Since MerMay is fast approaching I wanted to share a character very dear to my heart. This is Eleanor the mermaid! As seen in the design sheet she is 100% inspired by the iconic Yellow Submarine, the movie of which is my favourite film of all time. The design of the titular sub has always been a source of inspiration and joy for me, so I created a character using design elements from it (with a sprinkle of Granmamare from Ponyo!)

Eleanor is a whale sized mermaid who travels the many seas between the real world and Pepperland. She is a gentle giant, endlessly curious and peaceful, more than happy to stop for a chat with those passing through and hearing their stories. I haven’t decided if she should have a voice or not, or whether she should communicate in wordless mumbles and whale sounds. Still a lot to come up with for this character but for now she is just a peaceful creature of the surreal ocean depths.