One of the challenges for this game jam was make all the art monochrome. I decided the face this by goint to the extreme: using only black and white in each asset. Using patterning and halftones I was still able to bring depth to the characters and background.

I wanted most to make sure the player character fit within its world of machinery within a puppet-theatre. This is why I went with the concept of a mechanical creature dressed with a ruff and cape. The cape gives the protagonist a clear silhouette and a visual aid for movement, and the head + ruffle give it a distinct profile. To communicate a quick and agile movement-style, i gave it skinny, pointed legs.

My aim for the boss was to design it as a foil to the protagonist. Where the protagonist has a small, upwards trianglar silhouette, the boss is large and shaped like a reverse triangle. Similarly, where the protagonist is bouncy and upright, the boss has more of a slouch. That said, I also wanted to make sure they had some similarities. For example, the construction of their legs are the same, and they share the same ruff.