What is a Sona?

So…What’s a Sona?

So, you’re stuck on the meaning of ‘sona’. Well, unfortunately, you’ve reached the wrong place. No sona information here. Zip. Zilch. None. Okay…the joke here is officially not funny. Keep reading to discover the secrets of sonas! 

What’s an OC?

An OC is an original character. In other words, it’s a character that you make up yourself. Sometimes, an OC will become the main character of a comic or show. Others, OCs are imaginary friends or fanfiction characters! Basically, if you’re creating a character, you’re creating an OC. 

Original Characters don’t have to be totally unique, or totally human. By ‘totally unique’, I mean that it’s not a bad thing to create a character that fits into an already existing series. I mean, just google ‘Sonic OC’ (At your own risk, that is). Then, you’ll see countless examples of characters that aren’t quite original. They may have the same art style or strike the same poses. Or, they might just be recolored Sonics! I’m not here to comment on the morality of Sonic recolors. What I am saying is don’t feel too much pressure to stand out. In a way, everything has already been created by someone. Some people argue that every idea has already been had! So, just focus on being creative and having fun. 

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The Meaning of ‘Sona’

Alright, so an OC is an original character. What does that make a Sona? Well, a Sona is also an original character. OCs and Sonas are confused sometimes because of their similarities. So, what are the differences between Sonas and OCs? 

Well, first of all, ‘sona’ is short for ‘persona’. A sona’s main job is to represent the artist who created it. A sona is sort of like a self insert character in a fanfiction. (Sometimes, sonas are called ‘self inserts’ in some fanfiction circles online!) Since sonas represent an artist, they usually aren’t used for the same things an OC would be. For example, Spongebob is an original character that became a famous cartoon lead. It might be a little awkward for someone to use their sona for the same leading role. 

Sonas are usually found in DnD campaigns, fanfictions, roleplay boards, or online forums. Some people use their sonas to become PNGtubers or Vtubers, too! It’s up to you what you do with your character self. 

Why Make a Sona?

Sonas represent so many different things to so many different people. Some people simply want to have a fun cartoon version of themselves. Others use sonas as a way to explore pieces of themselves that they can’t in other ways. Let’s explore some reasons from artists from the CharacterHub community!

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• “Honestly I hate to say it but I'm a self inserter. I love having a sona even if it's basically just myself. I can do whatever I want and make myself as silly as I wanna be.” @Skrawnyclown
• “Because I'm too scared to dye my hair irl :) also I get to wear cool clothes that I designed that don't actually exist.” -@neonarcadestars
• “Sonas are a great way to learn about yourself! They help me with discovering different parts of my identity and let me learn to love myself. Plus they're just so much fun to make!” -@gothlovecore
• “idk I just like having a silly guy to represent myself online even if they look nothing like me” -@Rinoodles
• “I like using sonas because I get to show off a part of my personality that most don't get to see normally.” -@Galacticpanda
• “I love sonas because of how easily they let me express other facets of myself that are normally more repressed- that's why, oftentimes, I've got more than one! It's also just fun to have a character that's ‘me but not quite me’. “-@serenebyte
• “Having a sona means showing the world who you are without showing them you. You can hide your face behind a completely different person, leaving you with enough privacy while still interacting with others on the Internet. Plus, your sona can look like anything. ANYTHING. You can be whatever you want. people can see you how you want to be seen. A sona is personal freedom and privacy at the same time.” -@ArtCart

• “I love sonas because of how they let me represent myself in many universes, through many different characteristics. The design process is stimulating as i have to find which traits lf mine would fit this character from this fandom, and which wouldn't fit but I'll include anyway as a way to explore them. It's basically a creative form of self discovery and self acceptance. And overall, they're just really fun obviously.” -@CowboyManatee

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As you can see, there’s tons of reasons to have a Sona! If you’re reading this article, you probably already have a reason why you want a sona. Maybe you just need some inspiration or some motivation to actually go and make one. In the next section, we’ll check out some spectacular sonas from the community!

Some Super Sonas!

Making Sonas and OCs can be a little tricky for some. Sometimes, the best cure for art block is looking at other art! So, let’s take a look at some Sonas! 

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Now you’ve had a chance to take a gander at some characters. What do you notice? One thing I have not mentioned about sonas is about how versatile they are. Creating characters is all about creativity. So, of course you will find tons of unique, creative sonas! So, not all sonas are human.

Sometimes, ‘sona’ is used as a suffix at the end of a word. For example, furry sonas are usually called ‘fursonas’! (By ‘furry’, I mean anthropomorphic animal characters.) Another example would be ‘gemsonas’. Gemsonas are sonas created based off of gems, just like in Steven Universe. As you can see, sonas can be just about anything. It’s up to you what they will become! Truly, there are no limits other than your own creativity. With enough crafting, you’ll create a character that stands out just as much as you do! 

