Animation Source Forums

So what about anime? Plenty of people sell commissions in that style, a style which originated from a single person at one point. So are all the anime artists wrong to sell their anime-style artwork? Same goes with Disney and Balto-style artists.

Styles cannot be copyrighted. This is because styles exist in the way one individual sees and recognizes them. In other words, I can think one person's style looks like artist "A", while someone else will think that the style looks like artist "B." For example, I've had people say my style looks like Disney, while others will say it looks like Don Bluth. And then there are those who say it looks like Balto. I myself don't see my style as looking anything like Balto, yet those few viewers do. Are they wrong to think it looks like Balto? No, because that is how they see it, even if I don't. It all comes down to what you as a viewer associates a particular image with and how you personally define a style.

Also, style is not something that you can up and one day say "hey, I came up with this new style, I'm sticking with it for the rest of my natural life...except for Tuesdays!" Style is something that you develop through repitition over time and the natural hand movements that you establish when you draw.

Just playing the Devil's advocate and giving another angle for people to look from.

No style can be COMPLETELY copied. Yes, some can be similar, but its not always intentional (its one of those "great minds think alike" deals) But if it is, then its not very creative is it? (unless its to purposely try to get close to the style of Lion King for example, for purposes such as movie-making and stuff of the like) Yes, style is something that needs to develop over a long period of time, but continuously copying another style to find your own does not contribute.

To add, there are tons of different anime styles. There's a difference in style if you look at Hayao Miyazaki's films and look at a show like Naruto. They look different style-wise, but is still anime since it originated from Japan (or wherever).

I never said it was.


Nor does it get you anywhere in a professional point of view. But still, even if you are "copying" a style, you are not copying it completely due to the fact that you see it in your own way, and interpret it as so. Yes, it may look the same to others because their minds see it that way at a glance, and that is where you get the perception of style from. But it is not completely the same as the person whose style is being "copied" when further analyzed. This is also why even in animated movies, which require many different people attempting to emulate a single style, there are slight differences depending on who worked on what. For example, in All Dogs Go To Heaven II, one lead animator drew Charlie with a thin, scraggly tail, while another drew him with a full, bushy tail. Do you notice it while watching the movie? Most likely not, unless you were specifically looking for inconsistencies. Instead, you see the character as having been drawn in one distinct style throughout the entire movie. It's the same as when you see the work of someone trying to copy the style of an artist you are familiar with; you recognize the similarities as a whole, and ignore the small inconsistencies, such as the way the public, familiar with the general style of a movie, didn't notice how Charlie's tail varied depending on who drew him in All Dogs II.


Exactly my point.

I see what you mean. It is how other people see it. Thanks for commenting!

No problem! Of course, while it's alright to take inspiration from others, just remember to work on creating your own individual way of drawing things as you develop your skills as an artist.

Exactly my point ;D

I'm just trying to get people to think and look at things from a different angle, since it seems that artists either think trying to draw in a certain style is an unforgivable sin, or don't know that it is frowned upon by the general art community and then feel like they have done something horrible when others confront them (it took me a while to realize this as well...a few years ago, I thought that it was flattering to show your idolization of someone by trying to draw like them, and no one said anything to me until the actual artist herself gave me some very nice tips to help me out). I'm also just trying to say that while nothing is ever original anymore in terms of how people view them, there are actually differences that should be taken into account.

Thank you for all of your input guys! I really appreciate it... especially coming from such great artists!

Gosh No one takes my style, cause I try to draw them to look like Balto in my own posses.

Balto_Sis, I totally agree with your theory. I too, have been upon that boat (then my obsession was CatWhoHas14Tails and Draco). If you ask me, similar styles are NOT theft. For example: Pample has fluffy ears on hers, mine do too. Her tails are a little less fluffy, mine are more full and rounded.
Lovely_Little_Emo (Mizzy) has the same kind of muzzles/mouths as I do.
WildSpiritWolf (not here) and I's styles are VERY similar because I SERIOUSLY iodolize her and was soon drawing in semi-her style.

So if you ask me, there is a very thin line between theft and idolizing, but the line IS there.

I do agree with you.


~~~~* Kirada *~~~~

Thank you for your input Kirada!

We live in a world created off admiration of other people, why do you think so many people obbess over the famous? A unique style is hard to get, but styles can be changed. Its hard but if you work at it, you can change your style. Artists want to be so much like the 'great artists' but all popular artists started at the bottom. Looking up at their idols, all wanting to be up their like them. Copying a style may earn you fame but it is only temporary once people realize that the style has been ripped from another artist you start to lose respect.

It is okay to take small peices of style and put them together to create your own like Smokey stated a few page with examples. Really the point is work hard to create your own special style, in the end you will be quite proud of yourself and others will respect you for doing such a feat as creating your own special style instead of taking someone elses.

Also when we point out to someone that their style is extreamly similar or copied it is not because we don't want to them to stop posting art or drive them out. We mearly want them to realize that copying a style won't get you anywhere in the art world but looked down upon. We are asking them to get out their and create their own special style instead of taking others. In the long run, style theft will only hurt you in the end and our goal is not to let that happen.

lol It's because I used to be one of those overly-obsessive fans of yours... But I outgrew it and I'm a regular fan. XD But, I watch how my favorite artists do certain things and I try it, then shift it into my own. XD

Sorry to bring you into this Livz. o_o;

Thanks a bunch for all of the input Drew! And, thanks for telling us(well, me at least) the reasons for you're deleting art.