• Deliverable Media Ideas

  • dice based

  • 13x6 one piece of art with all of the tarot cards as one story

  • different textures for blind people

  • Sign Language Card

  • Boardgame

    • Transparent Tarot

    • Mixing Card

      • Magnet?

    • Salem?

—

3 Sep 2025 - Rob's Advice

• Try a different audience

  • Amateur tarot reader (like an introduction other than RWS)

  • Tarot Collector

  • People who come to get a card reading are people who are scared of bad fortune

  • Children

• Ideas

  • Metal coaster tarot card

  • Tarot character design and set narrative to storytelling

Book Recommendation

• Graphic design thinking: beyond brainstorming

Style Ideas

• Arthur Rackham Tarot

• Wonderland Tarot

• Odilon Redon

What do I have to do?

1. Set narrative

2. Try styles

—

11 Sep 2025 - Karma's Advice

What do I have to do?

1. Research

• styles, concept, add anime concept

• Style: Wake me up tarot

• How tarot card popular in Thailand

2. Self-brand, portfolio website - For future career

Styles

• Arcane

• Carles Dalmau

• Client picks No.5 and 6 Sketch.

22/9/2025

• Client updated more specific demographics and vibe.

• As they mention, they want a feather-like mascot. I've researched, and we agree to use an owl as a base for this mascot.

1st Brief

• They want a mascot for the game review Facebook page and website.

• Using Rouge the Bat colour palette.

• Surprise me style (They let me shape all the concept to fit in their concept but not limit style of art)

1. Art / PSD Problems

• Layers not properly separated

• Wrong clipping (shadows, reflections misaligned)

• Transparent gaps in base areas

• Duplicate or unclear layer names

• Off-center canvas or pivot

2. Rigging / Parameter Issues

• Incorrect deformer hierarchy

• Overly dense mesh

• Mesh not bound properly

• Wrong mirroring setup

• Parameter limits too wide/narrow

• Misplaced rotation pivots

3. Hardware / Performance Issues

• CPU i5 too weak

• Running multiple heavy apps simultaneously

• Outdated GPU or tablet drivers

4. Workflow / Management Mistakes

• No checklist before export/test

• Rushed rigging without step testing

• Confusing multiple versions

• No backup before Cubism updates

26/10/2025

• File crashed again, hope I can export the texture atlas.

25/10/2025

• Can't finish all parts on time because the file is too heavy and I don't have enough skill.

• Finish only the eyes, mouth, and some part of hair.

15/10/2025

• Horn Rigging is too complicated to do in this short period of time. I decided to make the overall model work first and will study more later.

27/09/2025

• Finished arranging mesh and multiply layers, ready for making the deformer.

• After I got a head angle study file made by Suiika, I've to change the plan to rig 15-direction head angles.

24/09/2025

• Since my illustrator can't make a 9-direction head angles guide for rigging, I've to do it myself.

• Understanding Content Trends for 2025-2026: You gained insights into the projected key directions and trends for content creation in the near future (2025-2026).

• The Global Need for Niche and Culture: The global market is not just looking for something new, but is actively seeking out content that highlights your niche, culture, and things only your country has. This unique local flavour is what creates a distinct global story.

  • Example (Ghost Stories): It's not about being the absolute scariest. It's about showcasing your country's unique perspective, such as its dark humour or the specific cultural context of how you live alongside those stories, which makes the content globally compelling and original.

• Balancing Closed vs. Open Platforms and Monetisation Strategy:

  • Diversify Distribution: Creators should not rely solely on closed platforms (like Netflix, Prime or iQIYI).

  • Leverage Open Platforms: It is crucial to use open platforms (like YouTube, TikTok, and other social network services) to build an audience and present oneself to the world.

  • The "Addiction & Paywall" Model: The strategy is to create content that users become addicted to, and then strategically place the most premium or exclusive content behind a paywall, rather than relying solely on ad revenue, as not every platform provides consistent ad-based income.

I've correctly identified that my project needs to absorb a

Westernised art style focused on exaggeration, body language, and shape-driven design. The Cuphead aesthetic, rooted in the 1930s

Rubber Hose Animation is the perfect masterclass in this, even though it's a Western, vintage style.

• Shape-Driven Design: The Rubber Hose style relies on exaggerated, simple, and rhythmic shapes, which is the exact "Western silhouette and rhythm" I plan to practice. This will help push my drawing style beyond purely anime conventions.

• Edge and Rebellion: While cute, the Cuphead style is often used to convey mischievous, dark, or edgy themes. This perfectly matches my project’s goal to be

  "aesthetically soft without losing its edge" and embodying "rebellion-with-a-smile".

• Mascot Functionality: The simplicity and bold expressiveness of the style make it easily adaptable for UI, icons, and posts, fulfilling the need for a highly functional mascot.

