CREATURE DESIGNS

Kumofumofu

Kumofumofu is a sheep-like creature which produces vapour from its body which forms into clouds. Depending on the climate, various cloud shapes begin to form, such as whispy cirrus clouds or dakr cumulonimbus clouds. When the climate becomes hot and humid, puffy cumulonimbus clouds form which cover Kumofomofu's entire body.

Raminari

Raminari develops from Kumofumofu. In the same way, they're bodies are able to create various cloud forms. In hot climates, Raminari become irate, and bash their horns together. The resulting friction generates electricity, which travels through their bodies and is released throughout the air as lightning.

Hananezubi

Hananezubi are very bright and happy characters, and are often seen scuttling around on the ground. They can fire off fireworks whenever they feel like it, and new ones will grow back to replace them. However, if they aren't feeling great, any attempts to fire off any fireworks will only be met with fizzles and smoke. Hananezubi can also come with certain variations: the normal fireworks, sparklers, and sparkling candles. When multiple Hananezubi group up together, get ready for a spectacle!

Yingyo/Yangyo

Yingyo and Yangyo are fish based off of the Chinese philosophical idea of Yin and Yang, two opposing forces which work together in harmony. The movements of these creatures are long and flowing, but on rarer occasions they can be seen darting through the water. They may also sometimes be seen blowing bubbles, though the purpose is unknown, whether for entertainment or some other reason. What really sets these two apart is their ability to either emit light (Yingyo), or absorb light (Yangyo). If you're lucky, you may just seem them perform something beautiful together.

Nichou

Nichou are butterflies which shine as bright as the sun! Though simple in design, their scales are nothing short of breathtaking. They can absorb sunlight which they take in throughout the day, and emit it as they please, floating like mini suns throughout their environment. They can dust their scales to create sparkles as they glide through the air, and are often seen resting on objects as they absorb sunlight.

Ka are pesky mosquito-like creatures which annoy other creatures in the environment. They use the blood they suck from other creatures and use it as fuel for their combustion. The fuel glows from inside their body, as well as their eyes, and when they take flight, that fuel sets their wings alight in a glorious blaze. They zip around through the air, and produce smoke from their antennae which clouds the air.

Suzume

Suzume is a peafowl-like bird. It's main feature are the eyes that decorate the ends of its feathers, which are able to express different emotions (independently or together). The eyes can also come in a variety of different colours, making for infinite combinations of patterns.

Scale Chart

Use scale charts to ensure that characters are scaled accurately to other models.

Template

When designing creatures, ideas should be unique and capture the imagination. My design process went something like this:

Pick an animal for reference
Search its name in Japanese, and mind map words which could fit in and create an interesting concept (e.g. Kumofumofu is a combination of kumo (cloud) and mofumofu (fluffy))
Create some concept sketches for what the creature might look like. (Capture personality and behaviour)
Create a finalised design with colour

However, the process might not always turn out this way. Sometimes it's good to sketch concepts first, and make a name later, which is how I came up with other creatures. I've also created a template to better present the creatures. It involves:

The creature's name
A posed concept image that captures the "essence" of the creature
A front and side-profile image for modellers
The creature's favourite climate/habitat
Likes
Dislikes
Any notable behaviours
The amount of TP this creature generates