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Character Uniqueness
14 years ago
General
Good lord I’ve wanted to write this journal for a while. Kinda rantish. >:V
You can call generic species X your own, however you cannot complain when someone also shares that similar appearance. There are generic and iconic imagery that embody the appearance of a species. When your character represents or aligns that closely with that of the most generic and basic of that species in appearance, then you yourself have absolutely no right to complain or accuse others of copying. There are only so many combinations of character traits out there, and even then it’s dependent on the specific feature set a species has to offer.
Example of Species Complexity: Orcas and wolves are incredibly different in terms of how many raw trait combinations can be created.
Anthro Characteristics Breakdown:
Wolves:
Colors: Skin, Fur[Pattern Variation], Nose, Eyes, Nethers
Hands: Humanoid or Handpaws
Feet: Humanoid or Digitigrade/Footpaws
Musculature/Build: Varries
Forms: Feral, Anthro, Were
Extra: (Honestly Can't think of Anything) >_>
Orcas:
Colors: Skin [Pattern Varriation], Eyes, Nethers
Hands: Humanoid
Feet: Humanoid
Musculature/Build: Varries
Forms: Feral, Anthro
Extra: Fins, Blowholes?
Notice that wolves have more raw features which can be immediately customized. Some species have very very base components though, obvious components. Orcas look consistently similar for this reason.
I could probably go into more detail, but this shows the general train of thought I have. Some species cannot attain as many feature combinations, and therefore suffer from a more generic mode of physical appearance. Furthermore, you don’t make your character unique by adding “generic” accessories. Clothing for example is something that requires special attention. A jockstrap does not add any uniqueness to your character as it’s an article of clothing that is generally worn by people within a certain muscular demographic. Color cannot be used as a unique differentiator unless there is an associated pattern or defined hex value for that color(s). Varying shades of grey are basic colors, and should not be held to be identifying colors that distinguish your character. ( I tend to think of it as a color launch point… unspecific until you find the color you want)
If you complain about people looking similar to you, then you really need to honestly re-evaluate your character to make him truly unique, or grow some balls and not give a damn (like dalmatians!.) You cannot call someone out for drawing out or making a character that is based from the generic species model, especially when the originating model is particularly mundane.
Unique features would include scars, markings, piercings, patterns, etc. But it doesn’t have to end there. Characters can gain attributes which further distinguish them from others. I will use my own character Jazz as an example. Character development spans a period of time. I know mine did, and Jazz has evolved to become something entirely different from which he once was. Jazz was a generic grey wolf and there was nothing really that unique about him.
I started to develop him a bit based on my personal tastes and soon enough a newer version was created. Jazz has gone through three Phases Primary Phases. Version 1.0, 2.0 (and the variants), and 3.0.
The evolution of Jazz was also primarily driven by drawing capabilities and skillset.
Jazz 1.0 – The Grey Wolf version of Jazz. Nondescript and Generic. He has some muscle.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2425/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2414/
Jazz 2.0 – The Cool Grey Version of Jazz. More Muscular and Built. Glowing Eyes. Height Changed to 9ft.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/148952/
Jazz 2.1 – Uses 2.0 as a base. Added Chin Fuzz
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/412583/ (I shredded this badge since it sucks)
Jazz 2.2 – Builds on Previous – Nipple Piercings. Additional Bulk.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2592002/ [NSFW]
Jazz 2.3 – Jaw Fuzz added along with Additional Chest Fur.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4253153/ [NSFW]
Jazz 2.4 – More Refined Appearance. Chinstrap beard.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5417638/ (Snout looks Wrong… cat-ish?)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7122415/ (Best Representation of 2.4. Navel Changed.) [NSFW]
Jazz 3.0 – Increased to 12ft in Height. Inverted Eyes. Shackles on all limbs. Uncut Nethers. Beastlier Appearance. Shadow Tentacles (Weaponry Capabilities). Tentacle tongue. Development of Personality & Backstory.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7045672/ [NSFW]
Jazz has changed significantly, turning into this beastly behemoth that I’ve always wanted him to be. The point is, he was generic, very generic, and over time he developed into something more unique and tailored for my interests.
So stop complaining about character theft when your character is the staple of species genericism, it’s amateurish and whiney. You can only blame yourself for creating what is essentially the icon of what the species would look like in the most general sense. You have no unique ownership of that. >:|
You can call generic species X your own, however you cannot complain when someone also shares that similar appearance. There are generic and iconic imagery that embody the appearance of a species. When your character represents or aligns that closely with that of the most generic and basic of that species in appearance, then you yourself have absolutely no right to complain or accuse others of copying. There are only so many combinations of character traits out there, and even then it’s dependent on the specific feature set a species has to offer.
Example of Species Complexity: Orcas and wolves are incredibly different in terms of how many raw trait combinations can be created.
Anthro Characteristics Breakdown:
Wolves:
Colors: Skin, Fur[Pattern Variation], Nose, Eyes, Nethers
Hands: Humanoid or Handpaws
Feet: Humanoid or Digitigrade/Footpaws
Musculature/Build: Varries
Forms: Feral, Anthro, Were
Extra: (Honestly Can't think of Anything) >_>
Orcas:
Colors: Skin [Pattern Varriation], Eyes, Nethers
Hands: Humanoid
Feet: Humanoid
Musculature/Build: Varries
Forms: Feral, Anthro
Extra: Fins, Blowholes?
Notice that wolves have more raw features which can be immediately customized. Some species have very very base components though, obvious components. Orcas look consistently similar for this reason.
