KidzTalk - Recent questions tagged ghaac

ANT INFESTATION (I think)

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 16:00:54 +0000

Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Today I was sitting in my bed, reading a random book, when I notice movement in the books next to my bed. When I look down, I see an ant. Soon, I see more and more! I didn't tell my mom immediately, because I was having a panic attack (I have a slight fear of bugs, I know it's dumb) in the bathroom. After I composed myself, I grab a shoe from my sister's closet, because all my shoes are under my bed, and go to stomp on them, but they were gone.

When I finally told my mom, she went upstairs with me and we found a bunch more. She emailed the bug person ("The people who spray bugs have GOT to be a necessity!") and he's going to come tomorrow morning. I might have to sleep in the guest room tonight.

OC Creation PT 2: APPEARANCE

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 10:18:18 +0000

EXAMPLE: Kiseki Haruesaki (The Individual)

Kiseki is from an original story but she's a perfect example of appearance description. Now, don't be confused: all of the other characters I give as examples (unless stated otherwise) are for fandoms. Kiseki is original.

Anyway when I created Kiseki, I thought of several of my other story characters from stories here on KidzTalk, as well as characters from my favorite book series and mangas. She has super long white hair, inspired off of Hitsugaya and Yourichi Shihion in Bleach. Hitsugaya has super short white hair while Shihion has long blackish hair: I liked both styles, but since Kiseki is female (Hitsugaya is male), I knew long hair would work well. As for her eyes, greenish worked well.

I made her super skinny and underdeveloped, since she had a hard childhood. Despite this, she is somewhat strong and uses her speed to her advantage. Later on, her hair is cut because it interferes with her battle ability, and she wears clothes that cater to her body so she can move quicker.

LESSON: Make the appearance relate to history and make it somewhat believable.

EXAMPLE: Rinji Shukei (Bleach: SOUL REAPER VERSION)

At first glance, Rinji's appearance may seem crazy or unorthodox. In fact every part of her designs serves some purpose.

When I designed her she was a lot different from now, but that's besides the point. She has long green hair in a ponytail and sea-foam teal eyes. Her ponytail keeps her hair out of her face when fighting. . Other designs include symbols, scarves, arm-wraps, etc, which serve no important purpose but are fashion choices to show personality.

LESSON: Make appearance eye-pleasing, or crazy, but make it serve a purpose.

EXAMPLE: Alexandra Jackson (FNAF The Silver Eyes)

Alexis is a perfect example for dressing as an example of personality. Her hair is naturally dark red, but because of her punk/emo persona, she streaked it with black, as opposed to blond or white. Her hair is also cut somewhat short, in an angled, sharp, and Hime-like style that adds to her extreme design.

She also tends to wear pop and splashy clothes, like striped leggings, but the colors usually go from black, grey, and darker colors (like blue, green, or teal), with hardly any pink. She also wears clothes that are "grundge", which was a big fashion choice of the 80s and 90s.

LESSON: Make clothing cater to personality and time period.

EXAMPLE: Rinji Shukei (Bleach: SCHOOL GIRL VERSION)

Rinji has two versions: her normal ("Soul Reaper") and her Human World version ("Schoolgirl"). In Bleach, several characters visit the living world (from the spirit world) to help the main character out with missions.

Rinji's schoolgirl version warrants more personality. She wears her hair in a ponytail, only instead of it hanging down her back, she hoists it up higher, and she wears more lazy T-shirts with witty slogans and jeans. Her shoes are usually slip-ons that let her run, and technically, she tends to wear more necklaces. Her hair is also very unique, being green and fading.

LESSON: Let personality take the reigns sometimes.

I hope you enjoyed and post your own!!!

OC Creation PT 1: NAMES

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 09:55:38 +0000

EXAMPLE: Alexandra Jackson (FNAF The Silver Eyes)

Alexis was my only character in which I picked a name before a persona or an appearance.

In The Silver Eyes, characters have names common to the late 1900s, as that is when the story takes place (such as John, Charlie/Charlotte, Carlton, Jessica, Marla, Lamar, Jason, etc). When creating an OC, a name is usually the last thing you think of, but it should be the first. No, I don't mean you should choose a name first off, I mean you should make a list of names and choose which one after you've developed your character.

