The Mary Sue Litmus Test
By Lorelei
Explainations
The Name Game
Is the character named after you? (This can be your first name, middle name, or your internet/message board alias.)
Characters most of the time, can and usually are named after their creator in some way, whether it be a name your want or a name you have. Please avoid this usualness if you can.Is her family name Tsukino, Chiba, Sheilds, or any other of the senshi's last names?
Further on, otaku characters usually share a relationship to the original characters; sister, mother, daughter, niece, cousin, etc. This is a repeating 'fad' in the Otaku Senshi community, and would be one of the first things to set your character apart from others. If a person sees this, one would usually turn away, and not be intrested, and this isn't really what we authors want.Does any part of the name translate into anything to do with star, spirit, light, darkness, or a something to that effect?
As before, these appear all too often, and is a common trait among the Mary Sue. What you can do to avoid any of those two cliches is to really think about how your character acts, her personality, and her goal throughout the fanfiction, and you can base it off of that.List of Overused Japanese Words IN Names (As in; these words can appear anywhere in the name.)
ai, aisu (although this is a romanized word for 'ice', so it's not a japanese word at all, but used in any case), ame, chi, chiba, faia, hi, hikari, hikaru, hime, hoshi, kage, kai, kami, kaze, ki, mazo, megami, megumi, mei, mizu, no, moshi, namida, neko, nozomi, rei, ryuu, sakura, shi, shin, shinzui, sora, tenshi, tsuki, tsunami, yami, yuki, yume.Is your character not born and from Japan, but has a Japanese name anyways?
Newbie Otaku Senshi Creators often use slapped together jap names, regardless of if their character lives in Japan or has any relation to it. This is usually a tool to have the character fit into the story more than she actually does. In Japan, you're not considered a citizen unless you're fully Japanese. No one can become a citizen if they're Korean, or Chinese, or even if your 5th grandfather was Korean, but all of your other ancestors were Japanese.Physical Appearance
Is the character abnormally beautiful?
'Sues are typically esquisitely beautiful for their age, and most often occur because the author him/herself wants to be beautiful. It happens more often than you might think. Physical attributes of the 'Sue usually include no flaws, and if she does have something like a scar, it's either hidden or aestically pleasing to the eye. This is one of the attributes of a very plain and typical character, and are usually classified as being flat as a pancake, and this isn't what we want to do.Does one or more of the originals find the character highly attractive?
One of two traits Sues always share is the ability to make the original characters well, act out of character (OOC). This can include anything from characters falling in love with her, cursing, crying, or other things that go against the nature of the character. For example, if a character can make Haruka cry for no apparent reason, then she's under suspicision for being a Mary Sue. One of the reasons for this happening is usually that the author her/himself likes the character in question, and through the character, is fulfilling a dream/fantasy.Now, if this is an Alternate Universe (AU) fic, then it's easier to get away with it, but still, extreme circumstances are usually accountable for canon characters to act abnormally. Otherwise, if it isn't, then it's canon and it stays in the canon rules, regardless if it's Manga or Anime; there are things that always stay the same. That doesn't mean you should use AU as a reason to write OOC characters; even in AU, characters will stick around their basic personalities save some plot-introduced conflict.Does your character have Odango? (buns, yams, hearts, stars, etc.)
For the most part, only the Royal family and those closely associated with the family wear their hair in odangos/buns. Therefore, Royal family members only wear ondangos. And covered, Usagi/Selenity has no sister and Chibi-Usa has no sister in the main continuity (Kousagi exists in the story of parallel moon and is useable). Otherwise, this is traditionally a ploy to get attention from the original senshi (as exhibited by Chibi-Chibi in the last season/arc).Does your character weigh less than is healthy for their height and age, doesn't look anorexic, but looks otherwise fine and pretty?
