This definition of idealism is “the cherishing or pursuit of high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc” (Idealism). What better way to demonstrate these morals and principles through the media one consumes? A person’s choice in TV, video games, books, and other forms of electronic literature usually establishes their set of morals, media that allows a person to make their own decisions to determine the story establishes these morals further. Take the “choose your own adventure” story: these stories allow the reader to make choices that affect the stories outcome, and establish their own morals further. A good example of a story like this is Animalia by Ian Michael Waddell - it is a text based choose your own adventure story playable online. Animalia is a piece of electronic literature that showcases idealism through its ability to make the playable characters heroes with morals such as protecting the environment and innocent individuals through it’s interactive mechanics.

Animalia is about four animals that the player is able to choose, who must pilot a fully functional replica of a human child the forest sacrificed so they can deceive the humans so  they don’t destroy the forest or its creatures looking for the child. The player is given three choices for each element of the body that needs to be piloted- the head, the arms, the torso, and the legs. Depending on what morals/skills the player's value for each element of the replica- they can choose one of three animals that would be best for the job. Some animals are better at the job than others, and each has unique skills and backstories. For example, Sorghum’s, a gopher who can pilot the legs, family was killed by humans, giving them the motivation to get back at the humans in vengeance (Waddell). Depending on which characters are chosen affects the story too- considering there are different interactions between each character. There are hundreds of different possibilities for storylines this way and nearly 200 important story milestones (some achieved by having a specific team of characters). Depending on the player’s level of idealism for the game, they can try and have the teammates kill each other or try to meet the God of the Forest (the highest story milestone). Whatever happens in the story is truly up to the player’s motives and ideals, dictating if they want the animals to succeed in deceiving the humans and saving the forest or failing miserably, and hilariously. 

Each of the characters has their own ideals and goals for the story too, which the players can help them or impede them in their achievements. The characters see their pursuits as high and noble, the definition of idealistic. The team piloting “Charlie” are seen as especially talented  and honored to be doing something so meaningful for the Taiga, the name of their forest home. 

Animalia was made on Twine, which gives it the choose-your-own-adventure and interactivity elements. This layout allows the story to follow the principles of interactivity- including input/output, inside/outside, and open/closed (Meadows). What this means is that what you do in the story also creates a reaction within the story, that is has elements that are known and unknown to the reader, and unexpected and expected reactions. This makes Animalia interactive, and through the interactivity the reader is able to connect more with the character’s plights and the moral of the story. 

In conclusion, Animalia is a piece of electronic literature that showcases idealism through its ability to make the playable characters heroes with morals such as protecting the environment and innocent individuals through it’s interactive mechanics. The characters’ idealism is a prevalent motif in the story, each one with a different motive and goal- mainly to protect their home and defeat the invading humans. The reader’s ability to make choices and interact with the story also influences their own idealism, and how they want to proceed in the storyline.

Works Cited

“Idealism.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/idealism?s=t.

Meadows, Mark Stephen. Pause & Effect: the Art of Interactive Narrative. New Riders, 2004.

Waddell, Ian Michael. “Animalia.” Animalia, 1 Oct. 2018, animaliagame.com/.