For Alexis, I looked up 1980's names and gave it a spin. These were some names I could've chosen:

Samantha (Sam)

Rachel (Rach)

Ashley (Ashy)

Lillian (Lily)

Of course, none of these names had the ring that Alexandra did, as I was looking for a mature but girlish name that could be shortened to a boy's name as a nickname (Alex) or a cuter form (Alexis).

LESSON: Use names from the time period your story takes place.

EXAMPLE: Goldicat the Cat (FNAF)

For Goldicat, I was looking for a cartoonish, corny, and slightly cheesy name. Of course, the name is off of the fairytale name Goldilocks, but due to Goldicat being a cat, I replaced the "-locks" part. I had already developed her appearance (golden) so the name fit with her better than I expected. It also worked for her tendency to tell stories, mostly fairytales that frequently were the morbid, Grimms' versions, which matched FNAF's kiddish-turned-horrifying-style of game.

When choosing her name, there wasn't any "choosing" involved. Because FNAF takes place mainly in the middle to late 1900's in various (but owned by the same company) pizza joints, there are animatronics with less-than-imaginative names (Bonnie for a male bunny, Chica for a female chicken, Foxy for a male fox). Of course, the names are switched up for a fresh take, as Foxy and Bonnie are usually girl's names but for cartoon animals, who cares? Whatever is endearing, at least on the outside.

LESSON: Consider the fandom's tone or trends.

EXAMPLE: Rinji Shukei (Bleach)

People tell you to never flip open a book and just choose whatever your finger lands on. However, this was the case with Rinji's last name (as well as Alexis's last name). I was flipping through a Bleach comic, saying, "Whatever Japanese word my finger lands on is what Rinji's last name will be!". And I landed on Shukei (Byakuya Kuckiki was using his ultimate power and muttered a sentence that included this word as an incantation). In the translation the book provided, this name meant "Last sight". When I later looked it up, it meant "Accountant". So much for a cool last name.

However, for her first name, Rinji's name is quite a message: "special, extraordinary" or "the emperor's command" are the two translations. For the first meaning, that is surely what she is: being a captain in an extra squad created just for her, and being a half-espada, which is a big deal. For the second translation, she is more or less a "messenger" in the Bleach world. Also, her first name was deprived from my name in Japanese.

LESSON: Randomly picking a name can work, but also consider meanings.

EXAMPLE: Asia Abernathy-Lovegood/ Ajia Mahou (Harry Potter)

Asia's native name, Ajia, is the Japanese version of her English name. Her full name was actually chosen before I ever thought of her herself. How is that possible? I was looking up names and I chose a name for a Harry Potter character I never developed until a year or two ago. However her name wasn't decided on until her personality was, then appearance was chosen after the name. When deciding on her native name, I looked up the Japanese versions of Asia and magic. Therefore, Ajia Mahou.

Asia's name doesn't have much of a history or story but it's interesting, at least to me.

LESSON: Match the name with your character's native country.

I hope you enjoyed this and I hope this helps. Post your character's name with meanings and how you chose it below!

About This Column

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 09:01:31 +0000

Hello! This is GH's Artist Advice Column (or GHAAC).

You can ask questions about anything, from writing to art (though art questions define this column). I am a very artistic person. ;) Anyway, I am also adding my OC How-To posts to this column, and that series should start up soon (it'll just be a collection of short OC posts that I make as advice for your OC creation, with one of my OCs as an example).

I hope you enjoy it and ask away.

Hello! Welcome to KidzTalk!

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 09:10:11 +0000

Welcome, new users! I hope you enjoy your time here.

This is my artists' club, where you ask me questions regarding how to draw and stuff about art. Please ask questions! Anything from: HOW DO YOU DRAW A (blank, such as a CAT or a TOYKO BUILDING) or WHAT IS YOUR FAVE ARTIST? Have fun! Looking forward to your questions!

Hello and Welcome!

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 08:38:19 +0000

I have opened an artists' q&a column! You can ask questions regarding to draw here, as well as requesting tutorials! Comment with a question below or ask a question in the column and I will get back to you in a day to a week, depending on your question!