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Ever run into that long lost twin...? (Rant/Ramble)
13 years ago
Commission information found here - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2779734/
There have been some... Interesting developments over the past couple of days. I just wanted to throw something out into the open and make something clear. Before I start though I want to state that I am in no way 'butt-hurt.' I'm merely a bit disappointed and sad. Situations like these make me think twice about posting art online, where anyone can do anything with it.
When I created Vore four years ago I was an avid World of Warcraft player. Four years ago, Druid cats looked totally different than they do these days (And were not even a viable spec, can you believe that?!)
They had absolutely no armor/gear or eye markings. Their fur was a shade of almost grape purple... But, being the creative artist that I try to be, I decided that when I draw this character that I love so dearly already, I won't settle for just reusing the same exact color fur the druid model in the game has. Why ever would I do that? I love my imagination, and it tends to treat me well enough that I can experiment and come up with something special to me.
I wanted this character to breath it's own life. So not only did I change her fur color, I added some other characteristics and a back story. She was mauled by a Tauren druid in The Barrens, and as such is missing half of her right ear, is blind in her right eye and has some scars on her face. I also changed the Druid symbol on her shoulder to that of a crescent moon and a star. Since she was attacked in such a dry place, she fled to Zangarmarsh where it is wet and this is her refuge.
A few years down the road and Wrath of the Lich King comes out. Druid cats are getting a viable spec, and their models are being redone! They added eye markings, and a gorgeous collar that adorns glowing orbs. Wonderful! Upon being released, I was pleased at all of the different shades the Druids could change their fur to; green, pink, black, white, and of course purple... Yet, this purple is still a different shade from mine! This is pleasing, of course, since I never wanted Vore to be a complete replica.
To the point...
The last two days a couple of cat Druids (no names anywhere, please) have been popping up around the site with the exact same color code as Vore's fur. I mean... Not a few shades off, but exactly the same. Like someone took an eyedropper tool and sucked the color right off of her and then dyed their own fur with it. One person (their druid also shared the torn ear, and the artist talked of adding a blind eye and face scars) has been kind enough to change the shade of their Druid's fur and change a few aspects when I brought up my issue with them (very politely I might add), and I thank them (and the artist that helped them) for that, although it is still fairly similar, it's no longer a clone. There is still one Druid, though, that shares the same genetics Vore does apparently when it comes to fur color. I won't be going to this person and asking them to change, as I'm already rather tired and very disappointed from the confrontation with the first Druid. Not to mention, Druid number two is connected to the previous problem as well and as such should know how I feel about the situation already, yet made their character after anyway.
I just wanted to make it as clear as day that although Vore was a druid, she was/is in no way shape or form a copy from the WoW druids. When you use her color, you're not copying from Blizzard or their Druid model, you're copying the color I came up with. So in a way, it's fanart of fanart. It's like if someone made a pink Charmander. They don't have the rights over that specific color pink that they used, but they did come up with that specific colored pink Charmander and he's probably pretty special to them.
I by no means have the rights over a color, and I'm not saying I do, I just wish people could have stopped and thought for a moment... And perhaps used their imagination that loves them so much to come up with something special and unique to them, without it being so close to what is special to me. Vore is my essence, to me that specific colored fur is part of my identity. I have been pouring my heart into her creation for four years, she is more than just an idea. Not to mention Druids can come in any color of the rainbow if you so wanted. They don't have to be purple, and more specifically, this exact shade of purple.
Anyway, with all of that said... I'm not playing World of Warcraft anymore. I've very recently had a little one, and he takes up too much of my time to be paying monthly for a game. So I suppose Vore is now less of a Druid to me, and more of a fursona. All I'd have to do is remove her shoulder marking and she wouldn't even be a Druid anymore.
TL;DR I guess (though I hope you have read the whole thing):
So since I've already dealt with one situation, and I'm far too mentally exhausted to deal with the same type of situation again, I guess I'll be changing Vore's color. I feel that it's not special to her being anymore. When people saw her hue of fur they automatically thought of me (if they knew me) since it was part of my identity. Now there are others out there that could possibly come to mind and I'm sorry if it's shallow, but I want Vore's identity to be her's alone. I hope those of you who liked Vore so much to take aspects directly from her enjoy your characters, I really do, as Vore has brought much joy to me through the years. Kind of wish you would have said something to me first though, or at least attempted to become friends.
Guess what I'm trying to say is... As an artist, it is your duty to be creative. If you see a character that inspires you, then let the artist know you appreciate their work! Talk with them, and maybe the two of you can come up with something amazing together... But please, artists, first and foremost; use your instincts, manners, morals and imagination when making a new character. If a character inspires you, sure, take some aspects (we don't own those individually) but don't take every aspect that makes that character special and use them all. Then you're basically just making the same character, no? It would be like running into a long lost twin you didn't know about on the street for the original artist.
Some people are connected deeper with their creations than others, just be respectful of that.
I'll be making something a little later to compare Vore to WoW druids and their colors, just for fun.
Oh, and by the way. I'm revoking Hater and Stubb's statuses as Worgens and Demon Vore's relation to world of Warcraft entirely. Hater and Stubb are now dire wolves or lycanthropes, and demon Vore is just my fursona and have no connection to World of Warcraft other than being able to be a part of that universe in role plays, if I so desire. Besides, they've always had tails. What kind of fucked up Worgen has a tail? So if anyone wants to copy one of these characters and pin it on the fact they're 'from wow'... In the words of the infamous Grumpy Cat: No.
Thanks for reading and I hope I touched home with some of you.
Encognito
~encognito
*Hugs* :c
