About

Original Character, often abbreviated as OC, is an acronym and slang term used to refer to fictional characters created by an author, role-player or artist rather than originating from an established fictional canon or intellectual property (IP). The term is particularly common in amateur, fanfiction and online art and fandom communities, where creators develop characters independently or incorporate them into existing fictional settings.

OCs can be created for use in fanworks or as standalone characters unrelated to any existing fandom. The acronyms can also be used in a gender-specific form, such as OFC (original female character) or OMC (original male character). Some also use the OC acronym to stand for "original content."

Origin

The concept of creating original characters predates the internet, with many pointing toward early Star Trek fandom as a particular source, though one could argue much earlier examples exist in broader terms.^[1] Some also point to the origin of "OC" being used in role-playing games (RPGs) like Dungeons and Dragons, which also predate the term's use online.^[2] However, the exact origin of OC as "original character" on the internet is almost impossible to trace.

In online drawing communities such as DeviantArt, artist-created characters are commonly referred to as original characters and OCs. An original character may eventually be incorporated into an existing narrative work, though many artists create and share character designs without developing a story or larger narrative around them.^[1]

Some also point to DeviantArt as the origin or popularization of the term OC on the internet, such as a thread from the /r/OriginalCharacter^[3] subreddit on June 24th, 2024, asking when people first heard the term. According to many Redditors in the comments, they first heard the term on DeviantArt anywhere from the early 2000s to the 2010s.

On Urban Dictionary,^[6] the earliest definition for OC as "original character" was added to the site on August 3rd, 2008, by user Madoka, who defined it as:

Stands for "original character." A character created by a fanfic author or roleplayer. Said created character does not belong to the canon cast but is inserted anyway for entertainment.

On July 11th, 2020, YouTuber^[4] CentaurWorks uploaded a video titled "What Is An OC?" exploring the topic and defining what an OC is compared to a "fan character," garnering over 15,100 views, 270 likes and 25 comments in six years.

Spread

The abbreviation "OC" became increasingly common alongside online fanfiction and digital art communities in the late 1990s and early 2000s.^[5]

As fan-created fiction and artwork became more widespread online, creators began using the term to distinguish characters they had invented from those in an established fictional canon.^[1] As they are not exclusive to any particular intellectual property or medium, original characters became a staple of many online art communities and fandoms.

Due to the prevalence of original characters in art or fandom-oriented spaces, original characters developed a negative reputation in some online spaces.

OCs have frequently been the subject of mockery for perceived poor quality, excessive use of familiar character tropes or designs and their association with inexperienced artists, as evidenced by memes such as "Original Character, Do Not Steal," which first appeared on March 18th, 2008, on DeviantART.

Though OCs are widespread on the internet, certain online communities and fandoms developed reputations for particular OCs.

The Sonic the Hedgehog fandom, for example, is particularly known for its large community of fan-created characters.^[1]

An infamous aspect of the fandom, many Sonic OCs, created both earnestly and ironically, have achieved online infamy. Largely disconnected from the source material and its context, these OCs became representative of the Sonic fandom as a whole.

Notable examples include Coldsteel The Hedgeheg, a parody of the phenomenon that first appeared on May 29th, 2013, and Sonichu, a genuine OC created by controversial internet figure Chris-Chan on November 24th, 2004.

On Reddit, the /r/OriginalCharacter^[7] subreddit was created on February 17th, 2013, as a place for users to share and discuss their original characters, accumulating over 185,500 members in roughly 13 years.

Various Examples

Related Memes

Sonic Original Characters

Sonic Original Characters (Sonic OCs) are fan-made characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe. Whereas their large quantity has made them a notable popular part of the Sonic Fandom, elsewhere on the internet they are common targets of mockery due to the overall low quality of some characters and their association with the younger audiences.

Draw Your OC in This

Draw Your OC in This (also Draw Your OC in This Style and other versions) is a fan art trend that involves drawing images of one's original or favorite characters in a certain outfit, often revealing or humorous, in a certain style or striking a certain pose. A descendant of Draw Your OTP Tumblr challenges, the trend saw continuous virality with artists online since 2016.

Thunder Thighs OC

Thunder Thighs OC refers to an original character (OC) drawn by an unknown X / Twitter user and subsequently referenced by @chonzodraws. @chonzodraws's reference depicts the character as a blue being with disproportionately large hips, thighs, and legs in comparison to the rest of its body. The image inspired various redraws, fan art and reactions from people who both liked and disliked the proportions.

SFW Artists Posting About OCs vs. NSFW Artists Posting About OCs

SFW Artists Posting About OCs vs. NSFW Artists Posting About OCs refers to memes and jokes about a single-panel webcomic showing a "SFW" artist holding up a painting of the Mona Lisa they made but getting fewer likes than the NSFW artist for posting their original characters. The image saw viral redraws and meme edits on X / Twitter in October 2024 and led to people joking about how "Art Twitter" often rehashes the same arguments. The meme is similar to the 600 vs. 15 Likes comic that saw ironic use in the early 2020s.

Search Interest

External References