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The '''OS-tans''' (ＯＳたん) are an Internet phenomenon that started on [[Futaba Channel]]. The '''OS-tan''' or simply '''OS Girls''' are the personification of several operating systems by various amateur Japanese artists. Although a pure fan creation, the appearance of each OS Girl is generally consistent across artists. The OS Girls are typically depicted as women and usually depicted as sisters of varying ages. | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===Personification=== | |||
=== | '''''personification''''' ''(noun)'': | ||
'''''personification''''' ''(noun)'' | |||
# a person, thing or name typifying a certain quality or idea; an embodiment or exemplification | # a person, thing or name typifying a certain quality or idea; an embodiment or exemplification | ||
# a figure of speech, prosopopeia, in which an inanimate object or an abstraction is given human qualities | # a figure of speech, prosopopeia, in which an inanimate object or an abstraction is given human qualities | ||
# an artistic representation of an abstract quality as a human | # an artistic representation of an abstract quality as a human | ||
Natural phenomena which interact and exist along with human beings are very common in myths and fables, be they described as ''the animal and the stone, the thunder and the wind, gods and spirits, etc''. Legend such as an animal or a plant that change into human form (or vice-versa) not only exist in fairy tales and fables, but also on religious stories as well. Whether those stories were hearsay or not, they continued to spread in the form of oral traditions, caricatures, novels, legends, etc. | |||
Natural | |||
As such stories get passed on, learned, taught and used for amusement throughout the generations, it is inevitable that the anthropomorphic personification of non-human beings would find their way into comic-like or cartoon-like media, where such personifications can be depicted more credibly and with greater ease. In anime and manga, abiotic material that would otherwise seem inert, lifeless or alien in real life, can be animated to physically transform into a human being the likes of which could be cosplayed by anyone. | As such stories get passed on, learned, taught and used for amusement throughout the generations, it is inevitable that the anthropomorphic personification of non-human beings would find their way into comic-like or cartoon-like media, where such personifications can be depicted more credibly and with greater ease. In anime and manga, abiotic material that would otherwise seem inert, lifeless or alien in real life, can be animated to physically transform into a human being the likes of which could be cosplayed by anyone. | ||
===Personification before the OS-tans=== | ===Personification before the OS-tans=== | ||
The concept of the anthropomorphic personification is no less different in Japan. In fact many unique legends on the matter have existed for centuries -- including that of Tsukumogamis or inanimate objects that become alive [and sometimes gain spiritual human forms] after 100 years of existence -- before the advent of modern storytelling and product mascots. The most notable personification related to computers before the [[List of OS-tans | OS-Tans]] is the [[:Image:Osidolwin.jpg|OS-idol Win-chan]] ([[:Image:Osidolwinchanpr5.jpg|second version goes here]]) which is a mascot of [http://www.enterbrain.co.jp/techwin/ TECHWIN Magazine]. There is also a personification used to promote BSD distributions in the net which is known as [[:Image:Tokochan.jpg|Princess of BSD; Magical Toko-chan]], portrayed as an outrider, and to go back even to the time of 8-bit computer models in the 1980s. Even so, the iMacs were also personified by an artist named Satoshi Igarashi which is popularly known as Toy. He created the [http://www.toyboxarts.com/gallery/extra/mbabes-iCandy1/mbabes.html Toy's iMac Girl], the feature of a series of wallpapers first appearing between August 1998 and March 1999. | The concept of the anthropomorphic personification is no less different in Japan. In fact many unique legends on the matter have existed for centuries -- including that of Tsukumogamis or inanimate objects that become alive [and sometimes gain spiritual human forms] after 100 years of existence -- before the advent of modern storytelling and product mascots. The most notable personification related to computers before the [[List of OS-tans | OS-Tans]] is the [[:Image:Osidolwin.jpg|OS-idol Win-chan]] ([[:Image:Osidolwinchanpr5.jpg|second version goes here]]) which is a mascot of [http://www.enterbrain.co.jp/techwin/ TECHWIN Magazine]. There is also a personification used to promote BSD distributions in the net which is known as [[:Image:Tokochan.jpg|Princess of BSD; Magical Toko-chan]], portrayed as an outrider, and to go back even to the time of 8-bit computer models in the 1980s. Even so, the iMacs were also personified by an artist named Satoshi Igarashi which is popularly known as Toy. He created the [http://www.toyboxarts.com/gallery/extra/mbabes-iCandy1/mbabes.html Toy's iMac Girl], the feature of a series of wallpapers first appearing between August 1998 and March 1999. | ||
===Futaba: The Rise of the OS-tans=== | ===Futaba: The Rise of the OS-tans=== | ||
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Futaba also includes their own memes to be shown along with the OS-tans. Most notable memes includes [[Yamada]], [[WE|WE (Taeko)]] and [[Pizza|Pizza-tan]]. | Futaba also includes their own memes to be shown along with the OS-tans. Most notable memes includes [[Yamada]], [[WE|WE (Taeko)]] and [[Pizza|Pizza-tan]]. | ||
===+Nijiura+=== | ===+Nijiura+=== | ||
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+Nijiura+ currently included a section for the personification of [[BeOS]]. | +Nijiura+ currently included a section for the personification of [[BeOS]]. | ||
===Outside Japan=== | ===Outside Japan=== | ||
