Character designs: THE SUBJECTIVITY THREAD :'D

[Koopaul]

Did we forget that Disney is making a moving called Zootopia? It's all about anthros... As long they are mammals. (They probably think repriles are not cute enough)

[Dolphman]

Most of the character designs are fine, but Shakira's character is going to receive criticism. Same with the tiger dancers in skimpy outfits.
I swear, some idiots will show up to see it in freaking costumes. Which will annoy parents who want to take their kids to see it.
That and they'll probably get kicked out by the ushers. It's one of the reasons why I'm very unsure about seeing it myself.
But I'm more interested in seeing the live-action version of The Jungle Book and Moana than Zootopia, honestly.

The "realistic" thing didn't stop Marvel releasing the Guardians of the Galaxy film, which features a genetically altered gun-wielding raccoon.
But even I felt realism hurt The Dark Night trilogy, because we couldn't get to see the likes of Mr. Freeze, The Penguin or Clayface.
And I know a live action Clayface would be pretty kickass.

Another thing to bring up is the cancelled 1993 american Sailor Moon cartoon, which was already a bad idea just by looking at it.
Horrible designs, like changing them into a token multiracial team. And Sailor Mercury being in a wheelchair for god knows why.
It was a wise choice to dub the original anime. But we can now all agree Viz's dub is way more superior than DiC's.

[Benny The Miraj]

The stereotype in question is true in some ways...

I think it's less true than it's made out to be. Sure, there are definitely perverted furries out there, but it's not that there's more of them than normal furries, it's that people notice them more. As a result, media decides not to use anthros in videogames as anything other than villains, and frankly people like me suffer for it.

Truth be told, I don't like "edgy" and "mature." I generally like anthro characters more than humans for the opposite reason that people like humans. People tend to like humans cause they're more like themselves, yet I prefer whimsical anthros to edgy/mature humans because they're LESS like myself. They fascinate me more than a character that's more familiar. A character that's more familiar doesn't make me want to learn more about them like a less familiar one would. Plus, a world that's more mature and serious just reads "bland and emotionless" to me, while something more colorful and whimsical is more charming and brimming with personality. But since a lot of games gravitate towards the former, there tends to be very few games a year that I end up getting interested in. People love their Wytcher III and MGS 5, but that kind of stuff is just not for me.

The whole furry stigma isn't AS BAD as it was a few years ago, but it's still pretty bad.

[miyabi95_]

I'm gonna briefly stray a bit from the topic to say that majority of people who are enthusiasts of furry culture (art, fursuits, etc.) are very open-minded and stick together as a well-established community (for the most part. Nobody's perfect). At least, that's a conclusion I've drawn from the passed three years on Fur Affinity as well as meeting people at conventions. In fact, I've come across more loving and generous people on Fur Affinity than I ever have on deviantART. Whether not they're involved in things that are lewd or kinky, most furries are super pleasant to be around and interact with.

There's just my little two sense on the furry fandom vs. everyone else discussion.

[Dolphman]

I think we should get back on topic now. No need to continue this discussion.

First, let's take a look at the Cacodemon from DooM.

Becoming one of the most iconic video game enemies, and pretty much the mascot enemy for the series. It's always been a fun monster.
Design-wise, it's really a composite of DnD's Beholder and Astral Dreadnought. Which is assumed to be the reason redesigns were made.

Here we have it's appearance in DooM 64, the third game that still has no official rerelease. It seems to take cues from the Pain Elemental.
Which itself got a major upgrade in the same game. I like the chained cuffs on the arms, and reptilian eye.

Next is it's design from DooM 3. The main problem with this game's creature designs is that they look less demonic, and more alien.
Pretty much everyone didn't like how the Cacodemon looked in the game, and it's easy to see why.

Finally, we have the 2016 reboot design. This time, they gave the original a major makeover, while keeping a few classic features.
Already, everyone's in love with this version, and it does shit over the DooM 3 design. The little arms and legs are a nice touch.

[Kosheh]

no no no there's some idle veggies out there I can't let it go just yet

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I'm gonna briefly stray a bit from the topic to say that majority of people who are enthusiasts of furry culture (art, fursuits, etc.) are very open-minded and stick together as a well-established community (for the most part. Nobody's perfect). At least, that's a conclusion I've drawn from the passed three years on Fur Affinity as well as meeting people at conventions. In fact, I've come across more loving and generous people on Fur Affinity than I ever have on deviantART. Whether not they're involved in things that are lewd or kinky, most furries are super pleasant to be around and interact with.

There's just my little two sense on the furry fandom vs. everyone else discussion.

uhh, I'm sure there's a few good apples every con or so (and I sincerely don't doubt it - admittedly, I wanna go to a furry con at least once just for the experience as everyone seems like they're hella cool) but as they saying goes, "a few bad apples ruin the bunch" - which I guess is kinda why...well, I think it's kinda why I raised the argument previously - though Kriven's also right; there's also a second stigma that anthropomorphic characters are generally characters you'd come to expect in childrens' shows, and it's a little harder to tell a grimdark story with an anthro lead and expect your focus group to not think the character is to appeal to children. "Ratchet and Clank" I guess is a good example; where they were trying to appeal to all ages with their odd lion-alien-thing lead character but it's hard not to market the character to children (as the upcoming film is) despite the fact that many of the jokes in the game are aimed squarely at older gamers. :/ Okay the series isn't necessarily a good example of grimdark - but like the concept behind the fourth game, "Ratchet Deadlocked" ...kinda is

Most of the character designs are fine, but Shakira's character is going to receive criticism. Same with the tiger dancers in skimpy outfits.
I swear, some idiots will show up to see it in freaking costumes. Which will annoy parents who want to take their kids to see it.
That and they'll probably get kicked out by the ushers. It's one of the reasons why I'm very unsure about seeing it myself.