How do you make a Sona?

Ready to make your own Sona? In this section, we'll show you how! Creating a sona is a fun way to express your creativity. Whatever your reason is for making a sona, we’ve got you covered. All you need is a bit of creativity and these simple guidelines. Let's get started!

OC Creation vs Sona Creation

OCs aren’t the same as Sonas. So, making OCs can sometimes be a little different than making sonas. Still, there are many parts of making a sona that are the same as making an OC When you make an OC, you need to create a character from thin air. You have to come up with all of their personality traits, style, and so much more. To do this, you usually have to do character development activities. These activities usually involve lots of brainstorming and creativity. That’s the main difference: when it comes to creating a sona’s personality, no brainstorming is needed! Why? Because the character really already exists! (Hint, hint…it’s you!) 

Since the character is based off of you, you don’t need to create anything right now. All you need to do to come up with your sona’s personality is deep thinking and introspection. What makes you, you? What are your motivations? Your hopes? Dreams? Take all of these and create a character you love. Creating a sona can be an act of self love, as well as creation. Create a character based off of yourself that you love. Then, you’ll find out that you’re loving yourself all along. 

Now, back to OC creation! You need to know how to create and draw original characters if you want to create sonas. Sonas are a type of OC after all! Sure, we didn’t need to brainstorm your sona’s personality. Butttt, we do need to get creative when it comes to your character’s design. First of all, don’t forget about the fundamentals of character design! If you skimp on this bit, you might end up with a janky character design in the end. (I mean, there’s nothing wrong with a janky character if it’s done on purpose. I encourage you to learn the rules before you try to bend or break them! Then, you’ll know the best ways to break those rules.) Next, think about your style and personality. Think about how you can combine your personality and style in your sona. If you’re a pessimist who also loves the gyaru aesthetic, maybe you can create a goth gyaru, for example! Then, all you have to do is get to drawing your character!

All in all, to create a sona, you must be able to make an OC. To make a sona, start with their personality. Follow all of the same steps of making an OC, except replace brainstorming and creation with introspection. Instead of thinking about a character, take time to think about yourself. You must know who you are, truly, before you can make a good sona. 

Let’s break all of this down into some simple steps for you to follow.

1. Examine your own personality, interests, and quirks to develop your sona’s personality. Reflect on the aspects of your own character that you find most interesting or significant. (Or, at least the factors that you want to focus on for this sona.) Just like when making an OC, your character’s personality comes first. Don’t forget-it’s what’s inside that counts! 
2. Decide on your sona's species. It can be an anthropomorphic animal, mythical creature, or something else. Or, maybe just human! It’s all up to you. Sometimes, the creature your sona is can be symbolic. Maybe you’ve persevered through some tough stuff, so your sona is a phoenix. This is a major design step, so choose wisely! 
3. Design your character. Choose a color scheme and distinctive features that represent your unique identity. Then, give them their own style and aesthetic. (Tip: The color palette of your character is more important than you might think! Think about which colors will best represent your sona’s personality!)
4. Develop your sona's backstory, including their motivations, goals, and any challenges they face.
5. Immerse yourself in your sona's world. Create artwork, write narratives, or engage in roleplay scenarios. (By the way, you can do all of these things and more on CharacterHub!) 

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Common Mistakes/Misconceptions

Many people have the wrong idea about sonas. They think a sona has to show all of your personality. But that's not true! Your sona can just show one part of you. (Here’s a sona side note! Some people refer to a ‘self insert’ as a sona. Other people say a ‘self insert’ is literally using yourself as a character. It all depends on who you’re talking to and how they define it.) Also, by the way, lots of people have more than one sona. (Take @maniCARNY and @Pinkdevilxoxo for examples of this! They both have multiple sonas.) Many people like to use different sonas to show different sides of themselves. 

Your sona can represent all of you, parts of you, or even just your vibe. As long as an OC represents you in some way, it’s a sona. (There’s not a whole lot of rules here, but that’s one of them!) 

Sensational Sonas

Lemme guess: after you finish reading this, you’ll be creating an awesome sona, right? You know, you have to keep track of a lot of information. And photos. And moodboards. And so much more. If you need a place to store all of this info why not give CharacterHub a try? 

With CharacterHub, you can create totally customizable profiles for all of your characters. That way, you’ll know just where to find all the juicy details about your OCs and sonas! When you stay organized, you’ll be able to use your brain power to do other things! You won’t have to waste time focusing on where to find info about your character’s lore, for example. So, you can spend more time having fun with your sona!  Plus, you can participate in events with your characters. (Pssst- you can also possibly get featured in an article like this one!)

If you’re ready to get started on creating spirited sonas, click here!