--

The Case for Carles Dalmau: Pastel, Pop, and Persona

My inspiration from the Persona series requires a balance of fashion-forward design, stylised cel-shading, and a pastel-infused palette. The art style of Carles Dalmau delivers this contemporary blend perfectly.

• East-Meets-West Blending: Dalmau’s work, which often features anime-inspired characters, incorporates more rounded, painterly elements and a distinct lighting/colour sensibility that feels modern and globally appealing. This is a fantastic example of how I can achieve "anime-inspired elegance with a touch of modern pop/indie aesthetics" and create a design that feels fresh and recognisable.

• Soft Rebellion Aesthetic: The use of soft colours, neon, and moody scenarios in Dalmau’s style aligns directly with the goal of an "aesthetically soft" look and the "pastel, sleek, subversive-but-cute design" that appeals to my target audience who enjoy "soft goths" or "Tumblr-core aesthetics".

• Technique: Dalmau’s use of cel-shading and vibrant colours provides an excellent reference for my Procreate-based workflow and the stylised cel-shading I plan to employ.

  
  

• Tone is Too Dark/Gritty: The mascot needs to be cute, friendly, and soft, with a pastel palette. Arcane's aesthetic is one of gritty drama, sharp shadows, and intense realism, which clashes with the required approachable, alt-pop tone.

• Technique is Too Complex (3D Hybrid): Arcane uses complex, high-fidelity 3D models with hand-painted 2D textures, requiring a massive technical pipeline. My project needs a style easily achievable with Procreate's 2D workflow that focuses on stylised cel-shading and bold silhouettes.

• Wrong Focus: Arcane's style prioritises cinematic camera work and dramatic realism. I need a style optimised for branding, UI integration, and clarity (like a high-functioning web mascot).

II. The Mismatch of Night in the Woods (NITW) (Minimalist Abstraction)

• Aesthetic is Too Minimalist/Muted: NITW's style relies on simple, geometric, often lineless shapes and a moody, muted color palette. My design needs the vibrant colour, detailed fashion, and aggressive "pop".

• Lacks Elegance and Detail: The mascot must convey "anime-inspired elegance" and a high level of detail in clothing/hair, similar to Persona. The highly abstracted animal characters of NITW cannot convey this level of style and complexity.

• Inconsistent with Branding Goal: The style's primary function is to support a melancholic, grounded, narrative-focused world. I need a visual style that is high-energy and immediately recognisable for social media and website branding.

This association primarily stems from Ancient Greek Mythology:

• Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom: The owl (specifically the Little Owl, Athene noctua) was the sacred animal and companion of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, crafts, and strategic warfare.

• Seeing in the Dark: The owl's ability to see clearly in the darkness was metaphorically linked to Athena's ability to "see the whole truth," providing insight and foresight that others lacked.

• Cultural Emblem: The owl became an emblem of Athens, Athena's patron city, and was featured prominently on Athenian coins (the tetradrachm, sometimes called a glaux or "little owl"), solidifying its association with intellectual and cultural prominence.

The Great Horned Owl: Greatest Adirondack Predator

The appeal of VTubing lies in its unique blend of performance, storytelling, and technology. It allows creators to build a distinct online persona, often with a unique backstory and character, while maintaining their privacy. This has led to a diverse range of VTubers, from those who primarily stream video games to those who host talk shows, sing, or create art.

The VTuber phenomenon originated in Japan and has grown into a global industry with a dedicated fanbase. While many VTubers are independent creators, a large number are managed by agencies, which provide them with resources, production support, and opportunities for collaboration.

YouTubers

1. Virtual YouTubers (VTubers): The Dominant Use

• Industry Standard: Live2D is the go-to technology for most professional and independent VTubers. Major agencies like Hololive and Nijisanji heavily utilize Live2D for their 2D avatars. In fact, a significant percentage of Live2D Cubism Pro users are or create Vtubers.

• Real-time Interaction: The technology excels when combined with real-time motion capture (using webcams or dedicated apps like VTube Studio and nizima LIVE) to track the creator's head movements, eye movements, and perform lip-syncing. This enables highly engaging, live, and expressive streaming content.

• Aesthetics and Accessibility: It allows creators to maintain the charm and intricate detail of original 2D illustrations, which is a major aesthetic draw for anime and manga fans. It's often preferred over 3D models for this reason and also because the models can be less resource-intensive to run during streams.

2. Gaming and Apps:

• Mobile and Console Games: Live2D is extensively used in video games, particularly in the mobile and visual novel sectors, to animate character sprites for dialogue, menus, and dynamic scenes. Notable examples include games like Azur Lane and many visual novels.

• Preserving 2D Art: It's valued by game developers for its ability to create lively, expressive characters while perfectly preserving the look and feel of the original, high-quality 2D character art.

