If you follow the Balrog logic...

Real World or canon Mini? by Laburnum on 2010-06-23 17:19:00 UTC Reply

So, I'm planning to spork a Gorillaz Sue. As you may or may not know, the canon runs on the Roger Rabbit Effect, with the cartoon band living and interacting at least part of the time in the Real World with celebrities who usually play themselves. Jamie Hewlett, the Real World cartoonist, is described within their biography as their "music video director", and Damon Albarn, the voice actor for lead singer 2D, is their "producer". And so on.

Anyway, in this fic, brief mention is made of something called "topock". It took me about five readthroughs to figure out from context that they were probably referring to Tupac. My question is, is this a Mini, and if so, what kind? Tupac is/was an actual person, so it could be a Real World Mini, but it's within a fic for a non-RPF canon. Neither RPF nor Gorillaz seem to have a set Mini yet. Tupac/"topock" does not actually appear onscreen, he/it is simply mentioned in the narrative and a bit of dialogue. So what do I do with it?

Re: Real World or canon Mini? by doctorlit on 2010-06-23 22:49:00 UTC Reply

I would think it's a Gorillaz Mini, because it's in a Gorillaz fic. It was mentioned at some point earlier that a misspelling of the name of a city in France in a Les Mis fic would make a Les Mis Mini, even though the city is also a real world location. It seems to me Gorillaz would follow the same logic with the real performers its universe "borrows."

I also like Barid's and Miah's ideas, too, though.

Okay, so what should the Gorillaz Minis be? by Laburnum on 2010-06-24 00:17:00 UTC Reply

Someone did suggest "Mini-Zombie-Apes", after the ones in the "Clint Eastwood" music video, but that doesn't roll off the tongue very well. I favoured "Mini-Ravens" for a while, but Cortez didn't appear till Phase 2, five years after the band started out, and appears to have vanished or died in the current Phase 3. "Mini-Demons" is likely, but a bit generic.

I'm not a huge fan of Gorillaz, by doctorlit on 2010-06-24 03:04:00 UTC Reply

so I don't even know who Cortez is (which I guess proves your point that he's maybe not representative of the series). I agree that Mini-Demons would be too generic, and we don't want a million different demonic minis like we do with dragons.

I actually think Mini-Zombie-Apes would be perfect. The name isn't THAT hard to say (it's better than Mini-Neo-Bahamut), and they're a reference to one of Gorillaz' more popular songs. Besides, can't you imagine those little, rotting apes doing Thriller down the hallways of HQ, occasionally crushing guys' crotches?

Cortez is/was Murdoc's pet raven. by Laburnum on 2010-06-24 11:11:00 UTC Reply

*snerk* Nice idea for the Mini-Zombie-Apes. We could, of course, also use Mini-Bogeymen, but Sun Moon Stars (bogeyman, apparent Big Bad, notorious gambler and manatee thief - don't ask, it doesn't make an awful lot more sense in context) didn't appear until Phase 3, so the apes are probably a better idea.

Re: Real World or canon Mini? by Miah on 2010-06-23 21:47:00 UTC Reply

I think I once it saw suggested that real people minis should be something unlike their real person counterpart. The ideas I remember seeing were mini-movie cameras for actors, mini-microphones for singers, etc. YMMV.

Anyone got a source for this? by Laburnum on 2010-06-23 22:45:00 UTC Reply

I don't really want to be the one to define RPF Minis, because as a matter of course I don't spork RPF. (The Jamie/Damon MSTing I did notwithstanding, but again that was really part of the Gorillaz canon since in it nobody was surprised at the cartoon characters wandering around.)

My thoughts by Barid on 2010-06-23 19:41:00 UTC Reply

Since Tupak was a real person, misspelling his name would create a real person Mini. However, since you are in a Gorillaz fic, it could be a cartoon version of the real person in question.

What would an RPF Mini be, anyway? by Laburnum on 2010-06-23 20:12:00 UTC Reply

Miniature clone of the person in question? Would that be a "Mini-Person"?

If you follow the Balrog logic... by Calista on 2010-06-23 23:12:00 UTC Reply

...they'd probably be Mini-Hitlers.

Yeah, I don't know what to think about that either. Then again, if they're the Hitler from "The Producers", it might be kinda funny.

In general, though, for a Mini you pick one of the most dangerous, powerful, evil creatures in the canon, and then you miniaturize it. The obvious choice for the Real World, due to notoriety (though not sheer body count), is Hitler.

Potential for offense? Oooh, yeah. I say we go with mini-actors, like mini-Boarders (who are, after all, real people).

Well... by Elorie on 2010-06-23 19:29:00 UTC Reply

... If I remember correctly, usually the first to find a Mini in a Continuum decides what they look like. Or don't they?
Anyway, maybe the mini is half cartoon, half Real World, seeing as the Continuum seems to be both, from what I can guess from your post? (I don't know it, so no idea.) As to what kind of Mini... No idea there, sorry...
I hope this helps somewhat, at least...