Hey, I Saw The Tags You Left On My Pos And Im Smiling So Much. I Was Really Trying To Play With Shape

Hey, I saw the tags you left on my pos and I’m smiling so much. I was really trying to play with shape language and looking like a “retro” cartoon style. To be compared to Tartakovsky as an honor 💖❤️

Ahh you’re welcome! <3 You nailed the shape language, it’s immediately recognizable as an early 00s cartoon. My first thought was that it’s like a cute redesign of a Samurai Jack character. :)

HERMIT A DAY MAY - DAY 17

EthosLab x Yu Yu Hakusho

For Etho I chose the #1 favourite anime of my childhood, Yu Yu Hakusho!

I sincerely considered rendering Etho in the style of Naruto because I thought it would be funny if I literally just drew Kakashi with a maple leaf patch. However, I actually don't like Naruto very much so I couldn't use that style for this challenge.

So instead I picked YYH because it is by far my favourite shonen anime of all time and still one of the favorite anime in general (possibly my top fav to this day). Plus one of the main cast is a fox demon so, y'know, perfect chance to represent the popular kitsune!Etho fanon.

If you want to learn more about Yu Yu Hakusho and see my style references, continue below the cut!

(Donating to Gamer's Outreach is cool and neat)

Yu Yu Hakusho is a 1990s anime based off of a manga series by the same name. The story follows a delinquent teen named Yusuke Urameshi who opens the show by immediately dying. However he wasn't meant to die, and so he is granted a second chance at life. In return for this second chance, he agrees to become a spirit detective under the lord of the Spirit World, Koenma.

As a spirit detective, it is Yusuke's duty to track down spirits and demons who make their way into the human world and defeat them so they can be returned to the demon realm. Along the way he makes new friends, unlocks powers, and uncovers insidious plots that he must defend the human world against.

The show follows a typical shonen arc (fight bad guy, get defeated, train, power up, fight bad guy again, etc etc) but characters have continuous arcs throughout as they get to know each other and learn more about themselves. The charm of this show comes from the main team of detectives, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama and Hiei, and their chemistry together and with their other friends.

If you like shonen anime but get a little bored of the filler, I highly recommend Yu Yu Hakusho. It has all the best parts of shonen while keeping your attention with fun characters, unique fights, and, at times, surprisingly high stakes.

Style references:

The gang! From left to right are Kuwabara, Yusuke, Hiei, and Kurama. This is one of the many promo art pieces the creator has released that make them look like a boyband. I used this as a style reference for Etho's clothing, but I rendered him in the style of the show itself rather than the promo art.

The show has the same design language but simpler shading. This is also Kurama by the way, he's the kitsune.

One of the Yu Yu Hakusho title designs from the anime

got a new fineliner pen (it's brown!!) who cheered

the queen of hearts, heads, and body parts! oh man i was so busy today but i managed to get her done :)

♦️ Etho for Hermit-a-Day May #17 ♦️

He’s a god, he’s a man, he’s a ghost, he’s a guru.

Back again with this color palette for him. I just love the idea of him with redstone all over his fingers. 👀 Bonus points if you can guess the song!

(Shh, I haven’t done any of the others for Hermit-a-Day May, but my amazing partner @roosterblue gave me this brilliant idea that I couldn’t get out of my head.)

(TW: Dehumanization, talk of opening up a mechanical bird to empty out its stomach, fantasy racism? I guess? Martyn fears one character in this story based on appearances- You'll see what I mean.)

Entry 36

Day 229

"I told you! Ohh, look who has an upset tummy because they wanted to drink something other than clean oil?" Martyn kept a steady pace as rubbed the bird's back. "But noo, mister smarty pants wanted to drink WATER."

A defeated caw left the sickly bird trapped in Martyn's arm. Poor Brian had been sick ever since this morning. With Martyn's water bottle being knocked over and tiny claw marks all over the metal... It wasn't hard to put two and two together.

