Creating Our Protagonist: Sueko

Creating the main character for Kisetsu was a long, deliberate process. Sueko’s role evolved from the decision of our setting and focus on Japanese Shintoism. Choices thereafter were made thematically and thus Sueko is a shrine maiden, or miko, caretaker to the shrine. During this time the four different powers that the player will use were being integrated with the setting and challenges. Traditionally, shrine maidens fulfilled the role of cleansing the shrine and were able to communicate with spirits by going into a trance or performing kagura dances (traditional dances performed specifically by the maidens). The ability to communicate with the spirits translates to how Sueko can control the spirits and her flourishes with her kagura bells that are used in traditional dances.

Hair Studies

Sueko’s physical appearance is based upon the fact that all shrine maidens were young girls aging from early teens to mid-twenties. Unanimously, it was decided she would have long hair and the traditional garb of red hakama (pants). I explored multiple iterations of Sueko’s top, or kosode, and eventually settled on a design that involved one more layer over the initial top. We wanted to explore having a visual representation of a shrine maiden that was different from modern media as Sueko is from an older time period. Research inspired me to give Sueko color other than white and red for her clothing such as green, beige and accents of gold.

Overcoat Iterations

Sueko: Character Study

Sueko embodies a heroine that is responsible and calm, yielding a blank slate for players to project themselves into the game. Quiet but focused, similar to her abode and lifestyle, all aspects of Sueko’s design are grounded within our world.

Sueko: Final Concept

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Author: Kaylee Walters