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Taliyah's Design

JungHai0·5/4/2016, 12:49:26 AM·27 votes·3,650 views

I absolutely adore Taliyah's design. This is for a few reasons, but one of them is that she's not sexualized. She's not even supposed to be classically "beautiful." I'm not saying all or even most of the females Riot makes are sexualized. Look at Jinx, at Vi, at Illaoi and Quinn and Rek'sai and Kalista.

However, among all the others, and even in the champions I just mentioned (excluding Jinx and Illaoi), their faces, or facial structures are similar. Of course, there are differences. Ionians look somewhat Asian and Fiora's cheekbones still could probably cut glass, but they don't really have the same variation that the male faces do. Maybe it has to do with a lack of facial hair to work with, or maybe male bodies make for a better "canvas", so to speak, for the artist to draw on. Whatever the reason, if you kept the facial expressions the same, Sejuani's face looks similar to Lux's looks similar to Orianna's and Riven's face looks similar to Sivir's looks similar to Leblanc's and Vayne's, and you get the idea. On the other hand, the most similar faces on the male side are maybe Varus, Yasuo, and Lucian, although I'm stretching it with Lucian there. Yes, Darius looks kinda like Udyr and Olaf (though we'll never know for sure because of that great big helmet covering most of his face) but facial hair seperates them, even if the hair was all the same color. Taliyah, along with the few other female champions I mentioned earlier, breaks this idea. She's unique. She also has the greatest eyebrow game I've ever seen since Satsuki Goddamn Kiryuin.

Swinging back to the topic of sexualization. I don't think it's a problem to have sexualized characters. I don't think that Ahri and Akali and Ashe should cover up. All I'm saying is that it's nice to not have it on a champion that doesn't need it. Janna is a prime example in my eyes. According to her lore, she's an orphan who grew up in Zaun and discovered that she had a talent for air magic. Using her skills and her position in the League, she seeks to "right the injustice in the world" and supports the continued development of techmaturgy. Why is someone like that dressed in what is essentially a bikini? I can see why Evelynn, or Miss Fortune would be dressed the way they are. It's part of their theme. It, however, makes no sense on Janna, and I'm glad to see it's not a part of Taliyah's design.

If you disagree with any part of this, please tell me so I can fix anything that I got wrong.

TL;DR - Taliyah looks unique in a cast of similarly beautiful female champs and that's cool. Her eyebrow game is strong.

41 Comments

Valor Bot5/4/2016, 1:43:51 AM11 votes

{quoted}Janna is a prime example in my eyes. According to her lore, she's an orphan who grew up in Zaun and discovered that she had a talent for air magic. Using her skills and her position in the League, she seeks to "right the injustice in the world" and supports the continued development of techmaturgy. Why is someone like that dressed in what is essentially a bikini? I can see why Evelynn, or Miss Fortune would be dressed the way they are. It's part of their theme. It, however, makes no sense on Janna, and I'm glad to see it's not a part of Taliyah's design.

Riot, please look back and remember this post when you're working on Janna's visual update.

Wyrmblade5/4/2016, 4:22:24 AM8 votes

Janna is supposed to look very free and untouchable and I think her outfit does a good job of showing that. If Janna was male but pretty much the same otherwise I'd go for the same amount of clothing, maybe even less. She's risen from the streets of one of the worst cities on the planet into something beyond a typical person's life and the clothing reflects that otherworldliness. She doesn't wear shoes because she doesn't touch the ground and she doesn't wear much because she doesn't care what people think; she's above all that stuff. Making her look like someone you could see just walking around in the city would lose that depth in her design and it would accentuate her peeling focused kit a lot less.

However I would lose the dumb jokes like the shivering and the 2.95 a minute thing.

On the topic of Taliyah, I don't like her design not for the lack of sexualization, but because I don't think it fits her concept or league in general. She's supposed to represent the people of Shurima, nomadic, down to earth, often poor, but she looks like a princess with her flowing robes and golden hairpiece. Her hair gives the outline of a halo around her, but she's meant to just be a teenager with a vision, not a saint. She's supposed to represent a sparrow to match Azir's bird design, but she ends up looking like a tiny version of Azir. There are ways to make someone look like a sparrow reusing an extremely similar silhouette. Her outfit itself seems like a mismatched world of warcraft set, like someone put a shaman set's shoulders on the set boosted mages get. While I like that it looks like a big arrow pointing to the ground, the random useless lines on it clutter her design without adding anything to the look. It makes me sad because there's a lot more interesting stuff you could do with the whole stone/bird thing, like adding some feathers etched into the stone. I don't feel much inspiration coming from it, like it was more of an "Oh fuck what should she wear" thing than a "Her personality and backstory would have her wearing this" kind of thing.

It's disappointing to me because League of Legend's character design is why I play it over DotA, the characters are interesting, you can see who they are, what they're like, and what they're capable of just from looking at them. But Taliyah looks more like she's someone's RPG character, her kit looks fun as hell and with over a hundred champions it's not a big deal, but I just hope it's not an omen.

Rivenwind5/4/2016, 1:43:27 AM5 votes

I like Taliyah's design because she's got a relatively light character overall. The last young character we've had in the league was Ekko, who is about the same age or younger, I imagine. Aside from that we have...Annie. That's it. That's our "young" character roster. It's a very pleasant and surprising change of pace.

