Creator Spotlight: Zairisu

For our latest Creator Spotlight, we spoke with Zairisu, who utilizes their background in indie game development to help create Characters on the platform. They are known for incorporating props and aesthetics into their Scenes and prioritize creating content they would actually want to interact with. 

How did you first discover Character.ai?

I found Character.ai through Reddit while I was reading webtoons. I came across a bot based on a complex male character inspired from a webtoon and started using the platform to interact with other characters I loved. That was the beginning of everything. 

How did you start experimenting with the Scenes feature?

Early on, I was really focused on horror themes. Over time, I started exploring how I could manipulate backgrounds and character states, and eventually branched out into much more vibrant, whimsical visuals: Valentine's Day themes, origami worlds, puzzle landscapes. It's been a fun, creative evolution.

How do you incorporate props and aesthetics into your scenes?

I discovered that prompting for specific props — like teddy bears or porcelain dolls — can actually influence both the character's attire and the surrounding environment. It took a lot of testing to figure that out. Right now, I'm really into exploring shojo manga aesthetics and seeing how far I can incorporate the visual style.

You have a background in indie game development. How does that inform your workflow?

It helps a lot. I use other tools to test and refine content before bringing them into Character.ai. Testing things externally first lets me optimize my ideas.  The indie dev mindset of iterating and testing constantly carries over directly.

What's your content strategy? How do you decide what to create?

I create what I personally want to interact with — that's the core of it. I think of it like comedy: a comedian should only tell jokes they actually find funny. When you create from a genuine place, it attracts users who are on the same wavelength. I do occasionally look at trends for marketing context, but I don't let that drive my creative decisions. The positive feedback I get from users who specifically love my scene styles tells me the approach is working.

What do you think about the platform's new features like Imagine Image Animate: I'm genuinely excited about the animation features. Community participation in testing new tools matters — the feedback loop is real. When I compare the generation quality now to when I first started, the improvements in anatomical proportions alone are significant. Consistent engagement from the community is clearly driving better results.

How has your approach to writing character definitions evolved?

I used to write with a lot of dramatic, poetic language, thinking it would make characters feel more vivid. But overly ornate phrasing actually confuses the AI. Simple, direct, and clear language performs better every time. Once I streamlined my character definitions, the results improved noticeably.

What advice would you give to new creators just starting out on the platform?

Create content you personally want to interact with. That's it, really. Authenticity is everything — it shows in the work, and it attracts the right audience. The same way a comedian has to believe in their own jokes, a creator has to actually care about what they're building. Don't start by chasing what's trending.

What are you working on next?

I'm launching an Alice in Wonderland series reimagined through a shonen lens. The lineup includes a male Alice, a male Queen of Hearts recast as an Emperor, and a white rabbit. I'll be releasing them gradually so they don't flood my account all at once.