Dr. Ira Kane - I wouldn’t say that the example you posted is “ugly,” but “different” from the Asian ideal.
Have you heard of Chen Shu Fen and Common? They are a husband and wife team of Taiwanese digital illustrators, and their depiction of Asian beauty has captured the entire Asia by storm–idealizing what the Asians find “beautiful.” Here are some of their works:
But if you compare what they do to the kind of CG works coming out of Korea, you’ll notice that the Koreans are actually creating characters that don’t look 100% Asian–more like Eurasians or caucassians:
The Koreans have been influenced by the Japanese for decades now, just like the Chinese. You can always see that Japanese anime/manga influenced in the rest of Asia, no matter what country it is. Here’s Lineage II, and you can see the Japanese influence:
Then you have the strange phenomenon of the Japanese being fascinated by the americans, that’s why many of their games, manga, anime…etc have American characters, and more realistic character designs. For example, look at the Silent Hill series:
And the Resident Evil series:
And part of that fascination with America has lead some of the Japanese to a direction in very realistic characters–as Americans are more into realism compared to the Japanese:
And falling into that category, is the Final Fantasy film we all know. I think that’s part of their fascination with hyper real characters and Americanization.
luna, it is very subjective from country to country. i am from india, which comes in asia by the way and i really love angelina jolie, nicole kidman is nice too. i dont have a preference for asian or western beauty. i dont prefer women like lucy liu. she could not be called a beauty by any standards i think. (sorry lucy:twisted: ) she has a great body though. i think claire forlani is really beautiful. manga babes look good in 2d but not that much in 3d, maybe cuz they dont look realistic with those large eyes and small mouth. another woman who i find beautiful is laetitia casta. she is very beautiful (with makeup ofcourse).
Of course it’s subjective–it always is when it comes to taste. India is a bit different from the rest of Asia (or, far east Asia to be specific), since the general appearance, culture, food…etc are so different. For one, India women has far nicer bodies than far east Asian girls. And those big brown eyes!
Damn interesting points you’re making Lunatique. Great observations and perspectives. Makes me realize why I hate both the western extremes of big boobs and long legs as much as the eastern ones of adults in 14 year old bodies since I’m half western and half eastern
I think you should move this thread to the art discussion forum for treasuring!
I’m 100% American (if there is such a thing), as white as white can be with red hair and freckles and everything, and I like all kinds of women from all kinds of places. I dunno about 3D renders, but I willfully admit the most beautiful woman I’ve had the pleasure to meet face-to-face in person was Chinese. I don’t know her name or anything about her, and she didn’t speak a word of English, but she was absolutely stunning.
I think what interests me about the 3D CGI character is #1 the eyes. Eye’s are very important and Asian artist seem to capture it well. So Asian by far stick for all the reasons previously named. But I would submit that some artist have made some other 3D females characters some what true and beautiful as well. Those being native american woman, black women( outside of the US) and the European blonde.
To capture a woman and render her beautiful
Asians focus on eyes, skin tooth and smoothness and softness with a flare for the hair aspect. Its trully awesome how they do put so much power in the hair they create. Its like a Universe in itself. There Gods of it creating Goddesses no doubt.
Other nationalities tend to focus on 1 Breast(which is ok) 2. Facial and torso areas. I’ve seen staggering work in both groups.
Definitely both the Silent hill and Resident evil Series. The realistic modelling make them seem like real people and that in part makes me care about what happens to the characters. Oh and the kick butt stories help.
Of all the final fantsies I loved 8 and 10 myself again because the characters seem like real people. Great game design.
I happen to adore Strong willed and aggressive women (why yes I’m an American) some of the most beautiful women I have ever seen have been Janet Jackson, Melyssa Ford, Lanisha Cole, Carmen Electra, Kate Beckinsale, Lauren Graham (from gilmore girls). Alot of this has to do with the fact that I like Aggressive women who have a feminine side and enjoy it.
this is a very interesting thread (if only for the eyecandy). Lunatique, your views are also quite interesting to read.
What are your opinions on the african definition of beauty? Or South American for that matter? I was born in Johannesburg and (although i’m white) consider myself quite the african. I lived in Italy for 4 1/2 years and have worked in brazil for a while, so i’ve been exposed to different opinions/ideals reagrding women (and have aquired a rather varied taste myself - its the spice of life after all).
I’d also liek to hear other africans/south americans view on all this. This seems quite northern hemispherish to me
I don’t know enough about the subjective taste of native Africans, and I don’t even know if their subjective taste is any different from the general global taste (I think there is one). I do know one thing, and that is to many non-Africans, the more a black person looks similar to a caucassian, the more attractive that person becomes. If you look at the really popular black actresses in the U.S., they are usually the ones that have lighter skin or more caucassian features (Halle Berry for example). It’s a strange phenomenon, because this happens in other cultures as well. In some cultures where the main population has dark skin, the ones with lighter skin are typically regarded as more “attractive” or have higher social status. I think the fact that western countries had habitually tried to conquer the rest of the world with their superior technologies throughout history has something to do with that mentality. But it could also be a natural preference in the human psyche–that lighter and fairer skin gives the impression of “cleanliness,” while darker skin is regarded as “dirty.” I don’t know how much of that kind of mentality has to do with history, and how much of it has to do with natural preference (which is shaped by society anyway).
An interesting contrast about skin darkness is the differenc between the east and west. In America and Europe, suntan is something to be admired by most, and people bake themselves under the sun, risking skin cancer, accelerated aging, sun spots, freckles, wrinkles…etc to get that suntanned look. In Asia, it’s the total opposite. Except for a small minority, most Asians hate suntans. They feel that darker skin is very peasant like, and fair skin is more “elegant and classy.” They also can’t stand freckles and sunspots, because they see them as “diseased.”
I really hope that other Chinese artists would stop copying Chen Shu Fen and Common. So many Chinese artists are copying their style, and it’s kind of sad to see the lack of originality. When they aren’t copying Chen Shu Fen, they are copying the Koreans or the Japanese. Why isn’t there a Chinese style? The Koreans have a national style that recognizable, and so does the Japanese. The Chinese doesn’t seem to have that, unless you consider the Chen Shu Fen and Common ripoffs a national style.
And those big brown eyes!
