Overwatch has developed quite a fan art following....

Someone asked for some Pharmercy so here you go (with a touch of Symmetra):

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Also some "thick" Mei (though it's a bit risque?):


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These are all good points, especially the part that questions what 'thinness' even is.

Let me just clear up my position a bit more:

I don't see this as a moral thing. For me, it's just a metric of good art to have a diversity of representation. While Mei retains a distinct body type that isn't typically lean, it's clear that there is some disappointment among people that want her to be bigger than what she is. But this doesn't mean Blizzard did anything wrong or decieved the audience or whatever.

It just means that their disappointment is understandable. They had an ambiguous situation, went with one interpretation, and it didn't turn out to be the official one. Furthermore, I maintain that Mei having a larger body type may have been more interesting and more emotionally gratifying for people who want that kind of representation in the game. As such, I don't think it was the way to go. It's not a moral thing, any more than George Lucas is morally wrong for writing "I hate sand", but it's not the best creative direction to go in imo.

That said, let me make one disclaimer: I'm really really passionate about stories and art, and I'm really passionate about Overwatch. About Mei? Not so much. I'm mostly arguing the principle of the point as a more detached observer. I would have preferred Mei to be fat, but honestly, she's one of my more ignored characters. I dislike playing against her, since most of mains are vulnerable to her, and I like the personalities of other characters more. So I actually don't have strong feelings on Mei herself. So I'm not really making the arguments I'm making from an emotionally invested place. I don't feel slighted by Blizzard, or feel they slighted others. I'm not trying to preach any kind of moral superiority.

In as detached manner as I can reasonably be expected to be, I just don't think this was the right call.

When I say "moral" I get to the topic of representation because at its core I think its a moral issue. Or at least it quickly becomes one. I don't say that as a pejorative, just as a matter of fact. My objection is mostly on the use of "right" and "wrong". As I said, preferences are fine. I just don't think any mistake was made here. At least no more a mistake than any other character that didn't have a design that might better represent a minority group (along whichever axis you want to use).


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I mean my opinion on the Mei issue has already been given but overall I don't think reasonably wishing for or politely asking for this sort of representation is a bad thing. It's a good thing actually. People just need to not be jerks about it (unless developers legitimately say something or do something fucking stupid deserving of harsh criticism) or imagine slights where there aren't any.
 
Are the sprays even considered canon? My interpretation of the summer games stuff is that it was kind of creating a universe where all the heroes were athletes of some kind. Like a fun kind of "What if...?". If Mei was a p-rofessional athlete she would probably be in shape. It doesn't necassarily mean she is in the canon of the game.

That's just how it seemed to me. I mean what is or isn't considered cannon is kind of foggy in a game where there can be multiple of the same people fighting against eachother. It kind of seems like nothing that's actually in the game is necassarily cannon. That's only the comics and stuff.

The problem with that is it'd mean everybody has their body represented as it is in game except Mei, seemingly only to fuel this idea that she's fat. I mean clearly the activities aren't necessarily canon as this is promotional material but that doesn't mean you'd throw out just Mei's body shape.
 
Ok I feel like there's several things are are weird about this conversation:

.

Parting gift:

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Yes boobs but like I think this piece is legitimately adorable <3

Also food porn!

Plus i always consider Mei "thick"and this picture only supports that for me
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maybe nsfw?
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See if this was just anime. we would have had everyone's 3 measurements already ;p


Just came in here to say thank you God.
 
The problem with that is it'd mean everybody has their body represented as it is in game except Mei, seemingly only to fuel this idea that she's fat. I mean clearly the activities aren't necessarily canon as this is promotional material but that doesn't mean you'd throw out just Mei's body shape.

I don't see why they would have to change anyone elses body. I think they just made her look like a typical pro ping pong player for the spray.
 
Well that's true, I think this is a bit different.

Art has been unrealistic since artwork first existed, to be fair. Thousands of years ago, people were painting men and women with exaggerated proportions to emphasize the parts of the body that were adored or to represent certain things.

I'm not really into the exaggerated proportions stuff&#8212;god damn I'm looking at you, giant thigh people&#8212;but I understand why it exists. Art has no more requirement to be realistic than in-game mechanics do, I think.



Because women (and men) of differing body types deserve to see themselves in games, and the people who prefer that type of person have the right to have their preferences fulfilled as well.


Anyway!





 
Are the sprays even considered canon? My interpretation of the summer games stuff is that it was kind of creating a universe where all the heroes were athletes of some kind. Like a fun kind of "What if...?". If Mei was a p-rofessional athlete she would probably be in shape. It doesn't necassarily mean she is in the canon of the game.

That's just how it seemed to me. I mean what is or isn't considered cannon is kind of foggy in a game where there can be multiple of the same people fighting against eachother. It kind of seems like nothing that's actually in the game is necassarily cannon. That's only the comics and stuff.

To be perfectly honest, this is how I also interpret it. The meat n' potatoes for the games lore comes from the comics, the animated short films, & any supplementary media (Mei's Journal, etc.). Besides, I just don't see how a random spray confirms it.

When looking at Mei's in-game model and design document (the PDF files that Blizzard had created for artists, cosplayers, & fans to use as reference), I seriously can't tell if she's skinny/average and her winter gear makes her larger, or if she actually has chubby/big girl proportions. (You could make the argument that from the waist up her clothes give her the appearance of a much larger woman, but her legs?) I don't think she's as thin/skinny as D.Va, nor as fat/obese as others have made her out to be. (5ft 3in & 180-200 pounds, tops.)
 
Who do you guys think can bench more, Zarya or Reinhardt? Rein is obviously bigger, but dude sprains his back just flexing, who knows what kind of condition his body is in, while Zarya is still young and in her prime.
 
Ever wonder what the Overwatch cast would be like if they worked at a High school?
No? Well here they are.

You know it wasn't until this was posted on Reddit that I learned of the Tumblr Nose. Notice how all of their noses are oddly shaded or made red? A lot of them is in Tumblr art.

That isn't to say Tumblr invented it or is exclusive to it, but it has become a staple of many artist on it.
 
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