# Squatties Universe (Full Content Feed) > Cuboid character art system and papercraft platform created by Matthew Hitchcock (mo75) in Bristol, UK. This is the complete text stream of the Squatties universe, compiled for LLM crawler ingestion. It includes the site information, design philosophy, character metadata, and the full content of all published articles. ## Design Philosophy & Project Information ### The Idea To sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn up closely beneath or in front of the body; sit on one's haunches or heels. A Squattie character gets its name from its appearance—seemingly sat, compressed into a cuboid shape. It's a simple geometric form that serves as a unique canvas for complex characterisation. ### The Style The illustration style has roots in the 8-bit pixel art of classic 80s computer games, mixed with a modern vector twist. These angular, cuboid characters are built on an intentionally restrictive framework: every line is constrained to 45° increments on a small grid. This principled approach to image making defines the trademark Squatties aesthetic—minimal yet expressive, technical yet full of personality. ### The Creator The Squatties project is the work of designer and illustrator mo75 (Matthew Hitchcock). Based in Bristol, England, Matthew's work is heavily influenced by his formative years with the Commodore Amiga 500 and Deluxe Paint IV. What started as graph-paper sketches in the beginning has evolved into a professional-grade character system that has amassed over 146 characters. ### Purpose Primarily a personal exercise in character design, Squatties explore the boundaries of visual identity within a fixed geometric box. Designs frequently become available as paper toys—turning a standard piece of printer card into a fun, inexpensive collectible mascot with just scissors and glue. ### History Born from the adaptation of character studies for the 2010 exhibition "The Heroes of Horror!" at Urban Outfitters, the first true Squatties emerged in May 2011. The original trio included the Skeleton, Mummy, and Werewolf. ### Legal These illustrations depict characters in a transformative way, creating a fan-art parody of the original subjects. Rights belong to their respective owners. No official association is implied. ## Character Directory ### Collection: Fatal Fury *Description:* The hungry wolves and martial arts masters of South Town join the Squatties arena. *Characters:* Terry Bogard (terry-bogard), Rock Howard (rock-howard), Marco Rodriguez (marco-rodriguez), Preecha (preecha) ### Collection: Star Wars *Description:* Fold a galaxy of Squatties - Star Wars characters reimagined as squat, paper toy cubes for fandom fun on your desk. *Characters:* Din Djarin (mandalorian), Grogu (grogu), Obi-Wan Kenobi (obi-wan-kenobi), Boba Fett (boba-fett), R2-D2 (r2-d2), Stormtrooper (stormtrooper), Han Solo (han-solo), Jawa (jawa), Darth Vader (darth-vader), Darth Vader defeated (darth-vader-defeated), C-3PO (c-3po), Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot (luke-skywalker-x-wing-pilot), Tusken Raider (tusken-raider), Luke Skywalker (luke-skywalker), Chewbacca (chewbacca), Han Solo In Carbonite (han-solo-carbonite), Greedo (greedo), Princess Leia (princess-leia), Imperial Royal Guard (imperial-royal-guard), Emperor Palpatine (emperor-palpatine), Kylo Ren (kylo-ren), Stormtrooper First Order (stormtrooper-first-order), Captain Phasma (captain-phasma), General Hux (general-hux), BB-8 (bb-8), Rey (rey), Finn (finn), Gamorrean Guard (gamorrean-guard), Leia Boushh Bounty Hunter (leia-boushh-bounty-hunter), AT-AT Driver (at-at-driver), Tie Fighter Pilot (tie-fighter-pilot), Bossk (bossk), Lando Calrissian Bespin (lando-calrissian-bespin), Biker Scout (biker-scout), Poe Dameron X-Wing Pilot (poe-dameron-x-wing-pilot) ### Collection: Rick And Morty *Description:* Get schwifty with Rick and Morty Squatties - quirky cube paper toys perfect for fans folding interdimensional mischief. *Characters:* Rick Sanchez (rick-sanchez), Morty Smith (morty-smith), Beth Smith (beth-smith), Jerry Smith (jerry-smith), Summer Smith (summer-smith), Mr Meeseeks (mr-meeseeks), Pickle Rick (pickle-rick), Pickle Rick - Rat Suit (pickle-rick-rat-suit), Bird Person (bird-person), Scary Terry (scary-terry) ### Collection: Breaking Bad *Description:* Cook up some paper toy chemistry - Breaking Bad Squatties bring iconic characters to life with foldable 3D flair. *Characters:* Walter White (walter-white), Jesse Pinkman (jesse-pinkman) ### Collection: Marvel *Description:* Unleash Superhero papercraft - Marvel Squatties deliver your favourite heroes in cube form, ready to fold and assemble. *Characters:* Wolverine (wolverine), Deadpool (deadpool) ### Collection: Batman *Description:* Dark Knight gets cubed - Batman Squatties bring Gotham's vigilante and villains to life in paper toy form. *Characters:* Batman (batman), Bane (bane), The Joker (the-joker), Two Face (two-face), Batman (batman2) ### Collection: Kick-Ass *Description:* Kick - Ass Squatties pack a punch - fold action - packed paper toy versions of the comic's bold characters. *Characters:* Kick-Ass (kick-ass), Hit-Girl (hit-girl) ### Collection: Masters Of The Universe *Description:* Power up your papercraft play with Masters of the Universe Squatties - iconic heroes & villains in cube form, ready to build. *Characters:* He-Man (he-man), Skeletor (skeletor) ### Collection: Animals *Description:* Adorable animal Squatties - fold fuzzy friends in quirky cuboid form and bring paper toy woodland charm home. *Characters:* Boxer Dog (boxer-dog), Gary the French Bulldog (french-bulldog) ### Collection: Block Cats *Description:* A collection of adorable blocky feline companions. *Characters:* Maneko Neki (cat-maneko), Grey (cat-grey), Tabby (cat-tabby), Adolf (cat-adolf), Burman (cat-burman), Hazzy (cat-hazmat), Pinky (cat-pinky), Carbonite (cat-carbonite) ### Collection: Street Fighter *Description:* Fight it out in papercraft style - Street Fighter Squatties mashup digital brawlers with foldable 3D flair. *Characters:* Ryu (ryu), Dhalsim (dhalsim), Guile (guile), Zangief (zangief), Blanka (blanka), E. Honda (e-honda), Chun Li (chun-li), Ken (ken), M. Bison (m-bison), Sagat (sagat), Vega (vega), Balrog (balrog) ### Collection: Zombies *Description:* Survive the papercraft apocalypse - build zombified Squatties in 3D form for delightfully creepy foldable fun. *Characters:* Zombie Adolf Hitler (zombie-adolf-hitler), Zombie Nazi SS Officer (zombie-nazi-ss-officer), Zombie German Infantry (zombie-german-infantry), Zombie Beefcake (zombie-beefcake), Zombie Scientist (zombie-scientist), Zombie Youth (zombie-youth), Zombie Trucker (zombie-trucker), Zombie Scrubs (zombie-scrubs), Zombie Inmate (zombie-inmate), Zombie Biker Stanley (zombie-biker-stanley), The Survivor (zombie-survivor), Zombie Scroobius Pip (zombie-scroobius-pip) ### Collection: Film *Description:* Bring cinema to life in paper toy form - film - inspired Squatties ready to fold and display your favourite on - screen icons. *Characters:* Captain Jack (captain-jack-sparrow), Agent Smith (agent-smith), RoboCop (robocop), Marty McFly (marty-mcfly) ### Collection: Aardman Animations *Description:* Aardman Animations Squatties - fold up the charm of claymation favorites in quirky cube paper toy style. *Characters:* Wallace (wallace), Gromit (gromit) ### Collection: Music *Description:* Music Squatties strike a chord - fold your favorite artists into 3D cube paper toys inspired by the music world. *Characters:* Scroobius Pip (scroobius-pip), B. Dolan (b-dolan), Psy (psy), Dan Bull (dan-bull), Sage Francis (sage-francis) ### Collection: IRL *Description:* Cultural icons, artists, leaders and legends reimagined as Squatties — real-world personalities folded into cube paper toy form. *Characters:* Beeple (beeple), Steve Jobs (steve-jobs), Donald Trump (donald-trump), Barack Obama (barack-obama), Lord Alan Sugar (lord-alan-sugar), Osama Bin Laden (osama-bin-laden), mo75 (mo75), Banksy (banksy), Steve McNeil (steve-mcneil), Sam Pamphilon (sam-pamphilon) ### Collection: Modus Operandi MC *Description:* Modus Operandi MC Squatties - assemble edgy, motorcycle - club - inspired cube paper toys that ride into your creative space. *Characters:* Stanley Claws (biker-stanley), Bill 'The Shanker' (bill-the-shanker), Eddie Wrench (eddie-wrench) ### Collection: Everyday People *Description:* Everyday heroes and familiar faces transformed into charming cuboid collectibles ready to assemble. *Characters:* Genius (genius), Scientist (scientist), Surgeon (surgeon), Trucker (trucker) ### Collection: Anonymous *Description:* The decentralized digital resistance and cyber collective emerges in stealth cuboid papercraft form. *Characters:* Anonymous #01 (anonymous-01), Anonymous #02 (anonymous-02), Anonymous #03 (anonymous-03), Anonymous #04 (anonymous-04), Anonymous #05 (anonymous-05) ### Collection: Horror *Description:* Horror Squatties await your scissors - fold eerie, squat - style paper toys that bring frightfully fun characters to life. *Characters:* Werewolf (werewolf), Skeleton (skeleton), Mummy (mummy), Goblin (goblin), Mr Death (mr-death), Skinned (skinned) ### Collection: Festive *Description:* Celebrate the season with Squatties festive paper toys - squatting holiday icons ready to fold, craft & spread cheer. *Characters:* Stanley Claws (momc-stanley-claws-festive), Angie The Angel (momc-angie-the-angel-festive) ### Collection: Kid Eight *Description:* Original characters from the world of KidEight — where cherubic anti-heroes, skeletal outlaws and hip-hop culture collide in bold, rebellious style. *Characters:* Bonekind (bonekind-01), Bonekind II (bonekind-02), Bonekind III (bonekind-03), EVOL (evol), EVOL Gang (evol-gang) ### Collection: Sonic The Hedgehog *Description:* The fastest Squattie in the world — Sonic The Hedgehog reimagined as a foldable cube paper toy, ready to spin-dash off your desk. *Characters:* Sonic The Hedgehog (sonic) ### Collection: Trishacode *Description:* Step into the joyful sci-fi universe of Trishacode, created by audiovisual remix pioneer Eclectic Method. Featuring dimension-hopping heroes, time-bending escapades, and stolen UFO adventures. *Characters:* Trisha (trisha), Tonya (tonya), Crefs (crefs) ## News - Complete Articles ### Article: West of England Design Forum '5-9' Book *Date:* 2013-12-05 | *Category:* Print | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2013/west-of-england-design-forum-5-9-book/ *Summary:* A cinematic zombie Squatties diorama created in Cinema4D was selected for inclusion in the West of England Design Forum’s limited edition '5-9' publication celebrating personal creative work made outside the traditional 9–5. *Full Text Content:* During Halloween 2013, the Squatties zombie universe expanded with a new wave of undead characters and the beginning of a second large-scale diorama scene created in Cinema4D. Originally, the