@Riot Petition to change Ahri's splashart to Michelle Hoefener's or something else altogether.

Captain Lito·3/10/2016, 1:23:51 AM·53 votes·17,321 views
If the updated Ahri splash art were made by Michelle Hoefener

So earlier today, a kind soul by the name of Mikasa Ackerman9 made me aware of Michelle Hoefener's base splash art for Ahri. To put it bluntly, this shocked me, this is an amazing representation of Ahri, and I would like to create a petition (albeit through strawpoll) that Ahri's splashart be changed, preferably to this new splash.

Why change Ahri's splash? Well in order to answer that we have to look at the images Mikasa provided us.

http://media.lolusercontent.com/api/embedly/1/image/resize?url=http%3A%2F%2Forig01.deviantart.net%2F39dd%2Ff%2F2015%2F325%2Fb%2F2%2Fahri___secret_by_michellehoefener-d9hkisn.jpg&key=a45e967db0914c7fb472fd4381e6c85b&width=425 This is Michelle's splash.

http://media.lolusercontent.com/api/embedly/1/image/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2F41.media.tumblr.com%2Ffaf424c8a967bb29fbe9ed45e7ad136e%2Ftumblr_o3shhj3UlG1ub715ho1_1280.jpg&key=a45e967db0914c7fb472fd4381e6c85b&width=425 This is a comparison between Ahri's current splash and Michelle's splash.

http://i.imgur.com/3GKkrDw.jpg This is the chinese/original version of Ahri's new splash.

http://i.imgur.com/dZTuCcM.jpg This splashart has been the most common alternate to the new splash ever since it's release. (Other than the original version) http://i.imgur.com/woNW0Tt.jpg And finally, in all it's glory, we have the first Ahri splash.

I'd like to apologize right now if the images don't work. Anyway, it is to note that Michelle is the creator of Popstar AND Challenger Ahri's splasharts, both of which have been well received by the community since their creation. It's also common knowledge that the current splash is not well received, though that doesn't necessarily include the person reading this. No one wants to have a poorly supported splash art, Riot. I've mained Ahri since Nov. 2014, and I loved that old splashart. To this day I'm not sure why you changed the edited version to the current one, but I assume you had your reasons. Now though, I think it's time to make a simple decision. Change the splashart to Michelle's (Which really shouldn't take long considering its already made), or consider the #1 option in the strawpoll listed at the bottom.

tl;dr Look at the images, vote for which one do you think is the best Ahri splash. You let us down with the current splash Riot, let the creator of Popstar/Challenger take the wheel on this one. http://strawpoll.me/7040608

Oh, and before I go: Thank you Mikasa for enlightening us of that new splash, I'm sorry I made a separate thread but Riot needs to understand if the community truly supports a splash change or not.

44 Comments

Krigjer3/10/2016, 1:58:11 AM38 votes

From an artistic point, I don't think Michelle's version is better. The lighting is just full of spell effect clutter, and the face has a bit of uncanny valley to it, imo. I would prefer the splashart stay as it is...

This should also clarify that everyone has different taste. Just because we disagree on the look of something doesn't mean either of us are wrong.

Valor Bot3/10/2016, 2:22:56 AM14 votes

I prefer Ahri's current splash. It seems more realistic and less doll-like in appearance, IMO.

Keevalroy3/10/2016, 1:50:21 AM5 votes

They wouldn't make a new one for her, and if they did, could you imagine the reaction from the community? They'd all scream "Special treatment! Special treatment! Fix X or update Y instead!"...and I'd have to agree with them but only to a certain extent. Ahri's update went through two splashes - both of which were extremely poorly received, but there were 2 updates nonetheless.

When Knockwurst's update went up on DA, there was a Twitch/Youtube series that went along with them just showing the process of splash creation. It wasn't intended to be an update (although it would be nice,) it was more for the people who hated the new one and wanted a replacement they could mod into the client if they wanted. When we asked if there was some possibility that this could be the new one, we were told that because he's not technically part of Riot anymore, they treat this as fan work and thus won't be considered.

Now here's the interesting part: Michelle is still employed by Riot and is on the splash team, but this is still non-Riot related work. That said, because there's a Riot connection, it may be possible that this could be treated as a Riot product. I'm hopeful that there could be a chance that her's could be acceptable, especially since it's already done, and not only that, it was done off of Riot's time.

