As a lifelong geek and comic enthusiast who has attended more conventions than I can count, I must say that Cloud Puppy has stolen my heart! With its adorable lead character, delightful supporting cast, and a world filled with all things nerdy and geeky, this series is a dream come true for anyone who loves the comics and cosplay scene.
What do you get when you combine the world of comics, cosplay, and conventions with a lovable lead who is part puppy and part cloud? Turns out it’s the delightful adventures of Cloud Puppy by Kelly Leigh Miller, and the adorable half puppy half cloud lead is likely to become a favorite of yours as well once you get to know her. The story brings a host of other charming characters into the fold as well, including Cloud’s friend Berry Rose, and the duo is actually the focus of the first story, which puts a spotlight on what it means to be friends who want to dress as the same character at a convention. ComicBook had a chance to speak with Miller all about the new story, what and who inspired the character, and what the future might hold for the series.
Cloud Puppy Inspirations
In the creation process of Cloud Puppy, Miller drew inspiration from numerous geek-related themes such as comics, cosplay, comic conventions, and more. However, it was the unique design of Cloud Puppy that sparked the idea in the first place. As Miller was casually studying Japanese mascots like Sanrio and Tamagotchi, he found himself captivated by their designs, being a passionate collector of Tamagotchi items. He pondered what made these characters so appealing to him, and decided to create his own creatures. Among them, the design for Cloud Puppy was the one that kept calling him back to draw her again and again.
Miller explained, “I thought, ‘This could be something,’ so I shared my sketch with my agent, wondering if it was worth anything at all. She asked if I had a story for it, and I wasn’t sure. Then she suggested pitching it right away. This got my creative juices flowing, and many ideas came to me, most of them centered around nerdy or geeky themes. We discussed various approaches and decided to focus on this theme since my ideas often fall into that category. From there, I selected some character designs I had previously drawn and identified which ones could potentially be her friends, and that’s where the whole process began.”
The main idea remained consistent throughout the development, and the final tale mostly reflected this original concept. However, one significant alteration occurred – the transition from a 30 to 40-page picture book to a 160-page graphic novel. “Initially, I worked on picture books, and moving from a maximum of 40 pages in a picture book to 160 pages for a graphic novel was quite an adjustment. Planning the content for such a vast difference in page count proved to be somewhat of a learning experience, which was entirely new for me, but I enjoyed the process,” Miller explained.
Family, Fun, and Costumes
A notable aspect of this work, beyond its stunning visuals, is the significant role family plays in the narrative and their unwavering support for each other. Unlike many stories where families act as obstacles or difficulties for the protagonist, here they are actively helpful. This intentional design choice was made by Miller to portray parents who are enthusiastic about their children’s passions, regardless of whether they fully grasp it or not, and who want to be involved in the things they cherish. As Miller explained, “I wanted the parents to be very supportive of all their kids’ interests, and whether some understand it or not, they’re just really into the fact that they love this thing, and they want to be part of the thing they love.”
At conventions like this one, you’ll be hard-pressed not to marvel at the array of stunning costumes on display. Much like other events, this one is no exception, and Miller shares an interesting tidbit – some of the costume designs were influenced by real cosplays she’s encountered. “When I was designing, particularly for background characters, I found that a number of those looks were inspired by actual cosplays I’ve seen,” Miller mentioned. “However, I can’t guarantee the colors stayed the same as the original costumes they were based on. I might have tweaked them slightly to avoid an overt connection, but there were definitely a few instances where the inspiration came from costumes I’d admired in the past.”
Regarding future plans, Miller expresses his eagerness to revisit this realm, and fortunately, there’s more to explore as we anticipate another book titled Cloud Puppy Game On, due out on March 4th, 2025. Miller envisions numerous possibilities for fresh tales in this charming universe.
Miller explained that while he was eager to continue, there will indeed be additional books in the series, as indicated by the “Number 1” on the cover. So, the story’s journey isn’t over just yet.
The adorable Cloud Puppy book is now accessible at bookstores nationwide! Or, if that’s more convenient for you, grab a copy on Amazon by clicking here.
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2024-08-22 18:10