Oneiric - A Nightmare in Rococo

"In the labyrinth of dreams, the mother's sins are hidden in twisting paths and dark corridors, waiting to be unraveled by her daughter's waking mind."

ONEIRIC is a dark fantasy horror game that unfolds within the whimsical landscape of our protagonist's mind, set against the lavish backdrop of 18th century Rococo France.

AURÉLIE

In portraying Aurélie as an outsider in her own mind palace, I opted for a simpler silhouette, using a more neutral palette to set her apart from the vibrant world of Oneiric. To reflect her fragile state of mind, she wears a straitjacket with torn sleeves, fashioned into a bow resembling a dress bustle, incorporating rococo fashion back into the design.

For costume and hair iterations, I had fun pushing the design within the constraints of her straitjacket and simple silhouette. I chose the bow for its silhouette break and a classic hairstyle to reinforce the interloper narrative. Initially, Aurelie was designed as a blank-slate character, featuring a feminine silhouette contrasted with armor. Feeling the design lacked personality, I decided to start over, focusing on storytelling to give her character more depth.

AURÉLIE'S MUSIC BOX

The shell motif appears frequently in Oneiric. Colors play a big part in my designs, the blue represents Aurelie's innocence and compassion, while red symbolizes her trauma and danger.

Action and expression shots.

Aurelie's design is predominantly white with elements of blue and red, symbolizing her internal struggle over whether to save her son or let him die.

THE REGIBANE

An oversized surgical saw adorned with rococo embellishments. A callback to Aurelie's past. I explored different surgical tools and levels of decoration, referencing antique surgical tools and ornate weapons. Ultimately, I opted for a cleaner, more clinical look for the final design.

DREAMSCOURGE HANDMORTAR

Explored silhouettes and settled on a simpler one with a neutral palette for the final version of the character.

PLUTON

Aurélie finds Pluton, an imprisoned child at the beginning of her journey. She agrees to help free him in return for his knowledge of the palace and its secrets, but there seems to be more to the child than meets the eye.

To enhance his unsettling character, I fully embraced contrasts in his design. For example, the juxtaposition between his well-dressed appearance and relaxed demeanor, despite being imprisoned. He appears all-knowing, yet is just a kid. His key facial features are his cleft palate and buck teeth, hinting at his true form.

Explored high-class outfits and hairstyles, but settled on the most playful and boyish look. I also chose to go maskless, as his personality and design are heavily expressed in his face.

Explored different narratives like an anthropomorphic rabbit, frail prisoner, and a more feral version before of the final design.

PLUTON'S MAW

THE DOLLMAKER

In the palace's hushed corridors, beware the relentless whirring and chugging that echo throughout... for the dollmaker is near.

The dollmaker design combines a doctor, seamster, and ruthless killer aesthetic, with clothing resembling green scrubs and a gory face mask. His sewing machine arm supports the dollmaking aspect of his character. I chose the multiple armed look to depict his derangement and extreme dedication to his obsession, as the brutal self-inflicted body modification makes him more efficient in his craft.

I explored various silhouettes and approaches to his character, ultimately choosing the surgeon route for its narrative fit and unique concept.

SEWING ARM

THE GOBLIN THRONE

The Goblin Throne was design to mirror the opulence and whimsy of The Goblin Queen. Designed to appear invitingly warm, its architecture blends elements of a rococo ballroom with the playful charm of a carousel. For added intrigue, I included goblins that move up and down the poles, along with a spinning floor featuring a spiral motif, alluding to a carousel's playful theme. The queen's fans serve as a detachable backrest for her throne.

I explored different layouts for the throne room, including a banquet hall, a theater room, and a classic throne hallway.

THE GOBLIN QUEEN

The Goblin Queen is meant to embody the extravagant and exaggerated elements of Rococo fashion. It was crucial to create a memorable and dramatic silhouette for her. I aimed for her design to contrast Aurelie's while still fitting in the same universe.

Her design is a reflection of Aurelie's late mother, a character defined by her paranoia and narcissism, which deeply impacted Aurelie's life. Her facial features are a key aspect of her character, along with her opulent attire.

Here the shell and spiral motifs resurface. I blended mechanical and human elements in her design to showcase Rococo's decorative aspects and reflect Aurelie's perception of her mother as unpredictable.

Explored costume and hair options. The Queen wears red, symbolizing Aurelie's trauma. Chose the final design for its villainous color combo and harmonious silhouette with her fans. I also chose to show her face, as it makes her more personal as a villain.

TOBI

Tobi wears blue, representing Aurelie's childhood. He is trapped in the Queen's belly cage, symbolizing the baby in the womb. This highlights how Aurelie's future (Tobi) is entangled with her past trauma (Queen), and she must defeat the Queen to move on.

QUEEN'S FANS

An illustration of Aurélie slaughtering zombie dolls as the Dollmaker stalks her in the background.

FIN.

That's the end of my project! Thank you for joining me on this whimsical journey through my portfolio! I'm incredibly proud of my work at Syn Studio and forever grateful to the teachers and friends who helped bring Oneiric to life. I hope you enjoyed the ride! :)