• SDKs: Live2D provides SDKs (Software Development Kits) for various platforms and game engines like Unity, Native, Web, and Cocos Creator, making integration into different projects seamless.

3. The Live2D Ecosystem:

• Marketplace: Platforms like Nizima serve as dedicated marketplaces where illustrators and Live2D riggers can sell pre-made or custom-order illustrations and Live2D models, fostering a robust creator economy.

• Supporting Software: Live2D Ltd. continues to develop supporting software like nizima LIVE for easy real-time face tracking and nizima Action for creating short-form Live2D video content.

• Education and Community: There is a large, active global community with abundant learning materials, tutorials, and courses (like Live2D JUKU) to help both beginners and professionals master the art of rigging and animation.

In short, Live2D remains a dynamic, highly relevant, and often preferred tool for 2D real-time expression, with its current prominence being overwhelmingly driven by the massive popularity and growth of the VTuber phenomenon.

Based on research on Thai comics, here are the main reasons for the use of the Manga/Anime style:

1. Market Dominance and Affordability

• Mass Availability: Pirated manga flooded the Thai market from the 1980s until the early 1990s, making it widely available and highly popular with Thai readers.

• Low Cost: Before the passing of a copyright bill in Thailand in 1995, pirated Japanese comics were inexpensive, which contributed to their significant success and popularity over other forms of comics.

• Popularity: By 1984, Japanese comics were already more popular than Western or Thai comics, with about three-fourths of children choosing them as favorites.

  
  

2. Superior Quality and Modernity

• Alternative to Traditional Comics: Manga offered a strong alternative to the existing Thai-style comics, which were seen as declining due to low quality, over-repetition of themes (like simple gags or royalty), and sometimes provocative visuals.

• Artistic Preference: Japanese comics were favoured for their sophisticated plots, impressive artwork, and realistic stories. The popularity of Japanese animation was attributed not only to the quantity available in Thailand but also to its quality.

• Reflecting Urban Reality: The development of a "Modern Thai Comics" style, influenced by global trends, was sparked by a desire to create narratives that resonated with the reality experienced by the younger generation living in Bangkok, who had embraced global tastes and ideas.

  
  

3. Competition and Stylistic Imitation

• Market Competition: Thai publishers and cartoonists felt compelled to imitate the Japanese style to compete successfully in the limited domestic market.

• Direct Borrowings: This imitation involved direct stylistic borrowings from mainstream manga production, including character designs, page layouts, narrative pacing, and the extensive use of screen tones, action lines, and integrated sound effects.

• Style Fusion: Modern Thai comics evolved to combine the Japanese manga style with more art and design techniques. Although heavily influenced by Japanese, American, and European styles, young cartoonists often incorporated Thai culture, lifestyle, and beliefs into their stories and art.

Here are some key aspects of Tarot in the Thai context:

1. Part of a Diverse Divination Culture:

   • Tarot is one of many methods of fortune-telling in Thailand, which also includes traditional Thai astrology, palmistry, numerology, and Chinese astrological influences.

   • Fortune-tellers, known as Mor Doo (doctors who see), are widely consulted across all social classes for guidance on career, relationships, business decisions, and general life uncertainty.

     
     

2. Modern and Traditional Integration:

   • While traditional Thai methods are still highly respected, the Western-originated Tarot has been adopted and is widely offered by professional readers, often alongside other spiritual or astrological services.

   • Many younger Thais, though modern and educated, still engage with divination, viewing it sometimes as a form of psychological guidance, advice, or emotional resilience-building, rather than strict prophecy.

     
     

3. Thai-Themed Tarot Decks:

   • There is a trend of creating Tarot and Oracle decks that incorporate Thai imagery, folklore, and cultural motifs, offering a localised interpretation. Examples include:

     • The Royal Thai Tarot, featuring figures and scenes from Thai mythology and history.

     • Other decks that blend Thai and Hindu deities, spiritual symbols, and aesthetics.

       
       

4. Accessibility and Professionalism:

   • Tarot readers can be found in various settings, including dedicated shops, stalls near temples (like the Ganesha Shrine in Huai Khwang, Bangkok), and increasingly, online through social media and booking platforms.

   • Many readers offer personalised sessions, sometimes integrating the Tarot with psychic mediumship or spiritual coaching.

• I start to reconsider if this is what I really want to do in the major project. I'm working a lot and still recovering from the rotator cuff tear issue. It started to slow me down in every process, and I don't know if, in the short period of time, I still want to work like this or not.

24/09/2025

• After reading tarot for clients, I realised I need to use matte-textured cards. The glossy ones cause too much reflection when filming, which makes it hard to see some of the details.

18/09/2025

• I use my old Oracle deck design to create a sample dice-based tarot. It's too hard to read, and it still needs a guidebook because dice can show only 1-2 symbols per face.