Character Designing: Ripping-off and Inspiration Problem

[tsukiko]

Hello Guys,

I've been working on a project lately and I've come across a problem regarding my design (specifically a mecha/robot design I made) where it's been labeled too similar to a popular franchise. My design below alongside with the design it's compared to:

My design:

Popular franchise mech (Evangelion):

At first I was happy that my design reminded them of this franchise, since I poured in a lot of time in designing it and I have a lot of respect on the evangelion design. But as time went on I've had this gnawing feeling that maybe It looks like a rip off? I've used a lot of inspirations from the mecha genre from my youth in designing this, the thing is though, this franchise (Neon Genesis Evangelion) is also a big influence on this design and I feel a bit scared that the design is not original enough? or worse looking like a bootleg of this big franchise? Biggest problem is I'm way too attached to my design and I fear I'm just too biased to realize that it's too similar?

Sorry guys, I'm a bit ashamed to ask people I know about this topic so I came here T_T), what do you guys think? I'd appreciate it if you could be completely honest with me.

Thank you for reading

[SeraphicMayin]

I don't think it looks too similar at all. Your design is amazing!

After all. Humanoid mecha that go for the smooth and thin body shapes like your work and the other are bound to be similar but everything in your detailing is different from the second one. People just don't bother to look close enough.

There will always be influence but you're in a perfectly good spot as far as I'm concerned.

[Rodimus13]

Hue Are You artist here.

Overall it looks like a good mechanical design and you should be proud. I'd say it certainly looks inspired by but not nessirarly a rip off. Though the thrusters on the sides do remind me of a specific piece of art from the expanded Eva universe, though I don't know where to find that at this moment.

You don't need to scrap it though. If you want to distance your self from the design, I would look into maybe changing up the shoulders ever so slightly, and maybe play around with the head design. On the chest, it looks like you have something deeply set into it (the red circle) if you play with that aspect to make it even more obvious I think it would look really neat.

[Nachi]

The only thing that seems similar to me is the general shape. But it is the obvious shape to go for when designing a mecha. Nothing that I would think is specific to NGE.
And your design actually looks cooler

There are only so many ways to design a specific thing. And from what I saw people on the internet would compare characters just based on stuff like similar hair. I don't think you need to worry about that.

Just try google searching "mecha" and you'll find tons of pictures that are similar to one another. They are usually more robust than your design, but just based on that, it is hardly a rip-off. In my opinion, at least.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

I think it looks pretty awesome. I don't think it looks ripped off at all. People will compare anything to anything as long as there is even a tiny similarity.
I've had many people ask if my character was Goku tons of times, even though the only similarity was anime style pointy hair.

[revisionstudios]

I honestly wouldn't worry about it. I didn't even know what mecha they could be comparing it to until you showed me the picture from Eva. If anything, your "style" of mech is inspired by them, but it's not a bad thing!

Our creativity often comes from our experiences (including the media we consume), so when people rip something off it's usually because their field of media is so narrow that they only view a few kinds of things. The best way to subvert that is to try a variety of new media, even stuff you don't initially think you'd like. It gives you more fuel for your "mental library" and more things to pull from when you create.

Again though, I don't think this design has that problem! But I figured I'd mention the above in case you truly felt like something you made was too close.

[tsukiko]

I don't think it looks too similar at all. Your design is amazing!

After all. Humanoid mecha that go for the smooth and thin body shapes like your work and the other are bound to be similar but everything in your detailing is different from the second one. People just don't bother to look close enough.

There will always be influence but you're in a perfectly good spot as far as I'm concerned.

Thank you ^^ I was just really afraid that my gosh darn love for Evangelion would leak out too much on my design and to be honest, I didn't really tried to separate myself from it while designing this. I was just in a trance for some reason, drawing the shapes coming out of my head without thinking xD That's what got me so scared. Still, thank you ^^ your insight is very reassuring

Hue Are You artist here.

Overall it looks like a good mechanical design and you should be proud. I'd say it certainly looks inspired by but not nessirarly a rip off. Though the thrusters on the sides do remind me of a specific piece of art from the expanded Eva universe, though I don't know where to find that at this moment.

You don't need to scrap it though. If you want to distance your self from the design, I would look into maybe changing up the shoulders ever so slightly, and maybe play around with the head design. On the chest, it looks like you have something deeply set into it (the red circle) if you play with that aspect to make it even more obvious I think it would look really neat.

