An Open Message to Fan-Artists

[Nekomata]

Today, I got a rather unexpected comment on the latest PRS page. I decided to respond to it with a message I'd like any fan-artist to hear (though I do specify on Pokemon). If possible, I'd encourage reblog/sharing of this message if you can! No artist should ever feel the need to change the way they do things just cause of idiots like this.

Link to tumblr post: http://prs-comic.tumblr.com/post/147...before-someone

Below is the message and the comment that sparked this.

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I figured it was a matter of time before someone would complain about how I drew Naya in the story. It’s not the first time I’ve seen comments like this- but it is the first I’ve seen directed specifically at PRS, so I suppose it’s time I finally step up and say something on the subject. Let this be an open message to all fan-artists of any fandom.

Do not ever allow people to tell you how to draw your characters. Deviating from the official designs is not a bad thing, nor should it ever be considered so. Draw them how you want to- if that means adding some different traits or changing things up a bit- by all means, do so!

Going away from the original designs can be fun and give your Pokemon characters unique personality and make them more recognizable. I personally change up the traits of each of the PRS characters a bit so that they would be easily distinguishable from others of the same species. How would people know the difference between two characters of the same species across ANY series if we all stuck true to their original designs?

Even in nature we have variations of the same species. Look at cats for a great example- they are a single species yet they have so much variation. Different eye colors, different fur markings, different fur types- these traits are important in telling one cat apart from another. Why should our Pokemon characters be any different? By adding variations in traits of our characters we mark them out as individuals instead of just another Flareon or another Pikachu.

There is no ‘proper’ way to draw Pokemon. There never will be and never should be as it would only stifle imagination. So to all you Pokemon artists- especially you awesome comic makers- draw your characters however you want. Do not bend to the small-mindedness of those like the poster above. Their approval is not worth compromising your artistic choices and styles.

And no- I won’t ever change Naya’s design. I like drawing her that way. Flareons in the PRS world have a wide variation in how their mane looks depending on where they’re from and whether or not they get it styled. Deal with it.

- Neko

[Neo Emolga]

Amen to that. Haters gonna hate.

I think making alterations from the norm makes characters unique and gives them more personality. Otherwise, they're just cookie-cutter characters that might as well be like the nameless and faceless Stormtroopers.

Also, this guy just sounds like a pest. Tell him to just "deal with it" and don't pay any attention to him after that.

[Noblejanobii]

If we can't alter them then how are we supposed to express ourselves? Just saying. That'd be like saying we have to draw all humans like Oprah and can't deviate for our OCs.

[Scytherwolf]

Oh man, that person would have a field day with my comic. XD

People like that are ridiculous. There isn't just one 'right' way to draw something. Just do things the way you want to!

[Suicune's Fire]

That legitimately made me laugh. xD I've had a flareon character for years who also has a downward hanging tuft and I prefer it like that! Also, what the heck makes that person think that EVERY SINGLE FLAREON would have the SAME HAIRDO. XD Like, come on. Every dog you see is different! Dogs of the same breed look different, and cows, and chickens, and cats, and bears! It's natural for there to be differences between individuals. That person actually sounds like they're taking the crap out of other idiots who say the same thing because of how ridiculous their comment sounds, hahaha.

I love when people draw characters differently. WHY should every charmander, eevee, hydreigon or quagsire look the same? It doesn't make any logical sense. xD And fur slumping over the face, you know, conforming to GRAVITY, is a little more likely than it going in the complete opposite direction and being able to hold itself like that. xD So even the thing they chose to pick at was ridiculous.

I'm glad you didn't let it affect you, Neko! 8D I agree--draw how you want to draw. It's nobody's business to tell you otherwise!

[Fate]

What a dumb***.

[Pokemon Trainer Sarah]

What the heck! That is the weirdest criticism I have seen so far. I guess they wanna look at comics that are just sugimori images pasted in every frame. XD

[Nekomata]

What the heck! That is the weirdest criticism I have seen so far. I guess they wanna look at comics that are just sugimori images pasted in every frame. XD

I wouldn't even call that criticism. Just stupid BS post. xD

What a dumb***.

