Specifically, do you have any "weird" or "unconventional" inspirations? Or combinations that shouldn't work, but work for you just fine?
I was thinking about my own homestuck fan story, and how weird the inspiration combo of Scott Pilgrim and The Bible are. Especially because I haven't read the actual book nor am I religious, but I still reference it. I think it's really funny in an ironic way lol.
I hope that question makes sense. If someone wants an example of how it manifests in a character I can write it, but it will be very long-winded because I tend to ramble, so just let me know rip.
I just want to see if other people have random sources of inspos too :]
— matpat
my trollsona is , well, a sona. so he is inspired by my attitude and demeanor when i was about 13-14. however! as i grew and continued to write, he became inspired by other things like jet set radio. i would say most of the story of my mspfa is inspired by my own stubbornness- both negatively and positively. im a very stubborn guy. and it shows through, like, EVERYTHING. thats a pretty abstract concept to be inspired by, but it works really well!
non homestuck- my active d&d character ive been playing for about five years is inspired by my Nana and Anthony Bourdain. my Nana travels to different countries in the winter because it gets too cold for him here in the US, and he has a collection of stories of people he met, places hes been, and lessons hes learned. similarly anthony bourdain was like that too- my grandparents and mom watched a lot of Parts Unknown on TV when i was a kid, and it seemed to really stick with me enough to show through that character.
* and the universe said I love you because you are love.
mainly my day dreams, sometimes if i think of a scenario enough i'll eventually create a character based off the general vibe. i've been on a real post-apocalyptic kick lately so i went and made a fan-kid inspired by the years HIC was actively exercising her control over earth (pre-melting of icecaps)
this isn't really weird i guess, but i like to go look for visual inspiration to help make a design, i combo'd Xena: Princess Warrior and Sade (Musician) to help come up with her design, name, and clothing. but mainly day-dreaming as a source of inspiration, which in turn is inspired by music, tv shows, books, etc so it all just trickles down really till i sit down n' get to drawing.
i'd love to hear about your process!
I must get out of here. I must get free and in this mind is the key. -Agent Smith, The Matrix
i get very inspired by music.......... basically any kind of music...both the vibes and lyrics
MUSIC IS ONE OF MY BIGGEST INSPOS TOO. Like I listen to a new song and then boom, an imaginary AMV popped in my head and I now have a new idea for my oc story :]]]
— matpat
i tend to start with the outfits. form a character from there, which is mostly just a mashup of stuff i find cool. moodboards, magazine clippings, the classics. unless i'm making a troll or something. then i just take some preexisting cool shit (example, kaiju) and force it into a troll mold as best as i can. works every time
For main characters I try to think of what I need them for, the purpose they serve, and then I try to make them have a particular/unique look to them so they don't look too similar to anyone else in the cast (unless they happen to be related). THAT's pretty conventional!
However, for background characters, I have a hard time designing them off the top of my head! So I have just resorted to opening the character customization feature in the game my comic is based in and hit randomize a bunch
I actually have a fun question regarding this!
Let's say, you are trying to build a character that has some aspects of some different characters you are taking ispiration from, slowly becoming its thing, but then you stumble in a piece of media that has a character who is EXACTLY what you were trying to go for but cranking it up to 100. Making you say "this is not what i was going for BUT WHY DO I FEEL LIKE IT IS WHAT I WANT????".
I had this moment a long while ago, and honestly im glad because it just more reference material, but has ANYONE ever had something like this happen?
