IMPORTANT: Clearing up a Misconception about the "New" Characters.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but better that it came sooner rather than later.
It has come to attention that the designs for the characters Portugal, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Luxembourg that Himaruya posted on his blog the other day, in reality, aren't character designs at all. In actuality, they are people that Himaruya has encountered in his life of that particular ethnic origin or simply had characteristics that he identified with that country. If they can be interpreted as nation representations at all, they are extremely rough drafts that are nowhere near finalized, thrown out there as "possibilities", and very likely to change.
From what I understand, parts of the Japanese fandom were confused as well, but most were outright confused by the explosion that happened over here in response to the blog (a few were particularly weirded out that we got tags and fanart for them so quickly. What can I say, western fandom works fast.) Yes, Japanese fandom watches us, for those who weren't aware. *Waves hi to Japanese fandom*
This isn't the first time misconceptions have been made *cough*Philippines*cough*. Also, a couple of years ago, Himaruya posted a similar blog with draft sketches for a Czechoslovakia character where he also mentioned people he knew, and had initially designed and did a few drawings of a female South Korea.
There is a bright spot to this though - it means that Himaurya is thinking about these characters, and we may very well see an official design for them somewhere out on the horizon. :)
/hides behind a large rock
(Links removed. Seems JFen didn't particularly like being linked to. Sorry. Look but don't touch policy still in effect if you happen to still have access to the links.)
It has come to attention that the designs for the characters Portugal, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Luxembourg that Himaruya posted on his blog the other day, in reality, aren't character designs at all. In actuality, they are people that Himaruya has encountered in his life of that particular ethnic origin or simply had characteristics that he identified with that country. If they can be interpreted as nation representations at all, they are extremely rough drafts that are nowhere near finalized, thrown out there as "possibilities", and very likely to change.
From what I understand, parts of the Japanese fandom were confused as well, but most were outright confused by the explosion that happened over here in response to the blog (a few were particularly weirded out that we got tags and fanart for them so quickly. What can I say, western fandom works fast.) Yes, Japanese fandom watches us, for those who weren't aware. *Waves hi to Japanese fandom*
This isn't the first time misconceptions have been made *cough*Philippines*cough*. Also, a couple of years ago, Himaruya posted a similar blog with draft sketches for a Czechoslovakia character where he also mentioned people he knew, and had initially designed and did a few drawings of a female South Korea.
There is a bright spot to this though - it means that Himaurya is thinking about these characters, and we may very well see an official design for them somewhere out on the horizon. :)
/hides behind a large rock
(Links removed. Seems JFen didn't particularly like being linked to. Sorry. Look but don't touch policy still in effect if you happen to still have access to the links.)