What's the deal with saying "your OC looks like"?

[jensrichard77]

Not bad. But No. I will not claim copyright on that one.

[NickRowler]

Then would it still be considered too rude to say they're alike? And even BEYOND that, why does it seem to make so many artists upset.

I think whether someone gets upset may depend on the person. I think some people think they have create something 100% original and unique and when they are told otherwise, they get upset. There might be other people who would be OK with and maybe even think it is funny. And are some who say "Well they look similar because my character is based off of that."

Like, I am fine with it, however I am not fond of the people who claim you stole something that you were 100% unaware of.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

I frequently have had Rip compared to Goku on a regular basis. But there's enough differences now that it's not as common.
But after hearing it, over, and over, aaaand over, i realized that it was too similar so I made adjustments.

Personally, I get the tinge of annoyance when anyone compares my stuff to something else, but I don't act on it. Usually.

If I'm in a really bad mood I might say something xD

[colorgoat]

Sliiightly different situation, but I remember a bunch of people (politely) saying my style looked like Steven Universe's in high school. As much as I liked the show back then, it made me want to lie down. People usually don't mean harm comparing an artist's design/style to someone else's, but I still get why it irks some artists. Like others have said already, there's so much pressure to create something super original.

I've never really had my ocs compared to existing characters, though...? I'm...curious now.

[jensrichard77]

Nah... Rip has become unique. But your earlier designs might give some Sonic vibes.

[Kiweevil]

If it's a black animal or a black and white cartoon character, Shilo has been compared to it.

I've heard Mickey Mouse, Yakko Warner, Bendy, Pepé le Pew, and so many others. This makes me super uncomfortable because I'm actually frightened by most of those characters.

---

Also, Alise has been compared to both Tails from Sonic, and Renamon from Digimon?

Which scares me because, uh, don't ever google image search Renamon.

---

Finally I've had Norman actually be compared to Sebastian from Black Butler before? Like he doesn't look like him obviously but I guess "dangerous butler aesthetic" or whatever

That one doesn't really bother me as much though, because Sebastian is a cool character

[nathanKmcwilliams]

The only time the Goku comparison thing bothers me is if it's related to Rip's personality and character traits now.

Rant mode engaged

He is 100% not Goku-like at all. Who when you really break it down, is a selfish S.O.B. who neglects his kid and marriage, and goes on world threatening battles just for the fun of it, and gets his friends killed in the process 90% of the time.
Rip...would never willingly sacrifice anyone elses desires for his own desires. He only cares about helping the weak and oppressed. He doesn't even really like fighting all that much, but he has to because of the situations and path of life he chose.

But. I see the Sonic one for sure. Also have worked hard to break from that too xD

[rajillustration]

I made a character who's look was 100% based on Zooey Deschanel and I have yet to hear anyone call me out on it.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

What xD? She's a really recognizable person. That's surprising that no one has noticed

[rajillustration]

I think it's my style. I draw the characters really, really loose and with an exaggerated nose--so no one's...noticed that like...

I just took that signature indie hairstyle straight up. Mind you everyone had that hairstyle 10 years ago, but Zooey was the actor I had in my mind playing as Harriet the whole time I wrote this story.

[CursedBeasts]

I can see the resemblance, the color scheme mostly, but no one owns color schemes, and yellow and purple work well together. Otherwise your character looks very different.

[Kiweevil]

I think the yellow and purple scheme is where I struggle with this, too. Alise usually wears purple lol.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

Yeah I can see that now that you mention it.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

Because people are insecure but has high ego.
Your creation, design, and even yourself will never be entirely unique and special no matter what. Swallow that fucking red pill.

I might sound harsh but unless the remark is said in malicious way with annoying/malicious follow up (like commenting same thing over and over again, or call you out for copying). I find people who are butthurt because such remark insecure.

More reasons explained below.

I have my characters compared to other things, most commonly real people. There was people saying that my main character resembles Diego from Go Diego Go, even though I can't see it and due to my style changing he resembles Diego even less. Yet, that was fun for a joke.

[Mallory]

It just... I dunno, it just seems like kind of a pointless(?) comment. Like, why are you saying this? Do you like the character you think they resemble, and are excited for the similarity? Do you want to ask me if I'm also a fan? Or are you attempting to accuse me of copying/being unoriginal/a bad artist?

Like, I'm aware that it's impossible to be original, but it's just such an irrelevant comment without context, IMO. If you like the other character, you can make that a discussion. If you are trying to say that I'm a bad artist, nut up and say it. Don't do this weird wishy-washy "X looks like Y" because it feels like the equivalent of having someone walk up to me and stare at me really intently without saying anything.

Like when someone says that to me, I usually just go "Oh thanks!", I'm not gonna lose it over a comment, but just... there's so many other things to say, why say THAT and leave it hanging?

[thel3tterm]

I've usually received comments like this from non-artists that I know in real life.

I can say when I was a lot younger, the comment actually did bother me. My immature and slightly egotistical pre-teen brain interpreted it as them implying that my work was unoriginal, or that I had somehow copied or stolen my work from more popular works.

In reality, I think that its usually intended to be either an observation or a compliment.
"Oh! It looks like that style from that show that I like!"
"Oh, it looks like this character that we both really like!"
"Oh, thats cool, you were inspired by this thing?"

Among artist circles, its still a bit taboo to make comments like that, and I try to respect that for the most part, but its honestly a harmless thing.

(Tangentially related, a bunch of people said that one of my characters looked like The Little Prince and I've sort of embraced it.)
https://tapas.io/episode/1809343

[CommanderMarty]

when you put them together, I can't unsee it.

[Awesomeness_Studios]

Okay that meme you just made was really funny

[joannekwan]

The only time I'd get irked is if my character is compared to something I actively dislike.

But other than that, if it's just a neutral source—like one time my OC got compared to a Homestuck character—I was just like:

If it's a character or series I DO like however, then I get a little smile on my face.

[Kelheor]

Fortunately I didn't get comments like this yet. But I have 3 basically identical female MCs from different stories, so I hope one day I will witness how they become popular and some people will say they look alike and other people will answer nooooo, look at how completely different they are