Choosing a Companion for Your OC!

Whimsy

03 Jul 2025 • 7 min read

This is my companion! …I think he missed the memo though, he’s a menace.

Companions…every character needs at least one! Well, they don’t need one…but it’s definitely a fun addition to your story! A companion could add to your supporting cast, or provide some comic relief. There’s all kinds of different companions you can choose from! But what kind of companion should your OC have? Let’s talk about it!

What’s your OC’s personality?

One thing you’ll want to consider is the personality of your OC! Different kinds of companions might be better fitting for different character personalities. The companion of your OC could have a creature who matches their personality! A shy character could have a chameleon since they’re always trying to blend in, and an outgoing character might have a golden retriever that matches their energetic personality!

Sometimes, people might associate different animals with different character traits. You might associate snakes with slyness, or you might associate an owl with wisdom! Maybe you’ve seen extroverts being associated with dogs, and introverts being associated with cats! Are there any personality traits that remind you of different animals? You could use those to decide what kind of companion your OC might have! Here are some ideas:

A shy introvert with a cat
An eccentric character with an exotic animal
A cunning character with a snake
A wise character with an owl

Using personality to come up with ideas can be a fun way to choose a buddy for your OC! You could always give your OC a companion that is the opposite of your character too! This could be to add some humor to the story, or to hint at a hidden trait of your character!

If you need more inspiration, you could look up the different symbolisms of different animals, and see which might fit best for your OC! Different creatures have different kinds of symbolism and concepts they’re associated with! Depending on your OC, you could give them a companion with symbolism that will hint at their character or what will happen to them! Here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing:

Butterflies can often symbolize transformation
Ravens are often associated with death
Beetles can symbolize strength

All kinds of creatures have various types of symbolism, and many may have more than one! You’ll want to do careful research, since some creatures will even have a different symbolism depending on the culture. Giving your OC a companion that holds some kind of symbolism could be a fun way to tell your audience something about the character! Maybe an OC who will grow a lot throughout their story will have a butterfly companion. A necromancer or reaper might have a raven friend, and a strong and resilient OC could have a beetle companion!

What kind of symbolism does your character’s companion have?

Where does your story take place?

The area and setting of your story will also play a big part in the kind of companion your OC could have! You probably won’t find a bat underwater, and it’s unlikely you’ll find a bug in a cold environment! (If you do…That’s an interesting bat and bug…) Depending on the area, you’ll also find different kinds of creatures that you wouldn’t find in another place! Some critters are only native to certain regions, and some only live in certain climates!

Oftentimes, animals will have adapted to the area they live in or to the animals that live in that area. In colder climates, animals will often have thick fur to keep themselves warm. A prey animal might have some form of camouflage to keep themselves hidden from predators! Here’s some questions you can ask to get you thinking about what kinds of animals might live in your OC’s area:

Does my character live in a cold climate, or warm climate?
What’s the weather like?
Would the creature need adaptations to stay safe?

Similarly, the time period would also play a part. Unless your OC is a genius inventor for their time period, you might not find a robot buddy in an ancient city! Depending on the time period your story takes place, some kinds of creatures might have gone extinct before then. Or, some creatures might be endangered and need some extra care to stay alive. Maybe your OC’s companion is the last creature of its kind, and your character has to make sure they stay safe! Here’s some more questions you can consider about the setting of your story:

What time period does the story take place?
What creatures were alive during that time?
Are there any extinct or endangered creatures?

There’s plenty to consider about the area where your story takes place and choose a companion based on that! Do you have a character from prehistoric times? They could have a dinosaur friend! What about an OC who lives in the woods? Maybe their companion is a wolf or bird creature. What about a character from space? They could have a cute alien critter as their companion!

A good example of using settings to decide on a companion would be Vic’s companion character The Crow! The Crow lives in the Red Forest!

Another good example of using settings for deciding on a companion would be Nerd’s companion character Fernando! Fernando is a crab on a ship sailing the ocean!

A character who lives in a cave might be friends with the local bats, and an OC who lives underwater might have a fish friend or two!

What kind of companion would match your OC?

Similar to the setting, you might want to try and give your OC a companion that matches them! A companion could match your OC’s theme or motif, and could also match the role they play! Some animals match different themes better, and some might be better suited for different roles as well. A character who dresses more elegantly could have a different companion than a goth character would have. A pirate OC might have a parrot companion, while a mermaid has a fish friend, and a vampire might have a bat buddy!

If you need inspiration, you could try thinking of your favorite character companions in your favorite stories! What kinds of companions do you find? Does the companion match the character, and how so? You could also look at the characters and their companions here on Unvale for more inspiration!

The companion your OC has doesn’t have to match them either! You could do the opposite to add a bit of comedy to your story, or to show off a different side of your character! The companion could be a representative of how the character really acts, or their true nature. Maybe a character dresses elegantly, but they have a wild side, or vice versa!

Here’s some questions to get you thinking:

Does my OC have a theme or motif their companion could match?
What kind of species is my OC, and are there creatures that would go with that?
What kind of job or role does my OC have?

Questions like the ones above can help you come up with ideas as to the kind of companion your OC might have! Do you have a sailor OC? They could have a fish friend! What about a royal character? Maybe they have a spoiled cat companion! Do you have a goth OC? Maybe they have a pet spider! There’s plenty of options to choose from!

A good example of a character with a matching companion would be ExaEnds’ OC Icarus! Icarus is a parrot humanoid with a parrot companion!

Another good example of a companion that matches the character would be Charli’s OC Quinn! Quinn is a vampire with a bat companion!

What’s the importance of your OC’s companion?

One more thing you’ll want to consider is the importance the companion has to your character! Maybe they’re a special guide, or they protect your OC! You’ll want to consider the story of your character and how the companion will help them with their journey. Maybe they’re a special fairy guide sent by royalty to help your OC, or they’re a unique creature that only follows around people pure of heart!

You can also think about whether the companion was important to them before the story began or not! Some companions might have been a friend to your OC for years. Maybe the companion is related to your OC, or they hold some kind of sentimental significance! A companion that has importance in the story can be a great way to add some extra interest to your story as well! Here are some things you can think about when it comes to your companion’s significance:

Why are they important to my OC?
Do they provide some kind of assistance or guidance?
Are they related to the character in some way?
Do they hold sentimental value?

Thinking about why your OC has a companion to begin with will help you flesh out your story, and help the companion feel more relevant! You don’t want the companion to feel forced into the story, so giving them a reason to be a part will help your story feel more coherent! Here’s some ideas to help you brainstorm:

A guide companion sent by a wizard
A family pet
A shapeshifter relative
A protective family member

There’s plenty of ways to give your OC’s companion some importance to your character and the story, and it’ll enhance your OC too! They could support your OC and motivate them to keep going, or give the character something to protect! It’s up to you!

A good example of companions that are important to the character would be Flames’ companion characters the Helpers! The Helpers are siblings to the character Bloodstrike!

Another good example of a character with a companion that has significance would be FancyFishSticks OC Devani! Devani has raven companions, and her husband can shapeshift into a raven!

There’s lots of different things you can think about when deciding on a companion for your OC! Considering personality, setting, and significance can all help you with your choice. While you can use all the ideas mentioned here, you don’t have to! Make sure to have fun with it, and don’t stress too much!