This is usually more of a mathematical problem than a flaw with the author. It's a good idea to inspect the height and weight of the original senshi to make a judgement on what your character's should be. You can judge this one hobbies, physical activity, diet, and overall emotional status, because all of these have a factor in it.Personal Traits / Personality/ The Person
Is she more psychic than Rei? / Does she have a higher IQ (being smarter than) Ami? / Is she a better cook/ stronger than Makoto? / Does she have more of a love of idols than Minako? / Was she more famous as a senshi than Minako as Sailor V? / Is she faster than Haruka (either with foot racing or car racing)? / Is she more musical and/or artistic talent than Michiru? / Does she have a more powerful job than Setsuna? / Is her knowlege of the future and past more extensive? / Is she more ditzy than Usagi?
It's natural for Sues to be the best in everything, even when that's impossible. Usually they will pick one original character's best thing and excel them(this can be because they either hate the character and want theirs to replace them, or that might be something they wish they could do well). Canon characters are set in their own specialty, and have unique attributes to bring to the whole group, and it would be beneficial for both your Otaku Character and the Fandom to have a specialty of their own, and would bring to the group.Do rules that apply to others bent and/or broken for her?
'Sues love to twist and break the rules of canon, whether it's break up Usagi-and-Mamoru, make the Starlights men forever, or perform a normally taboo attack with only minor injuries.Does the character just "know things" for no apparent reason? / Does the character's guardian just know things for no apparent reason as well?
Sues have a tendency towards being a omniscent narrator: She knows all, sees all, and only lets it slip when she feels like saying it. A Sue or its companion can use that as the author's excuse for exposition rather than finding a creative way to infer the information through the story. In a story, half the fun is finding out information on your own; going through an old dungeon, walking among the ruins of the old Moon Kingdom. Half the fun is the journey! If you already know these things, then what's the fun in it?Is she universally liked and/or respected by everyone she meets?
This would apply for making the characters act OOC as well.Does she excel at everything she tries? / But when she fails, is she forgiven anyways?
A Sue doesn't always have to excel to be a sue. She can fail, numerous times, but usually if forgiven or gets off lightly, no matter what it is, when naturally they might be pretty frustrated if one of their own did the same. (She could cause the Silence and end the world, but the sailor senshi would forgive her. When they reincarnate.)Don't forget that sailor senshi (at least on this planet) are also *human*, and it is perfectly natural and alright to have the flaws of one as well. Even races of other places(and planets. Example; The Starlights and Kakyuu-Hime) have their own faults.Is the character the long-lost child, descendent or sibling of a canon character?
Once again, sues have a tendency to be related to the original characters in one(or two) or many ways, sometimes making it (the story/ fanfiction) seem like one giant soap opera. This is anime, leave the soaps alone.Of Haruka and Michiru? Although this is impossible, frankly, even if if this is done in the future and/or with scientific methods. If it is, send me a copy.Of Queen Selenity? This is done either with the avatar theory considered with Princess Selenity that is further explained in the manga, or the King of the Moon theory. Does she realise this relation on her own? With no prior evidence? If adopted kids can't "just" realize or recognize their relation to someone, then neither can the character.Does the character share your religious beliefs?
Sues, once again, are usually some reflection of their creator, or what their creator wants to be. So it's natural that they share beliefs that either are, or are similar to the creator's.Is she an idol? Of any kind (singer, actress, dancer)? / Is she more popular than the Three Lights? Does the character have a very good singing voice? / Or play a musical instrument amazingly well? / The guitar, piano or flute?
This is a reflection of creator's wants and the "better than you" ideal.Usually if the authors cannot sing, then they will have their characters sing, and exceptionally well, to fulfill that dream for them. It's something parallel to parents trying to live out their shattered dreams through their children.Does the character do what you do for fun or profit?
Once again, dream fulfillment.Is the character blind, deaf, or mute? / Does he or she have amazing abilities despite this that normal people with the same ability wouldn't be able to?
