Charon's Corner
High-speed 3D cart-racing inspired project reimagining Greek Mythology’s ferryman of death as a bowler who sends souls to the afterlife by bowling their skulls down a bowling lane that reconnects them with their past-lives.
Senior Year 2025-2026, my role was Art Director of mock-AAA Aspen Studios, comprising of over 80 fellow college students, leading 23 artists.
Before beginning the project, I was in charge of developing the pre-production visual concepts to lead the art style of Charon's Corner over the Summer semester.
CONCEPTING
The vision was a sleazy bowling alley aesthetic that fits nicely with 90s Counterculture Graphic styles, drawing much of its inspiration from "Jet Set Radio" and from the sharp, energetic graphical layering backed by the two-tone, dark cell-shading of "Persona 5".
Our main NPC, Charon, is a supernatural skeleton in a sleazy neon bowling outfit. Charismatically cruel, he takes sadistic pleasure in exposing our skull's past regrets. An antagonistic, chaotic, and judgelike figure, his job is to reconnect us with our memories before sending us to the afterlife. Kinda fits the tumblr sexyman archetype.
Below are 2 rounds of Charon's grayscale concept art, trying to depict him in a lame neon while capturing his sadistic and charismatic ego with Bowlie, his tortured partner.
A supernatural skeleton in a sleazy neon bowling outfit. Charismatically cruel, he takes sadistic pleasure in exposing our skull's past regrets. An antagonistic, chaotic, and judgmental-like figure, his job is to reconnect us with our memories before sending us to the afterlife. Kinda fits the Tumblr sexyman archetype
Below, I created concept art of 'Level 0' serving as the beginning of the game and tutorial symbolizing it to be"entering the underworld" through a cave along the River Styx. Afterwards, he is greeted by Charon's welcome party to the afterlife and display of luxury and power.