GorillaBearz3/10/2016, 7:46:38 AM5 votes

I think the Michelle Hoefener splash is amazing! It gives me a sense of mystery while also being very sexy, which I think are both hugely defining characteristics of Ahri, I would definitely be in favor of Riot switching over to Michelle's artwork. [zombie-nunu-hearts]

Igotlazy3/10/2016, 3:20:44 AM4 votes

I personally don't like it all that much. Now KNKL's splash (the one from a looking up perspective)? Oooh boy is that one amazing. So much emotion.

GreenLore3/10/2016, 1:37:30 PM4 votes

I think in Michelles splash the hair/ears don't look right.

it looks kinda like she is wearing a wig,the problem is that her hair has much more volume in michelles version,which would mean that ahri either has a deformed head or her ears are actually really big and half of them is covered in her hair. Not to mention that her ears actually seem to be a little bit beside her head,I mean look at her left ear(right from our perspective) it looks like only half of it actually connects to ahris head,while the other half just sits inside her hair.

LdCwrGm1vv3/10/2016, 2:07:05 AM3 votes

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Captain Lito3/10/2016, 1:25:17 AM2 votes

Oh, and for reference, if you want to vote for the alternate new splash that's been out since the current one's creation. (The new non-Michelle one), use the last option. Thanks!

Borbland3/10/2016, 1:09:34 PM2 votes

Michelles version looks great except for the face I think, there she looks like she doesn't in what she just stepped in.

But anyway, the best Ahri splashart is still the first one imo

Kinjishi3/10/2016, 7:45:59 PM2 votes

"This is a comparison between Ahri's current splash and her original splash." - OP No, that is a comparison between the current splash and Michelle's version. >.> Please learn to tell the difference.

The current and old splash are much better than Michelle Hoefener's version. Would not want her version of it at all.

Interesting that a poll is started on a 3rd party site as opposed to in this thread where everyone can easily vote.

Lt Streko3/10/2016, 6:11:15 PM1 votes

Everyone's bound to have different opinions on the Ahri splash. Some people have gotten used to it, and I will admit, at first I was a huge hater of the current splash, but it has grown on me a little bit. That being said I still don't care for it much, but that opinion differs greatly. Do I wish the splash art was changed/reverted? Yes? Is it going to happen any time soon? No. There's plenty of other splash arts that need updates first, (coughcough Warwick ) Just my two cents.

Sorí Na4/30/2017, 4:49:48 AM1 votes

My concern about Ahri is her face.. her new splash art and recent skin arts portray her more of Caucasian woman than an Asian woman. Ahri is of Korean decent (as they have confirmed) so I would hope that Riot keeps her looking Asian. Minor differences here and there aren't a big issue, but I've just been noticing how Riot is allowing her to look less Asian and more Caucasian. I was actually really disappointed that Riot decided to update her splash art into the one we have now. I do agree she needed an updated splash but I just wished they touched up on color. I thought it was a beautiful piece of art and I miss seeing her old icon in games. Even now, Riot is adding in some new stories about the Vastayans (Wukong, Nami, Ahri, Rengar, Xayah, Rakan), and although it is just a drawing/sketch, Ahri was drawn with facial features that appeared very European. She literally looked like Barbara Palvin or Thylane Blondeau. She's just a character in a game and it's not a big deal, they're drawings, faces will not always be accurate, but at least keep the ethnicity accurate. That can't be that difficult. Some people did complain that her face looked flat but to be real, Asian people have relatively flatter facial features. That's the truth of it. If Riot wanted Ahri to have sharper features, they made the mistake of making her of Asian decent. I really hope that Ahri's ethnicity is not lost in the future. We do not have many Asian champions after all. Ahri is the only Asian champion that is female. I'm not entirely sure if Akali is considered Asian. Please don't let Ahri's ethnicity disappear.

TheBentOn33/10/2016, 9:05:13 PM1 votes

Chinese splash is the best IMO. She really looks like a soul devouring fox-demon (which she is)

Adonna3/11/2016, 11:53:53 PM1 votes

woozy - I've changed most of the artwork already

Taco59445/1/2016, 5:25:41 AM1 votes

I would keep the same splash art but if they had to change it to a new one definitely Michelle's. Just don't do the Chinese one it is horrible. If you have seen the new dynasty splash art and how bad that one is. That one is the Chinese splash art. Never have should put it in the American one though should have stayed the old dynasty,

FrankerX3/10/2016, 1:29:13 AM1 votes

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