I create OCs based on the stories I want to tell so most of the time I don't have any "original" inspiration for them HAHA I'm just a storyteller so sometimes the idea of an OC comes to my mind and I work from that. After that, sometimes I end up taking inspiration for characters I like/that align with that OC for future inspiration, but all my OCs are almost never inspired by anything in particular lolol

Anime, Manga, and Games. Blend that together with concepts and ideas I want to see come to life and there you have it. ^^

The anime/games i like

I find or create a character design aspect or idea I really like and expand outward from it in details

Either a) a deep meaningful story with symbolism written almost everywhere or b) a silly lil oc with a cheerful fun design, both of these are usually based on a Monster Hunter monster and/or a Song that I found and said “This would be a cool character personality.”

character archetypes that I really like mainly.

For example: Jasmine: Genki girl with a sad backstory
Andres: Stoic delinquent with a heart of gold
Youen: Crouching Moron hidden badass

Usually the setting and other characters within the piece of media that Im making them for will influence what kinda character I wanna make. If its an oc not related to an existing game or something, i just take traits i like from canon characters of media i enjoy

Rule of cool and then injecting one or two very human elements into them or basing them around a core concept

Like most people, taking bits and aspects from my favorite characters and cramming them together to make the OC of my choosing, and then build around from there. Alternatively, re-vamping an in-game Avatar from a game playthrough.

I have no rhyme or reason. I just make whatever seems interesting to me at the time.

It usually varies, it could be inspired by a certain theme, an couple of anime characters or from Games, or just plumb up randomly appearing in my head and going "Yeah I'd make it"

Whichever really comes first, and I fix the rough edges so they'd be more presentable. Though I always watch a show/anime to help adjust their personality and backstory

It varies, sometimes I have a personal experience I need to exorcise and analyse. Sometimes I have an interesting concept i wanna see portrayed. Sometimes i get possessed and create something. Sometimes my thinly veiled self-parody i made to laugh at the things I dislike about myself takes a life of itself