Artist Portrays Mystical Creatures In Their Vulnerable Form – When They Were Still Babies (30 Pics)
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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Medusa & Gargoyle
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.
Hydra Snakelet
Simurgh Pup
I am afraid to think what a flying puppy could do to the house, but I want one anyway.
Nightmare
Dragon Turtlette
Medusa Daughter
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.
Phoenix
Baby Minotaur
Kraken Paralarvae
Satyr Foal
Sea Lion Pup
Unicorn Foal
Elder Godspawn
Owlbear
Centaur
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
Myconid Sporeling
Lizardfolk Whelp
Tatzelwurm Kit
Griffin Hatchlings
Harpy Child
Well considering ancient depictions were a bird's body with only a female head and exposed breasts these are pretty accurate. And the ancient ones are super creepy. (For a modern lookalik, reference the nightmare fuel that is Oocoo from LOZ Twilight Princess. Looks like that!)
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adorable, but should not be able to fly yet. It takes time to develop the flight muscles, and adult feathers. This little tyke should still be in baby fuzz.
I hate to be "That person, but it says child. But a cute little harpy baby is nice to think about! :)
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Beithir Hatchling
Cocktrice
Hound Archon Pup
Peryton Hinulus
Tarasque Hatchling
Gargoyle Mouldling
Pegasus Foal
Androsphynx & Gynosphynx
Djinayni
Displacer Beast
Awww, displacer kittens are so cute, but difficult to pet. And mind the tentacles!
Wolpertinger Kit
Pseudodragon Wyrmling
Lightning Lizardlings
these remind me of velociraptors with way less feathers
Hippocamp & Merfolk
Balrog Emberling
Shambling Tuffet
Beholder
Naga Hatchling
I never thought that some monsters could be so darn cute! I'd love to have at least one of each! Absolutely fantastic art
Stunning! The attention to detail, the colors, the lighting, the textures--all of these are just teeming with fantastical magic and whimsy! I wish I could take a few of these baby beasties home
The artist (Rudy Siswanto) apparently works already for ages for Hasbro, illustrating nonetheless than Magic: The Gathering's cards. More than possible that works also on Dungeons & Dragons. Surely he's no newbie and these pictures show well his experienced talent.
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Great work. The posing really brings out the fact that these are children. Top rate job here
As a D&D player, it was fun to see what my favorite monsters would look like as a baby ;)!
Loved it! Sorry you took away 10 pics. I haven’t heard of even half of them and I got very interested of finding out more.
I love the sphinxes. So cute, but the cutest is the baby Medusa and Gorgoyle!
Loved that game. The makers have released an iPhone version call Era of Chaos. I haven't played it yet, I hear it's good (although pretty different from the HMM series
I LOVE THE DRAGON THEY ARE SOO CUTE your drawings are so retaliating I had to search some up and they looked like pretty accurate representations Well done!!!
there are some obscure creatures in this lineup, i'm really impressed! if there was a leucrocuta/crocotta in here i'd be all set.
Pretty cool to take out illustrations from a book without source that book : https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Bestiary-Handbook-Vol-1/dp/B017WQG1KW
Already had bought both Baby Beastiary books months ago. Saw this article, and knew exactly where it came from! The books have so much good art....definitely fun to have in the house.
I never thought that some monsters could be so darn cute! I'd love to have at least one of each! Absolutely fantastic art
Stunning! The attention to detail, the colors, the lighting, the textures--all of these are just teeming with fantastical magic and whimsy! I wish I could take a few of these baby beasties home
The artist (Rudy Siswanto) apparently works already for ages for Hasbro, illustrating nonetheless than Magic: The Gathering's cards. More than possible that works also on Dungeons & Dragons. Surely he's no newbie and these pictures show well his experienced talent.
Load More Replies... Great work. The posing really brings out the fact that these are children. Top rate job here
As a D&D player, it was fun to see what my favorite monsters would look like as a baby ;)!
Loved it! Sorry you took away 10 pics. I haven’t heard of even half of them and I got very interested of finding out more.
I love the sphinxes. So cute, but the cutest is the baby Medusa and Gorgoyle!
Loved that game. The makers have released an iPhone version call Era of Chaos. I haven't played it yet, I hear it's good (although pretty different from the HMM series
I LOVE THE DRAGON THEY ARE SOO CUTE your drawings are so retaliating I had to search some up and they looked like pretty accurate representations Well done!!!
there are some obscure creatures in this lineup, i'm really impressed! if there was a leucrocuta/crocotta in here i'd be all set.
Pretty cool to take out illustrations from a book without source that book : https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Bestiary-Handbook-Vol-1/dp/B017WQG1KW
Already had bought both Baby Beastiary books months ago. Saw this article, and knew exactly where it came from! The books have so much good art....definitely fun to have in the house.
