Knowing what genre your book fits into, be it science fiction, mystery, drama, etc., is an important consideration when creating an animal character for your story. Although characters don't have to fit the exact mold of that genre, it may seem misplaced or odd if, for example, your animal is a fish who lives in outer space. Brainstorm what special characteristics your character may have, based on the genre. For example, if the story is science fiction with a lot of fight scenes, your animal should have paws in order to hold their weapon. A snake would, therefore, not be a sensible choice, but a dog or a cat could work well. For historical fiction you may even want to research the types of animals, which were popular or present during that time. If you are writing about the Jurassic Period, a dinosaur may make sense, but if your story is set in the Stone Age, suddenly, T-Rex seems out of place, unless of course he's a time-traveling dinosaur! As important as it is to consider the genre of your story, it's equally important to understand the audience. What may work for one audience, say adults, may not be appropriate for others, such as children. Your audience should play a role in determining potential designs and details. Keep it fairly simple for children. You don't need to feature a character who super nuanced unless you're appealing to an adult audience as well. While you never want to copy or plagiarize the work of others, it can be helpful to read the work of others and try to think about whether or not that character works. This will ultimately help you when creating your character. Try stories like The Jungle Book, Watership Down, Charlotte's Web, The Tale of Despereaux, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Bunnicula, or your favorite story featuring animals. When reading the story, ask yourself: Does this character work? Does he seem real to me? Why or why not? Whether your animal character will be the hero or the sidekick, it's important to determine his/her role in your story. In doing so, you'll be able to better define and shape the animal moving forward. Think of the characteristics which define an animal in this particular role. For example, if they are the sidekick, but are always saving the day for the hero, think of how this will shape their persona. Consider whether your animal character will be living amongst other animals (Warrior Cats, for example) or if they will be working alongside humans (think, Black Beauty). If, for example, your character is living independent of humans, they may be able to walk and talk and take on other human-like characteristics. However, if they exist in a human's world, their role would differ dramatically, as they may still have animal characteristics and wouldn't be able to talk or wear clothes, unless they are Stuart Little!

Summary: Consider the genre. Understand your audience. Read other stories featuring animal characters. Determine the role of your character.

This method is more time-consuming than others, unless the LEGO only has minor dust and dirt. Use this for your favorite or most collectible LEGO, to keep them safe from accidental damage. Set aside any pieces with stickers or printed patterns, as well as any multi-part units that are not meant to be separated, such as turntables. Scrub these with a dry towel, or remove serious grime using a new toothbrush. Delicate electrical parts can be cleaned using alcohol wipes instead. Detach all non-water-sensitive parts from each other, unless they are stuck. Make sure to pull apart multi-piece units such as tires. If you have a large collection, divide them into containers of about 200 or 300 each. Place the separated LEGO bricks in a container. Add lukewarm water and a little dish soap or other mild detergent. Agitate the bricks gently, stirring them around with your hand. Never use a cleaning product that contains bleach. Never use water above 104F (40C). If the bricks smell bad or if you would like to sanitize them, add white vinegar to the water. Use approximately to as much vinegar as you did water. Leave them to soak for at least ten minutes, then check up on them. If the water is extremely murky, replace it with fresh soapy water and leave to soak for a full hour, or overnight if convenient. If there is still stuck-on grime, you may need to scrub it off using a new toothbrush, or a toothpick to reach crevices. Clear plastic pieces such as windshields are easily scratched. Rub them with your finger instead. Transfer the LEGO bricks to a strainer or colander and rinse them in cold water to remove the soap and loosened grime. Optionally, spin the bricks in a salad spinner to remove some of the water. Next, place the wet bricks in a single layer on a towel, right-side up so water drains from the underside. To speed up the drying process, leave a fan on blowing over the bricks. Do not use a hair dryer, which can damage the bricks.
Summary: Use this method to minimize damage. Scrub water-sensitive parts with a dry towel or toothbrush. Separate all remaining pieces. Agitate in soapy water. Add vinegar (optional). Let the pieces soak. Scrub the pieces if necessary. Rinse the pieces. Dry the bricks.