User blog:TheCipherNine/Character dev blog - Ade

Hello, the Cipher here. Some may know, some may not but that doesn’t matter. Today, as a bit of celebration for my birthday I figure I lend some insight to one of OCs, Ade.



'''Joke warning: yes, another character creation guide, just bear with me. '''



The Purpose


This refers to purpose as why I created Ade in the first place. Ade came about due to a general interest for character design and acted as “practice” for drawing, characterization, and writing for other characters to come. Another factor in his creation is due to the lack of characters that I, as black twenty-two-year-old male, could relate to especially when it comes to RWBY. I could go on an over long irrelevant and unimportant tangent about this factor but it something personal that no one came here to see/read about. In any case, I created Ade for those purposes, and mileage may vary for other, hope aid in some way.



The Inspiration


If it wasn’t obvious in his character design to see where I get my inspiration, the American Old West. It something about the era that love, maybe because I use to, and still do, watch old western movies on AMC, it’s a time where the line between hero and villain is blurry, and whatnot. It was these stories and movies from that era would have a hand in Ade’s characterization. The Old West was not the only source for Ade’s characterization and backstory. In fact, as stated on his character page, space western cult classic show known as Firefly, and it main protagonist Mal Reynolds became a part of his characterization and the team’s minor motif  as a whole. Speaking off motifs...



<span style="font-size:16px;font-family:Arial;color:#f3f3f3;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The Motif and Concepts
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:Arial;color:#f3f3f3;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Ok Cipher, you're an English-speaking American. So how in Malachor did you come up with name Ade Ijakumo? Shouldn’t his name be Aiden Coyote or something?” And my answer to lies once rather minor, but now major, motif to Ade. In addition to a love of Old West, is my love of African cultures. It was also the character Adewale from AC4, who has an awesome name (crown has come home) made me look into Yoruba people and their culture. One concept had I for Ade was a name that unusual and new, something that identifies Ade.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-weight:400;color:rgb(243,243,243);font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.2;">This idea came from the naming customs of Yorubas, believing names are like spirits with people living out their meaning. It was this custom, this idea, of someone who lives out the meaning of their name became the basis on how I name characters. For those who don’t know (or could just read above) the word ade <span style="font-weight:400;color:rgb(243,243,243);font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.2;"> means crown or royalty. And while this has it CNR acceptable reason (crowns are usually made of gold and embedded with rubies or colors such as royal red, blue, etc.) it the meta <span style="font-weight:400;color:rgb(243,243,243);font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.2;">, the idea of  the crown (kings and whatnot) that protects the people or royal, noble individual that often romanticized that (I hope at least) comes in mine. Of course, there also the odd contradiction of his last name, Ijakumo <span style="font-weight:400;color:rgb(243,243,243);font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.2;">, which means jackal. Much like coyotes and foxes, jackals are often portrayed as cheats and thieves, despite this, many African tales the jackals, either out of courage or foolish, always willing to risk it all to trick the king of the jungle, the lion. Once again, the concept of blurred ideas, taking two opposite cultures, blur them, and creating something new.

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<span style="font-size:16px;font-family:Arial;color:#f3f3f3;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The characterization
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:Arial;color:#f3f3f3;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Come back to this later...

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<span style="font-size:16px;font-family:Arial;color:#f3f3f3;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The Design (Pathfinder)
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:Arial;color:#f3f3f3;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">As already stated, and quite visually present, about the inspiration for Ade’s attire. While I wouldn't go in depth about his first outfit, and how visually appealing something is varies from person to person, it his alternative outfit that gets analyzed treatment. Once again taking the concept of blending two cultures, Pathfinder’s patterns come from Adire textile, each with their own meaning. Starting with the collar the boxes-with-Xs inside are called defense; referring to one’s own inner spirit will always be defended. Kinda of like Aura. Second is the cuff of the sleeves with wedge shapes are called talking drums. A traditional instrument, used for both pieces of music and to send messages. Third, lower ends of the duster bear what is known as crossroads, referring to one's own journey and trials they face ahead. And finally, the bandana, the light blue pattern is well..ade, the crown.

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<span style="font-size:16px;font-family:Arial;color:#f3f3f3;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Finale
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:Arial;color:#f3f3f3;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">So this the end, I hope someone will find some helpful ideas and give a bit of insight on how I develop characters.