[BEARBLOG EXCLUSIVE] Seraphina and Drift Evolution + Design Discussion
Hey there! It’s me your one and only Vishou here :9
Today’s blog will be pretty long. I’ll be going in a deep dive on how the characters were like during “beta” and discussion of my design choices and stuff in the process
But first, I think it’s better to know what exactly is this “beta” version.
2023 comic introduction
When I refer to “beta”, I’m usually talking about the 2023 version of SMAA. It’s mentioned in my FAQs that SMAA (formerly known as Redacted Affection) started off as a dark comedy comic and it s basically like a “family-friendly” version of the current one. The comic’s whole purpose was just to do some drawing and writing warm up. The premise is pretty much the same but excluding the chat sim parts since these are all happening IRL in their universe
The characters already existed way before SMAA but with some different appearances and different personalities. So today I’ll be going into that and then explain the changes.
Starting off with our beloved rabbit vampire, Seraphina!
2023 Seraphina
In the comics, Seraphina genuinely believes she’s the Chosen Herald Of The Hollow Moon and her chuuni persona main theme was based off Dracula and bats.
She was also a tsundere along with Drift but she’s the “classic type”, you know the whole blushy thing, stomps her feet every time she’s unsatisified (this is probably just Seraphina’s trait rather than because of her being a tsundere) and the “it’s not like I did it for you!” type of stuff. The old Seraphina actually has a pretty massive ego and she WILL expect you to treat her like royalty.
Well despite her being… that. Her appearance actually looks like a teenager (probably like 14-16) when she’s supposed to be an adult. Looking back at it now, she’s pretty childish even though she has a bratty attitude.
Random fact: She canonically sometimes also uses her long pigtails and would make them spin so fast she could just fly like a helicopter (”anime logic”)
Translation: "Because I'm cute!" - Seraphina
2026 Seraphina - Character design
In SMAA, whether Seraphina genuinely believes she’s the Chosen Herald… bla bla bla, the game would speak for itself when it comes out c:
Now, her chuuni persona’s main theme is still bats, but this time I wanted to add something that’s related to her culture. She’s now a moon rabbit + vampire! Her persona is based off or is heavily inspired by the moon rabbit Daltokki. I also wanted to apply some of their characteristics onto her.
Honestly it was pretty difficult for me to apply her vampire and bat elements with the whole moon rabbit thing, specifically her being heavily inspired by the Daltokki (which is why I’m still working on her updated/revamped design).
As for her appearance, specifically her features, I tried to make her look like her age (early 20s) while still keeping her youthful.
“Oh but wouldn’t it be easier to just stick to one?”
That may be true, but I’d rather not ^^” besides, I feel like it’s in-character for Seraphina to be a hybrid. Since she wants to be extra, I don’t think she’d stick with one thing.
2026 Seraphina - Character Writing
So… what have I changed from the 2023 version?
Now here’s where things get a slightly vague to avoid major character spoiler, but I’ll do my best to tell what I can!
For the current Seraphina, I wanted her chuuni personality to feel believable for someone in her early twenties. I also made her speak like she’s from the Victorian era but in the middle of writing the script, I tried to tone it down to make it easier to understand her while still keeping her “fancy language”.
I gave her a proper backstory and motivations, something the 2023 version lacked. She also has... something going on with her. It's still affecting her during the events of the game. Let’s just say she has what she wants, to be seen as special but not exactly the way she expects.
Seraphina still has a pretty massive ego, but not as much as the 2023 Seraphina. She still expects to be treated like royalty. The difference is that beta Seraphina knew she deserved it. Current Seraphina is terrified she doesn't*.*
That’s all for Seraphina, now moving onto Drift!
2023 Drift
Originally, Drift was supposed to be the cold type of tsundere but is much more serious and formal compared to the current Drift… but also maybe a little sillier at the same time.
Yes he does cross his arms and looks away with a “hmph”, easy to fluster, “don’t get the wrong idea", and definitely has feelings for the MC already… (° ᗜ °) If we took away the tsundere part, he could be seen as a textbook cold and brooding archetype (nonchalant alpha ahh)
But there’s one more thing that lowkey prevents him of being a complete textbook of that archetype as if he just dodged a bullet, he’s… obsessed with unicorns.
His design literally screams it, he always wear that oversized unicorn onesie. No matter what the situation is. It’s canon that he’s never seen wearing without it but there is one time he just took the hoodie off. I don’t think I remember how absurd I wanted the comic to be… but later in the actual game, I think I want to add an orange unicorn plushie in the background during his video calls as a small reference to the old Drift
Translation: "What the hell's wrong with you?" - Drift
2026 Drift - Character design
The most obvious change I did is no more unicorn onesie. (Sorry unicorn fans.) I also wanted something simple for him to wear since it’s in-character, but maybe I ended up making him a little too simple… and that’s where the split hair color comes in, pretty eye-catching don’t you think? (>◡<) But don’t worry, it’s not just there as a decoration. He has his own reasons on why he he turn his hair that way.
There’s not much for me to say about his design but I do enjoy the process of it and while trying to find feedback from people that’s familiar to his culture, I learned kinda a lot of new things and I get to talk to the others regarding to his design!
2026 Drift - Character writing
After changing his design, I try to bring his old personality to the game but he's just… I don't know how to say it but like I don’t think he actually has a good reason to be cold to the MC or anyone. I know I could just write some kind of backstory or something to justify but I didn’t want his quietness to be cold. I think someone can be kind without being overly expressive. They don't always have to say much to show they care.
Now we know the old Drift is cold, formal, exasperated most of the time but also barely engages and maybe too passive. So I decided to soften him up a little by doing some research with the help of others of course and make his character heavily inspired directly to his culture, Omoluwabi. But I choose to say “heavily inspired” because he still needs flaws and I don’t wanna end up making him too perfect.
I almost forgot to mention, yes I did remove the tsundere parts. But here’s the “important” question, does the current Drift has feelings for the MC? It is a dating sim after all… but what about before you get to his route? Well, maybe yes, maybe not. To know the answer, you’ll just have to pay reaaally…. close attention to him once the game comes out c:
That's all for the character design deep dive! Next time, I might talk about the others… but that's a maybe.