Pyra-tan?


Why do they have to be women?


Please, no. This sort of thing makes it difficult to be taken seriously. Cartoon images of curvaceous females have connotations of "teenagers", "basement-dwellers" and "dweebs" -- cartoon images of non-curvaceous females are even worse (let us, please, not discuss it).


So, when choosing a mascot,



Okay, can't say i didn't see this coming.. so please allow me to elaborate on the subject before anyone procceds to bash the idea behind ImmaculateChimp's post as a result of the misunderstanding we have at hand.


First of all, the general consensus behind the creation of *-tan characters (as far as i understand it) is not to created a mascot, an advertisment or a fantasy subject for angsty aroused teenagers on the interent (e.g rule 34, 63 and the likes). Nevertheless, it doesn't mean they're not used for that purpose, but for the most part (such as in OP's case, if i understood correctly) they're ment to be created for fun and for their artistic value (e.g treated as Art).


For the most part, their creation is part of an artistic approach known as Moe anthropomorphism where an object is given a human-form attribution using the art style found in Anime and Manga, similar to how in more classic cartoons and literature works there were various objects or animals Anthropomorphized in order to create a unique setting for the readers/viewers (for example, such as in The Wizard of Oz and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland). In essence, the former can be regarded as the modern incarnation of such art direction.


Now as for the sexualization in question, as i stated before, that's not the core pourpse behind the *-tan characters, which in other words mean that no, they don't always have to be girls (prime example for that being Hetalia: Axis Powers which consists mostly of male anthropomorphized countires). The reason the artwork presented in this thread is the way it is, probably originated from the direction the artists had during their creation, which in my opinion  was probably not for the sake of making a kind-of sexualized Pandora-tan but by the looks of it for the sake of pursuing a specific style derivative that would suit well as a theme for what they had in mind (if -Tj-, the artist behind the first character i posted is around, he might explain his motives further).


Anyhow, what was posted up until now was just a few high-quality picks i dug out from what was posted back in the day and was just intended to bring an example for the concept in mind. By all means nobody said anything about any hypothetical Pandora-tan having to be a sexualized Bishōjo fanservice character, and if nobody here finds the Anime/Manga styles likeable (or be too much of "modern and mainstream bulls*it") thats fine.


For the record though, have in mind that Anime and Manga don't just focus on portrating fantasy school lives full of cutsy teengares, they can also convery well more mature subjcets (although somewhat in a nutshell) like Survival/War (see Shingeki no Kyojin, First Squad) and dystopian/utopian futures (see Ghost in the Shell, Real Dive - Sennō Chōsashitsu). So if anyone cares for my opinion, using a different and more appropriate approach for designing a hypothetical *-tan character for the Pyra could work quite well if done right. So i don't think giving the entire style crap too early based on some prejudice is in anyway a good idea (heck look at EvilDragon's avatar, it could serve as a point to the right direction).
 
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So you don't take entire Japan seriously? ;)


The "...Tan" culture is pretty normal there. I like Anime/Manga and I like cute drawn girls. And Pandora was female so it fits pretty well.  To make it more clear, I don't want to live in a world where the beauty of the female body is forbidden! See it like: she is a powerful girl that can defend itself and is self confident enough to stand tall (and wear such an outfit).



There are many things that seem "normal" in Japan (or, more correctly, merely outside the mainstream or slightly creepy) that are borderline (or not) unacceptable in the West, which is our domain: as far as I am aware, the Pandora (and by extension the Pyra) is most well known in Western Europe and North America, with English (and secondarily German) being the language of the community. As such, it is Western sensibilities that we must worry about, not Japanese ones.


Other "normal" things in Japan (if one trusts cheap TV): "compensated dating", love hotels, maid cafés, idol groups (consisting of barely pubescent girls dancing and singing for the delectation of large groups of adult males), dirty schoolgirl underwear in vending machines and a stable sex doll industry. Japan is well known for being relatively sexist for an "advanced" country (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2013_Gender_gap_index_world_map,_Gender_Inequality_Distribution.svg) and for not banning production of child pornography photographs until 1999 (http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2054271,00.html) and for not banning possession of child pornography photographs until 2014 (http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/06/04/national/crime-legal/japan-finally-moving-to-ban-child-porn-possession/) and for being the origin of the "lolicon" culture. Presumably you are aware of all this, as someone who (like me) consumes some Japanese culture.


Invoking the culture of Japan as a defence really does not work, in this instance.


Regarding the concealment of the female body: if/when I want porn, I know where to find it. And isn't it interesting that most nudists (stereotypically, at least) seem to be wrinklies, while images of the nearly nude are not?


