Yeah, it's pretty much tokenism.
I get sometimes though that some artists put those out there to go "hey, yeah, I'm inclusive" but don't want to reveal much more about their characters until their story or whatever is ready.
That's a problem I have to deal with. I don't know how to make a character not feel like a token... because if we are going to be completely inclusive those characters should be treated like people, right? How many times in life do you meet people and they say, "Oh, hai, I am Jacinth, and I am gay. How are you?" the moment you first meet them? I personally don't feel comfortable revealing my characters sexual orientations/gender preferences because I feel that makes it feel inorganic, and ultimately, token-y. Is that just me? How should that be handled? Should it be revealed to the audience ahead of time or as the story goes and not give explanations unless it's required? I just don't want my OCs to feel like super-mega-original-OC-don't-steal-pls types.
Yeah, I'm in the reveal it naturally camp.
Like for one of my characters in Demon House, she's trans, but I don't introduce that right off the bat when you meet her. You find out with Tula when she spots an old photo of her in her room. Even then I still don't explicitly say she's trans.
I have another trans character, but you wouldn't know it unless you notice his chest scars on the off-chance he has his shirt off. I've posted sketches of him on my tumblr but I never mention that he's trans, since that's not all he is.
IMO I think if it has relevancy to your story, you can try to mention it within the story either through small hints dropped or etc. For example, one of the characters in my current story is gay - but it has little to no relevancy to the plot itself so it's nothing more than a nice tidbit for readers to learn about. IRL there are people who do say that they're whatever because they feel pride in it - but again it depends on your character's personality. If they were shy - it wouldn't really make sense for them to reveal that they're gay/lesbian/etc. both directly and right off the bat.
It also helps if it's not something that DEFINES them entirely - so if you can describe your character as something other than LGBT, it's not going to come off as inorganic - which was the issue I pointed out in my post with characters that are only labeled as being trans but nothing else to speak of regarding personality.
@joannekwan yes!! I actually love how that was handled! Tula was like "oh, alright, so anyway, back to what I was saying." They didn't make a huge fuss over it.
@heterodont you're right. My MC in BH is queer but that has nothing to do with the story. I get what you're saying, though, I just find it weird when people immediately introduce their characters with their sexuality/non-binary genders up front. I just feel it has to fit the narrative better rather than "hey, btw, just so you know, I'm not cisgender heterosexual, 'kay?"
You know what I don't like? That stupid red/pink glow + shininess that some people paint on noses, shoulders, knees etc. It makes everyone look like they're drunk or aroused. xD
I get it, a little blush can make skin look youthful and fresh, but just like with makeup, if you overdo it it just looks tacky.
ahaha I am honestly fond of a few of these design cliches lol
like, undercuts YES PLEASE
pink hair protag IT'S CUTE I LIKE IT
vitiligo? yeah! IT'S GOOD! but yes definitely true that it is often used as a way to make an OC "special." but i have no doubts that people with vitiligo get bullied about their skin so that's why I like seeing it portrayed in a positive light. but it's def cheap to just give a character vitiligo just because it's "unique," like cmon, that isn't fair to people who have the condition either
also, about tumblr styles...tbh it's not so much the actual styles I'm opposed to, because more often than not they're actually really cute! it's more like I know that a "tumblr style" often signifies other cliches in stories that are really annoying I guess? which is why I sometimes avoid comics with so-called tumblr style.
but in the same way, I might avoid a manga style that looks inbred in a way (like it's based completely off other manga styles without much understanding of realism), because then I can guess that the author is full of common manga tropes and doesn't do much to put a twist to them or write with depth and meaning, beyond gimmicky premises. or a more western superhero comic style, complete with horrible awful physics-defying boobs and costumes so tight u might as well just paint a naked body. any particular "type" of style usually comes with its own set of cliches and problems. that's one reason why I don't think that artists should go looking for any particular style, but let the art fit the needs of the moment and let your personality shine through.
anyway this is getting off track. I guess basically...I don't mind the design cliches like undercuts or pastel hair, but I do mind it when it's used only as a way to make a character Cool and Special or to signify "i'm the protag!!!!!" Do it if it fits their personality I guess, or if it harmonizes their overall design
I feel this is really commonplace on Tumblr and IG, like I'll visit someone's profile and it's "Hi I'm ____ and this is my orientation and Meyers-Briggs personality test results and health disorders" ~u~; Like no shame in being open about that stuff.... but it's not typically the way I'd introduce myself to people.