zombie characters were being developed as part of an unreleased collaboration with the [Zombie Research Society](https://zombieresearchsociety.com/) — an organisation dedicated to the cultural and scientific study of the living dead founded in 2007 by author Matt Mogk. [oai_citation:0‡Zombie Research Society](https://zombieresearchsociety.com/about-us?utm_source=chatgpt.com) The project evolved into a much larger visual experiment, bringing together eight zombie paper toy characters into a cinematic rendered environment that pushed Squatties beyond printable papercraft and further into stylised world-building and digital illustration. ![The finished zombie diorama render created in Cinema4D.](Squatties.com-Zombies-1024x768.jpg) ## Building The Zombie Scene What began as character development work for the unreleased Zombie Research Society collaboration quickly transformed into a fully realised diorama piece. Using Cinema4D, the zombie characters were staged into a dramatic rendered scene designed to feel atmospheric, chaotic, and cinematic while still preserving the angular geometric style of the original papercraft builds. ![The eight zombie Squatties characters featured within the final scene](https://31.media.tumblr.com/8d79bb0ea84b695a3bd92fb17412a73b/tumblr_inline_mxryux8BKK1r3o96r.jpg) ## Selected For The 5-9 Book Exceptionally pleased with the final artwork, I submitted the piece to the [West of England Design Forum](https://www.wedesignforum.co.uk/)’s *5-9* publication — a curated showcase celebrating personal creative projects developed outside of standard agency and studio working hours. The book highlighted artists, designers, illustrators, and makers producing independent work alongside their commercial careers, celebrating the passion projects created beyond the traditional “9 to 5”. The limited edition publication launched on December 5th 2013. ![The zombie diorama featured inside the West of England Design Forum’s 5-9 book.](https://31.media.tumblr.com/03aa89f1e1ec7fbe0449f9adde14302c/tumblr_inline_mxry7jKD7G1r3o96r.jpg) ## Beyond The Day Job Being included in *5-9* felt especially meaningful because the book celebrated exactly what Squatties represented at the time — personal experimentation, independent creativity, and building something purely from passion outside of commercial client work. The project marked an important step in evolving Squatties from printable paper toys into larger visual storytelling pieces and fully realised digital scenes. --- ### Article: Longplaya / See No Evil Event *Date:* 2012-08-18 | *Category:* Event | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2012/longplaya-see-no-evil/ *Summary:* In the Summer of 2012 the Banksy Squattie became part of the UK's largest permanent street art project — See No Evil in Bristol. *Full Text Content:* In the summer of 2012, the Banksy Squattie became a very small part of Bristol street art history through participation in the legendary *See No Evil* project and the associated [Longplaya](http://goo.gl/DHfzx) art installation and charity auction. At the time, [See No Evil](http://www.longplaya.com/auction/artist_024_matthitchcock.html) was considered the UK’s largest permanent street art project, transforming large sections of Bristol city centre into an enormous open-air gallery featuring internationally recognised artists and local creatives alike. ## The Original Giant Build The original idea was ambitious: a huge 2-metre-tall physical Banksy Squattie installation designed for the event. Unfortunately, reality had other plans. The oversized piece never quite got fully completed and took a fair amount of damage during transport. Somewhere between giant papercraft engineering experiment and logistical nightmare, it became clear that a more practical solution was needed. ## The Plywood Replica Rather than abandon the project entirely, a smaller plywood replica version was created instead — compact enough to survive the journey and robust enough to actually make it into the exhibition. Ironically, the scaled-down version turned out to be a much more manageable format and ultimately became the final displayed piece for the event. ![[img-see-no-evil-squattie-plywood.png|The plywood Banksy character, out and about tagging walls]] ## Longplaya & The Charity Auction The finished Banksy Squattie became part of the *Longplaya* installation before later being included in the charity auction connected to the event. > Well... the secret is out and Matt's super-sized Banksy Squattie caused quite a stir at the opening night. The bidding for this unique piece will go down in Bristol folk-lore as a battle of worthy knights who struggled through through a mysterious mist of cider and wine to reach their prize. There might have been some fair maidens involved, not sure. The piece eventually sold for a whopping **£325**, with all proceeds going toward local Bristol charities including [Knowle West Media Centre](https://kwmc.org.uk/) and [Trinity Community Arts](https://www.trinitybristol.org.uk/). It was the highest grossing piece of the night. For a small plywood cube character, that felt like a pretty good result. I'm still waiting for the good-karma return on that one. ![Me at the auction, giving a little speech about the piece to drum up bidding.](img-see-no-evil-squattie-auction.jpg) ## Bristol Street Art Culture Being connected, even in a tiny way, to Bristol’s street art culture and the wider *See No Evil* project felt hugely