Agreed.

That legitimately made me laugh. xD I've had a flareon character for years who also has a downward hanging tuft and I prefer it like that! Also, what the heck makes that person think that EVERY SINGLE FLAREON would have the SAME HAIRDO. XD Like, come on. Every dog you see is different! Dogs of the same breed look different, and cows, and chickens, and cats, and bears! It's natural for there to be differences between individuals. That person actually sounds like they're taking the crap out of other idiots who say the same thing because of how ridiculous their comment sounds, hahaha.

I love when people draw characters differently. WHY should every charmander, eevee, hydreigon or quagsire look the same? It doesn't make any logical sense. xD And fur slumping over the face, you know, conforming to GRAVITY, is a little more likely than it going in the complete opposite direction and being able to hold itself like that. xD So even the thing they chose to pick at was ridiculous.

I'm glad you didn't let it affect you, Neko! 8D I agree--draw how you want to draw. It's nobody's business to tell you otherwise!

Seriously- does this person REALLY expect -every- Flareon to look the same? Where's the fun in that? Would make it impossible to tell Naya apart from every other Flareon out there. It's important in comics to be able to easily distinguish important characters apart.

And my main reasoning for Naya's hairdo is cause it fit best with my style back then. I wasn't fond of how she looked with the official hair design when I was first drawing her- it didn't git her personality as well either.

And no worries- these comments don't get to me. They're more eye-roll stupid than anything. Not the first time I've gotten comments like this (the last time I went on hiatus to sprite someone. I'm petty.) I'm surprised it took this long for someone to complain about the sillyfloof though.

Oh man, that person would have a field day with my comic. XD

People like that are ridiculous. There isn't just one 'right' way to draw something. Just do things the way you want to!

People are idiots. It's more fun to vary the designs anyway. Like hell I'm going to design my characters the way others want me to.

If we can't alter them then how are we supposed to express ourselves? Just saying. That'd be like saying we have to draw all humans like Oprah and can't deviate for our OCs.

Obviously we all need to draw our OCs as Oprah.

Seriously though- how the hell do you tell Pokemon characters apart if they must all look like the official designs?

Amen to that. Haters gonna hate.

I think making alterations from the norm makes characters unique and gives them more personality. Otherwise, they're just cookie-cutter characters that might as well be like the nameless and faceless Stormtroopers.

Also, this guy just sounds like a pest. Tell him to just "deal with it" and don't pay any attention to him after that.

I'm not going to respond to him on SJ. Not worth it. He posted through a guest post too- coward! xD

I did, however, make sure the designs for the random/nameless characters in the latest PRS page were heavily varied from official designs just out of spite. I was going to make them more generic since their role in the story is mostly as flashback characters, but why not. I fear I might be attached to some of them now though. Whoops.

[Noblejanobii]

Obviously we all need to draw our OCs as Oprah.

Seriously though- how the hell do you tell Pokemon characters apart if they must all look like the official designs?

Oh obviously.

He must hate pokesonas then because I sure as heck don't look like a normal Quilava. XD

[SassySnivy]

Oh, yeah, I know about this. This is the kind of bull that zami00 got harrassed about. She drew characters in a certain way and self-entitled little brats were like, boohoo minors need representation you racist fat shaming etc. ****
Ugh ugh don't even get me started

Edit: oh wait, you guys are talking about stylistic choices. My mistake. Yeah people don't really use common sense, but it's understandable that not everyone will like a certain artistic style. Some people like myself like for the designs to stick to Sugimori's proportions.

And I'm not talking about variations, I'm just talking about overall artistic style and portrayal of the Pokemon. As you can see, my Snivy Pokesona has quite a few small variations. Variations help create individuality; they ARE fan characters, after all. I just like it when it sticks closer to canon.

That honestly sounds like an overly-frustrated anon that's been reading your comic and got riled up so bad that they needed to say something. I've been THAT person before in YouTube comments sections. If you say something to them they might end up just wimping out and apologizing and mention they were just frustrated. Or not, hahab