Mondo - 1 (WIP1)

Ever since I can remember I've been fascinated with Japan. Surely my exposure to Japanese video games and animation at a young age sparked my curiosity in the country. Over the years my interest grew and sure enough, I ended up living there for a 5 year period as a young man. I had so many incredible adventures and experiences in that time that helped shape and refine me as a person. Mondo is sort of my love letter to those amazing days.

I wasn't sure what direction to go with this and I'm still developing the concept. Originally, I was making Mondo as a graphic novel that focused on my romantic exploits through the course of one particular year where I was constantly drifting in and out of awkward relationships. The playboy lifestyle didn't suit me at all and I really just felt lost and lonely. I started making Mondo as a way of coping by exploiting the humor of my experiences. In the comic, all my girlfriends would eventually turn into kaiju and pummel me. The only way I could fight back is with giant mecha.

This pixel art series is roughly based off the original but I would like it to encompass a broader view of my experience in Japan, not the particulars of relationships. Therefore, I've decided to create zoomed out isometric scenes with personal stories woven into the many details. But don't worry, kaiju and mecha should still make and appearance.  

This scene is about my arrival in the small city I first lived in. A very ordinary city that would become one of the most cherished homes I've ever had.

You can see this is quite a departure from my last series, so I'm still trying to sort out the aesthetics. I decided it will all be isometric. I think I've worked out a pretty good scale that allows me to make large zoomed out scenes but still include small details like people and signage. I haven't locked down the canvas size and orientation. This scene may very well expand into a larger canvas. Whatever I end up with it's probably best if the whole series is consistent in size and orientation. I always use square canvases because it's the most flexible format, but sometimes it's nice to mix it up a bit. We'll see...