Draw the robin to your batman - add side characters to the hero character you just made!
Design and draw two to four side characters for your original hero, adding costumes, roles, and a one sentence backstory to inspire storytelling.
Step-by-step guide to draw side characters for your hero — draw the robin to your batman and add 2–4 characters with costumes, roles, and one-sentence backstories
Step 1
Look closely at your original hero drawing.
Step 2
Choose how many side characters you will make by picking 2 3 or 4.
Step 3
Write a short role label for each side character such as "tech guru" or "mystery scout."
Step 4
Write one personality trait for each side character like brave funny clever or shy.
Step 5
Choose one signature accessory for each character such as a cape gadget mask or hat and write it down.
Step 6
Draw small thumbnail sketches of each side character to try different shapes and poses.
Step 7
Pick your favorite thumbnail for each character and draw a full pencil outline on fresh paper.
Step 8
Add costume details and clear facial expressions to each full-size pencil drawing.
Step 9
Trace over the best lines with a black pen or darker pencil to make the drawings pop.
Step 10
Erase extra pencil marks to clean up each drawing.
Step 11
Color each side character using your chosen colors and make their accessory stand out.
Step 12
Write a one-sentence backstory under each character that explains how they help your hero.
Step 13
Share your finished side characters and their backstories on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have a black pen or art markers for tracing and coloring?
Use a darker pencil or fine-tip dark gel pen to trace the best lines and colored pencils or crayons to color each side character and make their accessory stand out if you don't have a black pen or markers.
My thumbnail sketches look messy and I can't pick a favorite—how can I fix that?
Draw each thumbnail very small and quick with a clear pose and one signature accessory, then choose the thumbnail whose pose and accessory match the written role label and personality trait to develop into a full pencil outline.
How can I adapt the steps for younger children or older kids?
For younger children, limit the project to 2 side characters with big simple thumbnail shapes, use stickers for accessories and have an adult write the one-sentence backstories, while older kids can create 4 characters, add detailed costume details and facial expressions, and experiment with shading or mixed media before sharing on DIY.org.
What are fun ways to extend or personalize the finished side characters?
Combine your full-size colored drawings into a poster or mini comic that shows each side character using their signature accessory to help the hero, add a team emblem and a joint origin sentence, then share the finished poster and individual backstories on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to draw side characters for your hero — draw the robin to your batman and add 2–4 characters
How to Draw Lego Robin | Lego Batman Movie
4 Videos
How to Draw Lego Robin | Lego Batman Movie
How To Draw Robin For Beginners
How to draw Batman and Robin
How To Draw Cartoon Robin
Facts about character design and storytelling
✏️ Character designers often begin with a strong silhouette so a side character is recognizable even in tiny drawings.
🦇 Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in 1939 and helped popularize the superhero-sidekick duo.
🎨 Costume colors and accessories can quickly show a side character’s role and personality without any words.
📖 Sidekicks have roots in ancient storytelling — they help heroes grow and make stories easier to imagine and tell.
🐦 The original Robin (Dick Grayson) debuted in 1940 — at least five different characters have worn the Robin name in DC Comics.
How do I do the 'Draw the robin to your batman' side-character drawing activity with my child?
What materials do I need to design and draw side characters for my child's hero?
What ages is the 'Draw the robin to your batman' activity suitable for?
What are the benefits of designing side characters for a child's hero?
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