I agree though, unless the story involves a romantic plot/subplot, or is about the character's experiences with sexuality, it can feel a little forced to randomly throw a character's sexuality out there? My character's sexualities never factor in to the story but I feel like unless I loudly state them everyone is automatically assumed to be cis/heterosexual.
This is why I appreciate little dialogue quips, side conversations, and background noise that can suggest things like that.
Examples:
"Eh, my date with that girl was horrible."
"How are your T-shots going?"
"Finally, I've found a binder that works!"
It's not heavy-handed.
I agree completely. Somehow I haven't been subjected to these supposed character design cliches so they really don't strike as off-putting, and I find them cute for the most part. I dunno, maybe if you're seeing far to many of the same design, maybe try other sites to find artists other than Tumblr?
You know somehow... XD I thought you meant inbred in that they all looked related (same-face), because that's certainly my pet peeve. If I took off the character's hair and removed skin color in a comic... would they all look the same? I think it comes down to the artist only drawing young (probably attractive) people and not really branching out and experimenting. (Although, if a comic is good, I really don't care about same face.)
Also, I don't understand the whole Tumblr nose and limbs thing. I guess I would need an example, because realistically... pale people's extremities get more pink (fingers, toes, and whatnot) and subsurface scattering certainly plays a part in that. So... do they just take it to far? Like....Rudolph the rednose OC levels of red? Actually I think I would still consider that pretty cute... My mind has been untainted by Tumblr apparently. ...I've gone cliche blind. Halp.
Yes! This is exactly the kind of thing I'd prefer to see. That way the characters feel more like actual well-rounded people, and not just billboards representing a specific gender/orientation.
ABSOLUTELY! That is something I really don't want people thinking. Like @joannekwan said, background noise can help out a lot, but there's still that thing, when, if ever, is it right to out your OCs?
And I am an ESFP, Pisces, Gryffindor, Rising Gemini, Sun Pisces, Moon Gemini, straight-ish, male, he-him pronoun having person! Hi! Follow me pls. LMAO!
I think it's not so much that people are finding artists from tumblr on purpose but rather, certain art trends that are really popular especially on tumblr find their way here and on other webcomic or art sites.
You can look up Tumblr Nose, there's a Know Your Meme page that comes up and is pretty accurate. I don't really think they're as popular these days. I read once that it was popularized around the time some new Animal Crossing game came out? Dunno how true that is.
But, I mean, art trends come and go. It's totally fine not to like a certain thing, opinions are subjective, but there's always gonna be that annoying fad or cliche lol.
Speaking of pet peeves....here's one of mine. Okay, so this isn't so much character design as just weak artistic skill, BUT OLD PEOPLE WHO JUST LOOK LIKE YOUNG PEOPLE BUT WITH WRINKLES AROUND THE MOUTH FREAK. ME. OUT. There's more to looking old than wrinkles.
HAHAHAHA!!! That used to be me at the beginning of this year before my professor kicked my ass and taught me about gravity and how it affects skin lmao!
i actually have more pet peeves designing characters than looking at other characters lol. but if i had to pick my major pet peeve, it's impractical clothing purely meant for fanservice. it's cool if it's just a few characters, but i see this with almost every single female character in any sort of media and it's so aggravating. same for when every character has the same body type, face, skin color, etc.
as for your number three, i actually think it's neat when people try to mix it up and defy traditional associations like that. i mean, that can be overused too, but i don't necessarily see it as someone getting the colors 'wrong'. i have two characters with a yin-yang color scheme because they're the elements of light and darkness -- but neither are male or female, so you can't associate either one with gender.
I really like the red nose design aspect as well HAHA when it's toned down and doesn't stick out too much from the skin it can actually be pretty cute and, I think, it adds contrast and thus brings attention to the face. Again, it's in moderation...like personally, when the blush is red enough for someone to put a Highlight in it, it rubs me the wrong way.
