“Oni Girl” is based on an Oni, a creature from Japanese folklore that can be compared to a troll or ogre. I had drawn this character a few years back in a stereotypical anime style to contrast the troll-like nature of the Oni. However, coming back to it, I was no longer happy with the simple style and design. I decided to push the concept further and create more depth in the image and challenge my drawing skills to create a more original look and character design. In the updated version, I feel I was able to give her more personality and visual appeal.

In my second attempt, I took more inspiration from the actual folklore. I was able to add more traditional features into her look by giving her a kanabō club and translating her uniform into a loincloth. After creating a design and pose I was happy with, I also thought it would be fun to pay homage to the anime inspiration, so I decided to create two versions of the drawing; one with her in her Yōkai University uniform and one in her everyday outfit. Yōkai is a Japanese word that is similar to spirit or monster, so I thought it was fitting. I’m happy that I was able to create a much stronger design for her while still keeping it similar to the original drawing.