Do You Think Your Favorite Character is a Distortion?

If you believe this to be true, please contact us at 555-CANONCA.

Do you think that a cartoon character you know and love is acting… strange? Use our list to find out if they’ve distorted, or if they’re just simply being written poorly.

Are they acting out of character?

This includes doing things their character normally wouldn’t do, regardless of greater narrative.

Be careful, this can also be a trait of weaker writing, wherein a shift is usually temporary and will push the story into a certain box. For more information on this, see Idiot Plot and Idiot Ball, respectfully.

Does this character seem more animated in different ways?

Do they seem needlessly stressed? Are they suddenly upset about something, refusing to follow format and trope due to an unknown stressor?

Can the fear be justified in-story? Does the supporting cast seem to warp around them? Is the fear simple, and non-cosmic? Do they fear of what lies beyond the page or screen, as if they know they’re simply a cog in a story, to be used for the amusement of others?

This is a good sign, usually, though it should be noted not 100% accurate, as cosmic horror could be used within a comic in this way for the story’s effect.

Can they see you?

Are they trying to communicate?

While that is a sign of narrative awareness, be aware that tons of characters are aware of their comic standpoint, and indeed relish in it. These characters, while being more dangerous, are being closely monitored by our team and their writers alike.

Note:

We are fully aware of a certain show and how their characters seem to fit our criteria. However, please be aware that, for a character to be a distortion, they must, to put it bluntly, be a drawn or animated character. While this show does seem to have its characters change drastically in its final season, as they are all physical actors (as opposed to non-physical drawn animation or comics) it is categorically impossible with our current understanding. We will keep watch, however, in the event that this kind of existence is possible. Thank you.