Kyo Tagawa 

Showcasing (2026-2025)

While the comic Pilla (created by Rafael Maldonado Badhand) focuses on the relationship between Pilla and Dog Dog, in Pilla: the Bestiary, my task was to emphasize how dangerous this their world is and expand upon the ecosystem--make the settling feel like a living, breathing world.

In these designs I wanted to capture a feeling: unease, uncertainty, disgust, and fear.

A rabbit, which is typically seen as cute and fluffy, is suddenly monstrous. An adorable squirrel is given traits that make it unsettling--yet it's presence means safety. An endearing bird is a harbinger of sickness and death. It's a world that Pilla cannot simply judge by how it looks, she must observe everything carefully if she's to survive.

I incorporated many themes and behaviors from nature: squirrels sometimes eating baby birds, to strange symbiotic relationships between animals, and the building blocks that make up an ecosystem.

CERULEAN SNAPJAW

Originally created in 2021 I revisited this colorful lizard in 2025 to expand on what he is, gaving him a mate, and a something to eat. I made the bee into a specialized inspect that feeds off of a particular flower, and then I wanted to visualize how the Snapjaw ate--as the tongue in the original didn't express that functionality.

Included in my portfolio to show my growth from then to now.

With Sty1e Studios unannounced VR project I was tasked to concept multiple environmental assets. 

RESOURCES & ASSETS: I wanted these to both be something fun to gather but easily recognizable to players. Taking advantage of the day/night cycle I included visuals that a keen eyed player could see; while telling the story of the planet's formation and how such an anomaly had come to exist.

LOYAL LIES

Bungie's Destiny has inspired me for nearly a decade and my intent here is to tell a story within that universe of my hunter, Paladin Sylvan Maar. Loyal Lies encompasses a love for visual storytelling and a desire to see more of Destiny's surrounding everyday world. Through a simple object such as a coffee maker, to a cleaning kit Sylvan carries to maintain his weapons and gear.

[Ongoing project]
 

THE GHOST: I made a custom ghost shell that properly represents Sylvan and his ghost, Eyrrodontis. He hails from the Awoken controlled Reef territories, and the Battle of Saturn is a key plot point in his lore. The ghost's shell represents the pivotal Battle of Saturn in his design, while capturing the regal aesthetic of one of Queen Mara's faithful Paladins.

DUSK, THE BOW: I loved the bow Wishender in the game but I wanted Sylvan to have a bow that was uniquely his, so I created Dusk, equipped with his own lore, weapon traits, and interactions, keeping in mind the gameplay aspects back in 2022 .

AENEID THE WANDERER: Created to be sold as a convention print, Aeneid is my take on a unicorn. I mixed aspects of the Japanese Kirin, the Western Unicorn, other hoofed animals, and my own personal flare for something more unique!

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