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| Because you know...pre-designed characters bought for fun are the devil... |
Despite there being artists in all fandoms, this one is specifically geared towards the furry fandom for a few reasons. In the anime fandom your popularity is gauged either on your being an already published mangaka/successful animator or for the case of non-published artists, being able to successfully and skillfully draw already established characters or which ever characters might be popular at that time. The lucky anime artists will have their own characters known, but for the most part, the anime fandom is about celebrating and coming together over already established works.
While there are certainly established “furry” characters (Pikachu, Sonic, Spyro, etc.), most furs don’t go around furry conventions looking for the pokemon cosplayer. No, they’re searching out their favorite original characters created by other furries. As well as searching out their favorite artists for conversation, possible commissions, or just wanting to meet the face behind one of their favorite fursonas/characters. So this rant’s for the furs out there. At least the ones who complain about different marketing strategies artists take to earn money.
Adoptable/Character auctions. If you haven’t heard of them, they’re auctions of premade characters that artists don’t use anymore or have created for the purpose of selling. And it seems to be all the rage amongst furs. On deviantart, there are full groups set up for the selling and trading of various characters either through the usage of actual money or through DA’s points system. But when adoptables or other characters are sold on FurAffinity, money is the sole option for getting one (unless they’re free which they rarely are). The most I’ve seen a single character go for in an auction was $400+ dollars. The lowest amount maybe $2 or $3. Yet there’s always someone who wants to rant and rave about how wrong artists are for “selling characters”. And then rant and rave at people who wish to buy said characters because “they could always make a character themselves”.
Yes…yes people can always make their own characters. And they do. But why do they want to buy this particular character? Because it’s that particular character. Made by that particular artist. Maybe they like the colors and markings and you want a character with those colors and markings. They didn’t think of doing it first but here’s a character that they really like, admire and want, and unless they don’t have enough to pay for it, nothing’s going to stand in their way of buying it. And it’s a brilliant marketing strategy for making a decent amount of money in a short period of time. Adoptables using the same base are quick to create. Just put some colors on the premade base and you’re good to go. This is the cheapest variety of adoptable. Then there’s people who create very different character sheets for each creation they make. These are you’re higher end adopts. And usually the more popular artists can use this version because people want work by this artist, from this artist and are willing to pay for it if they can afford to (sometimes if they can’t).
Artists know their market perfectly when they do this. They know their standing in the fandom, they know what sort of creations others in the fandom (or rather their watchers) look for. And they cater to that. No different than what any other working person in the world does. Sure a person could create a character and it would be cheaper, but would it turn out exactly like the character that X-artist over there created? Most likely not. And most likely not and most likely they wouldn’t be able to get away with ripping the same design from X-artist over there due to the potential trolls, flamers, and white knights coming to protect their precious artist’s creations (while I agree that stealing intellectual/artistic property is wrong, I generally disagree with the tactics of most people who comment on such things).
Imagine this. You walk past a store. You’ve got money to spare after paying off student loans, rent, mortgage, etc. And in this store window you see…a plushie or statue (depending on your tastes) that you would just love to have. And it’s from a studio or artist or creator you admire. You don’t need it. But it appeals to you. You know you can make something like that, but you can’t make that particular object. And you want it. So you buy it because you’ve got that bit of money to spare. Now you can say you’ve got a creation by this person you admire. Like a woman who buys a Gucci bag buys it to say they’ve got a Gucci bag. Or a person who buys a Ferrari buys it to say they’ve got a Ferrari. You’ve got a creation by X-artist just to say you’ve got a creation by X-artist.
So…as a (somewhat…though I highly, highly doubt this will ever work) “appeal” to the haters and flamers out there, artists can sell what they wish and people are free to buy what they wish. If the fact that artist A over here is making hundreds selling character designs is bothering you so much, find something that you can create and offer to the community and work hard to market that skill. Everyone’s got something. Even you. If you put half that amount of energy into doing what you do instead of ragging on other artists because of their selling a colorful dog character and making about $50 off of it, perhaps you could make a bit of money doing what you love too. While I’m sure this appeal won’t do anything for you guys (you’ll just continue on being flamers and haters), perhaps those on the fence about such things can find a different yet valid viewpoint on the subject. And also it was a nice way to end the rant. ‘Til next time guys…
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