Sues weild supposed "handicaps" with ease, making them aesthetic or using them to pull in sympathy from the characters. Most of the time, they don't exist in the alternate forms.Is she an exchange student (eg. america)? / At Usagi-Tachi's school at the time?
This is an all-too-common ploy for authors to use for familiarity between the characters. It happened with most of the Inner senshi, but not with Minako, Hotaru, Michiru and Haruka.Does she celebrate holidays they don't celebrate in Japan?
Holidays in Japan and holidays in Canada/America are very different from each other. For example, they have two separate Valentine's Days, and they don't get even a day off on December 25th? It's true.Does she move in with one of the original senshi?
Fits under inserting oneself into the story via la conviennt plot device. One of which is just "moving in" with one of the senshi, regardless of the homestyle of each. Most try for the Outers, Usagi's, Mako's or Rei's....as the former move around from time to time and are convient to show off a fan senshi, and the latters because it's cliche for the Sues to move in with Usagi, and the other two live isolated-ish.Can recognize the Senshi in their normal/civilian forms (before they meet in senshi form) ?
Canonically, it's after they meet that the characters can recognize each other in civi form. This goes the same with and adopted child singling out her parents on the street, it's very hard to do both in real life and in anime.Her Past
Does the character suffer from guilt about something terrible that she did in the past? / Do the other characters eventually convince her that it was not her fault?
Most common in bishonen, aptly named "Bishi-itis", is the tendency(or illness) to continuely angst over things that were probably not their fault and involve vague flashbacks including blood, flower blossoms, and a family member. Sues also can catch this "Bishie-itis", developing angsty tendencies for no reason than to gain sympathy.Note: If you want to create an angst-based character, then actually give her things she can angst about. Let her do wrong, actually wrong, as in, I killed about twenty planets because _______ wrong.Did she once live in or will live in 'alternate' Silver Milleniums or Crystal Tokyo - like eras, times of even greater peace that center around their character's kingdoms?
Yet another need to replicate the original series, via la the backdrop. There can be the possibility that there exists other kingdoms in space itself, but the chances of them being similar to the Silver Millenium is very small, especially the farther away from the Sol system you go. With Crystal Tokyo, the chances of a kindgom being like it are even less likely, as it is an "ideal" civilization, based on the power of the "cosmos seed", and/or Ginzuishou, if you will.Point blank -- don't base your "eras" on the Past or Future of SM; try and make an original one, without stepping on the canon.Did she exist during the Silver Millennium and died trying to protect Princess Serenity or Queen Selenity?
This is an attempt for Sues to insert themselves into one of the eaiser parts of the canon -- the End of the Silver Millenium, specifically on the Moon. As for the death and protection thing, Princess Selenity committed suicide in the manga, and was killed by Beryl in the anime. There is more of a chance of a protector senshi for the Queen, but then again, the woman's got the Silver Crystal; she doesn't need THAT much protection besides the elder senshi (supposed mothers of the cast in the past....) and her own powers.The Senshi, The Legend
Does she posess an 'alternate' (more powerful than / close to the power of / or somehow related to) Ginzuishou (e.g.; gold crystal, rainbow crystal, although both already exist)?
Too many crystals are seen that can equal and even surprass the power of the Ginzuishou, when in the show it states that it is the most powerful crystal in the universe. Nothing is as powerful or more powerful than the Ginzuishou, so please abide by the rules.Sues like to imitate the original senshi; most mimic Sailor Moon, but some are various combinations of Sailor Moon and the other senshi (Mars and Moon, Fire-Sun Crystal Power; Moon-Uranus - Heavenly Crystal Power, etc.). Golden Crystal belongs to Mamoru. Only. Rainbow Crystals don't exist (for now). Finally, The Silver Crystal belongs to Usagi until Chibi-usa takes over as Queen (although this is still in speculation).Does she have some kind of extravagent fuku that the rest of her team doesn't have (As in, comparing Eternal Sailor Moon's fuku to the first season's fuku) ? / Does the fuku have more than two skirt tiers/layers?
