Gubbey: 
                   + Chibi paperdoll style is cute. 

                   + Despite the simplicity, I like the minimalistic rendering that Monika's hair shine adds.  

                   - Background copy/pasted from vanilla DDLC. 

"This art knows what it wants to be and delivers exactly that. Not everything has to be packed full of meaning and gravitas. It's just cute.

Some more stylistic consistency would have been to its benefit. I personally would love to see a rendition of the Space Classroom in this cutesy style."

Storm: 

"Everyone starts somewhere, even though the art style and quality can be improved, I believe the meaning behind the piece is clear and precise, connecting both characters due to their self awareness."

Static: 

   + Amazing style! Simple yet cute design for both characters!  

   + The crossover of two sentient characters is fun! Monika and Kino singing as bonding is cute and wonderful idea, as both characters do sing in their respectful games!
   - The lack of stylization in the background. The lack of shading is a big contrast, as there is lighting but no shading. 

   - The speech bubbles are wobbly compared to the clean lines.

"Both of these games are fantastic, and the idea of both being together is a really fun idea and it's great to see in such a stylized way!"

Satchley: 

                    + nice simple cell-shaded cartoon style

                    + cute chibi version of Monika

                    + cross-over of DDLC and KinitoPET is interesting and creative

                    + showing Monika and Kinito singing together and getting along well is a fun idea

                    - not stylizing/drawing the background

                    - jagged lines of the speech bubbles/musical notes compared to the clean lines of the characters

                    - not adding a bit more shading to create depth in the characters

                    - not drawing a background

"Love the cute wholesome vibe of the artwork and that the artist came up with the idea of drawing a DDLC x KinitoPET crossover fanart! I don't think I have seen that yet"

Gubbey: 
                    + Unique yet recognizable, Monika, the Dokidolls, and MC, all. 

                   + The creepy green glow of Monika's eyes is sublime.

                   + MC has a cute design, too.

  + The lighting and shadows are done superbly, highlighting and obscuring with clear intent.

                   + Rendering is excellent. Lighting/shadows are done accurately and consistently.

                   + Clear and clever use of composition - the viewer's gaze is drawn straight toward Monika's eyes.

                   + If Monika must be depicted as a moustache-twirling villain, it only works if she's sufficiently scary. Which this Monika is.

  + This might just be me reading too much into it, but I like the almost "plastic" look of Monika and MC, made ironic by the fact that       Monika is toying with the dolls of their friends. Not so different after all.

                   - Vanilla BG with minimal editing.

"I don't typically enjoy Monika being depicted as a sadistic psycho, but this art does it well enough that it's not cringe. Like I said under "Meaning," if she's scary enough, I can excuse anything. And I will of course respect any DDLC fan media that embraces the horror aspect rather than erasing it...especially if it's done well, which it so often isn't even among the scant examples. Bravo Vince!"

Storm: 

"Has a clear, distinct style, and conveys the meaning well. The shading can be cleaned up though."

Static: 

   +  The art style is expressive and well-suited to the piece!

   +  The stylization in Monika is haunting and unique, especially with the glowing eyes and doll-like setup.

   +  Smooth rendering, strong lighting and shading, and excellent composition.

   +  The dramatic use of glow and shadows adds dimension and depth to Monika, especially.

   +  Monika controlling the girls like dolls, a clear demonstration of the manipulation she does in game.

   +  Adding MC to the piece only enhances it, showing just how twisted her actions really are.
    - While fitting, the style could have a bit more texture and variation in linework to make it pop more

    - Some parts blend into each other 

    - The lack of stylization in the background.

    - MC could benefit from more detail, definition, or clarity, especially in the facial features, to match the rest of the piece. It loses impact compared to Monika's level of detail.

    - Monika's hand looks a little awkward because her index finger appears unusually long.

    - Her eyes looks crossed eyes.

