This is a worldbuilding project created from the idea of a mischievous small dragon invading a bakery in a land where dragons are as common as wildlife such as raccoons. It grew to include Anja the baker, her grumpy cat Leonidas, and Soren, the delivery boy.
Setting/World:
This story takes place in a world of mundane magic, used for everyday activities. It has a soft magic system, with no set way or formula for doing magic; it’s more like awareness and connection to the surroundings and the fabric of the world. The setting is fantasy medieval-ish, with no modern technology, and in a northern, mountainous area, very loosely inspired by Scandinavia. Wild dragons, in varying sizes, from ginormous to tiny, are everywhere. The smaller ones are seen as pests and they enjoy getting into trouble. The dragons usually live in harmony with humans. Bigger dragons are more intelligent, tend to live up on mountain peaks, and can do magic. Smaller dragons are still intelligent, but less so and are treated more like animals. They can only do small amounts of magic and not well. People think that they are different species, but little dragons are really just babies with less experience, will eventually grow up to be huge and more intelligent, however this happens slowly, over hundreds of years, so humans don’t notice.
This story takes place in a world of mundane magic, used for everyday activities. It has a soft magic system, with no set way or formula for doing magic; it’s more like awareness and connection to the surroundings and the fabric of the world. The setting is fantasy medieval-ish, with no modern technology, and in a northern, mountainous area, very loosely inspired by Scandinavia. Wild dragons, in varying sizes, from ginormous to tiny, are everywhere. The smaller ones are seen as pests and they enjoy getting into trouble. The dragons usually live in harmony with humans. Bigger dragons are more intelligent, tend to live up on mountain peaks, and can do magic. Smaller dragons are still intelligent, but less so and are treated more like animals. They can only do small amounts of magic and not well. People think that they are different species, but little dragons are really just babies with less experience, will eventually grow up to be huge and more intelligent, however this happens slowly, over hundreds of years, so humans don’t notice.
Characters:
Anja (pronounced Anya):
Anja owns a bakery, and can do small forms of magic, which she uses to assist her in baking. She is friendly, adventurous but down-to-earth, and can be sassy at times. She enjoys making delicate and intricate decorations on her pastries, and of course, has a sweet tooth. She has a soft spot for all animals, even if she sometimes gets annoyed with more troublesome ones (like Nelson), and thinks giving animals human names is funny. She also likes warm and cozy things, and dislikes being cold.
Anja (pronounced Anya):
Anja owns a bakery, and can do small forms of magic, which she uses to assist her in baking. She is friendly, adventurous but down-to-earth, and can be sassy at times. She enjoys making delicate and intricate decorations on her pastries, and of course, has a sweet tooth. She has a soft spot for all animals, even if she sometimes gets annoyed with more troublesome ones (like Nelson), and thinks giving animals human names is funny. She also likes warm and cozy things, and dislikes being cold.
Soren:
Soren works as a delivery boy, and often delivers flour and other ingredients to Anja’s bakery. He is friendly, but shy and quiet. He tends to see the best in people, is patient and sometimes a bit of a pushover, and dislikes mean people. He dreams of traveling, but has never been far from his hometown. He doesn’t know how to do magic, but doesn’t mind.
Soren works as a delivery boy, and often delivers flour and other ingredients to Anja’s bakery. He is friendly, but shy and quiet. He tends to see the best in people, is patient and sometimes a bit of a pushover, and dislikes mean people. He dreams of traveling, but has never been far from his hometown. He doesn’t know how to do magic, but doesn’t mind.
Leonidas:
Leonidas is Anja’s cat. He used to be a stray that hung around the bakery, but Anja kept feeding him until he trusted her. He now catches mice in the bakery. He is still grumpy and aloof, and dislikes anyone who isn’t Anja, especially mischievous dragons. He is fiercely protective of Anja, but pretends he doesn’t actually care and would never admit he likes her.
Leonidas is Anja’s cat. He used to be a stray that hung around the bakery, but Anja kept feeding him until he trusted her. He now catches mice in the bakery. He is still grumpy and aloof, and dislikes anyone who isn’t Anja, especially mischievous dragons. He is fiercely protective of Anja, but pretends he doesn’t actually care and would never admit he likes her.
Nelson:
Nelson is fat little dragon with a sweet tooth. He was named by Anja and has very large appetite for such a small dragon. He is extremely mischievous, and his favorite pastimes are eating, getting into trouble, and stealing. He thinks inconveniencing people is funny and hoards anything he can get ahold of. He is loveable when he’s not making trouble and has mastered the art of puppy dog eyes and acting adorable and innocent.
Nelson is fat little dragon with a sweet tooth. He was named by Anja and has very large appetite for such a small dragon. He is extremely mischievous, and his favorite pastimes are eating, getting into trouble, and stealing. He thinks inconveniencing people is funny and hoards anything he can get ahold of. He is loveable when he’s not making trouble and has mastered the art of puppy dog eyes and acting adorable and innocent.
Plot:
A little fat red dragon keeps invading Anja’s bakery, even after she keeps kicking him out. She names him Nelson, and one day decides to try to get rid of him by finding and moving his nest. When she finds it, among the pile of junk Nelson has collected, she finds an expensive jeweled necklace, matching the description of the one that was reported stolen from the queen months ago. The constable of her small village is incompetent and no help at all, so Anja decides to journey to the capital to return it herself. Leonidas the cat accompanies her because humans are stupid and need protecting. Soren also decides to come when Anja tells him about it, as he has always wanted to travel (and definitely not because he has a crush on Anja). Nelson tags along uninvited, “helping” by trying to steal “his” necklace back, stealing their other supplies, and just generally creating mayhem. Shenanigans ensue.
A little fat red dragon keeps invading Anja’s bakery, even after she keeps kicking him out. She names him Nelson, and one day decides to try to get rid of him by finding and moving his nest. When she finds it, among the pile of junk Nelson has collected, she finds an expensive jeweled necklace, matching the description of the one that was reported stolen from the queen months ago. The constable of her small village is incompetent and no help at all, so Anja decides to journey to the capital to return it herself. Leonidas the cat accompanies her because humans are stupid and need protecting. Soren also decides to come when Anja tells him about it, as he has always wanted to travel (and definitely not because he has a crush on Anja). Nelson tags along uninvited, “helping” by trying to steal “his” necklace back, stealing their other supplies, and just generally creating mayhem. Shenanigans ensue.
Process Pictures:
scene thumbnails
initial idea sketches
character exploration sketches
character exploration sketches
Soren pose sketches
animals pose sketches
Anja pose exploration 1
Anja pose exploration 2
Anja pose exploration 3
Anja pose exploration and head reference