significant at the time. The project sat right at the intersection of graffiti culture, illustration, character design, and DIY making — all things that heavily influenced the early direction of Squatties. The experience also reinforced an important lesson: sometimes the backup plan survives the van journey better than the masterpiece. --- ### Article: Scroobius Pip *Date:* 2013-04-23 | *Category:* Web | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2013/scroobius-pip-mention/ *Summary:* One of the earliest Squatties success stories saw Scroobius Pip himself share a fan-made paper toy with his audience, turning a personal tribute into an official endorsement from one of the UK’s most distinctive independent artists. *Full Text Content:* ## Shared By Scroobius Pip One of the unexpected joys of creating fan-art characters is seeing them find their way back to the people who inspired them in the first place. After releasing the Scroobius Pip Squattie, the character caught Pip's attention and was shared directly with his audience via his official Facebook page, introducing the paper toy to thousands of fans. You can still view the original post on his official [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/scroobiuspip/posts/536487606397390). > Okay, as a brief break from me suggesting you come get drunk with me on Friday night (at the Book Club, Shoreditch) I thought you may instead like to download me (for FREE), cut me out, and keep me! These are amazing! For someone whose music, spoken word performances, podcasts, and independent approach to creativity had been a huge influence on me, seeing him embrace the character so enthusiastically was incredibly rewarding. ![Scroobius Pip](Squatties-Scroobius-Pip.png) *The Scroobius Pip Squattie that was shared with fans via Pip's official Facebook page.* --- ### Article: B. Dolan - promo *Date:* 2013-03-01 | *Category:* Web | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2013/b-dolan-promo/ *Summary:* After creating a custom B. Dolan Squattie inspired by seeing him perform live with Scroobius Pip, the character was featured on B. Dolan’s official website as a special Fan Friday release. *Full Text Content:* After seeing B. Dolan supporting Scroobius Pip on tour, I was inspired to create a custom Squattie character based on the underground hip-hop artist and storyteller. At the time I’d already created a Scroobius Pip Squattie, so making a companion character for B. Dolan felt like the obvious next step. ## From Fan Art To Official Feature After finishing the design, I sent the character over — and incredibly, B. Dolan liked it enough to feature it directly on his official website as part of a special *Fan Friday* post. The original article has since disappeared as the website evolved over the years, but thankfully a screenshot survives from the feature. ![The original Fan Friday feature on B. Dolan’s website showcasing the downloadable Squattie.](bdolan-download.png) The site originally described the release with the line: > "Thanks to the folks at Squatties.com, B. Dolan has been immortalized in paper and glue, where (after some very minimal cutting and assembling) he will glare at you from your desk or bookshelf 24/7." ## The Character Build The final character captured B. Dolan’s unmistakable stage presence and underground hip-hop aesthetic using the angular geometric Squatties style. ![The completed B. Dolan Squattie character.](bdolan.jpg) At the time, seeing artists directly engage with fan-made creations online still felt incredibly exciting — especially within independent music communities where DIY culture, illustration, and grassroots creativity naturally overlapped. ## Still Listening To this day, I still try to catch B. Dolan whenever he tours in the UK. His music remains one of the strongest influences from that era of underground hip-hop and spoken word crossover culture. You can check out B. Dolan's music on [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/5y78BoNH3MfpUYSEzIpmJA?si=2z4ohrSVShiUrIeym_11SQ), browse his latest independent releases on [Bandcamp](https://bdolan.bandcamp.com/), or dig into the back catalogue and Strange Famous Records-era releases via his [second Bandcamp archive](https://bdolansfr.bandcamp.com/). [oai_citation:0‡B Dolan](https://bdolan.bandcamp.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Thanks B — I was absolutely stoked you used this guy. --- ### Article: Wallace & Gromit — Aardman Feature *Date:* 2012-07-01 | *Category:* Web | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2012/aardman-wallace-gromit/ *Summary:* The kind folks at Aardman caught wind of the Wallace & Gromit Squatties and gave them a mention on their official Facebook page. *Full Text Content:* # Wallace & Gromit — Aardman Feature ![Aardman's mention of the Wallace & Gromit Squatties](squatties.com-aardman-comp.jpg) The kind folks over at Aardman caught wind of the Wallace & Gromit Squatties I made in July 2012 and gave me a mention on their official [Facebook page](http://goo.gl/CBE2p). > We really like these cracking paper toys made by Squatties! You can even download them if you'd like to have a go at making your own! --- ### Article: Beeple - SELECT START *Date:* 2024-03-29 | *Category:* Event | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2024/beeple-select-start/ *Summary:* A reimagined Street Fighter Squatties scene was selected by Beeple for the SELECT START exhibition at Beeple Studios, appearing