"Overall, I love the creepy and horror of this piece. The work with the expressions here are exceptional. The lighting pops almost perfectly, just adding to the horror"

Satchley: 

                    + uniquely creepy style, especially the big glowing eyes of Monika

                    + dark shadowy silouette of Sayori really adds to the creepy style of the artwork

                    + characters match the background well in terms of color, perspective and lighting

                    + detailed shading with great light/shadow placement that guides the viewer through the artwork

                    + great attention to detail with little dolls of the other girls 

                    + well drawn expressions of characters, they convey their feelings clearly

                    + Monika mentally torturing Sayori by showing her her own death with the doll and her dead friends on the desk is a really interesting twist on the game

                    + I like how the artwork depicts Monika as the mastermind behind the deaths

                    - not stylizing/drawing the background

                    - the shading could've been done a bit more cleanly

"I love the creepy vibe of this artwork and Monika's evil smile/Sayori's horrified look. The artist did a great job with the shadow/light in the scene and creating a horror feeling"

Gubbey: 
                    + Use of colors and lighting is lovely. I like the way the sky almost blends with Sayori's hair.

                   + The soft rendering style fits well with the lighting and tone.

                   + Sayori is drawn expressively. Her eyes are are rendered beautifully as well.

  + A typical fanon Sayori scene given form competently. Time to battle her big evil depression and save the day!

                   - BG does not match the art style. Was this sourced from somewhere?

                   - Linework is jagged, as if done with a very large pixel brush, though this is clearly not meant to be pixel art.

                   - Flats also wander outside the linework or are incomplete in certain areas, like on the collar of Sayori's dress shirt or the hem of the orange       sweater vest.

"The artist shows clear understanding of lighting, composition, and overall aesthetic feel of a piece. The choice of color and how it blends together is genuinely lovely. Any problems with the piece boil down to artist inexperience and discomfort with digital media, both of which will get better with time and practice.

Keep it up!"

Storm: 

"Fair enough of a distinct style, the shading is a bit lacking, and the meaning other than Sayori crying is the only thing I could get from this."

Static: 

   +  Sayori's expression hits hard. The redness around her eyes, the tears, and her trembling mouth show the emotion perfectly.

   +  The colors are soft and pleasant to the eye, and the emotion takes center stage.

   +  The rendering creates a melancholic, dreamlike feel that works perfectly with the sunset lighting. 

   +  I love the extra lines and the variation of colors in her hair.

   +  This piece shows an emotional and bittersweet moment, conveying a lot without doing much.  

   +  The sorrow is evident and the viewer can feel the weight of her struggle easily.
    - The background appears to be a blurred stock rooftop image. While this can work stylistically, it contrasts with Sayori's more hand-drawn style. 

    - Shading lacks depth, especially in the hair and clothing, where it feels flat or overly airbrushed.

    - Some anatomy issues around the shoulders and neck.

"I love how the work itself focus on Sayori's emotions, the lightning only enhancing that feeling."

Satchley: 

                    + I love the expressive style, it conveys Sayori's emotions clearly

                    + I like how the artist conveyed Sayori's feelings really well through her expression, especially the eyes

                    + blending character and background well in terms of colors

                    + I love the hair shading with the different textures 

                    + beautifully chosen sunset colors, it creates a nice mood

                    + I really like the story behind the art and how they decided to convey it: "I personally like to think that mc found sayori at the school rooftop crying" 

                    - style of the background doesn't match character

                    - the diagonal line in the background that divides the image is a bit distracting. It's not clear to me if it's meant as a shadow

    - drawing outside the lineart here and there/overlapping lineart

"I like how this artwork really focuses on Sayori's emotions. It makes you stop and think about why she is crying, who she is seeing, why she is on a rooftop at sunset"

Gubbey: 
                    + A lovely, cute outfit. Very plausible in its charming simplicity.

                   + Linework is crisp, clean and smooth.

                   + Shading is also slick. I like that you account for her hair, as well.

                   + There's a bit of a style mismatch between the outfit and the base sprite. Your lines are thicker and the body shading is more dramatic. The sprite itself is also pretty old, though, and a mishmash of vanilla DDLC assets that isn't quite consistent itself, so I'm actually not gonna dock a point for this one.

  + The black skirt matches well with the sweater, however...

                   - ...an orange-brown top isn't the best choice paired with a red bow. If you want to keep the skirt black, consider switching to a cream or        white-colored sweater.

