Edit: Holy hell this post came out long. I apologize for the text wall!
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When it comes to creating a hybrid or, more accurately, a chimera, I find it is best to choose from the features and personality of X animal that you feel best suits you.
For my fellow, Nemael, 'lion/big cat' was the overall base due to my love of felines, connection to them and their perceived personality. Bat wings combined with a birds for superior flight capabilities and quick turns as well as my love of flight and desire to become a pilot. Long cheek furring that could be braided similar to a lynx for aesthetic as well as a very small nod to my Comanche ancestry. Exotic eyes (heterochromia; one purple, other pink, my two favorite colors, black sclera and pupil and a white sunburst as seen in my avatar) as they are considered the 'windows to the soul' and I wanted them to be seen as exactly that; especially since my eyes are considered extremely expressive. I also wanted them to match my own eyes as they have a very notable golden sunburst/flower around my pupil which bleed into blue-green/hazel. Train track scarring on the upper arms which hint at my personal history. Broken chain tattoo/brand and SEE-064 brand/tattoo because of both my book series pertaining to him as well as further personal history.
Alien-esque ears (a combination of reptile and bat) to give him that overall unique look and silhouette, so he could stand out against other characters with a head based around a lion. Also a design I have always loved since I first drew it. A mane that is loosely a male lions while also being made unique in look to make him stand out further and to hint at his original sex. Bird legs with a dew claw for my love of birds as well as functional for numerous situations, ascribing to my own abilities. Key necklace that looks exactly like the one I always wear since I am obsessed with them. The one I wear is actually what started my collection as well as one I have never seen anywhere else. A unique tail design based around a scorpion, iguana and a reaper scythe for defense; a way to protect himself as I needed to when I was younger. Transmale for obvious reasons. Thigh pouch containing journals, pens and a pocket watch, all of which are important to me as a writer and more personal history. Gems inserted in the chest, clavicle, and held by the wings and tail from my love of crystals and precious stones, as well as lore reasoning (holds and produces magical power constantly from his own energy as well as taking it from the Shift). Then his coloration, white with black seal-tip markings and opalescent wings to suit how people perceive me when they first meet me and then how they come to see me. Same applies to his body type and constant 'pissed' expression, as people are either terrified of me at first glance (I am extremely tall with broad shoulders) or seek me out for help on some extremely embarrassing things. He is tall as well to suit the aforementioned.
Thus when it comes to designing your 'sona, whether it is a hybrid, chimera or pure X animal, I find it is best to follow your own history and likes. It immediately makes them more endearing, especially if you fit in aspects of
who you want to be. This can be done in one of numerous ways.
Also, a tip: Do not always rely on the physical look of your 'sona being what makes them unique or different from the rest. For the longest time, I used this fellow and variations on his appearance:
http://sta.sh/22cnegxh2159 as well as this guy:
http://sta.sh/229cfdos1zh6 since I saw virtually
nothing that looked remotely like them. However, even with that going for them as well as their history, I never became too attached. I had to force myself to go back to them whenever I made new designs because they were not as original.
Fortunately, when I worked from the aforementioned aspects
backwards into the animals that fit those features, I arrived at Nemael:
http://sta.sh/24gu2yz42rs He is certainly unique in profile, silhouette and overall appearance while still being a cohesive entity. I even went so far as to build up his history, what magic he uses, how it came into being, the Shift, and other such things before I even decided on one animal feature. He was born from these notes I wrote, as opposed to the others who came from features I loved and THEN had information tailored to fit them.
I have also used a bunch of video games, novels and movies to help me further. I have a massive obsession with BioWare and their Dragon Age games, thus I used them as an inspiration springboard. This was both to help me in furthering Nemael's universe as well as uncovering what
exactly I loved about them and why.
It may be time consuming to figure it all out, let alone actually nail down the animal(s) that best suit these facets, but I found it was worth it in the end. Even if it did take over fourteen years. ._.
Topic: Found in forums, yet still lost. (Read 1212 times)