In our latest stream, we announced some exciting changes to our schedule. Moving forward, we’ll be alternating between production-style streams, where we focus on the technical aspects of creations, and world-building streams. We dive deep into the stories, settings, and characters that drive our creative universe. It’s a refreshing shift, allowing us to balance the technical with the imaginative, the craft with the story.

Yesterday , we veered into new territory. Typically, we focus heavily on characters—bringing them to life, piece by piece, with every detail contributing to their stories. But this time, we explored something near and dear to every kid growing up in the ’80s and ’90s: our bikes. Bikes, for many of us, were more than just a means of transportation; they were extensions of who we were, reflecting our personalities, our adventures, and our sense of freedom. Every kid’s bike was unique, and in Saturday’s stream, we looked at how those differences in design and function can tell a deeper story about characters and world-building.

Interestingly, our childhood bikes revealed a lot about us. Ryan’s bike, with its forward-seated position and built for cross terrain and suspension, represented adventure and adaptability. It wasn’t just a bike; it was a vehicle built for exploration, capable of handling whatever terrain was thrown at it. That bike is a metaphor for characters who are built to endure, to traverse difficult landscapes—whether literal or emotional. It tells the story of someone ready for the bumps and curves, someone with a spirit of resilience.

Tess’s bike, in contrast, was all about comfort. Seated farther back, it was made for cruising, built for long, leisurely rides through town or the countryside. Tess’s bike spoke to a different kind of character—someone who enjoys the journey, who isn’t in a rush, who appreciates the ride more than the destination. It tells the story of a character who values peace, calm, and taking life at their own pace. That simple design choice speaks volumes about the personality behind the handlebars.

Then there’s Matt’s bike, the centrally balanced machine built for more extreme sports. This bike wasn’t about leisurely rides or cross-terrain exploration—it was about pushing limits, performing tricks, and living on the edge. A character who would ride this bike is someone who thrives on challenge, on adrenaline, on testing what they—and their bike—can do. This type of character is bold, maybe even reckless at times, but driven by the thrill of the next big jump or daring stunt.

By focusing on these bikes, we inadvertently delved into deeper character development. The differences in our bikes were vast, and those differences are mirrored in the worlds and characters we build. Color schemes, the size of the bike, the kind of safety gear we wore (or didn’t)—all these details serve as subtle markers of who we were as kids and who our characters are in the worlds we create. A character’s choice of transportation says a lot about their mindset, their background, their lifestyle.

It’s easy to overlook the role of objects like bikes in world-building and storytelling, but they’re powerful tools for fleshing out characters. Just like in real life, the choices characters make—what they ride, what they wear, where they go—are all reflections of their inner world. We’re constantly exploring these connections between the external and the internal, between what a character uses and who they are. This stream was an excellent exercise in looking at how even the smallest details, like a childhood bike, can inform the broader strokes of world-building and story.

So, as we move forward with our new alternating schedule, it’s exciting to think about the characters and stories we’ll continue to build, piece by piece. Whether it’s through bikes, gadgets, clothing, or even the way a character stands or moves, every detail is a chance to dive deeper into their world and what drives them.

Join us next week as we continue to explore these worlds—and maybe learn a little more about ourselves along the way.

If you missed the stream, watch the replay here!