Concept sketch: Flying-type Kaito

Pokemon: Squawkabilly Song inspiration: 1925

So 1925 is actually a Miku song but it has a Kaito cover in the Project Diva games as well as its own module and I thought it was fitting when I saw the module's name was Conductor Sky. I know the year 1925 isn't in the right era for rockabilly music but I think the design worked out regardless. I might look up 1950s fashion a bit more and try to integrate that in though.

Concept sketch: Dark-type Kaito

Pokemon: Greninja Inspiration: VF Ninja module

Greninja was an obvious choice due to its tongue scarf, but unlike the original Project Voltage, I thought it fit better as the dark type to really highlight the ninja aspect. The design definitely needs some more detail but I like how it looks so far.

Concept sketch: Fire-type Kaito

Pokemon: Ninetales Song inspiration: Ashes to Ashes

This one took a while to figure out but I think the design came out pretty well in the end. I'm not sure if I'm going to have the bottom of the coat trailing on the ground or curling up at the ends to mimic the curl of ninetales' tails.

Concept sketch: Fairy-type Kaito

Pokemon: Galarian Rapidash Song inspiration: Cendrillon

Cendrillon felt like a perfect song to use for fairy-type since it's about a fairytale, and Galaraian Rapidash felt like the best choice for this princely design. This one will really come through more on the colour scheme more than anything I think, but I like it so far.

Concept sketch: Dragon-type Kaito

Pokemon: Altaria Song inspiration: Erase or Zero

Altaria was one of the pokemon I knew I had to use, and I think it really works with Kaito where I can give him a fluffy scarf to reference its wings. It might not be fully obvious from the sketch, but the bottom of his coat is sectioned into strips like Altaria's tail. All in all, I think this one turned out well.

Concept sketch: Bug-type Kaito

Pokemon: Frosmoth Inspiration: White Blazer module

I went back and forth on this one several times and I think I might go right back again. I was having a hard time following the type theming of child-themed and one of the iterations I had before this one was of Kaito in a child's snowsuit. I thought it was too ice-type themed though so moved on to this one but I might change it back again. I'm definitely fixed on using Frosmoth as the partner, it's just the outfit that's giving me trouble.

Concept sketch: Fighting-type Kaito

Pokemon: Machamp Inspiration: Swimwear module

Amusingly, the one time I've used a swimsuit module as an inspiration, it's for the fighting type design. Though it's more a reference to the old naked Kaito meme than an actual reference to the swimsuit module. I originally had Machoke as the pokemon partner and then realized at the last minute that if I used Machamp, that I could use the scarf as his second pair of arms. Probably my most simple design so far but I'm not sure what else I could add.

Concept sketch: Ground-type Kaito

Pokemon: Sandshrew Inspiration: School Uniform Parka module

I had a hard time figuring out what I wanted to do with this one, and I ended up settling on a somewhat easy choice. I think the design is kinda cute, if really simplistic. I think I'll probably end up taking off the pattern on the pants though.

Concept sketch: Ghost-type Kaito

Pokemon: Gimmighoul Song inspiration: Akutoku no Judgement

This one was really more a thematic choice than anything. Akutoku no Judgement is one of Kaito's more well known songs and it just pairs with Gimmighoul all too well. Both of them have really simple designs so I decided to add in some demon-like horns to make it a bit spookier since Gimmighoul's antennas looked a bit silly trying to incorporate.

Concept sketch: Electric-type Kaito

Pokemon: Toxtricity Song inspiration: Imitation Black

I of course had to include at least one SCL song in this project and Imitation Black feels like the most iconic to me. This outfit was a lot of fun to design, I tried to combine Imitation Black's visual kei style with a more pop/grunge look to match Toxtricity. It probably needs some more refining but I like how it looks so far. I'm kind of sad that I had to cut out the little top hat though, it just wasn't blending well with the design. Maybe I'll figure out a way to incorporate it back it. Or replace it with something else.

Concept sketch: Water-type Kaito

Pokemon: Empoleon Inspiration: Classic module

I'm starting to think I'm just trying to avoid doing a swimsuit design for water types at this point. I do really think that Empoleon is a good choice for Kaito and the Classis module really works well with it. Definitely need to find a way to incorporate a trident motif in there somewhere though.

Concept sketch: Steel-type Kaito

Pokemon: Dialga Song inspiration: Heartbeat Clocktower

The more I think about this one, the more I kind of regret the pokemon partner choice. Thematically, Kilnk or Klang would be a better fit for Heartbeat Clocktower and I'm very tempted to do a second pass on this. Dialga does have a more interesting design though, which lends itself to a more interesting outfit. Although, I suppose with Klink/Klang I could go with a more steampunk look.

Concept sketch: Normal-type Kaito

Pokemon: Cinccino Inspiration: Holiday module

Continuing the scarf theme with Cinccino for normal type. I used the Holiday module as a reference but I feel like I didn't really deviate away from it enough and ended with something that's too close to the original. I do like the design but I definitely need to re-work it so it's more unique.

Concept sketch: Grass-type Kaito

Pokemon: Shaymin Song inspiration: Thousand Year Solo

One of the predominant themes I decided to go with for most of Kaito's pokemon was scarves and sky forme Shaymin fit perfectly. I did use a mix of land and sky formes in the design that I think works well with the module from Thousand Year Solo. All in all, I rather like this one so far, though I do need to design a better embroidery design.

Concept sketch: Poison-type Kaito

Pokemon: Roserade Song inspiration: Cantarella

The second most obvious pairing in my opinion, how could I pick anything but Cantarella, the poisoning song, for the poison-type match-up. And Roserade easily fits the theme and design that I'm going for. I was considering adding the jagged cuts of the coat bottom and collar to the sleeves as well but I wondered if that might be overkill. Also, all the bits that have a rose pattern on them will be a rose-themed embroidery pattern. Which will of course probably be a pain to render but oh well.

Concept sketch: Ice-type Kaito

Pokemon: Vanillite Song inspiration: Snowman

Starting off Kaito's designs with one of the most obvious picks. Since Kaito's character item is ice cream, Vanillite is an obvious choice for partner pokemon. And of course, Snowman is the perfect choice for song inspiration given its theming. After struggling to make some of those last few Meiko designs work together, this one was a breath of fresh air. It's rather simple, but I really like it.

Concept sketch: Rock-type Meiko

Pokemon: Cranidos Song inspiration: Nostalgia

Nostalgia's such a well known song that I had to include it somewhere and I think it rather worked out as the rock type inspiration. I think this design fought me the hardest out of all the Meiko designs but in the end I rather like it.