Historically, powerful people would wear more clothing than the less powerful. Ermine robes, heavy crowns etc.. By wearing masses of expensive cloth, they would both make themselves look big (i.e. physically powerful) and display how much wealth they could waste. Also note that powerful women, like Hilary Clinton and Margaret Thatcher (whom I both dislike, by they way), tend to wear quite modest attire, perhaps including shoulder pads (again, physical size counts). Nor to contemporary powerful men tend to show much skin. I cannot think of a single powerful person that habitually wears clothes like those worn by the "-tans" in this thread.

Don't you think that is a bit of a close-minded attitude? Even if you are right, I see no reason to ban "teenagers", "basement-dwellers" or "dweebs" from expressing themselves in this community. Nor anybody else that dabbles in a form of expression which happens to summon a connotation of something or someone you don't like. Your statement is an offensive dismissal of quite a few people in the world, including many adults.


The Pyra/Pandora-tan is just fan-art, not an official mascot. I'm perfectly ok with some less serious topics in the Offtopic section.



The question is, who do you want to attract and who are you fine with repulsing? Someone, who saw nothing but the first few posts in this thread, may judge the community to be nothing more than the same kind of immature people who discuss their favourite female character in game X on GameFAQs, interminably, and so miss the more sophisticated aspects of the Pandora and Pyra (open, hackable full GNU/Linux systems in the pocket, which, incidentally, allow game system emulation to run quite well). Someone put off by the former and attracted by the latter might be lost to us (and, in my opinion, is exactly the kind of person this community should want to attract). In the real world, people do judge books by their covers, as reading them usually takes too long."I don't have time for this crap" etc..


Fan-art that gains traction, that becomes ubiquitous, effectively becomes an unofficial mascot. I think any of the examples in this thread would be damaging to the Pandora's (or Pyra's) image if they became widespread.

they're ment to be created for fun and for their artistic value (e.g treated as Art).



And what is the difference between "Art" and pandering?

For the most part, their creation is part of an artistic approach known as Moe anthropomorphism where an object is given a human-form attribution using the art style found in Anime and Manga



The art-style, typically, of the most low-brow and low-grade anime and manga available, mostly the stuff that exists only to pander to the baser emotions of the audience. Most of the better stuff (the Ghost in the Shell film, Welcome to the NHK, Planetes, Cowboy Bebop etc.) tends to avoid this style.


The uninitiated/innocent would look at such representations and think "oh, these are pictures of children" -- big eyes (even compared with other cartoon characters), short limbs, and (often) flat chests.

By all means nobody said anything about any hypothetical Pandora-tan having to be a sexualized Bishōjo fanservice character,



Yet all the examples, so far, have been at least either sexualized or Bishōjo.

and if nobody here finds the Anime/Manga styles likeable



There is plenty of anime where the characters (male and female) both look like adults (or, at least, age appropriate) and wear practical, credible clothing. Take Princess Mononoke, for example, or, indeed, most of Hayao Miyazaki's output.

For the record though, have in mind that Anime and Manga don't just focus on portrating fantasy school lives full of cutsy teengares, they can also convery well more mature subjcets (although somewhat in a nutshell) like Survival/War (see Shingeki no Kyojin, First Squad) and dystopian/utopian futures (see Ghost in the Shell, Real Dive - Sennō Chōsashitsu). So if anyone cares for my opinion, using a different and more appropriate approach for designing a hypothetical *-tan character for the Pyra could work quite well if done right. So i don't think giving the entire style crap too early based on some prejudice is in anyway a good idea (heck look at EvilDragon's avatar, it could serve as a point to the right direction).



I have nothing against anime and manga as media, but I do have a problem with moe. If someone makes a non-moe anime character that does not look like an idiot or some semi-sexual fantasy, then great. The ones in this thread, so far, have all been embarrassing.


It is unlikely, though that any non-embarrassing character would count as a "-tan", though, given that the entire point of a "-tan" is to be embarrassingly childish, given that "-tan" is, in Japanese, a childish distortion of the "-chan" honorific, itself a childish distortion (historically) of the "-san" honorific. It could be well translated as "a baby-talk character", which is something rarely appropriate in Western culture (and, personally, something that I find very grating).
 
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Oh dear...


Well my fellow Haraldar, the points you bring up are some of the reasons I chose celibacy long ago and now am pretty much immune to sex in all it's expressions. In fact, it bores me utterly... I tend to avoid media in which it is a pivotal aspect... the whole scope of sexuality from tame and romantic to perverted and debaucherous is simply juvenile from my perspective.... I view it as a 'lower-life-form'(corporal) biological activity/obsession and honestly can't take any person seriously who is motivated by it.


