Animation Source Forums

Everybody loves badass characters. There's no doubt about that. Just the thought of a character with their eyebrows permanently placed downward, with teeth beared with battle scars and the need to kill everybody makes everybody feel gushy inside. I think we can pretty much agree on that.

I think that we also can agree that we all get pretty angry sometimes and that we also need ways to vent our anger in some way. And alot of us, artists, vent our feelings through our drawings. And I think that some of us can agree that we want a character of our own to represent our anger. Just a character to draw doing something to show that you are rather angry at something.

And this is fine, right? I mean, we all need ways to express ourselves. Some do it through drawing, some through writing, some through screaming into a pillow.

Now for ranting...well, this is probably going to end up being another "lack of creativity" rant. So if you're getting tired of reading these...too bad. I'm here with a dose of reality and you're going to eat it anyway. This has been going on as long as anything elsem but now its on a particular group of characters. And its those who spill blood.

I'm not saying that anybody full-out copied off my character Kiona (she's not the most unique character, at least not anymore, she isn't) but my character is one of those characters who..well, express their anger through violent physical contact. The reason behind this? Its actually quite common in hybrids such as herself: she is a mix between two species, the wolf, and the dog. Whenever her adrenaline gets going, so does her wolf side. She does not know how to control her wolfish urges to eat, kill, etc. because 1) she's young and 2) she has mental issues. So whenever she gets going, she can't stop. She goes nuts. There's no magic within this character. No "family curse." It's pretty much based on what's known by those who know about hybrids.

And there are plenty of characters like this, like Kay Feweda's character Swiftkill, only her reason for "going nuts" is through her bloodline. Thats how her family has always been (or so I'm guessing).

Now, what am I ranting about? Well:

1) People who just have this character "just to have." They use it just because everyone else has one and doesn't bother to make a decent biography or profile for it. I can't stand those people because they're the kind who like...DIE if they can't follow the crowd.

2) Number 1 + those who only use this character "of theirs" to try and become popular for it. They do everything and it mostly consists of copying others' ideas. They'll take every single characteristic they find and put it on their character in hopes that if they collect enough of OTHER PEOPLE'S ideas that they'll create one big "unique" idea.

3) People who use this character just to show "not to mess with them." "Ooh, big whoop, your character is standing over another's body. I'm so threatened by you. Oh no, I know not to mess with you, cuz you might rip my throat out with your 'fangs'." You people need to get real. You're just angry. No, you don't want to "kill anyone" You're just going about the "angry emo" way of getting attention instead of the "depressed emo" way of getting attention. Cuz "emo kids suck and i want to kill them all." Well, if you ask me, you're both emo, and you both need to get slapped and stop using your art for selfish reasons like populartiy. Nobody likes you.

4) Or even just those who take an angry character they've seen and change only a few things to make it "theirs" and use it one time. I don't know which is worse: the person who uses a ripped character once and never touches it again or the person who is in constant use of a ripped character. (and any of the above can count for any type of character, by the way.)

All of these "ripped angry characters" have all of these things in common: They hate their family, they go crazy, they can't control their anger, they thirst for blood. Why? Why does your characer have to thirst for blood to be a badass? (There are badasses who don't kill, you know )

Whatever the reason, I just think this is worth ranting about. I am sick and tired of seeing the same characters over and over again. Real artists, even those as young as 13 (or younger even) I know actually have their characters represent themselves. But thats not what anyone of you people are doing. You're using other people's characters to represent THEM. Not you.

Why doesn't anyone just look at their personality and make a character based off that? I know not everyone on this site is "stubborn" or "loves a challenge." So why do you let it be known that you're not expressing yourself? Why do you let it be known that you're just a big fake? I'm starting to think that it is really because your personality is one-dimensional and bland and you want to be like other people.

They have classes to improve personalities, you know. I suggest using some of your money to put it towards that, instead of that $5564576.00 tablet you made your parents buy. Cuz its not going to make you, your characters, or your art any better.

Is this about fursonas or original characters?

For fursonas, I would say that not many people actually tend to paint themselves honestly. Most of the time fursonas appear to be what the creater wishes they were.

Besides, I'd be a little worried if there really were "bloodthirsty" people hanging around here

As for characters, there's not a lot of originality going around, true. But it's more than just the "bloodthirsty" kind, there's a ton of "mary-sues", "tomboys/rough gals", "My entire pack was murdered by some rougue and now i'm an angsty orphan and swear revenge" 's and so on.

Not everyone is a genious at creating a well-developed character. You just have to keep that in mind ^^ Nor should they all be expected to be, the average age group around here is quite young!

Talking about fury characters XD
My own character goes insane when she feels "bad" things..like enemies approaching and so..(sounds fictional...but think about in reality the trained dogs and so on)..and her eyes start glowing and blah blah..and ya my Character is half wolf half dog..well ya But it doesn't mean cause she has a menthal disturbing.."like sick mind"?

