Jul 2016
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Jul 2016
Oct 2016
J.Z.Castillo
Jul '16

@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?"

maximumthemokona
Jul '16

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.

bakasama25
Jul '16

That's known as the Tumblr nose if the pink is on the nose.

Ladilad
Jul '16

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

Michelle
Jul '16
J.Z.Castillo

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.

joannekwan(ง ˙o˙)ว here to help~
Jul '16

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.

JessJackdaw
Jul '16

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.

Michelle
Jul '16
joannekwan

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.

J.Z.Castillo
Jul '16

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!

Ladilad
Jul '16

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.

J.Z.Castillo
Jul '16

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!

emkay
Jul '16

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.

heterodont
Jul '16

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.

maximumthemokona
Jul '16
bakasama25

I feel bad attaching "Tumblr" to it 'cause it's a bit reductive. I've seen it even in japanese hentai and, alas, in some professional comics.

To compensate I'll add that I think pink hair is freaking amazing and I'm ready to fight anyone who thinks otherwise ; )

lorenu
Jul '16

(too) Big chested girls.
Eyes that big, they don't even allow the character to have a forehead.
Foreigners being blonde with blue eyes. (I understand why, but well…)
Cat/animal mouths on human characters, like this -> :3
I do sometimes like animal ears and other accessoires, but not if they always wear it.
Now that I look over the list again, everything mainly happens in mangas haha

nessiefynn
Jul '16

Why so? No matter where you live, there's plenty of blonde blue-eyed people from foreign countries out there. :?

lorenu
Jul '16

Yes that's true, but I feel like they restrict themselves by designing them like that.
A lot of foreigners have brown or black hair too (many have brown eyes, though I only met two people until now who had green eyes…).
Anyways, it's not like the readers wouldn't believe they'd be, for example, french if they don't have blonde hair.
That's what I meant p: