Next on the list for my short animation idea with child versions of Anke and the gang is the design of the last characters. I want the short to be simple so there will be the three children, the mire monster that they face and a recruiter for the Human Resistance at the end. Above are some initial sketches for the two additional characters.

Rough storybeats

Inciting Encounter
Three friends—Orso, Brielle, and Anke—venture into a forest in search of adventure. They stumble upon a strange, fish-like creature stranded on land. Orso nervously hangs back, hiding behind Brielle and Anke.
Curiosity Turns to Danger
Brielle and Anke approach, hoping to help the creature. They cautiously poke it with a stick. Suddenly, it mutates—sprouting legs and lashing out violently. Orso panics. Brielle is knocked to the ground, dropping her book. Anke flees and hides behind a tree.
Choosing Courage
The three regroup, exchanging a silent, determined look. They realize they must work together. The creature mutates again, forming a massive whale-like head and snapping its jaws at them. A recruiter arrives at the commotion and is stunned at the children’s initiative.
Orso’s Spark
As the danger escalates, Orso grabs a thick, sword-like tree branch and begins swinging wildly.
Flash forward: Orso as a grown swordsman, confident and battle-hardened.
Back in the present, his strikes briefly stagger the creature—his first step toward bravery.
Brielle’s Insight
The creature recovers and chases them. Brielle scrambles up, flipping through her fallen book.
Flash forward: Brielle as a commanding war general aboard a pirate ship.
Back in the present, she finds the creature in her Mire Compendium and realizes it is vulnerable to falling from great heights. She quickly forms a plan.
Anke’s Awakening
Anke closes her eyes, fear overwhelming her.
Flash forward: An older Anke—an agile explorer leading a heroic team, with Orso and Brielle at her side.
Returning to the present, something shifts: her bright yellow-white hair dulls slightly, and her black eyes flicker to blue—a subtle hint of latent time powers. She steadies herself.
Turning the Tide
Anke leaps from cover, dodging the creature’s attacks with newfound agility. Orso whacks the monster and trips it up slightly. Brielle distracts it, even striking it with her book, guiding it toward higher ground.
Final Strike
Working in sync, the trio launches a coordinated attack. Their combined effort knocks the creature off a ledge, sending it plummeting to its death below.
Recognition
As the children celebrate, A hidden onlooker, a recruiter, rushes forward. She is astonished by what she’s witnessed. She offers them a leaflet, inviting them to join the human resistance. Eager and exhilarated, the three children accept and follow her.
Dark Revelation
Behind them, the creature’s body dissolves into sludge, revealing a human skull beneath. A grim truth lingers: these “Mire” creatures were once human—and must be fought.

Developed recruiter and the stages of the Mire Monster

Next on the agenda is storyboard and an animatic. I really want to make sure the timings are correct. I have a tendency to make my own work a little too fast paced so I would love to have some slower moments in this short.

Mire monster and the recruiter!

Child character redesigns