I see most of people are taking Kay's ideea with fury..huh? Or glowing eyes...myself na...probably partially.But this can become a fad,no?:P

I don't used to draw gorry stuff..lol..depressed hell ya XD How do we used to say?"We express our feeling on paper"..that's what I usually do.Poets with letters..artists with lines(drawn lines ,`course)

I like to draw drama on ma pics...emotional ..but it doesn't mena that MYSELF is emoooo... tsseee...

No, this isn't about fursonas, just fan characters. But even fan characters are a part of their creator. They have even tiny bits and pieces of their creator's personality, whether they like it or not XD But yes, like I said, this goes for any characters really, and there ARE alot of tomboys and vengeful characters and those are fine, but all they need is a good background for them.

And no, NOT everyone can think of something creative. That's why they don't stick to things that require it, like art And when I was young, I was creative. I was even ashamed if I even BASED something off someone elses idea. I know no one else is like that, there are some people who can't think of something creative or don't feel shame when they base something off an idea. There are even people whodon't bother to be creative, so they put their interests elsewhere. And thats what they need to do.

If you're going to be doing something like art that requires creativity, then you need to be creative. Its really not as hard as people think. Even people NOT in art can be creative if they really want to.



Even if it is a fad, it's annoying XD I mean not every "angry" character has to go on a killing rampage and thats what I'm seeing and its annoying. Its making me hate angry characters XD But hey, at least yours has a REASON it gets "crazy"

Many of the ones I see are just doing it to do it, but they aren't evil or they want revenge on someone because their family hated them or something. It's stupid. They don't even get a reason for why they're hated by their family (its probably because nobody wants to see anymore murderous characters, so they're helping decreasing their population XD)

I mean, I'm completely fine with this rampaging character thing, but really, there SHOULD be a reason and background behind them, instead of just doing it to copy someone else!



Thats the point If one is going to be doing ANYTHING artistic, originality is part of the package. No ifs, ands, or buts. I see more originality in a box of cereal than what I do here, and this is an art site. If I can say its ridiculous, then so be it.

I can understand what you mean. I've seen alot of "furious" characters around the site. I've created one of my own Balto pups. He is a gentle soul, very friendly but, is logical, he will kill if it's to save his butt.

I don't understand, aren't friendly characters interesting too? Eh, as you said, it's ALL about poppularity.

So to all those who are unoriginal : Take this to heart.

Hurrah for sarcasm! XD


I totally agree cat. (we seem to think alike in many ways) Characters should be made for some purpose, whether it's for art, roleplaying, stories, or shoutboxes. Making a character for the sole reason of saying "I have a character too.'' is a waste of creative talent. You could be using that to make something really special and unique; but instead you just make use it like those Wet Napps in McDonalds.

I agree with you, it's especially annoying when people with those 'badass' characters come on the RP box and pretend to kill everybody.

I have many characters, all with a different personality, most of them are normal but the reason why my main character is mean, agressive, stuck-up, concieted and so on is because she represents me in real life. It's easier to RP as a character if they have the same personality as you, but I don't pretend my chatacter is tougher then everybodys, which annoys the hell outta me.

Kinda confused on this but...So your saying that having a characture thats badass is bad? Or are you saying that having one that you use over and over again killing other charactures is bad?

Read

I did read the whole thing. Its confusing though....so people are creating charactures that are aggresive. Just so they can be in the so called "in crowd"

No.....thats not really what cat is saying. She is saying she hates when people are unoriginal. When they take other's characters and poses and make an excuse to why they used them. For example, "I'm sorry I took Kiona. Shes just so full of attitude and I am right now too. Please forgive me!" and then underneath their pics it says "I drew Kiona cuz I am mad! think I did a good job,huh? I hope everyone likes it! I really do!!!Please tell me what you think,k?" I think you are just trying to become known very well to the community and if thats the way you wanna be known congragulations for becoming the noob of balto source!!!! Make up your own character....they don't always have to be mad.....and stop copying other's ideas. Kiona isn't a label you can buy or use without asking just like achak,scorp,saba,or any of the other nicely made up characters here. Us REALartists have brains and ideas and USE THEM. If you can't be orginal,don't make a gallery. ITS THAT SIMPLE. ((Does that make it easier to understand now Panama?? ^__^))

Great explinashion Rosetta Okay since i get it now (sorry) Yes i agree with rosetta. Artists like cat and night! I dont think they like people taking there art without purmision first. Just so you can draw there characture killing or getting mad out of the blue.

Thats just what i think.

As do i have a killer but only for reason. I normally dont draw that characture very much...Tiz my characturer BlackAdder. Just because her family got killed and the only one that survived. So she seeks! Not for revenge but for Punishment.

I think what these people are trying to say. Is that nobody can take down there characture. "There the all mighty wolf that can never be destroyed." Really gets annoying after awhile.