Step into a mystical world, where nature’s spirits stir and a fierce young heroine, Shi, must choose between the pull of the wild and the human bonds she craves. This short illustrated book explores the deep-rooted conflict between nature and humanity, filled with rich lore, powerful emotions, and breathtaking visuals. Ready to uncover the secrets of the forest and Shi’s destiny?
"You cannot change fate. However, you can rise to meet it, if you so choose."
Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke
Heirs of the Forest is more than just a story—it’s part of a creative journey that began with my previous UI project, Mononoke: Wrath of the Forest Spirits. Originally conceived as a Princess Mononoke‘s new vision for a Souls-like game, this world grew into something much larger, inspiring a full narrative. Through Heirs of the Forest, I explore the depth of that world, giving it rich characters, emotional landscapes, and a compelling backstory that extends beyond the UI screens I did before.
A Creative Experiment
To bring Heirs of the Forest visually to life, I used Midjourney to create all the illustrations. While the narrative itself is entirely my own, it’s inspired by the Mononoke Princess movie’s universe and acts as an imagined sequel to that world. Creating the visuals was a fascinating (and time-consuming!) process, involving a lot of Photoshop work and micro-edits to refine the style. I aimed to give to the final result the feel of illustrations printed in a vintage book, adding texture and depth to the world I’ve created, and enriching the experience for readers.
Read it online