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AO3dle Character Database: Exploring the World of Fanfiction Characters
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AO3dle Character Database: Exploring the World of Fanfiction Characters

September 8, 20256 min readAO3dle Team

The AO3dle character database is the heart of our fanfiction popularity game, featuring thousands of characters from various fandoms with their real work counts from Archive of Our Own. This comprehensive database powers every aspect of AO3dle gameplay, from daily challenges to endless mode comparisons.

What is the AO3dle Character Database?

The AO3dle character database is a carefully curated collection of characters from popular fandoms, each with their actual fanfiction work counts from AO3. This database serves as the foundation for all character comparisons in AO3dle, ensuring that every game reflects real fanfiction popularity data.

Database Features

  • Real AO3 Data: All character work counts are sourced directly from Archive of Our Own - Regular Updates: The database is updated regularly to reflect current fanfiction trends - Multiple Fandoms: Characters from anime, books, movies, TV shows, and more - Popularity Tracking: Monitor how character popularity changes over time

Anime and Manga

The AO3dle character database includes characters from popular anime and manga series:

  • Naruto: Characters like Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Kakashi Hatake - One Piece: Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, and other Straw Hat Pirates - Harry Potter: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, and more - My Hero Academia: Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki Bakugo, and other heroes - Attack on Titan: Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Levi Ackerman
Anime Characters

Anime Characters

Popular anime characters like Zero Two are featured in the AO3dle database

Books and Literature

Classic and contemporary literary characters feature prominently:

  • The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and other Middle-earth characters - Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and other Austen characters - Sherlock Holmes: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, and other detective characters - The Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and other tributes
Literary Characters

Literary Characters

Literary characters from books and literature are well-represented in AO3dle

Movies and TV Shows

Popular characters from film and television:

  • Marvel Cinematic Universe: Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and other Avengers - Star Wars: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and other galaxy heroes - Game of Thrones: Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister, and others - Stranger Things: Eleven, Mike Wheeler, and other Hawkins residents

How Characters Are Selected

Popularity Criteria

Characters are included in the AO3dle database based on several factors:

  1. Work Count: Characters must have a significant number of fanfiction works on AO3
  2. Fandom Recognition: Characters should be recognizable to a broad audience
  3. Cultural Impact: Characters that have made a significant impact on popular culture
  4. Diversity: Representation from various fandoms and character types

Data Collection Process

The AO3dle team uses a systematic approach to build and maintain the character database:

  1. AO3 Scraping: Automated tools collect work counts from Archive of Our Own
  2. Manual Verification: Human reviewers verify character data and popularity
  3. Community Input: Player suggestions help identify new characters to add
  4. Regular Updates: The database is updated monthly to reflect current trends

Character Categories and Types

Protagonists vs. Antagonists

The AO3dle database includes both heroes and villains:

  • Protagonists: Main characters who often have high fanfiction work counts - Antagonists: Villains and anti-heroes who are popular in fanfiction - Supporting Characters: Secondary characters who have gained fanfiction popularity

Character Archetypes

Different character types appeal to different fanfiction writers:

  • The Hero: Classic protagonist characters like Harry Potter or Naruto - The Anti-Hero: Complex characters like Severus Snape or Sasuke Uchiha - The Villain: Compelling antagonists like Voldemort or Madara Uchiha - The Love Interest: Romantic characters like Hermione Granger or Hinata Hyuga

The AO3dle character database reflects popular shipping culture:

Canon Ships - **Harry Potter/Hermione Granger**: One of the most popular HP pairings - **Naruto/Hinata Hyuga**: The canon Naruto pairing - **Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes**: Popular Marvel pairing

Fan-Favorite Ships - **Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter**: Popular enemies-to-lovers pairing - **Sasuke Uchiha/Naruto Uzumaki**: Popular rivals-to-lovers pairing - **Tony Stark/Steve Rogers**: Popular Marvel pairing

Database Statistics

Size and Scope

The AO3dle character database currently includes:

Database Statistics

Database Statistics

The AO3dle database contains thousands of characters from various fandoms

  • 5,000+ Characters: From hundreds of different fandoms - 50+ Fandoms: Representing various media types - Regular Updates: Monthly data refreshes - Global Coverage: Characters from international media

Popularity Distribution

Character popularity in the database follows interesting patterns:

  • Top 10%: Characters with 10,000+ fanfiction works - Top 25%: Characters with 5,000+ fanfiction works - Top 50%: Characters with 1,000+ fanfiction works - Remaining 50%: Characters with fewer than 1,000 works

How to Use the Database Information

For Players

Understanding the database can improve your AO3dle gameplay:

  1. Study Popular Characters: Learn which characters typically have high work counts
  2. Understand Fandom Trends: Know which fandoms are currently popular
  3. Recognize Patterns: Identify common characteristics of popular characters
  4. Track Changes: Notice how character popularity evolves over time

For Researchers

The AO3dle database provides valuable insights into fanfiction culture:

  1. Popularity Trends: Track how character popularity changes
  2. Fandom Analysis: Understand which fandoms generate the most fanfiction
  3. Character Studies: Analyze what makes characters popular in fanfiction
  4. Cultural Impact: Measure the influence of different media on fanfiction

Future Database Expansions

The AO3dle character database continues to grow:

Planned Additions

  • New Fandoms: Adding characters from emerging popular series - International Content: Including more characters from non-English media - Historical Characters: Adding characters from classic literature and media - Niche Fandoms: Including characters from smaller but passionate communities

Community Features

Future database features will include:

  • Character Requests: Players can suggest new characters to add - Popularity Predictions: AI-powered predictions of character popularity trends - Fandom Spotlights: Special features highlighting specific fandoms - Character Profiles: Detailed information about each character

Conclusion

The AO3dle character database is more than just a collection of names and numbers – it's a comprehensive map of fanfiction culture. By understanding the database structure and character popularity patterns, players can improve their gameplay and gain deeper insights into the world of fanfiction.

Whether you're a casual player looking to improve your scores or a fanfiction enthusiast interested in character popularity trends, the AO3dle database offers valuable information and endless entertainment. Explore the database, discover new characters, and test your knowledge of fanfiction culture with AO3dle!

Remember, the database is constantly evolving, so there's always something new to discover. Start exploring the AO3dle character database today and see how well you know the world of fanfiction characters!

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