Once again, having a more elaborate fuku than the Sol System senshi or her own group of senshi is placing the character on a pedastol, so it's once again an 'anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better' syndrome.The inners in eternal form (manga only) just have two skirt tiers, and Eternal Sailor Moon is the only one with three, because she's the focus of the series (except in SuperS, where ChibiUsa was).Extravagent fukus are excusable only if the senshi doesn't plan to grow in power (per say, she will remain the same basic power level, and is only designed that way because of where she comes from). Having numerous extravagent fukus for different power-ups is complicated and more often than not from observation if you're not careful, can be tacky. Stick to a basic fuku if you plan to have more than two power-ups.Does her senshi title have the word "Galaxy", "Universe", "Moon", "Chibi", "Neo" any of the existing Planet names and other such words in their senshi name?
These are all-too-common senshi names, and even some have senshi appointed to the element/theme already in the first place (Universe - Sailor Cosmos, Galaxy - Sailor Galaxia, Chibis are an excuse to imitate the original series, and Neo is an excuse to create daughters and/or a new set of senshi, therfore cutting out the original cast to about cameo appearances). Anything else, such as Star, Earth, Sun, and Zodiac Signs are also under this group.This confusion (galaxy and universe) is usually accountable for too little information as to the rest of the characters in the series, because for the 'dubbers, they usually have to find out first that it was originally Japanese, and that the stories that they're presented with first and the real deal are totally different from one another.If you're still in need of ideas, take a concept and look for mythos around it; there are tons of Sumarian and Indian gods that can become Senshi names at the drop of a hat. And, if you can't, make it up!In Battle
Does she have attack names with more than 4 words? / Is she able to use attacks that belong to the original senshi? / Or are they otherwise ripoffs of said attacks (e.g.; taking words from attacks and making new ones - "Flame Reflection")?
Any attack with more than four words (and sometimes even with four, if the words themselves are all long) will be too lengthy to say, and will usually distract the reader from the purpose of the said attack. You don't need a lot of words for the attack to be strong or important! Usually, any attack would have 2 to 4 words in it, and that's perfectly fine. For example, Sailor Pluto's forbidden attack is called 'Time Stop'.As for using original senshi's attacks is a no-no. You don't want someone coming into your house and using your toothbrush, do you? Sailor Moon Another Story (the game for those who don't know) already did the rip-off thing with multitech attacks. No one else need suffer the wrath of Shabon Submerge or Pink Sugar Shaking.Does she posess Kamikaze/Forbidden attacks, however, aren't used or mentioned in the story? / Or, when used in a story, never actually do kill them?
Don't mention a death/taboo attack unless you're going to *use* said attack. They are also taboo or suicidal for a reason; namely, because they kill off the characters that use them. Pluto dies from Time Stop, Saturn dies from Death Ribbon/Reborn Revolution. You character should and will die from whatever taboo attack they use. Period. Every senshi has one.Does she posess more than one Weapon? / Does your senshi posess a wand similar to one of Sailor Moon's / Posess a staff similar or exactly like Sailor Pluto's Time Key Staff?
Sues always have plenty of weapons, magical or not; they believe in the old boy scout motto, 'Always Be Prepared'.With powers and weapons, you should think of it as a scale: As more power goes up, weapons goes down, and vice-versa. Therefore, if you want your character to have more weapons, knock her power down a level for each one; for more power, lower the amount of weapons. It's all about balance.
Imitation; see a wand, must have a wand too. There are other shapes besides moons and hearts. Really.There is only one Guardian of Time, and that's Pluto. No other character should have a staff similar or exactly like hers just for the fact that it represents her status as Time Guardian. Especially if their powers don't even vaguely deal with time.Does she use elements already posessed by an original senshi? / Does she suddenly ursurp all the other senshi's powers to combine and form her ultimate power (i.e. Said character in the middle of the collecting powers and effectively pushing Sailor Moon to the side, or even their powers don't combine with Sailor Moon anymore)?