"An appealing outfit for a not-so-appealing sprite. I'm sure all four of the Sayonika fans will be thrilled. Jokes aside, it's a solid piece and I'd love to see more from you!"

Storm: 

"Replicated the OG DDLC artstyle fairly close, and cleaned up well."

Static: 

   +  The outfit has a modern vibe and does a good job replicating the OG game style and highlighting both sides of the characters!

   +  The rendering is well done, with the fabric folds resting naturally and realistically.

   +  The light direction is well done.

   +  I love how the clothing design fits both Sayori and Monika, which works perfectly for Sayonika!  
    - The shading doesn't quite match the original. It leans toward stronger colors, sharper brush strokes, and highlights.

    - Some parts of the top, especially near the folds, seem overly sharp. While the fabric texture isn't bad, it lacks consistent clarity regarding the specific fabric of the clothing.

    - Lack of lineweight.

"The outfit works for the fusion character very well!"

Satchley: 

                    + really cute idea to mix the design of Sayori's bow with that of Monika's

                    + nice vibrant colors and cute outfit design

                    + a mix of Sayori and Monika is a really cute idea, especially by showing that mix with the bow in her hair

                    - style difference between clothing and face/hair

                    - the shading of the clothing has a different quality compared to that of the hair/face

    - color spilling outside of the character/lineart

    - the direction of light feels a bit unclear in the clothing

    - clothing lineart has different thickness compared to that of the hair/face

"Love the fusion of Sayori's bow with Monika's! The clothing's shading and lineart could match the style of the hair/face a bit more"

Gubbey: 
                    + Very nice and very recognizably DDLC. Vibrant colors and perfectly stylized character designs.

                   + Nice background too. The plushies are cute.

                   + Multi-character compositions are difficult as all hell but you pulled it off.

                   + BG is simple, but just as polished as the characters.

  + No idea what the context to this scene is, but I can gather that we have two mean girls about to duke it out. Sick.

  + The three of the main girls seem mostly in-character: Natsuki annoyed, Yuri gently concerned, Sayori absent-minded. However... 

                   - ...I feel like their reactions are a little too understated given that these two might start duking it out every second. Again, IDK the context but this seems a little more serious than they're taking it.

                   - The strange pentagonal bokeh effect adds nothing to the scene. I used to overuse bokeh/anime bubbles too when I was less  confident in my ability to render and convey depth/detail in a scene, but you have no reason to feel this inadequacy. This piece would be stronger without it.

                   - There's a lack of movement and tension in all characters present. Natsuri looks like she's posing for a camera shot instead of violently jostling Satsuki. The only character that looks natural here is Natsuki - and that's just because she looks bored.

"One of the most technically impressive pieces in the whole contest. Five characters in one shot, all fully rendered, three with almost full-body compositions, and an original background. The sheer effort alone deserves an almost perfect score. Unfortunately, the lack of tension present in the characters despite the dire scene knocks it down a few points. Try studying anatomy in motion, pausing videos and whatnot."

Storm: 

"Replicated the OG DDLC artstyle fairly close, and cleaned up well."

Static: 

   +  The overall anime style is consistent and vibrant, matching DDLC's mood. The fusion characters are easily recognizable!

   +  Amazing job creating a multi-character composition, which is challenging! The background is simple but perfect, giving enough space for the characters to breathe and for the viewer to see clearly.

   +  Lighting effects (like the lens flare shapes) gives a really polished feeling, and the linework is very clean.

   +  The artwork clearly shows the implications of a fight, illustrating both sides and its one-sided nature. The expression work definitely demonstrates this!   
    - There are visible anatomy inconsistencies, especially in the hands (finger length/position), and the shoulder/neck proportions of Satsuki.

    - The pose seems weightless, and the arms and shoulders don’t clearly show tension or contact. Although the scene aims to evoke conflict, it falls slightly short because of this. 

    - The concept is so strong, but the expressions and posing could push it further. 

    - The plushies in the background add a charming touch, though they gently contrast with the serious tone of the main scene.

"The CG itself has a lot of detail and storytelling. It isn't easy to convey a story and emotion through the work alone. Amazing job!"