Thank you I was actually thinking of adding a bit more armour in the mech to change its silhouette and make a distance from the eva design, but just felt really lost, didn't even know where to start xD Adding to the shoulders and changing the head a bit is a nice idea, thanks for that ^^

Oh and about this:

Though the thrusters on the sides do remind me of a specific piece of art from the expanded Eva universe

They are actually transparent cylinder tanks (I'll be honest, I got that from the Psycho Zakku, I just couldn't stop looking at those high mobility cylinder tanks xD) carrying red substance [serving as an energy source].....since you seem to know Evangelion, yeah I think you know where this is headed xD

Can I ask you a question again? So if my mech gets damaged and red fluids gushes out of it's metal body [cuz of the red fluid as its energy source xD] would that look ripping out eva too? I mean Getter Robo bleeds too, just with black/brown gasoline and...oh god I'm just reaching here aren't I? xD But still, I'd like some insight, if it's okay

The only thing that seems similar to me is the general shape. But it is the obvious shape to go for when designing a mecha. Nothing that I would think is specific to NGE. And your design actually looks cooler

There are only so many ways to design a specific thing. And from what I saw people on the internet would compare characters just based on stuff like similar hair. I don't think you need to worry about that.

Just try google searching "mecha" and you'll find tons of pictures that are similar to one another. They are usually more robust than your design, but just based on that, it is hardly a rip-off. In my opinion, at least.

Thank you ^^ I wouldn't say my design would be cooler than these legendary mechs but still, thank you very much That means a lot to me. Yeah, I've been swayed by some people commenting "hey that's evangelion right?" and it got me a bit scared and guilty cuz I'm really inspired and influenced by evangelion more than I would admit. [ I watched it when I was a kid you see xD got traumatized too ]

My resolve got shaky since I had no intentions of hiding it at first, then it dawned on me while I was drawing the comic already and thought I got too carefree on my design xD Thank you for your insight It helped me a lot.

I think it looks pretty awesome. I don't think it looks ripped off at all. People will compare anything to anything as long as there is even a tiny similarity.I've had many people ask if my character was Goku tons of times, even though the only similarity was anime style pointy hair.

Thank you Although I must admit, Evangelion was a big inspiration for this one TvT) and I was afraid I didn't made proper efforts to hide it or something. Oh yeah, I get that a lot too before, if it wasn't Goku, it would be Ichigo or Naruto, I even got Ezio Auditore just cuz I gave my character a hoodie xD Still gets me though, for some reason, sometimes I believe what others say a little too much xD

I honestly wouldn't worry about it. I didn't even know what mecha they could be comparing it to until you showed me the picture from Eva. If anything, your "style" of mech is inspired by them, but it's not a bad thing!

Our creativity often comes from our experiences (including the media we consume), so when people rip something off it's usually because their field of media is so narrow that they only view a few kinds of things. The best way to subvert that is to try a variety of new media, even stuff you don't initially think you'd like. It gives you more fuel for your "mental library" and more things to pull from when you create.

Again though, I don't think this design has that problem! But I figured I'd mention the above in case you truly felt like something you made was too close.

Thank you very much I agree with you about how all people's mental library are different, but for some reason it still gets me. Getting influenced what others say way too much and all that, I'm still working hard to shake that off in me.

Although... I'm so guilty about this design, since I really really used the feel and the vibe of evangelion while designing this. I'll be completely honest here, I was listening to "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" [Evangelion opening theme] on loop while drawing its parts, I was so inspired by that show and using it as the epicenter for the overall aesthetic of my project made the shapes come out so natural, it was fun rather than challenging while I was at it that's why I'm so spooked xD I think I had too much fun with the designs and never considered the consequences. Until recently, that is.

Still, thank you for your insight ^^ A lil bit changing of the perspective was a big help

[HGohwell]

I feel you completely. I've got mechs and they are inspired by other mechs and I'm always aware of it and never sure whether the line is. The designs are very similar because one inspired the other, but its different enough. I think.

However, there are always going to be people who declare things too similar. For instance, still with the robots, did you here about the Darling In The FRNAXX mess? There were accusations that FRANXX had ripped off Stardriver on robot design. The specific instances being the two lead robots Tauburn and Sstrelizia.

There was a lot of name calling and drama from fandom before it was definitely pointed out the the same mecha designer worked on both and its actually just his style. So, you know no matter how similar or not there will be some people who declare them too similar even if you designed both. It's best just to keep going with what you have and enjoy it.

