LoL Character Inspirations

[Maelstrom]

It seems a given that most, if not all, LoL characters are derived from other popular/iconic characters. So where do you think the characters got their inspiration from? I think even some skins get some extra inspiration from other places too.

I'll start off with my theory for my favorite character, Riven.

I'm pretty sure she's the female version of Cloud Strife. They're both broody over the things they did or helped do as soldiers following orders, searching for some means of forgiveness/redemption, carry around big swords and have similar character design- short, somewhat spiky hair with a military practicality to it, lean build with but a few key armor pieces for strategic protection but otherwise very light clothing for mobility. And from what I've seen, it seems that cloud's sword is made out of several swords combined, similar to Riven's sword shards. I'd say her ultimate, Wind Slash has two points of inspiration- Cloud and Inuyasha. Cloud has his Blade Beam which is similar to her attack and his other famous move is the sonic slash. Inuyasha's Wind Scar also works very similar, but instead of scaling based on how much stronger the foe is, it scales based on how much health the foe has lost, and her silver hair may be another nod to that source of inspiration.

Others that I won't go into detail for yet:

Rammus::Bowser

Kaitlyn::Moxxie (Borderlands)

Volbear:: those polar bears from the golden compass

Nautilus::Big Daddy

And Ame, I randomly ran into this:

What do you think.

[Amethyst]

I think it's time for me to learn Irelia.

tbh I don't really see it outside of the hair

but ill take it

[Lunaethetic]

Lux is based off of Marisa from Touhou.

final spark

finalis fulnkeln (still final spark)

confirmed to be based off marisa

Ashe is Drow Ranger

srs

[SasoriSand]

I really honestly think Kennen was based off of Pikachu.

Corki - Gyrocopter

[Dana]

I'll start off with my theory for my favorite character, Riven.

I'm pretty sure she's the female version of Cloud Strife. They're both broody over the things they did or helped do as soldiers following orders, searching for some means of forgiveness/redemption, carry around big swords and have similar character design- short, somewhat spiky hair with a military practicality to it, lean build with but a few key armor pieces for strategic protection but otherwise very light clothing for mobility. And from what I've seen, it seems that cloud's sword is made out of several swords combined, similar to Riven's sword shards. I'd say her ultimate, Wind Slash has two points of inspiration- Cloud and Inuyasha. Cloud has his Blade Beam which is similar to her attack and his other famous move is the sonic slash. Inuyasha's Wind Scar also works very similar, but instead of scaling based on how much stronger the foe is, it scales based on how much health the foe has lost, and her silver hair may be another nod to that source of inspiration.

I like this theory. It's kinda cool to see Riven as the female version of cloud

But... sorry to burst your bubble mael.

Riven started off as the name for the character who would be exiled from damacia fpr aiding in the escape of noxian prisoners who were to be executed. this brought to the idea for Riven The Exile. The idea was scraped but they still wanted to have the ide for a champion who would be disowned from their faction and wish to seek there redemption. Riven's designer Xypherous (also known for designing Lulu, Nautilus, and Orianna) Said that he took some inspiriation from Rurouni Kenshin when desiging Riven's new back story where she would be Noxian instead. As for her exile, he wanted it to be a bit like Aragorn's exile from Lord of the rings. In fact, Riven's story is a reminicent of Aragorn's, for he was exiled with a broken sword which was reforged to help defeat Sauron.

A related note, if anyone here is familiar with the Myst series, the second game is called Riven and the third is called Exile.

Edited August 4, 2013 by Cpt.DanaKS

[Soysauce]

Wukong:

Wukong is directly inspired by the main character of A Journey to the West, Sun Wukong (transcription in Chinese, or Son Goku in Japanese). It's a traditionnal Chinese novel.

He's a monkey born from a similar magical stone (<=> runic stone, and his passive too!), very strong and clever, so he was entitled Monkey King by the other monkeys.

He eventually became a student of a taoist master (<=> Master Yi, wuju master) and got thename Sun Wukong, meaning monkey aware of emptiness.

Under that study he was taught 72 transformations and other things, like transforming his hairs into objects or clones (<=> Decoy), or cloud travelling (<=> Nimbus Strike).

After that Sun Wukong was very powerful and beat the guardians of the Eastern Seas (<=> Chinese artwork) to get his equipment, especially a magical staff which can change its size depending on Sun Wukong's will. (<=> his weapon, his classic skin)

He brought lots of problems in the living world, so the Jade Emporor, leader of the Heavenly Kingdom, gave him a job (which will happen to be the lowest job in heaven), hence one of his skin. And let's say Sun Wukong is not quite happy about that. =p

The story of Sun Wukong is far from over but i don't see anything left related with the champion in LoL. You can check the entire story if you want, the story is very reputed in Eastern Asia!

Edited August 4, 2013 by Soysauce

[Shanco]

Here's mine, I've only played this champion once but she's my favorite non-Freljord person lore-wise.

Diana isn't based off a certain character; rather, she is an embodiment of vengeance, rejection, and a bringer of feared concepts; a victim of circumstance relatable to many. Everyone's had something about them or some CRAZY idea that no one else wants to delve into, out of disgust or fear or whatever. Diana represents such a struggle where she believes the moon to be the sun's equal, which in her mind completely makes sense - but the Solari want no part of it. They are too bound to tradition to not fear what lies within such a fearful prospect.

