I hope you don't mind me asking, but I was wondering if there was any fish species that your mer Dick & Bruce are based on? I know bruce is mostly monochromatic/transparent in terms of scale coloring & dick mostly is red/yellow, but I was curious if there was any IRL inspiration for their tail shapes! TYSM :)
Hiii!! You don't know how excited your ask made me! Feeling real giddy as I type this up!! 😆 Anyway, back to your question. Yes! They're both inspired by real fish species. I've taken a lot of creative freedom, but, they both are inspired by real fish, or, an amalgam of several fish.
Regarding Bruce, he's inspired by both lionfish, lionfish larva, and a leafy sea dragon.
You're right that he is kinda monochrome, all the scales on his lower body are black. His ear finning is black as well, but, he's got transparent and translucent (depends on which you look at and the lighting) appendages there as well. Like the lionfish, he has spines, and venom (like the lionfish), which hasn't come up yet, they're mostly black, but, like the leafy sea dragon as well, he's got these sort of floaty appendages on his lower body and back, like a dorsal fin (transparent/translucent depending where on the fin you look at), which are a mix of black and transparent/translucent (mostly transparent/translucent). That's why he's so glittery, and Reader keeps mentioning that as well. He's also got this light finning (idk, I don't think that's a word but I'm going to use it anyway) draping from his elbows, similar to Dick.
And Dick, the little mer. I felt so clever for this.
I was inspired by pictures of this fish right here.
This, this right here? That's a Sea Robin (😉), also known as a gurnard. 😏😏😏, felt so smart for this.
Once more, I've taken creative liberties with this, but, hey, ¯\(ツ)/¯. Dick has the reddish body, except brighter, more pigmented, and rather than those gorgeous pectoral fins, the green ones with blue spotting, he's got twin bright emerald green dorsal fins meeting on the ridge of his spine, like little wings. 🤗. He's got some light finning at the elbows, soft, not spines, and yellow pelvic, anal, and caudal fins, as well as the fins at his ears. That's what he looks like. 👍
So, their designs were both inspired by real fish, several different types, and, btw, I did not mind you asking! 🤗. I loved your question, and really enjoyed answering it! If you have anymore, go ahead!!
