diff --git a/media-pipeline/core/character_engine/registry/characters.json b/media-pipeline/core/character_engine/registry/characters.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16d2020
--- /dev/null
+++ b/media-pipeline/core/character_engine/registry/characters.json
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+{
+  "characters": [
+    {
+      "id": "lin",
+      "name": "Lin",
+      "gender": "female",
+      "age": "mid-20s",
+      "appearance": {
+        "hair": "long black hair with side bangs",
+        "eyes": "dark brown almond-shaped eyes",
+        "skin": "fair",
+        "build": "slender",
+        "features": ["high cheekbones", "soft jawline"]
+      },
+      "outfits": [
+        {
+          "name": "default",
+          "description": "white blouse, dark fitted jeans, minimalist silver necklace",
+          "tags": ["casual", "modern", "clean"]
+        },
+        {
+          "name": "formal",
+          "description": "black tailored blazer, white shirt, pencil skirt",
+          "tags": ["formal", "professional"]
+        }
+      ],
+      "style_tags": ["realistic", "cinematic lighting", "soft focus"],
+      "lora_path": null,
+      "reference_dir": null
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/media-pipeline/core/character_engine/registry/references/.gitkeep b/media-pipeline/core/character_engine/registry/references/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29