Minecraft Skin
| Synonyms: | |
| See also: | Minesona, Block Person, Cubito |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
A Minecraft Skin is a term in gaming that refers to an individual's character's appearance in the game of Minecraft. This is similar, but has a few differences (mainly being easier to edit in freeform ways) to "character creation" processes in other video games. There are a few default Minecraft skins given by the game, usually referred to as "Steve" and "Alex", but it is possible to paint your own custom Minecraft skin within certain limitations using a variety of painting programs on a computer. Skins become especially important in fandom in MCYT related fandoms, both in minecraft roleplay servers, and other minecraft-based works that people are fans of.
Content creators (like most general Minecraft players) usually have their own (custom painted) skins, and may have one skin, or many skins, and their skins often play into their aesthetic and / or storytelling. A fair portion of fandom activity consists of, or requires as a starting step, the interpretation of the fairly small and undetailed minecraft skin(s) of the creators or stories they're a fan of, into detailed representations in fanart or fanfiction (and other mediums). Some of this is fairly simple, like expanding the details of a simple kimono, sweater, pants or skirt portrayed. Or even a pair of animal ears, feet or other anatomy. And some can be more complex and / or creative, or even add their own semi-new characteristics created by the fan themselves. For example deciding how a character's partial non-human-ness (as told in the story or roleplay) will be portrayed visually. Or adding their own characteristics from headcanons.
One subset of this is that there is a general fan-consensus that those who are particularly good at in-game flight are shown with some sort of wings or jet pack. And deciding which type can be (to varying degrees) a process of suggestion by the creator in question in the process of storytelling, or completely / mostly made up by the fans. An example of the more creator-described variety is some character's jetpacks, and Philza's crow wings, which he has as part of his character's story and themes. An example of the more fan-created variety is the common portrayal of Grian with parrot wings based on his storytelling and other mischievous and chatty/eloquent characteristics.
On a simpler note, some fans of a canon work may base and paint their minecraft skin as they play off of a work they are a fan of, either minecraft related or not minecraft related.
Some creator's skins are also somewhat based off of other creator's skins who they admire or are interested in in some way.
Some creators also get new skins from either fans or paid sources (which may also be fans to some degree) and are "supposed" to credit them to some degree. For example, this is fairly common in the Minecraft Championships. But the degree and ease of discovery of the credits is something that causes conflict and discussion often.