Thoughts on Fan Art Sold at Conventions

[naki]

A bit of warning to those reading this. This is a side of me that most of you probably haven't seen of me.
If you are insulted after reading this, you have been warned.

Well, the Anime industry has been hard hit from the downloading of fansubs and continues to be. On our soil, it is reflected by the downfall of various licensees and distributors such as ADV in Houston, TX.

I am aware that Anime conventions are on the rise in the US in number and congoers, however, if the downloading trend continues there will be fewer and fewer reasons to go to anime conventions.

I am aware that fanart sells well perhaps very well compared to one's OCs (Original Characters). I feel it as a starting point for some artists to get recognized which is reasonable.

Note: Personal fanart artists create for themselves is perfectly fine which is kind of giving homage to a show or manga. This just covers fanart sold at conventions.

However, I do not feel it appropriate for artists to take advantage of it for a long period of time (a year max). It is not your own work no matter how original the artist thinks it is, since it is a rendition of someone else's licensed character. Those that stick with it, stunt themselves creatively (the artist is not creating anything new) and hurts anime and manga as a whole.

What happens is the congoer falls into the trap of buying someone's fanart instead of the anime or manga creator's merchandise. The detriment here is that the purchasing of the anime or manga creator's merchandise is important, since it helps fund future anime and manga production and licensing in the US. The people creating (dealers/pushers) and people purchasing (users) "fanart" turn their back on the anime and manga they so claim to love, since money goes to creating more fanart instead of helping fund more "new" anime and manga creation, distribution and licensing.

What needs to happen after the initial fanart stage(...well if they need to do that to become established), artists should refuse to do fanart and instead create their own OCs, manga style, and manga. They need to add to the manga scene (eventually hopefully to an anime scene as well). Stop this disservice people.

For those who won't let go of it, stop your petty immaturity, selfishness, and greed.

Ket Naki