Front and back of the final concept. I was inspired to design a fighter after the Peacock Mantis Shrimp, known for their powerful punch underwater.
Details and references for different aspects of the design — the pattern of the pants, and the tattoo design reference. The tattoos and pants patterns are based on the white marks and geometric shapes found throughout the Peacock Mantis Shrimp’s body.
Initial concept vs final design. I wanted the shrimp inspiration to be more obvious, rather than a generic fist fighter look. I incorporated the anatomy of a Peacock Mantis Shrimp to the clothing and color choices. I also wanted the fighter’s figure to be lean, yet muscular. Despite the small size of a mantis shrimp, they pack a punch.
Color explorations. I was trying to capture the rainbow colors of a mantis shrimp without it being too busy. I also explored a different outfit, with different pants, knee pads, and armor on the fists. Eventually, I settled for teal as the main color in the design.
Expression sheet. This character is cocky, confident, and strong-willed.