Any being who's relationship with themselves and the greater universe at large is dictated by 'genetic' and 'social' programming are, in my blanket generalization, slaves of corporeality *who do not seek liberation from form, but rather obsessively seek - gratification*


Now the issue comes in here:


My kin are not locked in form... however the affinity we have with innocence, humility, grace, and our empathetic resonance of source consciousness... leads us to manifest as 'child-like' beings when we engage and communicate with corporal beings.


It has taken me quite some time to not be totally offended by the human form (mostly an unconscious resentment to my now diminishing perspective of being trapped in this crazy primitive world)... but essentially if (or when) humans attain the level of self-awareness and consciousness to enter into our 'reality', they likewise would be expressed as ageless, sexless, innocent, playful and wise 'child-like' beings.


So... I would express humans this way... and as females generally are closer in appearance to the sexless transcendent humanity (that I know and love), that is the form I would gravitate to in expression... I.e. pre-sexual female humans.


But how often do I draw humans? Like... NEVER! because... oh yes, boring.


I can do it - but you will get tan like characters from me, with BIG eyes... because my kin have big eyes...when we have eyes ;)


Now, my kin have been dealing with the reptilian species for some millions of years... there is a sort of 'war' that's been going on... in fact, I'm something of a specialist in subverting their plots and why I was chosen/volunteered for this mission on Earth (Earth is pretty important, but there are many other planets / systems in which this 'battle' is taking place).


As such, in this incarnation, I am Kin primarily, in symbiotic relationship with this (human that has been hybridized with the reptilian forms / consciousness).


So I am versed in human affinity (I've incarnated many times on this planet in preparation), and affinity with the reptilians that currently 'own' humanity.


Long and short... I love the notion of an 'Evil Dragon' bent on world domination... creating a powerful reptilian 'hybrid' in the *fires* of his genetic manufactory... 


These are just the ideas and background for what I am planning to do. ;)  ...in the new year
 
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Ugh... Crikey! Everything has to be a sex/gender/whatever problem these days.


I like the art style in all the pictures that have been presented. Why are they female? Because that what the authors decided to draw! Can we stop undermining peoples' creativity, please?


And for the record, no I don't get any "sexy feelings" from these pictures and I pretty sure that my younger self was one of these "teenage geeks" that we seem to be shunning but you know, most people grow up.
 
FWIW, I am only made a little uncomfortable by the girl in the boob tube one, although I appreciate that the composition in that piece is pretty special.  I guess I'm a little uncomfortable with the overly kawaii ones as well, for alluding to aspects of Japanese culture I don't approve of (that Haraldur already described), but I'd tend to say that's my hang up, and not a valid judgement of anyone's work.  But for the purposes of exhibiting work, I don't see a problem, and I'll only jump in if people are bigging up something I don't approve of. At the end of the day, if it isn't illegal, it's a valid creative expression and I don't have a problem with that in principle.
 
That can of worms over there? ...guess I opened it.


I THOUGHT I was just posting a potentially fun and creative topic for people to express fondness for a shared interest. Seeing as nobody lost their shit about the Pandora-tan thread back then, I figured it was "safe" to muse about possible interpretations for a Pyra-tan...guess not..(they might make for a neat desktop background for the Pyra...for those who AREN'T offended by them). To any people who are SOMEHOW offended(?) by this perceived assault against your own personal sensibilities...I would kindly ask you to leave this thread, clearly it wasn't meant to appeal to you, nor should you expect it to.


Cheer up though! You CAN go ahead and...start your own thread about THE EVIL MENACE OF THE -TANS!!! Rail against others interests all you want OVER THERE, don't worry, I won't bother you.


To any potential mods who might be reading this: this was NOT the intention I had for this thread... :( I can only hope that when/if some brave, foolish soul(s) actually have some artwork relating to Pyra-tan, that opinionated people like Haraldur won't be permitted to harass them and derail the thread, thank you in advance.
 
FWIW, I am only made a little uncomfortable by the girl in the boob tube one, although I appreciate that the composition in that piece is pretty special.  I guess I'm a little uncomfortable with the overly kawaii ones as well, for alluding to aspects of Japanese culture I don't approve of (that Haraldur already described), but I'd tend to say that's my hang up, and not a valid judgement of anyone's work.  But for the purposes of exhibiting work, I don't see a problem, and I'll only jump in if people are bigging up something I don't approve of. At the end of the day, if it isn't illegal, it's a valid creative expression and I don't have a problem with that in principle.

