Character Redesigns: Yay or Nay?

[SakuraFox512]

In reading through these comments about Tabitha, I think it's now highly obvious that the complaint isn't really that he looks "nothing like he used to", but rather, that he's now fat and doesn't look like he can be taken seriously. I'm almost certain that if the opposite had been the case, and ORAS Tabitha had been redesigned to look like RSE Tabitha, there wouldn't be many complaints at all. Know why?

Because I hardly see anyone complaining about Matt's redesign. Matt, who was originally one of those out-of-shape guys that don't like to keep a shirt on, has been beefed up to the extreme and it seems most people are in favor of said change for one reason or another. It's pretty clear that most people are fine with redesigns that make the character look more fit, but not vice versa. Which is fine, I suppose, but it really isn't the same as saying he looks "nothing like he used to". None of them except Courtney really look like the original, but they don't all get the same complaints, just Tabitha. Not trying to call anyone out on their opinion, just something I noticed~

That sentiment is nice, but I don't know that I can personally agree to it.

Matt is too beefy and that's not healthy/"fit" either. A lot of people I've been showing off the new designs to have noted as much, they just don't really care as hard possibly because most of them are also (shounen) anime fans who are used to seeing someone with a behemoth-like build somewhere in their shows and feel that since it's not real life, it's not worth irritation on their part. The remaining ones didn't particularly like his new design, just preferred it over the hodgepodge his original design was or just liked the mental image of his new self losing a battle and simply sulking away, when he could now clearly just brute force someone out of the way.

Shelly's still got the 'better-than-you' expression going on in her new design, which I think softens the drastic change for most people on that one.

And then there's Tabitha...who's facial expression isn't even conveying the same thing and neither does his pose/body language. I don't disagree that some people honestly have an issue with him being overweight, but it doesn't strike me as what the majority is upset over -- it comes across that they can't get the same feel from the new him as the original. Which may well taper off once the games actually come out and we can see him move/talk/do things, but all anyone has to go off right now is how he's presented in a still image.

 

[Fairy Type Arceus]

Personally, I'm in the minority that's totally fine with Tabitha's redesign. Honestly, the old one was just fine, but it was very normal. I mean, it wasn't super special or different, even compared to grunts. While I don't think that Tabitha needed to gain so much weight (even though I don't see much wrong with it either), I will admit that it gives him more...character. He's more distinguishable, and the more contrasts between members of Aqua and Magma the better. Plus, this is a long stretch, but Magma's goal is to expand the land for human development. Well, a couple facets of human development are technology and the food business. Not meaning anything offensive whatsoever, but maybe Tabitha's figure could be a slight nod to those facets of human development. Plus, why should everybody be skinny? I understand, and hope, that the main problem for most people is the fact that he went under a strong redesign, but everybody did pretty much, so there's no point in singling out Tabitha.

I think people hate tabitha for the same reason they hate tierno they hate fat guys. I don't hate tabithas design but i don't love it either.

maxies grown on me archie is just badass. I wish may kept the bandana and brenden has a werid face but he's ok.

 

[Dr. Buni]

The new designs helped me to decide to pick Omega Ruby instead of Alpha Sapphire (which I was kinda planning to do already, because Mawile). New Team Aqua is just... nope. All three redesigns are awful imo. Team Magma, on other hand... I don't really mind the designs. Tabhita's new design is far less generic than his original one. Same goes to Courtney, who looks very cute now. I don't like how people keep calling Maxie a nerd just because he wears glasses, but I really like how he looks older now.

 

[Kit Chan]

The new designs helped me to decide to pick Omega Ruby instead of Alpha Sapphire (which I was kinda planning to do already, because Mawile). New Team Aqua is just... nope. All three redesigns are awful imo. Team Magma, on other hand... I don't really mind the designs. Tabhita's new design is far less generic than his original one. Same goes to Courtney, who looks very cute now. I don't like how people keep calling Maxie a nerd just because he wears glasses, but I really like how he looks older now.

Agreed entirely, I was going to get Sapphire due to everyone else getting Ruby but these character redesigns are making me reconsider. I'm not sure if I'm up for getting both and doing 2 playthroughs.

 

[Absolclaw]

Reason I don't like any of the designs? They didn't need to be changed. At all. The only reason I like the way too buffed up guy in Aqua is because it is ridiculously over the top macho. Tabitha looked better when he looked like a maniac who happened to have a tiny cape. For some reason. With the new Tabitha basically looking like a normal Magma grunt but fat and the female admin looking like a female grunt just in the typical "Break my back to show off my body" pose you see in comic books for fan service, nothing stands out about them at all. At least he's known for becoming fat for no damn reason instead of being known for looking like a damn clown like Archie.