Each senshi pretty much has a grasp in most of the main elements, so specifying what part of the element the senshi has control helps define them (Fire---Explosion; Earth---Stone; Water----Snow; etc).Ursuping all the senshi's powers to combine into a Sailor moon-esque kill-all ultimate power is an extreme no-no. This also concides with the Sue's other worse trait -- pushing the main character(s) out of the limelight and stepping in, taking up most, if not all of the story.Does she have a sword? / That is similar to Galaxia's, Venus' (venus wink sword, only appears in manga) or Uranus'?
The sword is the most common weapon in ALL of manga and anime, and it appears once or twice any just about anything. Once again, imitation; see shiny sword, have shiny sword, bad shiny sword.Is she unusually skilled in areas outside her senshi element. (eg; is a fire senshi, but also has ice abilities)? / Are there more than two elements she is skilled with? / Is she an expert at both/all?
Dual elements is also a no-no. Dual element senshi, excluding some with detailed and precise explanations, are instant sues just for the fact that they have two different powers to rely on, which means two sets of attacks, two sets of weak/strengths, etc.Any more than two, and you might as well title her Queen of Existance and give her a throne in a blackhole somewhere.Does she showing up to save the other senshi ala sailorV? / Does she actually succeed?
Cliche introduction of the fan senshi number 2. If random school popins don't work, then there's always saving the senshi's arse from the fire, even if they are more experienced in their powers than you, and even if all nine are there fighting ONE creature.If you do succeed, you will be labeled as mysterious (Minako: and ripoff! *growls* I worked for DAYS on that! *cries*).The Love Boat
Does the character fall in love with and/or have sex with any canon character? / Because you want to have sex with these characters? / Is this character Mamoru?
Is your character in love with/ stealing/ being related to/ being great friends with Mamoru, Usagi, or any other canon character? / Do any one of them fall in love with your character?
Does she fall in love with one of the Starlights? / Does she have that Starlight decide to stay in male form forever (even though they're naturally female)?
As before, these are all very common 'Sue actions. Please try to avoid them.Romance rules of SM Canon: Mamoru is taken. Period. Even if he gets brainwashed from heck and back. Please don't inflict your fantasies on the poor sap; he's already messed up as is and if he does, then Crystal Tokyo will never exist, and poor Usagi will most likely kill herself, and there goes the future of the universe.As for the starlights, they are female. They will not "magically" become male, nor will they ever have been male. Starlights are female, inside and out. If they weren't, then they wouldn't be Sailor Senshi. They only use the males as disguises, and those are held up by magic, and are not their true selves. Making them male unravels the fabric of the universe. Or something like that.Does the character's presence (eventually) make Usagi and Mamoru (or Haruka and Michiru or any other pair of canon characters) realize they weren't meant for each other, but even in the show it's mentioned that they are? / Does the story end with the character's wedding?
This would do well in the AU category, and with extreme circumstances, but otherwise in the normal In Character (IC) world, this wouldn't happen. Haru/Michi and Mamo/Usa are the only two couples in the whole series. They both love their partners, and nothing short of a grand betrayal is going to make them just "break up". The SM Manga ended with a wedding; why do we want to see another one?Is the love of their life with either Tuxedo or Kamen in their name, that actually looks like Tuxedo Kamen himself except for slight color changes in his identical tuxedo suit? / Does she have a future family - Not only future husbands but future children? / Does she have a daughter? / Is she a senshi too? / Is she Chibi-something?
This seems to be a strong 'Sue trait in the fictions. Come on, girls! We don't need men to be strong! Once again it comes down to the issue of Imitation. Sues like to imitate the main character, right down to the children, the husband, and anything else they can see.You, Your character, and Everyone Else
Does the character have Hair or Eye colors that you want to have? / Does the character generally have a strong resemblance to you (only better looking)?
