Alphabet Monsters Design Notes y / Y
What are Alphabet Monsters?
"Alphabet Monsters" is an original educational resource that designs uppercase and lowercase letters as Pokémon-like characters.
By utilizing the shape of the letters as the silhouettes of the monsters, we have designed them so that children can enjoy getting familiar with the alphabet.
As a design note, I will be writing about the behind-the-scenes of the production.
※ The Alphabet Monsters reference chart (A3 size) is available for free download for home and educational use.
As a design note, I will be writing about the behind-the-scenes of the production.
※ The Alphabet Monsters reference chart (A3 size) is available for free download for home and educational use.
▶ Alphabet Monsters Reference Chart (A3 size / Free Download)
A "handstanding" polar bear swimming through the snowy sky
When first thinking about the designs for "y" and "Y", I considered how to differentiate them from "t" and "T", which have similar shapes. So, I came up with a "handstanding" silhouette that looks like the letter has been flipped upside down. From there, a polar bear-like character that floats fluffily in the sky and manipulates snow and ice was born.
y (Yukimaru)
For the lowercase "y", the curve at the bottom of the letter looked like the head of a swimming animal. It brings to mind the image of the free and joyful movements of a seal or polar bear at an aquarium as it gracefully changes direction underwater.
I scattered snowflakes around it to give it the atmosphere of a "snow spirit" swimming smoothly through the snowy sky. Its name is "Yukimaru," which sounds like a cute, traditional Japanese childhood name.
Y (Yukinosato)
For the uppercase "Y", I made the outline much thicker to give it a powerful appearance reminiscent of a yeti living in the mountains.
While Yukimaru manipulates snow, this one manipulates more solid "ice." The process of drawing in the blocks of ice was a very fun time, as it seemed to make the character's strength stand out even more. I named it "Yukinosato," which has a ring to it like a sumo wrestler's ring name, due to its solid and imposing presence.
The "Y" that is free from gravity
In contrast to t and T, which are firmly grounded, y and Y dance in the sky in a handstanding pose. Even with letters that have similar structures, a completely different sense of life can dwell within them depending on how you perceive them. This is a pair that allowed me to give shape to that interesting aspect of design.
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