I just wanna pop in abt the whole comparing my design to a zafara thing.
So, first off- I'm not angry at anyone for making the comparison. I generally don't mind too much if someone makes an offhanded mention that something I drew reminds them of something- especially if its kept to a one-time comment. What really began bothering me, however, is that whenever I brought up the design it would immediately be met with "its a zafara!". No it isn't. Stating "It's a zafara" is putting down a fact that is straight up untrue and I have never stated that I was inspired by neopets. (I don't... Even like zafaras lmao.) The occasional "Oh i like it, it reminds me of x" is very different and generally bothers me less- but because people go "it IS a zafara" it causes other people to start agreeing as if that's fact. And then instead of one person making a little comment it's multiple people convincing eachother that the design is something it isn't.
I, as the artist, get a bit annoyed at this comparison because I personally barely see it. It feels like an immense stretch to me and I've concluded with friends that at best its the tail and the pose the design is in, because that pose seems to be common amongst art of Zafara's. I made a little visual while i was frustrated for my personal relief that I'd like to share.
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/946953656794742814/1051703093865226351/image.png)
I don't see much similarity between them. The bodyshape differs entirely if you actually look at it, the legs do not match in shape or style at all- one being clearly plantigrade and the other built to be digitigrade, the ears are very different, and the head shape is entirely uncomparable. It's a very humanoid bodyplan versus the zafara kangaroo-like bodyplan. At best, the poses and the tail shape is the most similar. On top of that, this is a design that's heavily simplified from it's full art so that it fits dappervolk's style for humanoid-ish pets. I've shared the full art nearly every time I've mentioned this pet, but no one acknowledges that when calling the chibi'd design a zafara. It makes it feel like willfully ignoring the fact that there is additional art that shows it really isn't. I know people aren't doing that, because no one means this maliciously, but that is the feeling that comes across.
Also I didn't state that it looks like stitch- but that its stitch-like, in the sense that its a weird alien critter with big eyes, ears, and a funny mouth. (The rest of the reasoning for why its stitch-like is because of the lore behind the design, which i didn't talk about because i didn't want to loredump out of the blue. That's just a funny coincidence i realised when stitch was brought up and seeing as I brought it up myself it is very different from someone else assuming something.)
I know a lot of people think that comparing art to other media is flattering or not a big deal, but its important to be mindful of how often you do it. The more you compare an artist's work to something else, the more you're basically saying "someone already did this and you copied them". It says "You're not creative enough to come up with your own concepts". You can keep your happy revelation that it reminds you of something you like to yourself- that's a you thing! That's a thing that makes you happy- but that does not mean that it also makes the artist happy.
Other than that thanks folks for pointing out my name is not from neopets its a curse i've had to bear for over half a decade and voltron anons PLEASE WHY ARE YOU CURSING ME AGAIN WITH THIS WAS ONCE NOT ENOUGH (joke)