"Oh I know. I know. Water and oil don't feel nice now does it? We're going to a shop, don't worry. Get a nice mechanic to take a look at you and empty out your stomach. Then I'll get you some clean oil. Sound like a deal?"

Another quiet caw, with a hint of hopefulness. Martyn would take that response if it meant Brian wouldn't try to take off.

Thankfully the shop was just as the hostess had said. Two blocks down, take a right, and look for... The building covered in all sorts of colors. "This... Is the place we're supposed to go to, Birdy."

A very hesitant caw.

"You and me both, bud." Martyn shouldered his way through the door. "Hello?" His eyes glazed the room, taking note of the rather plain interior. A few wooden chairs, checkered tiles, tools laying about everywhere... Yep. Definitely a mechanic's office.

With nobody in sight.

"Are they closed? Oh I hope not." Martyn stepped away from the door with a small grunt. "Sorry for any turbulence on Martyn Air, Brian. We shall provide you snacks as compensation." He said in response to the flurry of caws.

"I didn't know a crow- Helllllo." Martyn's eyes flicked up to a man leaning through the door. Who just so happened to be covered in an insane amount of colors. "Are you a paying customer by chance? Did you have an appointment with Doc?"

"Doc?" The Doctor? Was he here? "No, no, no, my little friend here decided it would be a smart idea to dunk his beak in my water bottle."

Another caw, sounding apologetic.

"Oh don't apologize to me! It's your tummy that you need to say sorry to." Martyn rubbed his head with a quiet sigh. "If you can't already tell, poor Brian here needs his stomach panel cracked open and checked. Think you could help?"

The other shook his head quickly. "Not me, no can do. I work on chems and spray paints. I can see if Doc is free to help? He works with machines more than I do. He could help you a lot more than me."

"As long as he helps Brian."

The multi-colored man eventually left Martyn in the waiting room. "Well. There you go! We're getting you some help, little fella." Martyn sat down in the closest chair with a small huff. "We just gotta wait a little bit. Get the Doc to look over you. Empty out your poor stomach."

A part of Martyn's mind wondered. What... What if this was THE Doctor? Could his arm problem be solved? Could he finally embark on his way home? Was... The G.U.I.D.E even his home anymore? What about Scott? He's alive! But... He hates his guts. His stupid mouth went blabbering and rage took over... Not to forget that bird guy beside him could have been the Canary Flight Master! He had managed to piss off two people in one day! Embarrassing, really.

"Hello?" A far deeper voice lulled Martyn out of his thoughts. And oh. Oh. He wished that his thoughts would consume his mind at that very moment.

The... THING towered over Martyn by an easy two feet, if not more. (And Martyn was a proud 6"0, a height that isn't all that common in the Crashlands.) But it wasn't the towering height that threw Martyn off. No, it was the pale green skin that clung to the man like glue. The way copper clung to the man's every breath, the twitch of his hand as it rested above his shoulder- The horrific glowing red eye that seemed to bore through his soul. The horrifyingly large horns that looked so impossible and yet were possible all at once.

Martyn had seen some weird things. He'd seen a LOT of oddities and impossible things in the Crashlands. But this. This takes the cake. Whatever this FREAK was, it was a danger. And with how still Brian had gotten in his arms, his bird agreed.

"You were requesting an audience with me? A problem with your... Bird?" That voice sent a shiver down his spine and NOT in a good way.

"Y-You are Doc?" Martyn cursed the way his voice stuttered. "Yeah- Yes! Yes, Brian. He... He drank some water this morning a-and..." His grip tightened on Brian subconsciously. That hand was getting so close to his bird. And the THING noticed. And it smiled.

Fucking SMILED.

"Don't be so jumpy! I promise to not harm him." The abomination assured. "As long as he doesn't peck me, we're fine!"

Brian's small caw rung through Martyn's mind. Right. Brian. Do this for Brian. He stared up at... Doc... And let out a sigh. "Okay. Let's....If it will help out Brian."

"Yes. I think it will."

(More to be added, the author is sleep deprived.)