Satchley: 

                    + the style of the background matches the character's artstyle perfectly

                    + colors match DDLC artstyle well

                    + shading looks very clean and precise, has nice shadows, highlights and overall detail

                    + background perspective looks good and the detail with the furniture/doll is a nice touch that makes you want to look for more details

    + technically difficult to draw so many characters interacting in one image

                    + nice composition between background, middleground and foreground

                    + I don't know the lore/story of what happens in this CG, but I can tell that the artist put a lot of effort into relaying a story through the artwork. It looks like everything the characters are doing and the dolls in the background have a deeper meaning and purpose 

                    + depiction of OC creations (Natsuri and Sayosuki) in the foreground is really creative and adds a new spin and meaning to the character dynamics 

                    - the bokeh effect (pentagon shapes) overlayed on top feels a bit distracting and not clear enough of what it's meant to be

    - torsos of Yuri and Sayori feel too long/are a bit distracting

"Really nice CG that is full of purpose, detail and storytelling. It isn't easy to be able to convey a story through only one image, well done!"

Gubbey: 
                    + Very cute! The colors and lighting are sublime, vibrant, and full of lovely detail. 

                   + A great depiction of Sayori's "bottles." I love all the little golfball-sized suns inside them.

                   + Sayori's eyes.

                   + Crisp and consistent linework, subtle enough that it almost looks like a painting.

  + The rendering is lovely and greatly enhances the prevailing theme of light and sunshine. The addition of bloom effects on Sayori's legs really makes it feel like the sun is high in the sky.

  + It's Sayori. She's sunshine. She got them bottles o' sunshine. It's perfectly in-character, magical in how it's been rendered and seems to be a thoughtful gift for a friend.

                   - The perspective is strange if we consider Sayori and her bottles against the background. It looks like she's kneeling on an uphill incline - but if that's the case how are her bottles still upright?

                   - Sayori's pose is a little strange too. I hate the anime girl W sitting pose on principle, but she's somehow doing that and kneeling upright on her knees at the same time. If you want a better feminine sitting pose, I suggest the yokozuwari!

"If the last entry is the most technically impressive, I'd say this one is the most emotionally charged. If you're a fan of Sayori, you'll instantly recognize that look on her face - unconditional love, unreserved assurance, the bittersweet undercurrent that nobody will ever love her back as purely and freely as she does.

But go ahead and take some sunshine, anyway."

Storm: 

"Cleaned up well and distinct style."

Static: 

   +  Absolutely beautiful and amazingly close to DDLC's original art style, it captures Sayori's softness super well. Her bright, expressive eyes     and gentle blush are beautifully drawn. The shading is fantastic. 

   +  The line art and coloring are detailed, especially on the jars, bows, and highlights, giving the piece a painted look.

   +  The textures in the grass and clothes are really well done.

   +  The composition is perfect, fitting the meaning flawlessly!

   +  The jars look beautiful and meaningful in this piece. They glow and give a magical feeling of her happiness, just like in her poem. It's bittersweet; she tries to keep others happy despite her sadness. It's perfect.
    - The lighting is inconsistent. The light source is from the upper right, but shadows and highlights don't always match up. This makes her hair, outfit, and overall silhouette look out of place and less realistic.

    - The background and Sayori don't match perfectly. The background has an impressionistic style, while Sayori is sharply cel-shaded. This difference disrupts the visual flow.

    - Her torso and leg anatomy are off. Her knees and thighs look too long, especially given the perspective. Also, the position of her feet and legs next to the jars is a bit confusing. 

    - The background perspective doesn't match with Sayori's.

    - The clothing has too many folds. They look exaggerated and don't fit the body's position or weight. This makes the pose seem stiff, even though it should look relaxed.

"This artwork is absolutely gorgeous, from the art to the meaning. There is depth everywhere, and Sayori is portrayed perfectly here. 

She's a cutie pie."

Satchley: 

                    + beautiful vibrant and cute artstyle! Sayori looks very adorable

                    + very clean, precise lineart and shading

                    + a lot of attention to detail both in the character and background

                    + especially her eyes, face and hair look very well done and makes me want to keep looking at all the details

    + subtle blur in foreground, blue tinted shadows and luminous glow added to the jars and skirt are nice attention to detail and technical knowledge

                    + I don't know the deeper meaning behind this image/what is in the jars, but I can tell that the artist put a lot of effort and thought into it. It seems to be a meaningful gift for someone and I think the artist succeeded in conveying that.