[tsukiko]

I feel you completely. I've got mechs and they are inspired by other mechs and I'm always aware of it and never sure whether the line is. The designs are very similar because one inspired the other, but its different enough. I think.

Yeah it's actually a real struggle, I don't know if you experienced this, but I noticed when it comes to mech designs? People are more comparing than other aspects [like human characters or animal etc] they will instantly see something similar.

Oh and if you're experiencing any comparison on your design, I think Obsidian is a good and original mecha [even when I use Hysterica as a comparison] Kudos ^^

However, there are always going to be people who declare things too similar. For instance, still with the robots, did you here about the Darling In The FRNAXX mess? There were accusations that FRANXX had ripped off Stardriver on robot design. The specific instances being the two lead robots Tauburn and Sstrelizia.

Wow wow I didn't know this one xD I didn't know Stardiver and didn't finished FRANXX, but the first few seconds I saw the two mechs I thought they were the same! xD Well this case also happened with Gundam Seed, not as severe as this though but look at the mobile suits in Seed and the original gundam series. Especially the JINNs and the Zakkus, the archangel and the whitebase? (atleast thats what other people say, I didn't noticed it one bit) They all say the designs on seed were just watered down rip offs of the classic gundam series...Until they realized it was from the same mecha designer xD

I'm actually confused on the FRANXX vs Stardiver design a bit however, it's so close! xD but then again, if you look closely you'll start to see the difference xD But I guess you're right, I think I'd be disappointed if the designer changed the looks of the FRANXX just to separate it from stardiver's mechas. I like the FRANXXs too you see xD

[Rodimus13]

Can I ask you a question again? So if my mech gets damaged and red fluids gushes out of it's metal body [cuz of the red fluid as its energy source xD] would that look ripping out eva too? I mean Getter Robo bleeds too, just with black/brown gasoline and...oh god I'm just reaching here aren't I? xD But still, I'd like some insight, if it's okay

I think you would probably be fine. I think Eva 2's blood in the End of Eva's blood was show as purple- but it has been a while so I'm not sure.

EDIT: It'll just be obvious what you are going for if it's red. If you want it more subtle then consider changing the color or making the red very bright so it don't look like human blood.

[monotone_ink]

There's no shame in reflecting your inspirations in your own work--it makes the work a lot more heartfelt, while also nodding to people who are in the know.

Also, since Anno is too busy being a hack and not working on 4.0, you might as well go forward with this project--I need all the Evangelion I can get.

[HGohwell]

People are more comparing than other aspects [like human characters or animal etc] they will instantly see something similar.

Yeah, I've noticed this a lot. People expect way more creativity from mechs that they do from people or animals. I guess because living things can look like each other in real life and robots are considered designed by people in universe so should reflect that.

Oh and if you're experiencing any comparison on your design, I think Obsidian is a good and original mecha [even when I use Hysterica as a comparison] Kudos ^^

Thank you! I love the Cross Ange robots, so I definitely wanted some of their feel even for a few of the robots like the Obsidian. I'm glad it's not too close to its inspiration though (there were shades of the Ovids in there too more obvious on the others from the same designer)

Well this case also happened with Gundam Seed, not as severe as this though but look at the mobile suits in Seed and the original gundam series.

I remember Seed causing some troubles with Cross Ange, again there were people saying it was ripped off from I think it was Seed, when it was the same guy. I seems to be quite a common thing for people to declare things a rip off when it's the same designer.

I'm actually confused on the FRANXX vs Stardiver design a bit however, it's so close!

Yeah they hired him because they wanted that look. And he does such a range and they definitely can't be mistaken for other mecha series. It's a really unique style. Of course they're slightly more on the unrealistic end, but they're really eye catching designs and I adore them from both series, although I do think Strelizia and Tauburn are a little bit too similar around the head (unless that was on purpose, which it might have been).

[tsukiko]

There's no shame in reflecting your inspirations in your own work--it makes the work a lot more heartfelt, while also nodding to people who are in the know.

Thank you ^^ yeah, that's the ideal outcome for me. Hopefully I don't cross over the ripped off boundary xD

Also, since Anno is too busy being a hack and not working on 4.0, you might as well go forward with this project--I need all the Evangelion I can get.

Well you know that guy, but hey I think Eva 4.0 would be released on early 2019 (I think) dubbed "Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0" yeah, goddamn Anno level weird title name that's for sure xD