This is generally the same thing as wanting to live in the anime world through your character situation. Sues are usually an avatar/self-insertion of the author, either looking the way they'd want to, or looking very much like them, except less flawed.If someone tells you he/she doesn't like your character, do you take it as a personal attack on you? / If someone calls your character a Mary Sue, do you immediately assume they're jealous of you?
This is a telltale sign that your character *could* be a marysue. It's true that authors are close to their characters as a mother to child, but if the character is almost identical to you, it is then safely assumed that the person in question is ideed attacking you directly, becuase of that relation. A knee-jerk response is to get defensive and attack right back. If you can't pull yourself away from the character enough to accept constructive(negative or postive) criticism, then you probably have a Sue.Everything Else/ Misc.
Do you introduce the character on the first page of the story? / The First paragraph? / In the first sentence?
Does she already have her powers at this time? / Does she attain her powers with the appearance of a little kitty (or said animal guardian)? Sueish. Please once again, this is called 'Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon', unless the fiction takes place on another planet, and they haven't heard of the Sol System Senshi. But they will. Oh yes... they will. Don't be so hasty to introduce your character, there's no rush. Take time to establish the new enemy/problem, go to a few of the original senshi and see what they're doing! Usually introducing the fan character in the first chapter is okay, but it's better to measure out the introduction of the character into smaller amounts over the chapters, keeping her out of the limelight in a sense, and developing her civilian identity over her senshi one. So many people rush into the fighting part without giving an idea to what their character is beyond the soldier. Hey, she's a girl, not a robot, and has feelings, emotions, likes and dislikes too.Usually if there's a new character in the season (whether it's a new enemy or a new senshi), it'll take a while for them to appear, and if they do, it's their shadow (a la Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune in the S season)Guardian animals are overdone, and are generally used as exposition for things (basically telling you about something that you wouldn't know about on your own).Do you transfer the entire senshi team to America to continue their story?
They say you're supposed to "write what you know", but that can be taken too far; moving a Japanese-based set of fighters to America is bound to not to only be confusing and annoying, as it is only really used so the author feels more comfortable in writing about where she lives rather than attempting to write about a place she has vague ideas about. Expect the sailor senshi to burst out in fits of "american english", complete with slang, expressions that the Japanese don't know, and misuse of verbs and nouns.If you feel unfamiliar with Japan and their customs, etc, then there are a lot of sources online to do your research, so don't worry! Even talk to a japanese native, or someone who has been there! There are penpals, message boards, so look around!Does the character tell off and/or kill a regular or recurring characters whom you don't like? / While hypnotised by the enemy?
Once again we touch on the 'living-our-dreams-or-fantasies-through-our-characters' issue. Generally it is a good idea to follow character canonically, but if your character is a murderous monster, make sure others suffer her wrath as well, and with good cause.Sues will usually pick one character as their foil (personal supposed "antagonist", rival, etc), most likely a character that the author doesn't particularly like (such as anime Rei/Mars), take them out of character, and pit their character against them. The battle can range from verbal wit, annoyance, or to the more bloody areas of maiming, gouging, and death. Hyponosis is used as an excuse for a Sue to kill off an original character, as wel as being under the influence of ebil.Is your senshi from another anime universe? / Is she of a race from said universe, with the powers of that race (i.e., Saiya-jin senshi) / Does she mingle with the characters from the other said universe (Senshi hangs with Goku in DBZ, or with Tenchi in TM)?
Doing crossovers is a tricky thing. Not only do you have to think of the two fandoms as a whole, you must think about if they're even similar enough to mix and mingle (example; Card Captor Sakura and Sailor Moon would go well together. The Tekken Game Series and Sailor Moon would not). If you must do a crossover fic, do so with great caution, because typically they are faulty, and so few authors do them well.