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What is an Original Character (O.C)?
It is something often asked, but rarely defined in the proper sense. The meaning of the term is often misunderstood or lost in translation, and as such people often get confused as to the true definition of what it means to be an OC. By stating the common character types and explaining them in some meaningful detail, hopefully you will come to understand what it takes to be considered a true OC.
Canon Characters
The word "canon" is often used to describe something that is commonplace in the world of a movie, series or novel. Therefore, a "canon character" is one that is used in a movie, series or novel that is popular or has a notable fan base. These characters belong to the producers, directors, artists and authors; people who draw them and claim them as their own character are essentially stealing the design of another person.
In short; characters from movies, TV shows, manga or anime, games, books or series that you are a fan of can never be considered "original characters", even if you do use them as a persona. Making them a neko, a furry, a vampire, a werewolf, an angel, a demon or a Pikachu does not earn you any originality points, either.
Gender Bent Characters
Similar to canon characters, gender bent characters are from a particular series, except drawn or portrayed as a member of the opposite gender. This particular way of "making them more unique and imaginative" is highly overused, and as such cannot truly be considered original. After all, you are doing nothing to the canon character but replacing their genitals and perhaps giving them a haircut.
Character Morphs/Crossovers
Mixing two or more characters together to create a "new" character is the basic idea of a crossover. The two characters may be from the same show, or perhaps from two different shows. Where the two characters come from or what they are is altogether an irrelevance; combining two characters to make one that is similar to both of them does not make an OC. Although it is definitely more imaginative than giving Sasuke boobs, it is still not entirely original.
Re-Colours
I'm sure every artist that ever existed here on Deviant Art has heard this phrase before. In fact, it gets thrown around more often than Maria Sharapova's favourite tennis ball. I'm not saying it isn't a problem that is rife throughout this website - believe me, I know it is - but I'm not merely referring to shitty MS Paint edits to change Miku's hair colour (although that is a part of it). I'm sure everyone in the Pokémon community has seen at least one example of a re-colour; grab an anime screen shot of Pikachu, whack it into Photo Shop and die its fur turquoise. Voila! I just made my own original character!
Well, I'm sorry to inform you that this is not the case. Dying an existing character's hair colour while keeping everything else about them the same is not just unoriginal; it could be considered stealing, especially if you illegally use someone else's artwork to perform the re-colour (also bear in mind that screen shots ARE someone else's artwork). You may want to keep this in mind if you want to avoid a legal suit.
If you draw the character or use properly credited bases to draw them, then good for you! However, they still aren't original characters; they're fan characters. Not sure what that is? Keep reading.
Fan Characters
A character that is designed specifically to fit into the world of a series is a "fan character". These characters range in originality from "canon character clone" to "highly original". No matter what the level of originality is, a fan character is not an original character. Even if their looks and personality are unlike any of the series characters, they will most certainly have aspects of canon characters in their design. These could include their powers or abilities, what kind of weapons they carry, which type of creature they keep as pets, and so on.
Role-Play Characters
If you're someone who creates characters for the purposes of role-playing, chances are that your character(s) are not 100% original. Many role-players create characters based on the scenario given to them in the role-play, or at the very least edit their existing character to fit the scenario suitably. Although the scenario may be original, unless you're the one who created it you can't claim total credibility for all your character's design.
Although I'm mostly referring to text-based role-play here, this could also include RPG characters or NPC's.
Original Characters
So, you know what a fan character is now. In fact, you should be an expert on what is NOT an OC. Now the question remains; what IS an OC?
Generally speaking, an OC is a character you designed completely from scratch to fit into a world of YOUR creation. Whether this created world is an imagined scenario in the local supermarket's car park, a war on an alien planet, or a dystopic society 900 years in the future, is irrelevant. The point remains that the character is entirely your own, not based on anyone else's characters.
I'm aware that this was a bit of a whirlwind tour, and I apologise if I've inadvertently left anything out. Otherwise, I hope you find this summary useful and continue to create awesome and original characters.
It is something often asked, but rarely defined in the proper sense. The meaning of the term is often misunderstood or lost in translation, and as such people often get confused as to the true definition of what it means to be an OC. By stating the common character types and explaining them in some meaningful detail, hopefully you will come to understand what it takes to be considered a true OC.
Canon Characters
The word "canon" is often used to describe something that is commonplace in the world of a movie, series or novel. Therefore, a "canon character" is one that is used in a movie, series or novel that is popular or has a notable fan base. These characters belong to the producers, directors, artists and authors; people who draw them and claim them as their own character are essentially stealing the design of another person.
