Leafo
Illustration Book
(2017)
Leafo is an illustrated storybook that follows the adventure and growth of a baby iguana with a mystical ability to grow any fruit or plant on its body, just by imagining it. The story revolves around Leafo’s journey to find its missing mother, Forestina.
The first volume was created in Korean in 2017. Images of embroidered patches and figurines produced in 2017 are also included on the project page below.
Main Character Concepts
Leafo and Forestina are special iguanas with the ability to create and grow any plant they imagine. No matter what they envision, they can magically produce fruits and plants on their bodies.
Forestina Guana
Leafo Guana
Tinny
Forestina Guana
She is the mother of the main character, Leafo.
She gets trapped by mysterious deep blue iceberg villains and eventually vanishes along with the thunder stairs.
Leafo Guana
She is the main character of this story and embarks on an adventure to find her mother, Forestina.
Tinny
Tinny is a four-foot-tall flower created by Leafo’s imperfect ability and accompanies Leafo on their adventure. Its full name is Destinny.
Leafo Character Concept Drawing
Storyline
Guanas can only give birth to one baby throughout their lifetime. One day, a baby, eagerly awaited, is finally born in the Guana Forest! Leafo Guana, who will take on the responsibility of overseeing the forest alongside Forestina, is now here.
Guanas are beautiful, creative, and fascinating creatures, admired by people and other organisms alike. Their birth is truly marvelous and awe-inspiring! However, the happiness is short-lived... Strange incidents begin to unfold. Mysterious fruits appear, an unwelcome guest invades, and dubious fruits with strange markings are delivered.
People turned into monstrous beings after eating the suspicious fruits and then disappeared... Those who were left in the ruined forest, both people and creatures, no longer felt safe or happy. Fear and suspicion began to spread, and they started to curse the guanas. Forestina and Leafo fell into despair.
At that moment, a massive thunder struck the ground, and thunder-stairs appeared before them. It seemed like Forestina made a decision. Without hesitation, she jumped onto the stairs... The mother, who vanished with the thunder-stairs, and the baby, left behind alone.
Representative Illustrations
Beautiful Night Street in the Forest
Beautiful Night Street in the Forest
Forestina and the forest creatures eagerly awaiting the birth of the baby iguana
Pond creatures live-streaming
the birth of the baby iguana
Creatures eagerly awaiting the birth of the baby iguana
Creatures holding their breath in suspense
at the moment of the baby iguana's birth
live-streaming
Giraffe butterflies celebrating Leafo and Forestina
The celebrated newborn baby, Leafo and Forestina
A selfie of Jelly and Nolly
after eating the rainbow fruit
Creatures enjoying the party
A selfie with lovely Guanas
Selfie: Leafo and Forestina celebrating
with the lively creatures, dancing and enjoying
a feast of various magical fruits at the party
The apprearance of a suspicious guest
A suspicious guest with icicles growing from his body and mysterious bumps emerging
Leafo growing up happily
Leafo and Forestina spending a peaceful time
Creatures that, after eating the mysterious fruit and transforming into strange forms, disappear into the unknown.
After the once joyful iguana pond suddenly vanished, a bizarre tree with strange symbols emerged in its place
Forestina's childhood memory of being subjected to a suspicious experiment
Leafo and Forestina left in the desolate Guana forest, as heavy rain pours
A destructive lightning strike suddenly hits the strange tree.
A massive, sky-reaching lightning staircase falls with the lightning, and Forestina disappears up the stairs
Forestina gives Leafo a fruit, meant to be eaten only in the final moments
Leafo's eyes reflect the scene of Forestina leaving
The creatures gossip about the shabby Leafo left all alone
Leafo is chased by the forest creatures, labeled as a strange and ominous presence
Leafo, wandering aimlessly, comes across a beetle shivering from the cold.
"Hey you guys, hand over everything you've got!"
"That's right! Or else, I'll feed your friend a poisonous mushroom that will make them fart non-stop for a month!"
While wandering through the forest, Leafo discovers a group of rainbow seals being threatened by a band of watermelon thieves. And Leafo sets out to rescue the rainbow seals from the thieves.
The two watermelon thieves stare strangely at Tinny, who was born from Leafo's head
The watermelon thieves mock Tinny, the four-legged flower, and Leafo before leaving.
Leafo bursts into tears, but the rainbow seals comfort her.
The rainbow seals express their gratitude to Leafo while offering words of comfort
As a token of gratitude, the rainbow seals gift Leafo a rainbow-tailed beetle to guide the way
Video of Full Pages
Full Pages of Leafo
Object Design
Leafo Book Cover
Embroidered patches in various fruit shapes and cups decorated with a fruit illustration
