OffKai Expo/ OffSeason Live - Sam (2024)

A couple months after OffKai 2024 ended, they unveiled plans to host a smaller scale convention/ concert held on the museum ship, USS Hornet. 

The theme for this one was to have Sam drawn in a naval outfit with ship rigging based off of the aircraft carrier as well. The overall visual aesthetic/ direction was to have it inspired off of Azur Lane, Kantai Collection and similar games. Though Azur Lane errs more on fantasy with some militarism, Kantai Collection borders more on realism/ militarism, I opted for a milder balance.

The original design was more heavy with insignias, belts, buckles and other details which felt cluttered and very design-heavy. While there were elements of this design that I felt would have been okay to keep (for visual consistency), it was decided to incorporate other elements of Sam's original design (such as her iconic boots and the rounded stars from the OffKai logo) being incorporated into the outfit design itself.

Her mantle/ cloak was simplified to a couple variations (one being a double-layered open cloak), before it was settled on the main design, whereas her dress was changed to a more tactical look. The mantle did originally have a concept to include a medallion/ clip on her cloak which would have the convention logo embossed. The logo was outsourced and made by another artist, chessu.

The ship's rigging is moderately based off of the ship itself, the CV-12 Hornet, with rigging, flight deck patterns and dazzles to coincide with her design as of 1944 . The challenge for this was strictly the design: something more mechanical/ fantasy-esque similar to Azur Lane, or something more iconic. In the initial drafts, most of the design proofs had a flat deck without the radar tower, but keeping the same design pattern that was either used in service, or what is currently being maintained on the museum ship herself. Although there were more details to draw and would take longer to complete (and thankfully, I had visited this ship prior, so I was set with hundreds of reference material, along with a lot of 3D references), it was decided to keep the radar tower as part of the design. 

The planes that are present in this design are the torpedo bombers which are present in the museum ship, TBM Avenger Torpedo Bombers -- rather than dropping torpedos, the planes are instead dropping glow sticks -- to coincide with this being a concert event. 

Two illustrations were done, one initially being a character design to show off and the other being used for convention graphics and merchandise (which would be Sam jumping/ cheering holding two glowsticks in her hands). 

The outfit designed for Sam was also used as an inspiration to create themed outfits for the attending virtual talents, which was also used for social media promotional graphics as well as merchandise.