifelong dream.
After many losses he finally wins the World Coronation series by defeating Leon, becoming “the world’s strongest Pokémon trainer.” Throughout the story, he remains optimistic and kind, as he tells Pikachu, “Being champion isn’t my goal, I still think of myself as a challenger, I wanna be friends with all the Pokémon in the world. That’s what it means to be a Pokémon Master,” showing he values friendship and perseverance over just winning, a personality trait that defines Ash. Key moments such as meeting Pikachu, bonding with Team Rocket, and every Final League, teach him humility and strategy, but his personality stays the same throughout the entire 30 year long series. Unlike the others, Ash’s transformation is subtle: he simply grows in skill and wisdom without losing his trademark optimism.
5. Cole Walter – My Life with the Walter Boys.
At the beginning of the series of ‘My Life with the Walter Boys’, Cole Walter was portrayed as a distant troubled teenager. Feeling lost after his football injury which prevented him from achieving his dream of playing professionally, Cole constantly feels as though he is letting his family down and not living up to his previous potential. This guilt characterizes itself in poor decisions and the fear of not being able to treat Jackie, his love interest, properly. These feelings create a barrier between him and Jackie. Only in certain moments, his insecurities peek through and his true character shines.
However in the second season we see him grow as he picks his life back up and finds his way despite his struggle. He opens up to Jackie, makes better choices and instead of lashing out, takes responsibility for his actions. This allows him to finally break down the barriers between him and Jackie, allowing a new and better version of himself to come out.
