SeashellAttorney

I've been a member of the My Little Pony Friendship is magic fandom since this summer and have noticed that there is an irrational hatred of OCs present.  In a fandom which will give detailed personalities and backstories to ponies that never utter a single line they seem to have a kneejerk reaction against OCs.  As a disclaimer I know that I'm not that good of a pony artist yet, and yes my OCs are artistically subpar.   I could use improvement on that front.   But what I'm talking about is the general idea in fandom that OCs are worthless wastes of effort.  Now I will briefly invoke tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php… law.  90% of anything is crud.   The thing is that applies to all art, regardless of the subject.   Those who have seen my Luna drawing know that it isn't much better than my other drawings, being slightly out of proportion, and with inconsistent lines.  

The main argument against the creation of characters usually boil down to 1) They break the rules of the universe and 2) they take attention away from the canon mane cast.  To the first I say that most OCs I have noticed have nothing that seems like it would break the rules of the universe, most are ordinary ponies with ordinary talents, there are very few OCs that are too dark to fit in the setting, and according to mlp-fim.deviantart.com/ the poll of the largest FIM fan poll on the subject, that most OCs completely fit into canon (despite a 9% alicorn rate).  In a show like FIM there are other ponies allowed to have all ranges of talents, so my definition all characters are mostly defined by skills, OCs aren't much different.  As for the second point.  Friendship is Magic is rightfully praised for its well developed characters, all believably flawed and rounded which still having admirable traits.  I can understand why people are drawn to care about them.  But the fact is that FIM has created a vast setting far wider than just the scope of Ponyville, and there are subject matter the show will probably never get into unless there's a major change in direction.  The history of Equestria, its politics, the homeland of the zebra people.  There's a lot that hasn't been explored in canon and will probably never be explored.  In order to really look into those categories you need OCs.  I for example am in the process of writing a fan fiction exploring the justice system of Canterlot, what happens when ponies commit crimes?  How do forensics work in a world which is powered by magic rather than science, and where it's possible to kill somepony without even touching them?  What about the dynamics of cities of of a single type of pony rather than a small community that contains all three types of pony?  Is it really likely that said scenario can arise using JUST the previously established cast? I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with writing the show with canon characters with a plot that is possible to occur on the show itself.  It's just doing so is limiting, and there's a lot that can't be done with that.  As for the OCs that interact with the mane cast on their own ground, Why is that different from a previously unestablished character (like Luna) interacting with them?  If Derpy were to gain a personality and interact with the MC why would that be any different from just writing in a new character into the fan fic?

The main reason that OCs seem to be disliked in this fandom is that there are indisputably a lot of them and many are just pony versions of the artist.  But there are three reasons for that and those reasons are similar to what makes up like the show in the first place. 1) The artstyle is simple, colorful, and clean.  2) There are many ways to make a pony distinct (both by pony type and by the cutie mark) and 3)  Equestria is a place that's idealistic and very different from our own world.  Why is it so terrible that someone wants to draw themselves as a pony, trying their best to capture the spirit of the shows simple design and wondering what their place would be in a world like this?   If the art is bad, sure that's one thing, but why is the idea of art centered around non-canon ponies a problem?   The thing is quality standards more than anything else, good strict standards and useful criticism for those who don't meet those standards.  If most OCs are crappy how about advice for the beginners that can only draw crappy OCs?   This is my stance on this issue, and I'm honestly driven to improve my originals, and write a story that couldn't be told in canon with them.

1) What's your favorite anime (besides Madoka)?
2) Coke or Pepsi?
3) Who would win in a fight? Homura Akemi or Batman?
4) Favorite Pixar Movie?
5) Should the Dessert Witch Charlotte have her own show?
6) what is your Cutie Mark?
7) Which Witch do you think would make the best Lady GaGa costume?
8) Weapon of choice?
9) Which Puella Magi do u want to be friends with the most?
10) Which Witch do you connect with the most?

1) Fruits Basket.  Its just so adorable and heartwarming and dark.  Kind of like Madoka but with more of the former two than the latter.
2) Pepsi.   But I'm really not that picky with soft drinks.
3)  Homura.  Even the GodDamned Batman has a limit on how much he can carry and  even if Homura fails she can reset until she wins.
4) Up.  My favorite film of all time.  Too bad my four year old brother is slowly making me sick of it.
5)  Depends.  I'd like to learn about the adventures of Charolette and the witch's magical girls before the show.  I hope the anthology covers the other witches as well.
6) A pen with a star at the tip.  Represents my interest in talent at conveying fantasy to others.
7)  I'd go with Roberta, we don't see much of it but what we see is right up Gaga's alley.
8)   I'd go with a light sword.  Cool looking and bright.  
9  As much as I love Homura, she's clearly not the friendly type.  Mami on the other hand is a very kind, generous, and badass person.  Can't go wrong with her.
10)  Elly....  Here on the internet I can't help but want to be noticed and gain some kind of fame.

And anyone looking for my questions see the journal entry from earlier.

:iconCubealo


1) All Madoka fans here right?  How would you turn the series into a video game?
2)  So what kind of birds do you like?  Our feathered friends need love.
3) If you could live in any fictional world what would it be?
4)  How would you punish Kyubey if you had him under your power?
5) Any plays/musicals you'll admit to like?  What's your favorite song in it?
6) Are there any moments in fiction that have made you cry?
7) Do you believe that there's hope no matter how grim?
8) Any pets?  What are their names?
9)  What little known fact can you share with us?
10)   What would you do if you had magic?

Thank you.

1) Whats your favorite Disney movie??

The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  Manages to balance darkness and light in just the right proportions.

2) Any anime characters you really want to cosplay in this live?

Mami Tomoe from Madoka Magica!   I'm blond like her and I find her completely awesome with a very pretty costume.

3)Whats your favorite Pokémon?
So many....  I'd have to go with Latias and Samurott.  You can't beat a Samurai Otter, and I just find Latias entirely adorable.   
4) Panty or Stocking?  

Don't watch that show sorry.
5) walking around in school you find a black notebook that will kill anyone who's name you write in it, what do you do with it?

Just burn the damned thing.  No one deserves death.
6) Vampire or Wherewolf?

Assuming you mean "werewolf" I much prefer them.  More of an interesting power and at the core werewolves are more tragic do to the fact that they are essentially victims of their condition.
7) Windows or Mac?

Mac. I have too many issues with DA and viruses on PC.   The interface is actually very fun when you get the hang of it.  But Time Machine is a terrible program for its purpose.
8) handsome boys or pretty girls?


As a straight female I've got to say the former.  But curly hair is a part of my standard of handsomeness, and sadly there's only a few bishonen that have that kind of hair.
9) choose an element: Water, Wind, Fire or Earth?

Wind element definitely.  I've always been a free spirit, trying to just do what feels natural for me without following others.  And the sky and wind have always interested me greatly.   Its a wish of mine to have wings and fly....

10) A white cat-rabbit creature asks you to make a contract with him so he will grant you one wish, and in return he'll rip out your soul and turn it into a gem,
and makes you to fight witches until your grief turns you into a witch yourself, what do you do? (ps the creature has clones that when one is killed, another eats the dead body and takes his place)

Take that back!   I don't need that wish granted!   I'm assuming you're obviously talking about Kyubey.   If there was a creature that fit that description that WASN'T Kyubey I'd call animal control.  Shame Kyubey is invisible.   But I'd try to ignore him otherwise.   Perhaps wish that he could feel the despair he's creating and then maybe he'd stop (using the Jyubey method of entropy collection)


I'll come up with the tagee's later.