What's the difference between a fursona and an OC?

[Goon the frank]

Hello there
I was browsing some FA artist profiles and one of them mentioned something along the lines of "this page is run by my OC. This is not my fursona, my fursona is over here [link]". So I was wondering what exactly the difference is. Do you make a distinction between fursonas and OC's?

 

[Punji]

Generally speaking a fursona is a character which specifically represents the creater/owner, while an OC (original character) might not, and could be a part of a greater world or work.

 

[Nexus Cabler]

A fursona can have a strong connection with you on a personality level, hence it's the play on words of 'persona'. It can be one you act through in real life too, and usually what fursuiters wear is a sona of theirs.

An OC can be more broad, like your own personal character you created based off a fandom or universe like Marvel, Halo, D&D, Digimon, etc
It doesn't have to be fandom based though. You can just make up a character out of your own imagination completely.

 

[Inferndragon]

Fursona = Furry Based Persona (doesn't have to be completely original)
OC = Just an Original Character.

 

[Goon the frank]

Alright, thanks

 

[Eremurus]

If a character is used in any shape, way, or form, to represent you, on a personal level- that to me, is a fursona.

An OC is just that- a character. There does not have to be an emotional attachment to said character. They serve a purpose, whether to advance a story, plot, or whatever.

 

[Kinguyakki]

I have OCs, who are characters I've played in RP or used in stories or just made up for the sake of making them up. I may relate to them in some minor ways, but I have no real strong attachment to them. I ended up killing one off last year because he'd fulfilled his purpose in a storyline.

My 'sona, on the other hand, is actually my primary RP character. He's more of an asshole, though. . .I wouldn't do a lot of the things he does in the context of RP, but it's fun to play him in those situations where he does get to be more unhinged and feral than I would be.

 

[Servyl]

Going off what Nexus Cabler said, an OC is usually part of a fandom or an original universe like Minecraft, MLP, Star Wars... Any other forms of media.

In my personal opinion, a fursona doesn't have to represent someone. But it's usually just an anthro animal character that a person who willingly calls themself a furry uses to RP or represent themselves in the fandom (by represent, I don't mean "This is my sona and they are based off me as a person;" a sona can simply be used as something you associate with that individual).

My fursona (granted, I have a few but talking about my main one here) is not based off of me, inherently, but rather her own character with her own story. She could also be called an OC, I suppose. She shares some traits with me and I do connect strongly to her but she's more of her own thing.

Hope this makes sense, aha.