APPENDIX F - THE DECIMICE

APPENDIX F

THE DECIMICE

The Decimice are a set of ten anthropomorphic mice characters I first created to personify the ten decimal digits. I generally associate one color very strongly with each one of the digits. The strongest and most definite associations are that "2" is "blue", "3" is "green", and "4" is "orange". "5"s are frequently "red". These associations were formed at a fairly young age and I don't entirely know their origin but 2,3, and 4 have been remarkably consistent. "2" is blue most likely because "two" and "blue" rhyme. The others I have no real theory but for whatever reasons the associations with these particular colors just seem "right" to me. Apparently the association of colors with numbers is fairly common although people rarely talk about it, and it seems everyone has a different set of associations.

Each of the ten characters was given a name based on the number they represented. One character in particular "Fourzi", representing the number 4, has become my avatar and kind of my unofficial "fursona" at this point. I've used it on various media. I did not create Fourzi to be my avatar, but since this was my favorite of the decimice it was convenient to use it as an avatar instead of developing a completely new character ... and now the image and character have become near synonymous with me, probably in part because I have not shared any images of what I actually look like.

In this Appendix I wanted to introduce readers to the full set of decimice character designs along with what information I have about their "personalities" and "hobbies". I created these characters mostly as a design exercise, but I have wondered if anything else could be done with them creatively. In any case they are my personal creations and their images, along with their names and characterizations, are therefore trademarked. Do not use these characters or their likenesses without my permission.

There is a few important conventions that I followed in forming these characters. Firstly and most importantly, if a number is "even" then it is "male" and if it is "odd" then it is "female". Male names end in -zi where as female names end in -ri. All names are exactly two syllables long. Each has a main color theme based on the color I most closely associate with that number. Their design should incorporate the number in some way, either the actual numeral, or having something with the actual cardinality of their number. Each has a set of hobbies that define the character as some kind of usually recognizable architype of popular culture.

*Note: Although "Zerzi" is listed first he was actually the last character to be created. 1-9 were created in that order first and then "0" was created as the tenth decimouse.

THE DECIMICE^TM

ZERZI

Official Name: Zerzi

Sex: Male

Number Theme: 0

Color Theme: GreyHobbies:

Mathematics, Philosophy, Poetry

Design Notes:

Ears look like zeroes, round zero-like glasses, Makes a zero-sign with right hand, tail curled into a zero, tail has zero trinkets

Official Name: FourziSex: Male

Number Theme: 4

Color Theme: Orange

Hobbies:

Retro Gaming, Chiptune, 4-D Movies

Design Notes:

Ears are shaped like Diamonds, wears square shaped glasses, Squares with Xs across them (K4s) are found on clothing, 4 tufts of hair, 4 square trinkets on tail.