This premise sounds like something out of The Onion lmao: "Disney's new furry animated feature with cute characters reportedly driving fursuiters to theatres in droves"

I swear, if this happens the day Zootopia opens. lmao I'm just gonna pay attention to social media to see if anyone's going to be fursuiting that day. I really can't imagine that this is going to happen - the worst I can imagine is just that one oddball teen girl in each theater with fox ear headband and tail-belt but that'll probably be the worst you'll see.

If you sincerely wanna see the movie opening day, ignore the screaming toddlers and the fursuiters and just go with some friends and get a bucket of popcorn. It might be a little tough going to this one by yourself on opening day ;P

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whew ok continue sry

Finally, we have the 2016 Cacodemon reboot design. This time, they gave the original a major makeover, while keeping a few classic features.
Already, everyone's in love with this version, and it does shit over the DooM 3 design. The little arms and legs are a nice touch.

ngl I don't really like the Doom series but I love the SHIT out of these character designs. Although what's the deal with their little appendages? Don't these things float? What's the point of the arms and legs if they're literally giant mouths that just eat you whole? lol

[NICKtendo DS]

I think the appendages are there to make it more ghost-like. The feet hanging above the ground and the arm reaching to grab you. Just look at Tails Doll. He has arms and legs, but never uses any body part other than his head, floating just above the ground. I believe that's what makes him "creepy".
It could also be a stage of evolution/metamorphosis, similar to Metroids, because it somehow reminds me of Metroids.

[psychospacecow]

This whole discussion reminds me of the cheetos furries on twitter.

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/tonytigergate

Also, I wholeheartedly despise whoever decided that any mildly controversial decision or actions needs to be a "gate".

An interesting argument came up on /r/wow because of this image depicting Yrel from the Draenor expansion.


People were saying that her appearance in-game detracts from the image Blizzard tried to portray her with.
This is what she looks like in-game.


This is official concept art.


Personally, I always figured she was depicted pretty well. Her chest piece in the concept has a sailor heart. That certainly didn't make the cut. She stands taller than most Draenai, and all player Draenai.

She's probably my favorite character in all of Warcraft (which is saying something. Love me Cairne, Baine, Sylvanas, and the dwarven kings.), so I'm a bit bias.

[Jermungandr]

I dunno I can kind of see what they mean. That heart-armor is pretty sweet looking. The in-game model looks like they ditched it so they could focus on making her rack bigger. It appears to be yet another case of a cool character design getting sidelined to make it more marketable to horny males.

[psychospacecow]

That's just how WoW's armor system works unfortunately. A lot of armor is just a recolor to a particular part of the model. Its made really apparent when a glitch crops up that makes the model disappear, because the things that usually stay are the shoulders and weapon. Sometimes belts have their own model too.
That's just one of the quirks for WoW's models. Another one is that no one with a skirt has legs under them to prevent clipping. It looks really bad on some races because you can see the character's feet appear from the abyss.
Yrel's gear is actually obtainable by players so... its just a quirk of a 12 year old mmo.

[miyabi95_]

Sorry I can't add much to these MMO/MOBA conversations... I do have a friend who's making some progress on a Dranei cosplay, and it looks incredible!

Anyway, thanks a lot for getting me looking back into Pokemon, lol xD (since you can tell by my avatar and signature). I'm not playing it, but I'm beginning to wish I were. Seriously, did they just start getting more cute designs just after I stopped playing??? 
I'm impressed though. IMO, majority of the Pokemon in generations 1-3 were cool and edgy, since video games like it were mostly marketed to young boys. But now that there are people like me who get mesmerized by cute and charming designs (including guys, I can think of quite a few I know who are just as fascinated), the later Pokemon are appealing to a broader audience . Thumbs up, Nintendo/Game Freak!

[Koh]

Speaking of Pokemon, my favorite Pokemon, both design and gameplay wise, is the Lanturn family.



That healthy balance of simple yet unique design, cuteness and being powerhouses. After a certain point, they started overdesigning the Pokemon, to the point some of them just look like a combination of all the rejected ideas from the past, lol.

[AuraLancer]

I think they learned their lesson with overdesigning after making so many messy ones in fourth gen. Fifth and sixth gen designs are all pretty good except for the ridiculous mega evolutions, but I feel like those were made intentionally over complicated.

Now before you bring up those silly ice cream and garbage bag Pokemon, let it be known that I'm talking about design aesthetics, not what the Pokemon are based on. Also, Garbador rocks.

[psychospacecow]

My favorite Pokemon is born through decapitation so as far as I'm concerned, they're all pretty good.



and he has the best original sprite.

[Koopaul]

Why does everyone shit on Vanilluxe? I love that guy, reminds me of a Gen 1 Pokemon.

I love the more colorful and silly Pokemon. So you'd think I'd love Klefki. Right? Well normally I would, but its eyes... They are black empty sockets. I feel that sort of ruins it for me. If it were some sort of ghost type Pokemon maybe those eyes would work, but a Fairy type?