1.800 Otaku Senshi v1.3 Inspired Thought

CREATING OTAKU SENSHI

Creating a senshi from scratch can be a very hard process. We at 1-800 OTAKU SENSHI are here to help the otaku community. Eventually we plan to have a Senshi Planner covering all the important aspects of creating your senshi, but this may be some time away. Until then, here are some various tips on how to creatre, or improve, your otaku senshi.

by Sailor Angel

With additional comments from Kuuroinochou

Anyway below are a few tutorials put together by a select few members. I hope you benefit from them as I have and many others. *smile*

STEP 1: WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Creating an otaku senshi works much better with an original name, especially if it sounds like it could be a name Naoko would have chosen. For example, there are several hundred Sailor Earth's and Sailor Sun's/Sol's. There are a few thousand other planets, moons, stars, etc. that would sound as good and catch peoples' eyes. However, something like Eternal Sailor Golden Faerie Star, although original, is a bit of a mouthful and doesn't really fit with the rest of the senshi, does it?

[Eternal Sailor Golden Faerie Star is a made-up name for this purpose - any similarities to an existing senshi is completely unintentional!]

You can also consider the idea that your senshi's planet (and therefore name) may be in alien language. Not everyone in the universe will speak Japanese or English. I've done for four of my senshi, although one of the four is derived from Latin.

But I have no bias against commonly used names. Sailor Sol from SM: Universal is one of my favourite otaku senshi. I have a Sailor Sol of my own ^^ But other people may not share your enthusiasm for the 102nd Sailor Earth. Just something to keep in mind if you're in the stages of attracting a fan club.

Kuuroinochou

Another thing, originality is the key in both civilian and senshi names. For instance think about how Usagi's name fits with her whole being. That would be her association with the moon. Tsuki, Sailor Moon, and Serenity which all have something to do with the moon in one way or another. If you plan on giving your senshi a name that has nothing to do with a planet, you had better make sure his/her name flows smoothly with the rest of their persona.

For example: My former senshi Sailor Butterflyy has nothing to do with a planet in general, but if one did research they would learn that butterflies are usually depicted as spirits. In many cultures they are associated with the mind and spirit. Butterflyy's powers deal with spirituality and butterflies. Hence her civilian name Psyche Monarch which translates to "spiritual butterfly".

"Akari Ariana" translates to "holy light of flame". Sailor Angel's powers are holy and fire.

The key word, here is research. Not many otaku creators actually do background checks on their senshi's given name. Trust me it doesn't take long to look up a simple name, be it Japanese, English or other do a little background or history on it. In the long run it will pay off for both you and your senshi. One more thing, you DO NOT have to give your senshi a Japanese designation. It just doesn't make since if he/she is from Africa, Australia or another world altogether. Be consistent in choosing a name. If your character is from some other country give them a name that represents them as well as their home land. And please refrain from using a goddess or gods name if you have no clue as to what or who they are. (I know all my senshi's civi names are gods/goddess but they aren't taken for the actual meaning or who they represent). RESEARCH people the world is full of information on something you may not understand or be too sure about.
[ As a side note, when using a Japanese designation (name) PLEASE be reasonable about it. Names should be easy enough to pronouce and short enough to writte on a resume or school paper. Think about it, if your friends couldn't pronounce your name correctly, wouldn't you be upset. Look here for some useful names and there meanings 20000 Names Around the World.

Common naming choices include:

names of stars (eg. Sirius, Capella)
names of constellations (eg. Virgo, Aries)
names of other celestial bodies, such as moons, comets, asteroids, etc.
names of Gods or Goddesses - Greek and Roman are especially popular
elemental senshi - Sailor Fire (or Sailor [insert-blank-here]Fire)
"superior" or "high-ranking" names such as Angel, Devil, Demon, Eternity, Universe

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