Well, not that there was anything that made them stand out at all - I still have no fucking clue why they decided to start giving teams Admins who contribute absolutely nothing when the only people you actually care about or get development are the Team Leaders. Only time I recall admins having actual character was Team Galactic, and they had the most hideous outfits of all the gangs. Well, not anymore ...

 

[Cosmic Gerbil]

I found the topic, time to post in it, ahahahahaha!

I am sad that it IS a hat and Brendan is not albino I really wanted him to be an albino guy. I hope that charrie customisation is included, then hopefully I can make him be albino.

May and Steven look cool! The Team Magma and Aqua grunts look cool too and I reckon that Team Magma look like they've got kitten ears

What is Archie wearing? His outfit is...hmmm...I bet the grunts have to work at 100% on maintaining their poker faces when he walks into the room, dressed like that

Matt is built like a brick outhouse and Tabitha is making a weird grin. The girls admins look pretty and all of the other charries are really hot.

(P.S. Want Eevee, Trick Master, Eevee...)...

 

[Tyrfing]

Except for Steven and Maxie, they all generally look retarded. This is probably because I don't like the new art style, in contrast to the nice ones between Gens 3-5. The new anime-esque look is stupid, but it is probably to appeal to the Japanese fan base. I guess it is just a case of my Americans Hate Tingle (TVTropes, in case you don't know), but...

 

[Lysson]

As for the redesigns I've seen I only really like Steven and Brendan's design....
Archie's clothes are odd and he now looks like a pirate, not of the cool kind, the modern day real life pirate...
Maxie looks like a scientist...
And for May... where's my bandanna gurl D:?

 

[Neris]

I always thought that Tabitha was a girl. And I thought Matt had a beer belly. Guess I was wrong.

 

[Virbank Video]

I like all of the redesigns.

I'd like to point out that May is still wearing a bandana. Not a bow. It's a bandana that is essentially back-to-front and being worn in a different way.

 

[Osprey]

Looking over this, I've noticed one thing: where are the designs for Prof. Birch and Wally?! I think they're "main character" enough to get new art. Why were they left out here?

 

[Dieter]

Looking over this, I've noticed one thing: where are the designs for Prof. Birch and Wally?! I think they're "main character" enough to get new art. Why were they left out here?

Probably saved for a later moment. I would expect Norman to be revealed at some point as well, considering he is not only a Gym Leader, but also your dad. But they still got several months before release, so I think will get them later

 

[Pokepal148]

well before Tabitha looked like a normal Magma grunt but waving his hand with some smug grin so that's an improvement.

 

[Mitchman]

Whoops, wrong thread. Uh, yeah, that secret base art is warming me up to NuBrendan.

 

[Foxeaf]

Whoops, wrong thread. Uh, yeah, that secret base art is warming me up to NuBrendan.

I thought the same thing.
I like how they're going for more diverse silhouettes in their designs. Good on them.

 

[Alola]

Well I must say, I'm loving the new designs released today! The Gym Leaders all look great as do the Elite Four.

Professor Birch looks like he let himself go a bit though haha.

 

[Season]

Really liking every single character design so far, the only one that is a little off is Tabitha.

 

[Karpi]

I LOVE new Brawly! He's my favorite Hoenn character, and he looks great! Let's hope we can rematch him

 

[winstein]

The most surprising thing about the character designs so far is Phoebe having no changes made. Sidney is quite fine, since he looks more like a Dark-type specialist than before. That smirk of his is quite unnerving, though.

So far, Roxanne, Normal, Flannery and Wattson appeared to still be recognisable from their former selves even after the redesign, like I expected. I wonder how much changes they are going to do for Winona, Tate & Liza and Wallace. I guess they could have more thorough changes like Brawly.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Team Gaara]

Brawly is so sexy now! Like, seriously! I never really had an opinion about him one way or the other, before. But now he just looks nice and delicious~ I like that jacket Wattson's got as it really reminds me of Lt. Surge's look, both of which have always been favorites of mine. Flannery pretty similar to how she looked before, which was a good design, after all, so she still looks good. Same can be said for Roxanne; looks much more school-girly now, though, which I like. Finally, Norman looks good, but a bit less intense then before. I see something hanging around his neck now, and it could just be a whistle or something, but since everything could be a potential Key Stone these days, I really want to see that high-resolution full art soon. He does give off more of a "coach" feel, now. With him being Big Daddy and given his personality, does fit very well. It's hard to judge him and Flannery when the two are so obscured by the Japanese text.

Sydney looks much more creepy, which I love. He never gave off that Dark essence before, as most Dark Specialists don't, except Grimsley, and this new look and expression really helps that a lot. He just looks cool. Phoebe looks very cute. Not too different at all, yet somehow much more adorable with the new artwork.

And of course we have Birch, looking very...Birch. Not anything special, but not bad by any means.

Still loving all of the redesigns~