'character-inspired' is a modern compound formed from 'character' and 'inspired'. 'character' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'kharaktēr', where the root meant 'a mark, distinctive quality', and 'inspired' comes from Latin 'inspirare', where 'in-' meant 'into' and 'spirare' meant 'to breathe'.

'character' came into English via Latin and Old French (Middle English had 'caracter'/'charactere'), and 'inspire' came from Latin 'inspirare' into Old French and Middle English as 'enspire'/'inspiren'; the compound adjective 'character-inspired' is a relatively recent English formation (modern use, 20th century onward) combining the two words to describe something influenced by a character.

Individually, 'character' initially referred to a 'mark' or 'distinctive quality' and 'inspire' originally meant 'to breathe into' (literally); together in modern usage they have come to mean 'influenced by a character' in design, style, or concept.