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|[http://ostan-collections.net OS-Tan Collections] is an English speaking themed website that deals with OS-tans which is open for all OS-tan viewers around the Internet. Artists from OS-Tan Collections not only includes Futaba and +Nijiura+'s OS-tan current line-up, but also other, and often lesser known operating system as well. | |[http://ostan-collections.net OS-Tan Collections] is an English speaking themed website that deals with OS-tans which is open for all OS-tan viewers around the Internet. Artists from OS-Tan Collections not only includes Futaba and +Nijiura+'s OS-tan current line-up, but also other, and often lesser known operating system as well. | ||
|} | |} | ||
==The -tan Suffix== | ==The -tan Suffix== | ||
The Japanese suffix ''-tan'' ( | The Japanese suffix ''-tan'' (-たん) is a child's mispronunciation of ''-chan'' (-ちゃん), an informal, intimate, and diminutive honorific suffix for a person used for friends, family, and pets. In this case, the mispronunciation is used intentionally to achieve the contrived cute or charming effect that is commonly associated with its use by young children. It is also sometimes added to the names of non-mascot characters, such as Sakura from ''Cardcaptor Sakura''. The personifications as a whole are commonly simply called mascots or mascot characters. The ''-tan'' suffix itself means nothing outside its role as an honorific and its implications of cuteness; it is never used on its own. Normal suffixes including ''-san'' and ''-chan'', are also used with OS Girls depending on the character and the speaker's preference, or omitted entirely. A common misconception is that ''-tan'' is a word meaning mascot or its addition to a name denotes a character being a mascot or personification. This is not so. Furthermore, the ''-tan'' suffix has largely fallen out of favor with the original creators of the OS Girls on Futaba Channel. Various and varying suffixes and names are used instead, for instance, the Windows 98 and Windows 98SE OS Girls are most commonly called Hacchan and Secchan. | ||
== References and in-jokes == | == References and in-jokes == | ||
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===Breast Size, Hunger, and Memory=== | ===Breast Size, Hunger, and Memory=== | ||
It has been suggested from time to time, that the breast sizes of the individual OS-tans represent their RAM requirements. Because [[XP-tan|Windows XP]] is considered a memory hog due to its increased resource consumption, XP-tan is incredibly well endowed (and she has no qualms about getting upgraded from time to time). 2K-tan normally rates as a close second, whereas as someone like [[MSDOS | MSDOS-tan]] lies at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Another theory states that the breast size of an OS-tan represents the overall fanciness of their graphical user interface. Since XP was designed with 'bells and whistles', she has the largest breasts, but DOS, being no more than a command prompt, is at the other extreme. An alternate method of displaying memory or resource requirements in general is through the character's appetite. XP is often seen eating ridiculous amounts of food, sometimes to the point of obesity. | It has been suggested from time to time, that the breast sizes of the individual OS-tans represent their RAM requirements. Because [[XP-tan|Windows XP]] is considered a memory hog due to its increased resource consumption, XP-tan is incredibly well endowed (and she has no qualms about getting upgraded from time to time). 2K-tan normally rates as a close second, whereas as someone like [[MSDOS | MSDOS-tan]] lies at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Another theory states that the breast size of an OS-tan represents the overall fanciness of their graphical user interface. Since XP was designed with 'bells and whistles', she has the largest breasts, but DOS, being no more than a command prompt, is at the other extreme. An alternate method of displaying memory or resource requirements in general is through the character's appetite. XP is often seen eating ridiculous amounts of food, sometimes to the point of obesity. | ||
==Controversy== | ==Controversy== | ||
The OS-Tan phenomenon has had its share of problems. The first of which was with [[Dispute between Futaba Society and Déjà vu|'''''Deja Vu artworks''''']], a doujin group who claimed ownerships of several designs, including [[NT-tan]]. The second was with [[Movement against Netrunner|'''''Netrunner''''']], an magazine who also claimed ownership of the design for [[Me-tan]]. The third comes with the comic [[Troubled Windows USA|'''''Troubled Windows USA''''']], which has come under fire due to its excessive use of American stereotypes. A more recent but less severe problem has come with the design for the personification of [[Vistan|Windows Vista]]. | The OS-Tan phenomenon has had its share of problems. The first of which was with [[Dispute between Futaba Society and Déjà vu|'''''Deja Vu artworks''''']], a doujin group who claimed ownerships of several designs, including [[NT-tan]]. The second was with [[Movement against Netrunner|'''''Netrunner''''']], an magazine who also claimed ownership of the design for [[Me-tan]]. The third comes with the comic [[Troubled Windows USA|'''''Troubled Windows USA''''']], which has come under fire due to its excessive use of American stereotypes. A more recent but less severe problem has come with the design for the personification of [[Vistan|Windows Vista]]. | ||
==Multimedia== | ==Multimedia== | ||
The OS-Tans ('' | The OS-Tans (''ＯＳたん'') have became popular as an internet meme in Japan. Ever since the interactive flash animation known as '''[[Troubled Windows]]''' (とらぶる・うぃんどうず ''Toraburu Windouzu'') was released in the internet, it gained more popularity and viewers in Japan. The flash animation was even subbed in English and was distributed as a video (not interactive) that it added its exposure and viewers outside Japan. Since then, a several OS-tan related multimedia (flash animation and video) submissions was released throughout the internet. | ||
== See also== | == See also== | ||
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_System Wikipedia's summary about Operating System (OS)] | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_System Wikipedia's summary about Operating System (OS)] | ||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS-tan Wikipedia's article about the OS-Tans] | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS-tan Wikipedia's article about the OS-Tans] | ||
[[Category:Other]] | |||