In short; characters from movies, TV shows, manga or anime, games, books or series that you are a fan of can never be considered "original characters", even if you do use them as a persona. Making them a neko, a furry, a vampire, a werewolf, an angel, a demon or a Pikachu does not earn you any originality points, either.
Gender Bent Characters
Similar to canon characters, gender bent characters are from a particular series, except drawn or portrayed as a member of the opposite gender. This particular way of "making them more unique and imaginative" is highly overused, and as such cannot truly be considered original. After all, you are doing nothing to the canon character but replacing their genitals and perhaps giving them a haircut.
Character Morphs/Crossovers
Mixing two or more characters together to create a "new" character is the basic idea of a crossover. The two characters may be from the same show, or perhaps from two different shows. Where the two characters come from or what they are is altogether an irrelevance; combining two characters to make one that is similar to both of them does not make an OC. Although it is definitely more imaginative than giving Sasuke boobs, it is still not entirely original.
Re-Colours
I'm sure every artist that ever existed here on Deviant Art has heard this phrase before. In fact, it gets thrown around more often than Maria Sharapova's favourite tennis ball. I'm not saying it isn't a problem that is rife throughout this website - believe me, I know it is - but I'm not merely referring to shitty MS Paint edits to change Miku's hair colour (although that is a part of it). I'm sure everyone in the Pokémon community has seen at least one example of a re-colour; grab an anime screen shot of Pikachu, whack it into Photo Shop and die its fur turquoise. Voila! I just made my own original character!
Well, I'm sorry to inform you that this is not the case. Dying an existing character's hair colour while keeping everything else about them the same is not just unoriginal; it could be considered stealing, especially if you illegally use someone else's artwork to perform the re-colour (also bear in mind that screen shots ARE someone else's artwork). You may want to keep this in mind if you want to avoid a legal suit.
If you draw the character or use properly credited bases to draw them, then good for you! However, they still aren't original characters; they're fan characters. Not sure what that is? Keep reading.
Fan Characters
A character that is designed specifically to fit into the world of a series is a "fan character". These characters range in originality from "canon character clone" to "highly original". No matter what the level of originality is, a fan character is not an original character. Even if their looks and personality are unlike any of the series characters, they will most certainly have aspects of canon characters in their design. These could include their powers or abilities, what kind of weapons they carry, which type of creature they keep as pets, and so on.
Role-Play Characters
If you're someone who creates characters for the purposes of role-playing, chances are that your character(s) are not 100% original. Many role-players create characters based on the scenario given to them in the role-play, or at the very least edit their existing character to fit the scenario suitably. Although the scenario may be original, unless you're the one who created it you can't claim total credibility for all your character's design.
Although I'm mostly referring to text-based role-play here, this could also include RPG characters or NPC's.
Original Characters
So, you know what a fan character is now. In fact, you should be an expert on what is NOT an OC. Now the question remains; what IS an OC?
Generally speaking, an OC is a character you designed completely from scratch to fit into a world of YOUR creation. Whether this created world is an imagined scenario in the local supermarket's car park, a war on an alien planet, or a dystopic society 900 years in the future, is irrelevant. The point remains that the character is entirely your own, not based on anyone else's characters.
I'm aware that this was a bit of a whirlwind tour, and I apologise if I've inadvertently left anything out. Otherwise, I hope you find this summary useful and continue to create awesome and original characters.
In association with #Love-your-OC
It's something that's been coming up a lot recently. I've had enough of having to explain it to people, so here's a summary.
Warning: Contains some bad language, sarcastic comedy and points that could be considered "idealogically sensitive".
My advice? Bite me.
If there's anything that I need to clarify, feel free to ask.
Questions for Critique
Does this read well and make sense to you?
Does the writing itself flow well?
Is there anything I could improve on for future pieces?
It's something that's been coming up a lot recently. I've had enough of having to explain it to people, so here's a summary.
Warning: Contains some bad language, sarcastic comedy and points that could be considered "idealogically sensitive".
My advice? Bite me.
If there's anything that I need to clarify, feel free to ask.
Questions for Critique
Does this read well and make sense to you?
Does the writing itself flow well?
Is there anything I could improve on for future pieces?
© 2012 - 2024 ethanoI
Comments33
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the roleplaying thing isn't exactly true. I've had characters i tried to create to fit the situation, and they turned around and made the situation their bitch. they in fact became more original than i could make them on my own because they had room to grow and sort of took the story into their own hands. but then again everything about my roleplays is completely made up by me and my rp bud, so maybe that's the reason?