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We're used to seeing mystical creatures depicted as tall, well-built warriors or old, bearded wizards. After all, slaying beasts or casting powerful spells takes strength and experience. But Hong Kong-based illustrator Rudy Siswanto decided to flip our preconceived notions around by depicting them as babies.

From Medusa to Minotaur and beyond, these guys still look badass, only they're so young, you can't help but imagine them taking a nap in the middle of a serious quest.

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#1

Medusa & Gargoyle

Medusa & Gargoyle

Rudy Siswanto Report

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Malakai
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It almost looks like a montage of best friends growing up through the years

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Siswanto, who is originally from Indonesia, is currently working at Riot Games as a splash artist. This series, however, is from a bit earlier. "Baby Beastiary is a client project back from when I was working at Caravan Studio," Siswanto told Bored Panda. "It was for a crowdfunding project by Metal Weave Games. They came up with an idea for a baby creatures' RPG book and I helped them with the visuals."

Siswanto wasn't the only artist working on the project. "I contributed the most on volume 1 and volume 2, and I helped with art direction."

The client came with a brief, so they were the ones who picked what particular mystical creatures to include in the series.

"Through this project, I've learned a lot about not only how to create baby versions of different creatures that are already well known, but I also learned how to really observe [various little animal details], like their gestures, how they move and the proportions [of their bodies]," Siswanto said, adding that it has really helped him to take his craft to another level and create more believable fantasy creatures in general.

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#4

Simurgh Pup

Simurgh Pup

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#7

Medusa Daughter

Medusa Daughter

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Steve Barnett
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry to quibble, but Medusa wasn't born with serpent-hair; Athena turned her hair into serpents after she was raped by Poseidon in her temple.

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glowworm2
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That might be why it says "Medusa daughter" on it rather than simply Medusa.

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LibraryQueen
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Hesiod's Theogony, Medusa and her sisters were born with serpentine hair. Also Medusa's relationship with Poseidon is portrayed as neutral (he "lay" with her in a soft meadow, not Athena's temple). It's only in Ovid's Metamorphosis that Medusa was described as a human that was transformed into a monstrous being by Athena (as transformations were the prevailing them of the poem). Ovid's version depicted Medusa's liaison with Poseidon as rape. Interestingly, Poseidon was linked with her sisters Euryale (the mother of Orion, according to some) and Thoosa (the mother of the Cyclops Polyphemus).

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glowworm2
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ovid's Metamorphosis is generally the version that so many of us are familiar with in regards to Medusa's origin story.

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Liquidaria
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Medusa's children were not serpent headed they were Cyclopes

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glowworm2
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Last time I checked, her children (they were formed from the blood of her severed head) were Pegasus the flying horse and Chrysaor. Less is known about Chrysaor--debates range from him being some sort of flying boar or a golden armored giant.

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XianJaguar
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like how the frog prince never had a chance in this picture. Well, you know this medusa is not a gold digger!

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glowworm2
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now I'm highly reminded of the web comic, Modest Medusa, where a little gorgon does just that, ends up inside a man named Jake's toilet.

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Popcorn Colonel
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Steve Barnett. She received the curse of snake hair and a stone gaze when she went into Aphrodite's temple to serve her. Aphrodite being challenged by her beauty and the fact that Poseiden had taken a liking to her, she cursed her.

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Andrew Modig
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was assuming this to be a D&D monster, not an Earth-centric mythological creature (there's a difference)

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Luke Ritchie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is tragic. She could never lock eyes with her own mother

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Kikka io
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remembered that it had been transformed because it was too proud of its beauty, which it believed to be superior to that of the goddess Athena. however it is not born like Medusa. or rather it is not born with snakes on its head

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Elak Swindell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Medusa wouldn't have a daughter. What man would want to have physical relations with a woman that will either turn them into stone or kill them outright? Plus there is the whole snake body issue as well.

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#16

Centaur

Centaur

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SirPatTheCat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahaha I saw this thing that said "since horses can walk as soon as they are born, and babies can't even hold their heads and bodies up, wouldn't it be a horse body running with the baby torso just flopping around crazily?" Its a good visual xDD

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#18

Lizardfolk Whelp

Lizardfolk Whelp

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JuJu
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't they live inside the hollow earth when they are not pretending to be the facebook guy :D

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#30

Djinayni

Djinayni

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Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.