amongst 140 gaming-inspired digital artworks on a massive collaborative canvas installation. *Full Text Content:* In March 2024, a reimagined Street Fighter Squatties scene was selected for inclusion in **SELECT START**, an immersive gaming-themed digital art event hosted by legendary digital artist [Beeple Studios](https://beeple-studios.xyz/) in Charleston, South Carolina. The event featured over 140 video game-inspired artworks from digital artists around the world, displayed across giant collaborative canvases and large-scale digital screens throughout the venue. ![The email confirming the Street Fighter scene had been selected for the exhibition.](img-select-start-street-fighter-email.png) ## Rebuilding The Street Fighter Scene For the exhibition, I revisited and reconstructed the original Street Fighter installation from 2014 — reimagining the giant Squatties convention display as a fully rendered digital scene designed specifically for the SELECT START showcase. The piece blended the geometric papercraft-inspired style of the original characters with dramatic digital lighting, presentation rendering, and a more cinematic environment. ![The recreated Street Fighter Squatties scene created for SELECT START](img-select-start-street-fighter-scene.jpeg) ## Included Among 140 Artists The artwork was personally selected by Beeple and his team as part of the curated event lineup and displayed amongst a huge collection of gaming-inspired digital art from creators across the industry. The final installation transformed the Beeple Studios space into an enormous celebration of video game culture, digital creativity, and internet-era art communities. ![Wide view of the giant collaborative SELECT START exhibition canvas.](img-select-start-street-fighter-canvas-01.jpeg) ![The Street Fighter Squatties piece displayed amongst the other selected artists.](img-select-start-street-fighter-canvas-02.jpeg) ## SELECT START Hosted at [Beeple Studios](https://beeple-studios.xyz/), SELECT START brought together artists working across games, internet culture, digital sculpture, motion design, illustration, and experimental media into a single immersive exhibition space. Although I sadly didn't make it out to Charleston for the event itself, having the work selected and displayed as part of the exhibition was a huge honour — especially as someone heavily influenced by video game culture throughout the Squatties project. --- ### Article: Street Fighter Squatties Tour Europe *Date:* 2014-07-01 | *Category:* Event | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2014/street-fighter-squatties-tour-europe/ *Summary:* Four giant Street Fighter Squatties toured Europe throughout 2014 as part of Capcom’s Ultra Street Fighter IV promotional campaign, appearing at MCM Comic Con and major gaming events across the continent. *Full Text Content:* Throughout 2014, four giant Squatties characters hit the road as part of Capcom’s European media campaign for *Ultra Street Fighter IV*. Built at massive scale and designed to bring the iconic fighting franchise into the physical world, the characters toured conventions and gaming events across Europe — turning heads everywhere they appeared. The tour formed part of the promotional rollout for Capcom’s latest evolution of the legendary Street Fighter franchise, blending gaming culture, convention energy, and large-scale papercraft installation design into a travelling showcase. ## Bringing Street Fighter Into The Real World Designed in the unmistakable angular Squatties style, the oversized characters transformed fan-favourite fighters into physical display pieces that could dominate convention floors while still retaining the sharp geometric personality of the original papercraft designs. The installation appeared at events including MCM Comic Con alongside additional European appearances tied to the launch campaign for *Ultra Street Fighter IV*. ![Two cosplayers pose with a giant M. Bison at the launch event](GoSLcYbXYAEIClO.jpeg) ## Convention Tour Highlights The tour quickly became a standout visual attraction for fighting game fans, cosplayers, photographers, streamers, and convention attendees alike. Positioned within bustling expo environments, the giant builds acted as both promotional installations and large-scale celebration pieces for the Street Fighter community. The project demonstrated how papercraft-inspired character design could scale beyond desktop collectibles into full experiential event installations. ## Media & Coverage Fans attending conventions throughout the tour captured photos and video footage of the builds in action, helping spread the project across gaming communities online. See footage from the European tour and convention appearances on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndVclj4Xoms). The project also appeared during events hosted by [MCM Comic Con](https://x.com/MCMComicCon), where the giant Street Fighter Squatties became a major attraction for fighting game fans and convention attendees alike. ## Legacy The Street Fighter Europe tour remains one of the largest-scale Squatties event activations to date, merging gaming culture, promotional installation art, and geometric character design into a travelling celebration of one of gaming’s most legendary franchises. --- ### Article: Kid Eight G’Evols Tribute *Date:* 2021-06-15 | *Category:* NFT | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2021/gevols-kid-eight/ *Summary:* Inspired by Kid Eight's G'Evols NFT collection, I created a detailed 3D tribute scene and custom artwork for a community competition, combining Squatties, digital sculpture, and crypto art culture. *Full Text Content:* Around 2021, curiosity got the better of me and I found myself diving headfirst into the rapidly growing world of NFTs and digital collectibles. While the technology divided opinion, what genuinely fascinated me was the incredible artwork and the passionate communities forming around independent creators. One artist whose work immediately stood out was **Kid Eight** and his beautifully surreal **Evol** collection. Inspired by his distinctive cherub character, I created my own Squattie interpretation before taking things one step further with a fully realised 3D tribute scene. ![My homage to Kid Eight's G'Evols collection, created for a community art competition.](GoSNi8aX0AAS3r-.jpeg) ## Building A Tribute The artwork was created as an entry into a community competition celebrating the G'Evols collection. Rather than simply recreating the original artwork, I wanted to build an entire environment that felt as though it belonged within Kid Eight's universe while still carrying the unmistakable angular style of Squatties. The result was a dramatic 3D composition that combined stylised lighting, environmental storytelling, and custom-made props inspired by the NFT collection. ![Final character models for the tribute scene.](GEVOLS-set.gif) ## Every Detail Counts One of my favourite elements was a custom-designed banknote created specifically for the scene. Although it only appears briefly as it burns within the composition, designing tiny details like this has always been one of my favourite parts of building larger worlds. They're the kinds of Easter eggs that many people never notice—but I know they're there. ![The custom banknote created for the scene.](Reserve-Of-Degens-LO.jpg) ## Winning Isn't Everything The piece ultimately didn't win the competition, but that almost became irrelevant by the time it was finished. Like many of the projects that have shaped Squatties over the years, the real reward came from pushing myself creatively, experimenting with new techniques, and building something I simply wanted to exist. Looking back, the NFT boom may have come and gone (for now?), but it introduced me to a wealth of talented independent artists whose work continues to inspire me today. This project remains one of my favourite creative experiments from that period. ![The scene as a CD cover concept.](Squattie-NFT-Evol-CD.png) --- ### Article: Rick & Morty: The First Batch *Date:* 2018-03-02 | *Category:* Release | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2018/rick-and-morty-release/ *Summary:* Get schwifty with the brand new Rick & Morty Squatties! The first dimension-hopping batch features Rick Sanchez, Morty Smith, Mr. Meeseeks, and Pickle Rick. *Full Text Content:* ![Angularised Rick & Morty Squatties Logo](Squatties-Rick-And-Morty-Logo.png) Wubba lubba dub dub! The multiverse has officially collided with Squatties. To celebrate the release, we even gave the iconic franchise logo a blocky, angular makeover to perfectly match the aesthetic. I'm excited to introduce the first wave of **Rick and Morty** paper toys, bringing eight unforgettable characters from one of television's most inventive animated series into cube form. Whether they're saving realities, destroying timelines, or simply trying to survive another family dinner, each character has been carefully reimagined in the signature angular Squatties style. The launch collection includes: - **Rick Sanchez** – the smartest man in the universe—and often his own worst enemy. A genius forever outrunning consequences across infinite realities. - **Morty Smith** – Rick's anxious grandson, swept into adventures far bigger than he ever wanted. His conscience survives even when common sense doesn't. - **Beth Smith** – a gifted horse surgeon caught between family life and unanswered questions about herself. Quietly searching for where she truly belongs. - **Jerry Smith** – an insecure but well-meaning father who somehow keeps finding his way back to the people who matter most. - **Summer Smith** – sharper and more adaptable than anyone gives her credit for. The more bizarre life becomes, the more she rises to meet it. - **Mr. Meeseeks** – created to fulfil a single task, existing only until the job is done. Every extra moment is agony wrapped in a smile. - **Pickle Rick** – Rick turns himself into a pickle to avoid therapy, somehow transforming the pettiest decision imaginable into an unforgettable adventure. - **Pickle Rick (Rat Suit)** – an absurd survival machine stitched together from scraps and sheer determination. Ridiculous in concept, terrifying in execution. ![The full Squatties cast gathered in Rick's Garage](Squatties-Rick-And-Morty-Garage-image.png) *The whole interdimensional crew causing chaos inside a miniature recreation of Rick's legendary garage laboratory.* ## Tiny Toys. Infinite Dimensions. Every Squattie has been designed to capture the personality of the original character while staying true to the geometric style that defines the collection. From Rick's unmistakable blue hair and Morty's permanently worried expression to the wonderfully ridiculous engineering of Pickle Rick's rat-powered exoskeleton, every fold is packed with recognisable details. Whether you're a lifelong fan of *Rick and Morty* or simply enjoy building papercraft, these free printable templates are designed to be fun to make and even better to display. No portal gun required—just a printer, a pair of scissors, and perhaps a small amount of glue. ![Rick and Morty character templates cycling in animation](Squatties-Rick-And-Morty-Animation-image.gif) > "Sometimes science is more art than science." — Rick Sanchez Download the free PDF templates below and bring a little interdimensional chaos to your desk. --- ### Article: Fatal Fury - City of The Wolves PROMO *Date:* 2024-08-21 | *Category:* Event | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2024/snk-fatal-fury-city-of-the-wolves/ *Summary:* Created in collaboration with Fury Design Agency for SNK’s Gamescom 2024 booth, four exclusive Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Squatties became highly sought-after giveaways for players attending the event. *Full Text Content:* Gamescom 2024 saw the return of fighting game papercraft collaborations with a special promotional project for SNK’s upcoming fighter *FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves*. Working alongside [Fury Design Agency](https://linkedin.com/company/fury-design-agency/), four exclusive Squatties paper toy characters were created for the official SNK Gamescom booth, transforming the new generation of Fatal Fury fighters into collectible convention giveaways. ![The four exclusive Squatties designs alongside additional Gamescom promotional merchandise.](img-fatal-fury-cotw-01-merch-pack.jpeg) ## Bringing Fatal Fury To Gamescom Produced exclusively for Gamescom 2024, the collaboration featured stylised paper toy versions of key *City of the Wolves* characters including Preecha, Marco, Terry, and Rock. The designs were distributed directly to players visiting the stand and quickly became popular collectibles amongst attendees exploring the massive SNK showcase during the event. The project blended gaming culture, collectible design, and physical papercraft into a hands-on promotional experience that fans could take home with them after playing the game. ## Social Media Reaction The giveaways quickly gained traction across social media throughout the event, with attendees sharing photos of the figures online as they circulated around the convention floor. Cosplayer KittyKaboooom posted: > "Omg they are giving away FATAL FURY City of the Wolves @squatties at the gamescom booth! Look at the Preecha Marco Terry and Rock! I want them!" ![Fans showing off the exclusive Fatal Fury Squatties during Gamescom 2024.](img-fatal-fury-cotw-02-fans-with-squatties.jpeg) ## Gamescom 2024 Held in Cologne, Germany between August 21st–25th 2024, Gamescom once again served as one of the biggest gaming events in the world, bringing together publishers, developers, creators, press, and fans from across the industry. [oai_citation:0‡GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamescom-2024-dates-how-to-watch-what-to-expect/1100-6525219/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) The Fatal Fury collaboration marked another crossover between Squatties and iconic fighting game franchises — continuing a long-running connection between geometric paper toy culture and competitive gaming communities. ## Find out more Discover more about the game and the roster of fighters on the official [FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves](https://www.snk-corp.co.jp/us/games/fatalfury-cotw/) website, or check out more from [SNK](https://www.snk-corp.co.jp/us/). --- ### Article: The Apple Store Wallpaper *Date:* 2013-06-06 | *Category:* Media | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2013/the-apple-store/ *Summary:* Step inside the cuboid Apple Store! Populated by Steve Jobs, a helpful Apple Genius, and other pop-culture figures, this detailed wallpaper brings the Squatties universe to your desktop. *Full Text Content:* Introducing the official, high-definition **Apple Store Wallpaper**! Populated by an array of custom-designed, cuboid paper toy characters, this detailed scene brings the Squatties universe straight to your desktop. ![[Squatties.com-Apple_Store-1280x1024.jpg]] *A look inside the cuboid Apple Store, populated by Steve Jobs, Apple Geniuses, and an array of folding character paper toys.* Originally conceived in late 2011, this digital artwork captures a bustling Apple Store populated entirely by blocky figures. If you look closely, you will spot several notable personalities standing at the wood display tables: * **Steve Jobs**: Sporting his iconic black turtleneck, jeans, and round glasses, standing near the front of the store inspects the latest device models. * **The Apple Genius**: Outfitted in a classic blue t-shirt and badge, ready to answer questions at the "Paper Genius Bar". * **Other Pop-Culture Guest Stars**: From stealthy street artists to custom motorcycle riders, the crowd is filled with Easter eggs for eagle-eyed fans. ![[apple-products-render-scene-detail.png]] *Some of the Apple products built for the scene.