Such a theme is just as relevant in real life. Examples would include things like religion, sexual orientation, governmental affairs, etc. Someone contemplates "coming out of the closet", believes in a minority religion, or sketches up this new approach to government from which everyone prospers. But unnatural perceptions, one's own beliefs, or the tried-and-true method of running a country instill such fear into the mainstream that the outcast people will be just that - outcast. They try and try because that's how they truly feel, or it all makes more sense, or whatever the case - only to be met by the same rejection from the established order. They finally have to revert to the last resort because their inner genius is tearing through their skin, so incredibly desperate to prove its worth to the world.

Diana had these same struggles with the Solari. You'd think that the Moon would be an equal to the Sun, but the Solari didn't feel that way about equal representation. This idea of the Moon and the rejection that came with it drove Diana absolutely bonkers until she was able to prove her plight - only to be rejected again. That's when the "last resort" came in, she became so furious and frustrated that she killed those trying to put her and her supposedly crazy beliefs down when she initially meant no harm at all.

Also, about Riven, she has about as many references to Marth as she does to Cloud Strife; both Marth and Riven were exiled from their home countries as a result of deeds committed by those whom they thought they could trust (In Marth's case, it was the people of Gra, to whose royalty he was closely related). I could go on but i can't be bothered.

Also, her kit is largely resemblant of Marth's in super smash bros; her codename during testing was apparently Marth as well.

[Lunaethetic]

Here's mine, I've only played this champion once but she's my favorite non-Freljord person lore-wise.

Diana isn't based off a certain character; rather, she is an embodiment of vengeance, rejection, and a bringer of feared concepts; a victim of circumstance relatable to many. Everyone's had something about them or some CRAZY idea that no one else wants to delve into, out of disgust or fear or whatever. Diana represents such a struggle where she believes the moon to be the sun's equal, which in her mind completely makes sense - but the Solari want no part of it. They are too bound to tradition to not fear what lies within such a fearful prospect.

Such a theme is just as relevant in real life. Examples would include things like religion, sexual orientation, governmental affairs, etc. Someone contemplates "coming out of the closet", believes in a minority religion, or sketches up this new approach to government from which everyone prospers. But unnatural perceptions, one's own beliefs, or the tried-and-true method of running a country instill such fear into the mainstream that the outcast people will be just that - outcast. They try and try because that's how they truly feel, or it all makes more sense, or whatever the case - only to be met by the same rejection from the established order. They finally have to revert to the last resort because their inner genius is tearing through their skin, so incredibly desperate to prove its worth to the world.

Diana had these same struggles with the Solari. You'd think that the Moon would be an equal to the Sun, but the Solari didn't feel that way about equal representation. This idea of the Moon and the rejection that came with it drove Diana absolutely bonkers until she was able to prove her plight - only to be rejected again. That's when the "last resort" came in, she became so furious and frustrated that she killed those trying to put her and her supposedly crazy beliefs down when she initially meant no harm at all.

Also, about Riven, she has about as many references to Marth as she does to Cloud Strife; both Marth and Riven were exiled from their home countries as a result of deeds committed by those whom they thought they could trust (In Marth's case, it was the people of Gra, to whose royalty he was closely related). I could go on but i can't be bothered.

Also, her kit is largely resemblant of Marth's in super smash bros; her codename during testing was apparently Marth as well.

also similar to marth, they are both short haired women

haha

hahahahaa

haha

But this would actually make sense, as Riven and Marth both seek to repair their honor.

[Maelstrom]

Riven is self-exiled though. Jarvan IV kinda did the same thing, except he already came back from his exile already as part of his backstory.

[Phoenix]

Brand is based of Surt from Norse myth, said to bring the end of the world with fire.
Cassopeia=Medusa

Gangplank=Blackbeard
Pantheon= random Spartan #514
Warwick= Lycanthrope

Vayne=Van Helsing

Zac=FLUBBER!!!!!

Lucian=Blade/spawn from the marvel comics

Alistar=random Minotaur #12

Sivir=Xena - the warrior princess

Zed=Shredder from TNMT

[Godot]

Isn't there a guy based off of shredder from Ninja Turtles?

Also Ahr with the obvious nine tailed fox...

And Warwick makes me think of Sabrewulf from Killer instinct

I haven't looked at LoL characters for a while... but 99% of them I can referance to an existing video game or anime character...

Ps.... Riven gives me Blackrose vibes from ./hack

[Maelstrom]

When I first saw Zed (white ninja skin), he reminded me of Zordon before he was trapped as that head thing in the other dimension. Nvm that Lord Zedd is what, the main bad pretty much up to the part when he dies.

Full Metal Rammus skin also looks to be inspired by the Shredder.

Shen looks a hell of a lot like Scorpion and Sub Zero, depending on which skin you're talking about.

There was a ToA character that giant sizes her teddy bear and uses it to fight, but I'm pretty sure it's not that unique a concept, but I can't remember where else I'd seen it before.

Ryze is like a genie/dhalsim.

Jarvan IV has his judge dredd/ M. Bison outfit.

Kassadin= Cthulu?

Trundle = Grendel from Beowulf

Veigar- FF black mage, Vivi

Viktor= Dr. Doom, for sure

Yorick- Solomn Grundy?

Pentakill Yorick= Slash, or whatever that one guy's name is.

Augmented Singe- Bane

Urgot- there's that one crazy villain from the X-men universe that looks like him. He also kinda looks like a demented Dragoon from Star Craft.

Twisted Fate= Gambit

Twitch is like an insane master splinter.