This little experiment was inspired by the wonderful Russian animated series Smeshariki (also known internationally as KikoRiki).

It’s a surprisingly deep show that manages to entertain while teaching kids (and some adults) about science, kindness, dealing with life’s challenges — and sometimes even touching on surprisingly existential themes.

These characters aren’t meant to be direct recreations — just loose inspirations filtered through a different style.

Visually, I was also heavily inspired by the whimsical, adorable aesthetic of one of my favorite NightCafe artists, the incomparable @Cilia. Her work is pure joy and a constant source of inspiration. 💛