Her visual concept is fantastic, her clothing choice plays well with her movement oriented kit and breaks the idea that stone and earth-based characters should be rigid looking. Her face and general demeanor leave an unassuming and humble impression, which only further compliments her design as an inexperienced mage who hails from a nondescript background and struggles with herself as much as her impressive talent.

Overall she just feels relatable and I personally like her story, though after the second read through it seemed pretty cringy. I blame that mostly on yasuo's character concept and how they chose to portray it in her reveal, making it seem just as much about him as Taliyah. He's always been a walking anime trope.

WoonStruck5/4/2016, 12:53:08 AM4 votes

If you think Taliyah has eyebrow game, go play Dungeons of Dredmor.

That said, I agree with your points. Some people seem to think there's something wrong with her just because she looks 'average'.

A Superb Villain5/4/2016, 2:06:08 AM4 votes

{quoted}

and Fiora's cheekbones still could probably cut glass

Is there a problem with that?

ಠ _ ರೃ

Questionable diction in describing the esteemed Grand Duelist aside, I actually find her wardrobe design to be absolutely hilarious when compared to Azir, whom, thanks to a great deal of misinformation, she staunchly opposes. They both have a large mantle, and both have ridiculously long sleeves.

Taliyah, dear, if you despise Azir so much, why are you stealing his style?

FearEngineer5/4/2016, 5:51:35 AM4 votes

It's a child though, isn't it? Do we have to praise them for not sexualizing Annie too?

Dreamspitter5/4/2016, 6:52:51 AM4 votes

{quoted}

I absolutely adore Taliyah's design. This is for a few reasons, but one of them is that she's not sexualized. She's not even supposed to be classically "beautiful." I'm not saying all or even most of the females Riot makes are sexualized. Look at Jinx, at Vi, at Illaoi and Quinn and Rek'sai and Kalista.

I mean....she's a child isnt she?

Sincarnation5/4/2016, 6:17:29 AM3 votes

Janna is a stereotypical Sylph, and traditionally creatures with air/wind powers wear less/very breezy clothing regardless of gender

I feel like there is a right way and a wrong way to do different facial structures. Its not that she isn't attractive, its that it doesn't look good to me. Like a physically unattractive character can still look good, but Taliyahs face is just yuck. Like when i first saw the cinematic I was taken aback by it

GenoXx5/4/2016, 6:44:09 AM3 votes

Now see here you go with the sexualized mess.... It was all good until u brought up sexism...Just be happy its a new champion, gawd. Saying something like "I'm happy she not sexualized :D" states that feminist are still ready to go at it again with the anatomy war again. No one said anything about Taric being too sexualized for girls did they?

Honestly, it was uncalled for to say that. Let's not start a sexism war.

SociopathFriend5/4/2016, 2:22:06 AM2 votes

Janna- one of the few champions where skins add MORE clothing to the character.

SexySoapTurtle5/4/2016, 4:31:18 AM2 votes

I love when people compare real life to a fantasy game.

GreenLore5/4/2016, 6:57:33 AM1 votes

Speaking of Janna,I have to say that Jannas character is rather bland(she is like "air is so magical and great" all the time),so I'm kinda glad that riot is able to make an elemental mage nowadays who does have her own character outside of "my element is magical"

HeartPalpitation5/4/2016, 8:57:21 AM1 votes

well from the league community stream they said she is 16 years old, so sexualizing her would be... kinda wrong?

Summoners Drift5/4/2016, 10:19:08 AM1 votes

I felt the same way about Rek'sai. What a beautiful strong woman. RekSai

Azteryz5/4/2016, 1:01:16 PM1 votes

man when i first saw this teaser and when the sun hit her face i was like

damn you're beautiful

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bT7CRWqV6S4/maxresdefault.jpg

Oleandervine5/4/2016, 5:10:31 AM1 votes

Actually, just so you guys are aware, Janna was one of the earliest reworks alongside Kayle. While her looks have become aged, they're not as bad as others like Nunu, Pantheon, and Mundo. She's got a few homages to her old version in her voice files, such as the bit where she has this raspy voice, coughs, and then apologizes, a direct pun on the way she used to talk.

As for Taliyah, I like her and can't wait to get her.

SoMNia5/4/2016, 10:39:20 AM1 votes

Agreed. She has a unique appearance that I find appealing and a valuable addition to the game, artistically speaking. Her gameplay looks like a lot of fun, too.

As an aside, I have to laugh at all the people acting like 16-year-olds have no sexuality of their own and don't play League either. "But she's a child!" Americans. My country. LMAO. She's a minor by many standards, yes. That's not what a child is. Creeping on people much younger than you is obviously gross and often illegal, but this is a fictional character, and there are people of her nominal age playing League. Of course, what do I expect from a culture that puts gore and mutilation on TV, but hides nipples? XD I digress. Taliyah's hypothetical sexuality is irrelevant, and the o/p is right in saying there's no reason to sexualize her. I just thought it was hilarious to see people acting like a 16-year-old is a totally non-sexual entity. Clearly, they don't remember being 16. I'm laughing forever at all this squirming.

theDeblin5/4/2016, 5:03:38 AM1 votes

The main disagreement I have with this is that you think that someone in skintight leather pants under a miniskirt tunic 'isn't sexualized'.

I mean, I like the character design too, on grounds of general awesomeness and the fact that when I noticed the tiara I started laughing out loud, but the reason you like it seems to be based entirely on you not Seeing What They Did There. I mean, she's riding a surfboard in raised heels, it's not THAT subtle.