If I can learn to do it, YOU can learn to do it

[leradny]

Dear Fanartists:

I enjoy the fact that you like Leon enough to draw him. I enjoy the fact that you decided to make an homage to FF8 with Leon. However, despite our common interests I do NOT like the fact that you used Squall as a reference for Leon. Leon is RLY OLD ICK twenty-five; Squall is jail-bait seventeen. Teenagers and adults DO NOT

Comments

[leradny]

Well, of course I care. I'm obsessive-compulsive a cosplayer who draws; I look at details. If my friend decides that cosplaying as Squall would be neat and then changes his mind two months ahead of the con because, "Actually I like Leon better, can we just cut the sleeves and get a wig?" I would be irritated because it's not that simple. Plus, pleather is a bitch to work with.

Some of these things are admittedly peeves. But, hey, I'm posting about said peeves in a community that was made for posters that are peeved by things. If they bug you because it seems "petty", then fine. I won't argue. But take a look around before calling me out on it? Maybe I'm just nitpicky.

A picture with Leon in a navy jacket. Ah, reference pictures--don't you love how every one is individual and special? xD Anyway, I actually don't mind seeing Leon in a black jacket as long as the outer parts are at least noticeably lighter than the inner.

Furthermore, his pants are tight. Very tight. His lower half is sort of effeminate in the game (plush ass, lack of ... um. bulge), though I'm not going to excuse that for woman-hips.

I'd say his hips (down to the way they're positioned) are girly, and that his jacket and belts look more gray.

Compromise! Leon's pants are tight in the thighs but flare slightly below the knee so they can go over his shoes. Thus, baggy AND not baggy.

However, his hips are in no way effeminate. They only look large because so much attention is being drawn to them. It's a fashion trick. Take off the belts, and Leon's hips are as wide as any male's (which is... not). And the combination of black pants+complex web of belts could easily cover certain things up. Either that, or it's skimmed over for the sake of the younger crew who plays the game.

[mistaken_silver]

My opinion on the color, being a 3D animator and being familiar with the program they use for modeling, I actually THINK its a lighting issue. More than likely the actual original color is a Dark Steel blue grey color or possibly even closer to the original drawing (I'm not saying its exactly the color because Its not). My current model has a dark reddish brown color that looks Orange once rendered out- so You can never predict.

Lighting can really screw everything up... but as a general rule- You should actually go by official art rather than screen caps from the game... But that's just me.

[arson_attrition]

Agreed with mistaken_silver. You can't really rely on the game renders (even though THEY look gray to me, too). Sort of how Axel's roots are fucking PURPLE.

Does that mean he's supposed to look like he has natural purple hair with a dye job? I don't think so, somehow.

Really, Leon's a hard character to find good fanart for in the first place. I say if you find it, whether it's absolutely perfect or not, you've found something.

And there is this thing called "artistic license".