OS-tan

From Moeverse Wiki

The term OS-tan is used on the Moeverse Wiki as an Universe name to refer to the collection of ideas related to female moe characters associated to operating systems originating from Futaba Channel. The word is also used to refer to these characters themselves[1].

Etymology

The term OS-tan is formed from the abbreviation of operating system, and the Japanese -tan (たん) suffix, an altered and even more affectionate version of the -chan (ちゃん) suffix that is usually used to designate girls. Who exactly coined the term or when it first appeared is unknown, though it traces at least back to August 25, 2003, when the OS-tan Vault (ＯＳたん保管庫) was established.

The term OS Girl (OS娘, OS Musume) may also be encountered when referring to the characters. [2]

History

It is commonly accepted that the concept started with Me-tan, published on August 6, 2003 on the Nijiura board of Futaba Channel (二次元裏＠ふたば). The character probably inspired others from the Futaba community to create more characters for other OSes.

The OS-tan Vault maintained a gallery of images submitted by the Nijiura community, and already listed in the earliest known archive from October 4, 2003[3] DOS Prompt (as MS-DOS-tan, ＭＳ－ＤＯＳたん), 98-tan, NT-tan, Me-tan, 2K-tan (as 2000-tan, ２０００たん), XP-tan and Dr. Norton.

Later, Ōbaba (as 3.1-tan, 3.1たん), 95-tan, CE-tan, Longhorn-tan, Saba-tan, Lindows-tan, Linux-tan, Buster, McAfee and Mac-tan have been added as of October 2004, which is the last time the update dates were changed in the homepage, despite the Vault remaining accessible until around the half of 2010 with a latest known working archive from June 9, 2010 of the homepage[4]. The content appears to have mostly remained unchanged since 2004.

A Flash animation published on April 2004 featuring most of the characters, the Trouble Windows Opening, possibly contributed to make OS-tan known outside of Futaba Channel and Japan. Notable merchandise of Me-tan, XP-tan, 2K-tan and 95-tan further helped making these characters more known.

As the years passed, the Nijiura community kept making new OS-tans for operating systems released later, like Seven-chan, Battenichi-chan, Ten-chan and 11-chan, though these modern OS-tans remain less known outside Futaba Channel.

Philosophy

まさに絵師の数だけOSたんワールドが存在しているともいえる。
It can be said that there are as many OS-tan worlds as there are artists.

— User Shinjuku via Cool.ne.jp, 2004[5]

The OS-tan Vault explains that there is no specific rule for the OS-tan setting, though existing works can be used as a reference[6].

That being said, the Nijiura community is also reputed for being quite closed, and external contributions may be frowned upon. The OS-tan Vault itself discourages others from publishing OS-tan works on their own sites, explaining that the information about such action may spread in the Nijiura community and cause them to attack the sites in question[6].

It is also of note that many OS-tans are designed by "NSFW" artists who might produce all kinds of pornographic content, including explicit drawings or commercial products involving fictional underage characters ("Loli") which may also be the OS-tans in question, so one must be comfortable enough with this background or be very open minded to accept the cultural differences, and be prepared to encounter such material, in order to dig further into OS-tans.

Known Character Designers

  • The Me-tan (2003) creator is most likely no longer active, and had a now unavailable website hosted by Rakuten Infoseek[7].
  • XP Kaki-Aki (XP描きあき), also known as Nac, designed (~2003-2004) XP-tan, DOS Prompt, and Dr. Norton, but is most likely no longer active. The artist had a now unavailable Geocities site (Playtown-Queen 5472)[8].
  • Setsuaki (せつあき) designed NT Maman (2003), but is no longer active, and had an unavailable website hosted by Rakuten Infoseek [9]
  • Shimuro (しむろ) designed Seven-chan (2009) and 11-chan (2023). The artist, who also produces adult only content, is still active on Pixiv (User 4927), X (@simuro), and Skeb.jp (@simuro).
  • Mega Ogre (メガオーガ) designed Ten-chan (2016). The artist, who also produces adult only content, is still active on X (@oga_yui_open), surikogi.dojin.com (pppoga), and Skeb.jp (@oga_yui_open). The person also has a Pixiv account (18292300), but does not appear to be active anymore, the last artwork being published in 2020.

Notes and References

  1. ↑ On the Moeverse Wiki, we do not consider any other character as OS-tans, in particular the Madobe OS mascots and any other computing mascot or personification.
  2. ↑ The term OS Girl (OS娘) seemed to be the preferred term used by the Nijiura community to refer to the characters, due to its reputation as a closed community, and in order to distinguish internal and external publications.
  3. ↑ OS-tan Vault Homepage (2003-10-04 archive) (⚠️ Sensitive Content)
  4. ↑ OS-tan Vault Homepage (2010-06-09 archive) (⚠️ Sensitive Content)
  5. ↑ Heika Love page on Shinjuku's website (archive from 2004)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 OS-tan Vault FAQ (⚠️ Sensitive Content)
  7. ↑ Me-tan Creator Homepage (Archive)
  8. ↑ XP Kaki-Aki Copyright Page (Archive)
  9. ↑ Setsuaki's site (Archive)
{{{size}}}px OS-tan
Notable Legacy OS‑tans {{{size}}}px Oichi (1.0) • {{{size}}}px Ōbaba (3.1) • {{{size}}}px 95-tan • {{{size}}}px 98-tan • {{{size}}}px 98SE-tan • {{{size}}}px Me-tan • {{{size}}}px 2K-tan • {{{size}}}px XP-tan • {{{size}}}px Mac-tan
Notable Modern OS‑tans {{{size}}}px Vistake • {{{size}}}px Seven-chan • {{{size}}}px Battenichi-chan (8.1) • {{{size}}}px Ten-chan • {{{size}}}px 11-chan
More OS‑tans and Related {{{size}}}px DOS Prompt • {{{size}}}px Inu-T • {{{size}}}px NT Maman • {{{size}}}px Homeko • {{{size}}}px Saba-tan • {{{size}}}px Longhorn-tan • {{{size}}}px Lindows-tan • {{{size}}}px Sonata (Mac 9) • {{{size}}}px Dr. Norton • Other Characters
Notable Media 🎞️ Trouble Windows Opening • 📖 Trouble Windows OS-tan Fan Book
Events Futaba School Festival
See Also Nijiura • Futaba Channel
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