Nakou
Added 2018-01-03 10:00:01 +0000 UTCNew character you guys haven't met yet!
This is Nakou, a grey wolf.
Now, a huge disclaimer.
You'll notice he has a strong tribal design, but I'm staying as far away as possible from any Native American elements. This goes because the last thing I intend to do is offend anyone with my art (and if I did, it was because I thought, ignorantly, that I was praising a culture).
So now the wolves in the world of No North are mostly influenced by South American Natives (Tupi and Guarani), some ancient Cretaceous human tribes around the world and something I designed with bone and antler headresses (not used by any culture in particular, as well as feathers and flowers, since they're present in every single culture around the world, specially in Brazil, where I'm from). Also, strong Celtic and Nordic influences (way more present in other characters).
Their culture is also original and only able to exist in No North's world, completely tied to its lore. Uff! I'll still redesign these wolves a LOT, until they look out-worldly enough.
Guys, let me know what you think. Your feedback is vital to me, always, but specially with this.
Have an amazing week, all of you!
Comments
yeah, me too
doggokitty
2018-01-05 15:37:24 +0000 UTCI don’t see any reason why people would be insulted by great art
Garrett Bennett
2018-01-05 14:26:10 +0000 UTCWhy do you want them to look more out-worldy ( for you said you'd keep redesigning them to make the wolves look that way)?
doggokitty
2018-01-05 00:47:26 +0000 UTCSkailla, personally I'd say that the more unique features you add, the less easy it is to assume they are praising a real life culture. You probably already knew this, but with an imagination like yours, there are hundreds of ways to make a tribe unique. Colours are probably the giveaway. You've done a nice job with originality by making the antlers almost upside-down. I can look at that and see it as something new. You always do well when evolving your characters. I'm sure that after a bit of time and thinking, you'll have the perfect compromise. Good luck!
DoggieDiversity
2018-01-03 21:11:03 +0000 UTCOh I sent you a message haha
Lombarsi
2018-01-03 15:57:33 +0000 UTCAlso, I wanna pet that wolf. But he's probably not friendly meeting a human. I remember seeing somewhere that humans used to exist in Up and Ahead in ancient times, I wonder if you're keeping that for No North. I know Steban could handle meeting a human but I bet Balty would start campaigning that we are too dangerous to be allowed to live, start building a mob. Eaten by a Skailla character...what a fate lol
Lombarsi
2018-01-03 15:13:41 +0000 UTCFeedback on the new character first, very nice, I like seeing a standard gray wolf character by you, and he has a pleasant face that seems to portray that he's got a nice personality. Now the markings, those sharp green ones seem kinda futuristic but they look cool. the antlers and bones and such for dressing will be pretty varied and interesting. Now, I'm a pretty hard person to offend and I get annoyed at people in modern days being offended over anything that isn't even intended to offend, so I would say not to worry about it. I don't forsee tribal markings offending anyone. It seems half of the people who get offended by tribal tattoos on humans is because it either looks really bad, or because the person has no real understanding of the meanings behind the tattoos. You're designing yours with their own lore in a fictional world where our cultures don't exist. I think if you design them from your head, and don't reference real markings exactly then there's no excuse for someone to complain. Even if you do reference for inspiration I don't see a problem you should worry about. And if their customs aren't directly influenced by the aspects of a real life culture because their culture is No North it should okay. You can check out the characters from the tabletop game Lunar Exalted. They are humans that transform into anthro beasts, and the Lunars have a trademark of being covered with glowing tribal tattoos that give them their power. I haven't heard of anyone getting offended by this, and it's a popular game. I really think you won't offend. Is there specific examples that you know of where fictional characters like this have caused an uproar before? I haven't seen any, I might have more advice if I knew of some. I'm not the wisest person here on the topic, I'm sure, but I hope I helped.
Lombarsi
2018-01-03 14:11:30 +0000 UTC
