visual novel - proof of concept

"this is how it started - this obsession to create something that people could tangibly interact with"

Format: visual novel

Pitch: story follows four characters who represents various stages and emotions of life, and their interactions with a fifth character who represents external factors, other people, who affect our lives.

M - "As I was trying to figure out how I wanted to present this project, I realized I wanted to create something that viewers can actively engage with so that they can feel like they are a part of the story. An illustration series felt too limiting of a medium to tell my story, and a full-fledged animation seemed like too much to take on, but I wanted some animated visuals, so visual novels made the most sense."

character sheets:

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thumbnails & storyboard (incomplete):

M - "I started to hate it. In theory, it was a good idea, but like always, executing it was proving to be a problem. I'd never done anything like this before, and the subject matter was literally too close to home. I was creating something about me, my lived experiences, and at the time, I don't think I was ready for it yet.

"While this concept has changed forms multiple times since then, at its core, it remains the same. This has always been about you."

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art style exploration: