xekstrin:

saruwk:

verysmallfrogs:

faegeekgirl:

i think it might be a good idea, when you’re designing a villain, if you look at them and think “why do these characteristics make me think of them as villainous” and like, if those characteristics reflect groups of real-life marginalized people….maybe, don’t go with those design choices?

*large hook noses, dark complexion, prominent lips, elderly, physical deformities, injuries, or disabilities, non-conforming gender presentation, obesity or overweight body types, improperly represented mental illnesses, sometimes sexual expression or agency especially in female villains, and certain accents*

I feel like if you begin to block off certain traits for a character to have that’s not okay as well. maybe just change it up. it’s okay to have a villain with such things, but it’s not okay if that character is a stereotype. if your character has a large hooked nose or dark skin, that doesn’t matter, that’s just how they look, what matters is the motivation and character for your villain. If they are Flanderised*  or stereotyped, that’s not a villain, that’s just bad writing.

*Possible mispelling

okay but if all your villains Just Happen to look like that and all your heroes Just Happen to look otherwise maybe think about why that is 

Easy Fix: make the whole cast diverse so that you can’t point at the only dark skinned character and have a 90% chance of them being the villain