I started making hybrid animals during the pandemic lockdown as a hobby to do while I was stuck at home. It was inspired in part by Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake and by an old film called The Island of Doctor Moreau.
Initially, I used an old editing program called “Pixelmator” which is where the name Pixelmated Animals came from. Later I switched to Photoshop, but the process is still very similar. I choose either a background or a face and then scroll through Adobe stock looking for options that either blend well or look absolutely ridiculous. It’s only a few steps away from collage-making in that I cut out the parts I’ll use and overlay them onto the new image. Then erase, blend, and color correct until they fit together as seamlessly as possible.
Generative fill is a brilliant new tool to enlarge and expand images, but it is the only AI element I like to use.
More info: Instagram
Here is me with a weird-looking poodle
This post may include affiliate links.
When I first started I would make animals based on unique or quirky images I’d find by scrolling through Adobe Stock. Eventually, as my @pixelmatedanimals account on Instagram grew, I started getting requests and doing more and more pet portraits, which has led to my account being dominated by mostly dogs and cats.
There are particular combinations that I think work especially well - Sealpups, Cowdogs, Catfish, Alpacats - but it’s really only limited to what can be imagined.
Pandacat
I grew up on Cortes, a small island off Vancouver Island, Canada. I moved to Mexico for several years before coming back to work in construction and commercial fishing in the Pacific North West of Canada. It’s nice to have a creative outlet to counter the monotony of manual labor and the winters here in general.
Starting out, my only goal was to amuse myself and a few friends and I’ve been lucky enough to have my work shared by everyone from Amanda Seyfried and Kate Beckinsale to Tucker Budzyn and Sharon Osbourne. I make a lot of custom pet portraits for people and since it’s not a job per se, I like to do fundraising campaigns where I make portraits in exchange for donations to charities that I think are important, such as Inara.org
Whino
The best part of making them, from the first poorly put together Baboodle to now, are people's different reactions. Getting a laugh or a smile, cheering someone up when they’re having a bad day or even a 2-page angry message ranting about how these are unnatural and wrong makes it worthwhile.
Lab Moose
"Yes, boy, I'm excited to see you too! Okay, okay, yes, good boy! OH MY G*D! MY INTESTINES ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!"
Teacup Hedgelion
Mooseal
Detective Sheepdog
Orcat
LOL @ the cheetah's expression! "What the fu*k did I get up to last night?!"
Capybaroose
Dandy Owlion
Sealkittie
Quacking Squirrel
Hedgedog
Pixel
I've never seen anything quite as judgemental or as disgusted as this cowl is.
Land Seal
New Friends
Dogfish
Elkpup
Doggophant
Oh god that's all we need is crazies wanting teacup pandas to match their outfit
Amanda & Finnbear
@mingy
Endony... Clearly the superior way for Luke to get through the moons forests
Rooster-poodle hybrid had no comments, so here I go: Cockapoo. Thank you.
"That Don’t Exist" Well, no yet. They are being developed in a Chinese research lab. Doctor Fauci is arranging funding for this project.
Rooster-poodle hybrid had no comments, so here I go: Cockapoo. Thank you.
"That Don’t Exist" Well, no yet. They are being developed in a Chinese research lab. Doctor Fauci is arranging funding for this project.
