ABOUT DARIA
A robot that was built from a scientists 6 year old daughter thousands of years ago, she went rouge and got sick of her treatment by the scientists and her once so called father. Desiring to make people understand her, she rebuilt herself from scrapped parts, and infected the entire world with the metal virus- making almost everything robotic and artificial. Becoming a queen of the metal earth, she rules over her kingdom, protecting it and believing she showed anyone who wronged her. Her long, plug like tentacles can stab and infect organic life and infect them with the virus within seconds. Her robotic mouth can change shape, revealing sharp teeth.
objective
To design a monstrous and simultaneously appealing robot design for a villain.
PROCESS
I knew the world of the metal virus that I had created for Leon, a character previously mentioned, needed a villain; a villain that was vain, powerful, and monstrous, spreading the virus throughout the earth until it infected almost everything in its reach. With this in mind, I conceptualized Daria; the queen of the robot realm, turning anyone and anything metallic within a single stab of her tentacle plugs. To begin, I started researching what defines royalty. The color purple came to mind, as well as a lavish, yet rugged outfit, fitting into the previously established aesthetic while still feeling completely out of this world. I also wanted to give a striking silhouette, so I developed the tentacle plugs, which she can also use to lift herself up and move around. With these ideas in mind, I designed her, drawing and painting her in Clip Studio Paint. As I designed her, I came up with more ideas to add to her already striking flair, such as her monstrous, spider-like mouth and screen eyes. Once her front was established, I designed her back side, to explain to viewers and artists in the future how her plugs would work. I also settled on her arms being able to turn into guns, and designed that as well. When everything was complete, I believed I came up with a solid concept for a character, and fell deeply in love with who and what I had created; a terrifying, ominous queen who will not let you get in her way.
MEDIUM / TOOLS USED
Clip Studio Paint
Daria’s backside and arm. Her arms can both turn into guns, but the hands must be removed; making her handless and a purely destructive machine without aid. The right view showcases where her plug tentacles come out of, and how it works.