                    - the perspective of Sayori doesn't fully match that of the background

    - grass blades being uniform/same size from foreground to background is a bit distracting

"Looking at this artwork makes me happy, it fits Sayori's personality perfectly! The artist did a really good job conveying sunshine and happiness."

Gubbey: 
                    + Exquisite. Very Dexter's Laboratory-coded. 

                   + Even though this is a complete departure from Satchley's anime DDLC style, every character is still recognizable - in both design and temperament. Monika is the bold leader; Sayori is the absent-minded curiosity; Yuri is the shy but serene, grounded anchor of the quartet, and Natsuki is mischievous and always flashing a wicked grin.

  + Not a single line out of place nor a single mistake in anatomy or posing...though admittedly the artstyle accounts for the latter two.

  + The artist even details some of the technical aspects utilized in order to keep the look faithful to what they're going for - halftones, worn animation cels, and so on. It's really impressive.

  + Even the stylized shape of their designs reflect their personalities. I'm not doing the thing where I list them out again but you can see it for yourself.

  + Not much to dissect here - it's just the four girls in an awesome art style, Monika leading, Sayori following, Yuri enduring their presence and Natsuki being a little shit. 

"Now I want to see them in motion. And Monika murdering them one by one like some shitty Spongebob creepypasta, except that's actually the show."

Storm: 

"Highly distinct cartoonish style."

Static: 

   +  Charming and cute, bold cartoon style that feels like it could be part of an animated series or printed comic. I love it! 

   +  The halftone texture gives a retro style. It's unique and beautiful! 

   +  Each girl is instantly recognizable despite the exaggerated features; the silhouettes, color choices, and accessories match their personalities perfectly. 

   +  Clean, confident line work and solid color blocking make the characters pop. 

   +  Excellent use of texture and shading, nothing on it feels out of place!

   +  The dynamic poses and facial expressions give each character personality perfectly, amazing job!

   +  is isn't a literal scene from the game, but it shows the group's chemistry perfectly. I really like it!
    - Natsuki’s head looks bigger than the others. This is a stylistic choice, but it makes the group look a bit unbalanced next to each other. 

"This artwork is incredibly unique and really pops. I can see it being used in animation easily."

Satchley: 

                    + amazing cartoon style that looks like straight out of a show. This high level of stylization is not easy to master

                    + the halftone print style is a very nice touch/stylistic choice

                    + crisp, precise lineart and coloring

                    + high quality halftone effect and paper textures

    + great attention to detail by making even the lineart look fuzzy/like it was drawn on a piece of paper

                    + the idea to depict the characters in this kind of western cartoon style is a really refreshing idea and it's fun to look at

"I love how unique and bold this artwork is, it really stands out. It feels like the characters are about to start moving and jumping straight out of a TV show!"

Gubbey: 
                    + Very DDLC. This actually feels like it could've been a CG for a lost Monika route.

                   + Wonderful POV shot. Intimate, close, smoldering with romance and longing.

  + Impeccable linework, crisp and faithful to the DDLC style with some allowance for the artist's own touch.

  + Monika ain't even my favorite, but you'd be hard-pressed to not get butterflies in your stomach when she looks at you like that.

  + You don't even need context to know what's going on here. The romance is unmistakable.

"Picture this: you're on a rooftop alone with Monika. After you two have a conversation about the nature of existence and what is and isn't considered "alive" she lies back on the asphalt to unwind and meditate on your perspective. You lay next to her because you're a pathetic little puppy that does everything she does. She opens her eyes, and gives you that look. And tells you: Yoooouuuu must bounce on iiiiiittttt. (rasping inhale) Crrrrrrraaaazy styyyyyle. (it's a good piece of art)"

Storm: 

"Stunning work, closely resembles DDLC artstyle than a distinct one, but still stunning nonetheless."

Static: 

   +  This artwork has a beautiful style with painterly shading. It closely matches the original DDLC art style but also has the artist's unique touch. It's gorgeous!

