User blog comment:Kirbyna321/Things I Don't Like About Vocaloid/@comment-5665682-20140623171343/@comment-5051846-20140624104940

@IAlice: Don't worry about the details. Not fitting one of two of the elements in a minor fashion does not mean that the overall concept is not the same, which was what I was trying to express. orz I apologise for being obtuse. I'll paraphrase it.

From an artistic point of view, let's look at their silhouette. With thigh-high stockings or thigh high boots, the outline of the outfit would be the same, right? A similar silhouette often means is that the artist was inspired by the same idea. Having the same outline, but different details is a symptom of using the same 'base' to begin and then changing things to make sure it's unique. From this perspective, it may be technically unique, but it wouldn't be 'different'. When describing whether a design is average for anime, Vocaloid or anything you have to take a step back from the details. Does one Vocaloid have a side parting but this one has a centre parting? It doesn't matter too much.

But there's more to it than just the silhouette too – the atmosphere, tone and artistic genre of the design are also important when you are considering whether a design is average. You could create a design that incorperated all three of the elements I listed, and have the same silhouette, but actually be completely different and unique, and never be mistaken for a different design. To do this you would approach the idea (in this case Vocaloid) from a completely different idea. Although details may be the same, your concept would be very different. Here's the most common tone for most Vocaloid designs: Optimistic, appears to be set in a relatively close future, cute, clean and crisp (no grunge), casual not formal wear; and a couple of other aspects which make the overall impression of your average Vocaloid design.

Now, sometimes if you are used to Vocaloid designs and the many designs in other media that follow this theme, it can be difficult to imagine a design that diverges from it. Within their group they are unique – they are different positive-futuristic-cute designs from each other. But what if we went for a completely different theme and tone? Vocaloid isn't limited by a set theme just as music isn't limited to one genre, so following one idea for every design can be seen as taking an average route. Imagine a Vocaloid with a cyberpunk aethetic – it would still be futuristic, but it would be very different from what we most often see now. Vocaloids that take a different route really stand out from the crowd.

But this is looking at your average Vocaloid design, which of course didn't exist when MIku was released. But I hope it serves as an different perspective on design trends in general, and what different people see as 'unique'.

Back to: 'Is Miku an average anime design?' Since anime designs are determined much by their setting, I think they are more likely to diverge from each other than Vocaloid designs. However, as we have seen many times in history, even with the most variable thing people will still make stereotypes of it. People are incredibly different from each other, yet groups have been stereotyped since the dawn of time. If a stereotype exists, which for anime of course it does, something somewhere will probably fit it. Miku is super-common elements + some LEDs, so she probably fits quite a few people's idea of an 'average anime design' but with a Vocaloid twist. Everything about her is incredibly popular as designs go, a good idea from a marketing perspective. Many Vocaloids also use these incredibly popular aspects, which little divergence in theme. Considering context and what is popular, this shouldn't come as a surprise. Vocaloids do have design trends and most-common elements. Rather than looking at the details, I'd count which really stand out (in a good way or a bad way) in presentation:

Sweet Ann

Big Al

All the Vocaloids that don't have a design, for obvious reasons

Sonika (realistic boxart)

Mew

ZOLA Project (Amano ver.)

Mayu

This is very subjective too, so I went for those I was absolutely sure diverge a large amount from the norm. It's not many. Of course indivisual Vocaloids look different from each other – they are different products, not clones. And those listed above a different in various ways – sometimes it's the design, but the artstyle as a big impact too. Why do these stand out? Because the rest share similarities, of course. :D

(Whether this is a bad or good thing totally depends, don't mistake me for trying to argue that those listed above are any better or worse than those you listed. Overly different designs are often quite a bit more risky and taking a new look at a more well-established idea)