Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos Part 2b: What Is a Fanifesto? cast list & character study"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This is a new meta entry for marchmetamatterschallenge 2025. See my tracking post here. Also, the first writing prompt is to write a fanifesto.

Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 1: The Importance of Fanifestos
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2a: What Is a Fanifesto? intro & canon guide
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2b: What Is a Fanifesto? cast list & character study
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2c: What Is a Fanifesto? ship manifesto & milieu study
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2d: What Is a Fanifesto? plot analysis & crossovers
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2e: What Is a Fanifesto? trope manifesto & format guide
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2f: What Is a Fanifesto? personal manifesto & others
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 3: Benefits of Fanifestos
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 4: Drawbacks of Fanifestos
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 5a: Contents of a Fanifesto statement to tropes
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 5b: fanon to other aspects
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 6: How to Write a Fanifesto
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7a: Where to Find Fanifestos location types & communities
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7b: fanifestos A-E
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7c: fanifestos F-I
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7d: fanifestos J-R
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7e: fanifestos S-Z
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 8: My Fanifestos


Part 2: What Is a Fanifesto?

Cast List -- A cast list introduces some or all of the characters in a canon and why they are awesome. If there are only a few, they may all be listed. If there are many, just the main characters and maybe a few supporting characters may be listed. Some creators try to list lots of characters with at least a thumbnail description. Others prefer to go into great detail for just a few. A mixed approach may have detailed profiles of the main characters and shorter ones for the supporting characters. It's common to touch on other aspects of fanifesto such as listing which episodes a character appeared in, their major ships, or subgroups of characters who often team up on projects.
Some cast lists address diversity, such as sexual orientation or ability status. This is particularly popular in very diverse canons, which are hard to find, as it helps people identify them and use them to best advantage. The creator may also discuss the composition of the cast as a whole, such as the balance of gender, ethnicity, adventuring skills, or other features. This is useful to other writers in learning how to compose an effective cast of characters. Another version of this meta uses the cast list to examine character development over time, as in "Stranger Things: A Character Analysis Through the Seasons."

This type of meta commonly includes canon images and/or fanart to show what the characters look like, often one or two images per character. Some creators prefer to fancast characters instead, especially from book fandoms or to counteract whitewashing in cases where white actors portrayed characters of color. In this case, the creator typically chooses images of famous performers who seem to fit the character. A fancast may also be called a faceclaim. For an example, see "Let's make a Fan Cast! - Keeper of the Lost Cities Wiki."


Character Study -- A character study focuses on one individual in detail. It typically gives their canon information (age, size, appearance, etc.) and a summary of their role. However, it may also feature their relationships with other characters, what they did in each book, or other aspects. Creators often go into considerable depth about why they love this character and what can be done with them in fanworks. Sometimes people make a set of character studies as part of a larger fanifesto.
This type of meta commonly includes canon images and/or fanart to show what the characters look like. Unlike the cast list, it often features many pictures of the same character in different contexts or by different fanartists. Some creators also include other content such cosplay, fanvids, or podcasts about the character to showcase even more variety. For examples, see "How Jason Todd Became One of the Most Lovable Robins," "Meta: Why I Love Wednesday Addams Part 1: Introduction," and "Why We Need Thing Part 1: Overview."