/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>43877164
Look like RWBY still copy/steal Touhou designs even after 9 years.

>>43376084
I wish death upon you and your entire family

>>42550599
Yes and no, imo
If the choices are thematic and cohesive to the character, then it adds a lot to a design. Designs aren't just practical and color theory. Beyond that, if the references are random in choice, like say a designer adding a reference to his favorite anime in a character that has no business of having it, then it won't add much of anything.
We can take Utsuho's design, since that's what's being talked about, for example. One thing I like about her design is that it's mostly in "threes", clearly in reference to Yatagarasu, the three legged crow (that she ate).
The nuclear trefoil, her three "legs", and even the three things in her "legs" referencing the three principles of nuclear physics. It's pretty cohesive.
And Mind you "references" doesn't just imply outside-series references, either. Sanae having a hairpin of a frog, for example, can also be considered a reference even though it's in-universe.
And finally, even if you disagree, interesting references does pretty much make the design more interesting to talk about, at least.