* ### Free Desktop Downloads The wallpaper is available for download in various resolutions to fit your monitors: * [Download 1280x1024 (Standard)](files/Squatties.com-Apple_Store-1280x1024.jpg.zip) * [Download 1600x1200 (Standard)](files/Squatties.com-Apple_Store-1600x1200.jpg.zip) * [Download 1920x1080 (HD)](files/Squatties.com-Apple_Store-1920x1080.jpg.zip) * [Download 2560x1440 (Wide HD)](files/Squatties.com-Apple_Store-2560x1440.jpg.zip) Grab yours today and bring some angular, paper toy magic to your screen! --- ### Article: Zombie Apocalypse Wallpaper *Date:* 2013-10-25 | *Category:* Media | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2013/zombie-apocalypse/ *Summary:* Set your desktop to survive! Released for Halloween 2013, this detailed wallpaper shows a lone survivor fighting through a blocky, flesh-eating zombie horde. *Full Text Content:* Just in time for Halloween 2013, we released the spooky, high-density **Zombie Apocalypse Wallpaper**! Depicting a chaotic, post-apocalyptic cityscape overrun by the cuboid undead, this detailed isometric diorama features several characters from the popular **Zombies** paper toy set. The scene details include: * **The Lone Survivor**: Armed with a machete and running down the street, searching for other survivors in the city. * **The Flesh-Eating Horde**: A colorful variety of zombies blockading the streets, including Zombie Scientists, Zombie Nazi Soldiers, Decaying Biker Stanley, and even a zombified Scroobius Pip! * **The Urban Chaos**: Blocky cars, warning signs, and papercraft buildings make up a detailed backdrop designed to tell a story in every corner. ![[squatties-wp-Zombies.jpg]] *A lone survivor escapes a colorful horde of cuboid undead in this high-resolution diorama scene.* ### Free Desktop Downloads Set your screen to survival mode with these free high-resolution wallpaper downloads: * [Download 1024x768 (Standard)](files/Squatties.com-Zombies-1024x768.jpg.zip) * [Download 1600x1200 (Standard)](files/Squatties.com-Zombies-1600x1200.jpg.zip) * [Download 1920x1080 (HD)](files/Squatties.com-Zombies-1920x1080.jpg.zip) * [Download 2560x1440 (Wide HD)](files/Squatties.com-Zombies-2560x1440.jpg.zip) Grab your printable templates, fold up your own horde, and watch out for the cuboid undead! --- ### Article: 16 Bit Brawl - Streets of Beige *Date:* 2013-11-20 | *Category:* Print | *URL:* https://squatties.com/news/2013/streets-of-beige/ *Summary:* Featuring 12 Street Fighter characters in the Sega vs Nintendo '16 Bit Brawl' zine, which caught the attention of Capcom Europe. *Full Text Content:* The Street Fighter Squatties project found an unexpected home in the world of retro gaming when all twelve characters were selected for inclusion in **16 Bit Brawl**, a Sega vs Nintendo themed exhibition and printed zine curated by the much-loved pop culture blog *Streets of Beige*. At the time, Streets of Beige was one of the internet's go-to destinations for discovering independent toys, illustration, design, posters, prints, film, and creative culture. Although the site has since disappeared, its influence on the designer toy and illustration communities was significant. ## The Console Wars Reimagined 16 Bit Brawl celebrated the golden era of gaming rivalries, inviting artists to create work inspired by the legendary battle between Sega and Nintendo. The project brought together a huge range of illustrators and creators, each interpreting retro gaming culture through their own style and medium. For Squatties, it was the perfect opportunity to showcase the complete Street Fighter collection — twelve characters reimagined as geometric paper toys inspired by one of the most iconic fighting game franchises ever created. ![The full collection of 12 Street Fighter Squatties featured in the project.](squatties-16bitBRAWL-x12.jpg) *The complete Street Fighter Squatties collection featured in the 16 Bit Brawl project.* ## Centre Stage One of the biggest surprises was discovering that the Street Fighter Squatties had been given the centre page spread within the publication. Seeing the entire collection reproduced across a double-page layout felt like a huge milestone for what had originally started as a personal fan-art project. In addition to the feature spread, a random Street Fighter character template was included inside each zine, allowing readers to build and collect their own Squattie. ![The centre spread inside the 16 Bit Brawl zine.](GoSLQl1WIAAjruj.jpeg) ## Character Reveals Leading up to the release, the characters were published online as versus pairings, mirroring the head-to-head nature of classic fighting games. Releasing the collection this way created a sense of anticipation around the project while giving each character a chance to shine before the full set was finally revealed in print. ![Ryu vs. Dhalsim - One of the versus pairings released before publication.](squatties-18bitBRAWL-ryu-vs-dhalsim.jpg) *Characters were revealed in classic fighting game matchups ahead of the zine launch.* ## A Turning Point Looking back, 16 Bit Brawl felt like a natural intersection of everything Squatties was becoming at the time: gaming culture, illustration, papercraft, collectibles, and nostalgia. The project introduced the Street Fighter Squatties to a much wider audience and remains one of the earliest examples of the project being featured as part of a professionally curated publication. For a series inspired by arcade legends and console-era gaming culture, appearing in a retro gaming exhibition celebrating the 16-bit generation felt like the perfect place to land. More importantly, *16 Bit Brawl* marked a turning point for the Street Fighter Squatties. The project was beginning to attract attention beyond the usual papercraft and illustration circles, opening doors that simply hadn't existed before. At the time, I had no idea the collection's most exciting chapter was still yet to come. ---