Sprout Creature Concept

The company behind the upcoming video game called #Aniimo is holding a creature design contest.

I don't enter contests b/c always losing is depressing. But if you've seen my old art galleries, then you know I love designing little critters.

I have many critters designed already, but because I want to share designs, I now have to create new ones in case my ideas and designs are stolen again.

And that leads us to this little guy. To keep it simple, I'm dubbing his name to be 'Sprout' for now.

I'd be amiss if I didn't point out that his basic design and colors were partly inspired by the Herbil creature from #Palworld. But that is where the similarities end.

I wanted to create a character that would fix very well in both Palworld, Aniimo, and Digimon. And do I kept his design very simple. Below is my new creature design.

Sprout is a small to midsized plant creature, about the size of a 7 year old. Maybe smaller. He has a incredibly sweet heart and personality. For a Sprout, that's a problem. As in his heart is literally sweet and delicious. As a Sprout ages, they don't get much larger, nor change much in appearance. The only way to determine the age of a Sprout is by the tie-like pattern that runs down from the top of their neck to the bottom of their chest. This pattern slightly lengthens and changes every hundred years, with the average Sprout passing away at the ripe age of 700.

Sprout elders never loose their child-like appearance or demeanor. But they do become far more energetic and harder to catch. As a Sprout ages, the sweetness of their heart floods their entire system, making their meat and heart all that more of a hunted delicacy. Elder Sprouts know this and use their speed and energy to protect the younger Sprouts from danger. Usually be quickly carrying them to safety and warning nearby Sprout tribes.

Though small and cute, a Sprout is anything but weak. They harness the energy within the earth to form large leaf walls to block attacks and to entrap would-be threats. A Sprout's fingers may seem overly tiny and weak, but they can be extended out two three times the length of the creature line vines and incredibly durable. Sprouts are known to use their vine-like fingers to swing through trees and climb cliffs. While others have been witnessed to use them to disarm hunters or to hold onto and ride other creatures.

The overall appearance of a Sprout can be difficult to see in the wild. Their mostly tan bodies blend in very well with nature. Company that with the large cabbage-like leaves growing out of their heads (basically their hair), they become virtually invisible. Only the white hands and legs of a Sprout gives away their hiding spot. A Sprout is careful to use their leaves and body to keep them covered.

A Sprout is a adorable creature covered in short but thick fur that almost glimmer with a silky shine in the light. Their slightly squished round heads seem too large for their bodies and neck. They have two long, dark brown, pointy, and flexible ears that resemble curled leaves. Sprouts have two large glossy black eyes. Some Sprouts have smaller eyes than others of their kind. All Sprouts have very small visible mouths. Similarly too small in comparison to both their eyes and their large head. Don't let this fool you. Sprouts can open their mouths very wide and clamp down on a bait that includes all of their teeth. A Sprout bite is rare and not poisonous, but their pointed teeth will break flesh.

The diet of a Sprout usually consists of plants and small insects. Sprouts seem to love coconuts and will stuff one into their mouth to break it. How they do this is unknown and terrifying to witness. It is also unknown as to why a Sprout does not use this powerful ability in their bites.

Sprouts seem to have a communication system of high-pitched clicks accompanied with claps of their hands. And yet they seem to also understand most other creature languages without much effort. Including those of the human race. If you manage to befriend a Sprout, then cherish it greatly. They love to help where they can, but never forget that they can understand you. Sprouts do not give second chances at friendship.