I can certainly appreciate your point of view on the "boob tube" version, however to me it says more about female empowerment and her self confidence. She's not posing suggestively, nor is she "showing off the goods" so to speak and all "naughty bits" are fully covered. Also, I personally don't look at the more "moe" ones as sex objects either, I simply find them harmlessly cute and endearing.
 
Are we now getting offended by images just because they're in an art-style we don't like? Are we telling artists not to create these images because a cute fully-clothed female is overly sexualized for some of us?

 

Fan-art that gains traction, that becomes ubiquitous, effectively becomes an unofficial mascot. I think any of the examples in this thread would be damaging to the Pandora's (or Pyra's) image if they became widespread.
 

Man, look at all the damage done by the existing widespread *-tans around. Wait, there isn't any? Surprise. Even if it became an unofficial mascot, it wouldn't do anything unless it's printed on the case or something.

We currently have a green cartoon dragon around. Wouldn't that offend someone here as well? Anyone? Oh well.
The Pyra Community consists of all kinds of people. It's not really the place to tell others to stop liking what you don't like.
And if you don't want a device made by "weebs", it's too late already, actually.  ;)
 
Seriously guys, must everything like these harmless pictures drift into an sexism debate? Where are you from, puritan USA?  -_-


I personaly like the one with the more clothing on but if even this is sexist, then sorry, I just can't agree with you. Remembers me sadly onto islam, where woman have to wear a Burka and often have no rights. Really, it makes me SICK how some people think that everything that looks female and sexy is sexism or has to be censored. What's going on in these heads? People want to forbid even sexy drawings? Females are not allowed to be any "-tan" "cute" "idol" or whatever, even if they want to (assuming it's real)?


It's exactly stuff like this what really leads into intolerance and sexism. 


Well I respect woman and I also like sexy (anime) girls, especialy the tough ones. They may look "to" sexy. Why? BECAUSE THEY CAN! ;)   Because they are tough and strong and kick-ass! Because they are self confident and can fight the biggest enemies! Because they often have big guns to teach you their point of view! And that's OK.  Which brings me to this point:

Historically, powerful people would wear more clothing than the less powerful. Ermine robes, heavy crowns etc.. By wearing masses of expensive cloth, they would both make themselves look big (i.e. physically powerful) and display how much wealth they could waste. Also note that powerful women, like Hilary Clinton and Margaret Thatcher (whom I both dislike, by they way), tend to wear quite modest attire, perhaps including shoulder pads (again, physical size counts). Nor to contemporary powerful men tend to show much skin. I cannot think of a single powerful person that habitually wears clothes like those worn by the "-tans" in this thread.



This may be "historical" correct but in the Anime/Manga World, this is not true. There you can look sexy and be though. Good example is the Anime "Kill la Kill", which I strongly recommend to everyone. Main protagonist Ryuko wears a oversexed (and living!) battle-suit but is a total badass with a (un)healty anger attitude. I agree that "normal" girls shouldn't wear this but again, tough girls can. 


Kill-la-Kill-Wallpaper-Matoi-Ryuuko-600x337.jpg

 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyaVC8rHbp4
 
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  • And what is the difference between "Art" and pandering?
  • typically, of the most low-brow and low-grade anime and manga available
  • not look like an idiot or some semi-sexual fantasy, then great. The ones in this thread, so far, have all been embarrassing.



Art doesn't pander if it is not created for that pourpse in the first place (it's not like what was posted here was a Rule 34 or something) and is not shoehorned into a pandering appearance by others. In its pure form, it's a free manifest of the mind and is there to leave any kind of remark in the eyes of the beholder. In other words, if it's not your cup of tea, then there's no point in arguing - after all, there's no accounting for taste.


And as i stated before, the artwork posted in this thread is what could be salveged form the old thread and is here to serve as a general example (any hypothetical Pyra-tan is still debatable). If you chose to interpret it as childish, sexualized or pandering in anyway - that's your opinion (and it was noted), others here appear to be fine with it. Eitherway, the pourpse behind this thread is not to promote the creating of something pandering or "unorthodox" to the masses on pourpse, it's for the sake of having a fun little artistic expression.



There you can look sexy and be though. Good example is the Anime "Kill la Kill", which I strongly recommend to everyone. Main protagonist Ryuko wears a oversexed (and living!) battle-suit but is a total badass with a (un)healty anger attitude.



Well.. that's kind of debatable in itsef. I mean, i could see it working without the outfits being as revealing..

Long and short... I love the notion of an 'Evil Dragon' bent on world domination... creating a powerful reptilian 'hybrid' in the *fires* of his genetic manufactory... 



Why does this sound an awful lot like the plot for Starcraft 2?
 