I could probably go into more detail, but this shows the general train of thought I have. Some species cannot attain as many feature combinations, and therefore suffer from a more generic mode of physical appearance. Furthermore, you don’t make your character unique by adding “generic” accessories. Clothing for example is something that requires special attention. A jockstrap does not add any uniqueness to your character as it’s an article of clothing that is generally worn by people within a certain muscular demographic. Color cannot be used as a unique differentiator unless there is an associated pattern or defined hex value for that color(s). Varying shades of grey are basic colors, and should not be held to be identifying colors that distinguish your character. ( I tend to think of it as a color launch point… unspecific until you find the color you want)
If you complain about people looking similar to you, then you really need to honestly re-evaluate your character to make him truly unique, or grow some balls and not give a damn (like dalmatians!.) You cannot call someone out for drawing out or making a character that is based from the generic species model, especially when the originating model is particularly mundane.
Unique features would include scars, markings, piercings, patterns, etc. But it doesn’t have to end there. Characters can gain attributes which further distinguish them from others. I will use my own character Jazz as an example. Character development spans a period of time. I know mine did, and Jazz has evolved to become something entirely different from which he once was. Jazz was a generic grey wolf and there was nothing really that unique about him.
I started to develop him a bit based on my personal tastes and soon enough a newer version was created. Jazz has gone through three Phases Primary Phases. Version 1.0, 2.0 (and the variants), and 3.0.
The evolution of Jazz was also primarily driven by drawing capabilities and skillset.
Jazz 1.0 – The Grey Wolf version of Jazz. Nondescript and Generic. He has some muscle.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2425/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2414/
Jazz 2.0 – The Cool Grey Version of Jazz. More Muscular and Built. Glowing Eyes. Height Changed to 9ft.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/148952/
Jazz 2.1 – Uses 2.0 as a base. Added Chin Fuzz
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/412583/ (I shredded this badge since it sucks)
Jazz 2.2 – Builds on Previous – Nipple Piercings. Additional Bulk.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2592002/ [NSFW]
Jazz 2.3 – Jaw Fuzz added along with Additional Chest Fur.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4253153/ [NSFW]
Jazz 2.4 – More Refined Appearance. Chinstrap beard.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5417638/ (Snout looks Wrong… cat-ish?)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7122415/ (Best Representation of 2.4. Navel Changed.) [NSFW]
Jazz 3.0 – Increased to 12ft in Height. Inverted Eyes. Shackles on all limbs. Uncut Nethers. Beastlier Appearance. Shadow Tentacles (Weaponry Capabilities). Tentacle tongue. Development of Personality & Backstory.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7045672/ [NSFW]
Jazz has changed significantly, turning into this beastly behemoth that I’ve always wanted him to be. The point is, he was generic, very generic, and over time he developed into something more unique and tailored for my interests.
So stop complaining about character theft when your character is the staple of species genericism, it’s amateurish and whiney. You can only blame yourself for creating what is essentially the icon of what the species would look like in the most general sense. You have no unique ownership of that. >:|
Contribute to this journal! Show how generic your character was before [if he/she can be classified as such] and show what he/she looks like now!
dude... seriously...
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3152524/ two years a go
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6834422/ today
but your right depending on the species of choice for your fursona there are only so many combinations you can choose from before you overlap with someone else
Do some research, expand your horizons! It's pretty interesting what you'll discover! I mean, I never knew how fascinating African Wild Dog pack dynamics were, but it turns out it's pretty cool!
So, ya know...ya want to be original? There are plenty of species out there that no one has touched...especially the furless ones.
Whole new vistas opened up for fresh design and characterization.
Perhaps wolves, foxes, etc. are "starter" forms?
I think its easier to design something that we have knowledge of eh? Constant exposure to canines and felines might result in a higher outcome of that selection.
Good work, and thanks for your thoughts.
enough soapboxing for me lol
*shrug* Punk is a pretty average Joe, come to think of it.
I still remember my first character. A black and white wolf.
At some point though I adopted the Red, Blue and Yellow then
over time tweaked the colors to the pink, blue, and pale yellow tone.
You yourself have influenced some changes, Mr. McJazzWulf. :P
Old: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1257998/
New: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6948481/
>Furry Fandom
I like having a laugh in the morning!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CXdCNX6E-U
When I first wanted to have mine rendered, I chose BGN, for FA didn't have an Iksar category and their search function was not working at the time. Finding artists was difficult. Finding those I liked who also commissioned affordably was really difficult. BGN was close (geographically; I liked that for some reason) and affordable, plus his way of rendering scalies from all what I'd seen up til then looked mighty fine.
Please be warned all content below features male nudity and is decidedly NSFW. Unzip now.
This is the BGN final version of Unktehila:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5783449/
Later on came some commissions by auction and from various artists, even of other characters. But I came back to Todex, for he seemed to have the best grasp of my character, and loved amping up a character's muscle as much as I did. At the time, this was his biggest. And he worked overtime on it. I truly appreciate all the fastidious effort and attention to detail. I really owe a lot of my success to these drawings.
Unktehila officially is referenced thus:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5350004/
Then I was blessed by Cazic-Thule himself, the Iksar god of Fear must have wanted Unktehila to live and breathe and become the sex idol I wanted him to be, for a Canadian artist
The Unktehila 3D renders:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5783028/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5783343/
There have been others done by
I've been taking Unk on a monstrous growth path. One that makes him macro and mutated. But as well gives him a Jekyll-and-Hyde split, where the other side is just a bit bigger and not grotesquely reshaped and overgrown. It's sort of an outlet of the flares of passion he feels at times, sometimes very intense, sometimes just very heated. It seems he just can't get enough of growing bigger.