Hideo Kojima initially had other ideas for Death Stranding 2's peculiar mannequin Charlie, including making them an invisible man, glowing silhouette, or "a 2D anime-style figure"

Charlie in Death Stranding 2 .

Hideo Kojima has revealed various ideas he had for the character of Charlie in Death Stranding 2 before settling on the mannequin we know today.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has a number of peculiar faces, but none are more than Charlie, who is immediately set up to be a mysterious benefactor whose true identity is unknown. And to keep this identity a secret, they talk to the Drawbridge team through a mannequin with the synthesized voice of a former ally. It's a somewhat daft character who ends up being a highlight in a game full of interesting characters, with the big reveal of Charlie's identity arguably being the best moment in the game.