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Well.. that's kind of debatable in itsef. I mean, i could see it working without the outfits being as revealing..



Maybe. But I forgot to mention, that this Anime is also an big parody of all kinds of Anime-cliches. ;)   Including an resistance Organisation (against "evil" clothing) named "Nudist Beach" where everyone is naked and most of them are male. :D   
 
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Do fear my possible interpretation of a Moxie-bara :D

Now each time I boot my OpenPandora, I read Angstrom as Armstrong


Not coincidentally, the main character in Full Metal Alchemist is called ED, and features a RED cape, with the pyra logo on it...
 
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Why does this sound an awful lot like the plot for Starcraft 2?



Er... because it's a massively popular game that's just had a major release and it haz hybrids in it???


But no, SC2 was not my inspiration... and hybrids are pretty common in this universe these days...


Star Trek isn't far off in it's depiction of inter-species breeding (and experimentation), after all... there are common threads in all species in this universe... there was (is) a source to all of this you know. :)


And P.S.... need I remind everyone that there is more to 'imagination' than humans give it credit... absolutely *anything* you manage to fabricate in your mind is a restructuring of data that you've pulled from virtual points in the multiverse... every subatomic particle in your matrix (and everywhere) is formed around a microsingularity... this singularity is connected to every other singularity... essentially there is only ONE singularity replicating itself in a fractal holographic cascade.


You really are connected to everything... and you really DO contain everything within you.


Therefor, if there are similarities between SC2 and what I have percieved 'elsewhere' it is because


there is a common truth that gave rise to both perceptions.


P.s. Interpretations will and do vary ;)  *hooray for that!*


P.p.s Zerg could represent the insatiable 'swarm' that are the 'consumer/trader collectives', the most vicious and devious and well known being the reptilian species, of which there are quite a few... they are master geneticists, so that could be where the Zerg hunger and integration/mutation of bio matter comes from....
 
Thanks for posting these illustrations. They are wonderfuly drawn. 
 
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FWIW, I am only made a little uncomfortable by the girl in the boob tube one, although I appreciate that the composition in that piece is pretty special.  I guess I'm a little uncomfortable with the overly kawaii ones as well, for alluding to aspects of Japanese culture I don't approve of (that Haraldur already described), but I'd tend to say that's my hang up, and not a valid judgement of anyone's work.  But for the purposes of exhibiting work, I don't see a problem, and I'll only jump in if people are bigging up something I don't approve of. At the end of the day, if it isn't illegal, it's a valid creative expression and I don't have a problem with that in principle.

Why must things cater to your liking? Can't culture provoke, and can't of all things Japanese culture be allowed as itself? Some part of that is willingly provocative. And it explores new ground. You are looking backwards, through your western eyes a phenomenon not as progression, but rather a summation of your already present prejudices.


Being sexist is a actually a valid expression. I don't like it either, but I like coming down on it less. It is all too similar to the critique of the modern gaming world. Which behold, is warranted, but the way its done makes less of those who created it, and enjoy it, for what it is, then someone who doesn't.


Those who don't are often the outsiders. And now we get to my point. I think coming down on sexism for being sexism is making ourselves outsiders. It is a simple critique, with diamentrally opposite tangents. There are those who echo it exactly so. As such, those who adhere are the same. A problem was found, but it was never understood, and especially not fixed.


Now you have another party, those who adhere to the critique, but decide to support it. A counter-culture is now the culture within the culture that most everyone could originally agree was bad.


Cultural difference is good. Culture would be less interesting as a homogenously accepted reality. Lets also try to see beyond the subculture aspect of it. Because as vehemontly "different" that is, it is all too often colured in with not-mainstream sentiment. Being a mere distorted mirror image of what it tries to 'oppose'.


Here is the challenge, make it interesting. I give my permission to embarrass us all, in turn for someone to take that plunge. Otherwise I'd be hating on the concept of creativity in art.


For kunsten må vi evig vike.  For art we must eternally step aside.
 
@comradekingu : That sounds scarily like you are trying to condone sexism for the sake of expression or culture.


Sexism is unacceptable on every level in every way. And I can't understand your viewpoint on this at all.
 
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More objectification of women - which is actually a form of sexism indeed. But I'm getting the feeling that that is the 'norm' for the males in this community too.
 
Hi Løra. If you find the images in this thread unappropriate and sexist, I would agree that it is best not to use them as mascotts and official illustrations for the products like the Pyra as other people with a similar sensibility might find them unpleasant.


Are you also opposed to creating and sharing them on this forum between people who enjoy them ?


I will show them to my wife, I'm interested in knowing what she thinks about them.
 
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