   +  The warmth in her skin tones and the glow of the lighting enhance the romantic tone of the piece. Perfect choice.

   +  The rendering is excellent, subtle gradients, soft shadows, and delicate highlights bring depth without overcomplicating the scene. Amazingly done.

   +  Her eyes are exceptionally well-done, they feel alive and slightly reflective, amazing touch.

   +  The sky and overall background are painted beautifully, with a soft blending style that complements Monika.

   +  Her pose, expression, and soft lighting show she feels vulnerable and connected, perfectly nailing the meaning for the piece. I love it!

    - Her shoulder area feels slightly simplified compared to the detail in her face. 

    - Her hair, while well-rendered, lacks some texture and individual strands; it reads more like a smooth block of color rather than soft hair.

    - The background perspective (fence/skyline) doesn't perfectly align with Monika's angle

    - A bit more shadow contrast on the side of her face could help show depth and lighting direction.

"This artwork somehow speaks a lot to me; it tells a story and evokes emotion without any words. Stunning work."

Satchley: 

                    + beautiful anime style with appealing colors. Love the contrast between Monika's warm toned hair and the cool toned blue sky

                    + interesting diagonal/tilted composition, it grabs your attention

                    + very nice color harmony, they work great together, especially the warm hair color of Monika vs the cool blue sky

                    + I like the blurriness of the rooftop, creating depth

    + adding desaturated colors to the shadows gives it nice depth

                    + interesting CG that looks like it would work great in a visual novel/alongside a story. It makes you wonder and think why Monika is laying on a rooftop and looking at the viewer

"The colors and depth of this artwork are a standout to me, it makes me want to know more about the scene!"

Gubbey: 
                    + Certainly a departure from the DDLC artstyle but a very welcome one. The characters are super expressive and distinct in their appearances.

                   +  I cannot express how gorgeous the coloring and constrast is in this composition - the greyness and faint light of the raincloud-covered sky against the attractive pink glow of the vending machines. Even the characters themselves are drawn with warmer colors than their surroundings.

  + This is once again a multi-character composition, and they all have dynamic poses and expressions to boot. The main focus is on Monika and Sayori, with Natsuki and Yuri providing background flavor.

  + The vending machines, signs, canopies and the hint of sakura trees in the upper left corner all combine wonderfully to make this feel like a real, lived-in Japanese city downtown.

  + Even Sayori's light novel cover has a detailed scene on it

  + It's just an ordinary day interrupted by a sudden downpour. This scene perfectly captures that spirit of nostalgic adolescent whimsy.

  + The dynamic here is sweet - Monika giving Sayori a piggyback ride through the rain; Natsuki being annoyed at their antics; Yuri being the group's quiet caretaker, buying everyone drinks (probably packed with vitamin C in case anyone gets a cold).

"I've already said most of what I want to say in the preceding sections, but this is just a gorgeous piece that I have no complaints on. It's sweet, it's nostalgic, and it's so very human. Humanity is at the core of what makes art great, and it's what made DDLC great."

Storm: 

"Unique artstyle with clear precise shapes, cleaned up well."

Static: 

   +  The art style is playful, cute, yet detailed, balancing stylization with realism. The soft gradients and line work fit the warm, it's perfect for this piece!

   +  Expressions and body language are wonderful; Monika’s amused smile, Sayori's wide-eyed surprise, Yuri’s quiet focus and Natsuki’s annoyed posture all show their personalities.

   +  Excellent background work, the vending machines, awning, street signs, and reflections on the ground make the scene feel grounded in a real place outside the club.

   +  Lighting and color harmony are handled beautifully, muted tones in the background make the characters pop, and the rain effect blends naturally.

   +  It's heartwarming; it speaks for itself. I love it!

    - The rain streaks are perfect, but the droplets on clothing could be slightly more visible for added realism.

    - Sayori's legs look a bit short for her body, but it’s a very small difference and subtle.

    - Monika's chest area anatomy feels a bit off compared to the perspective.

"This artwork speaks for itself! It's heartwarming and wholesome, offering a refreshing break from all the horror and sadness, with a lot of attention to detail. Great job!"

Satchley: 

                    + interesting stylization of characters, it looks unique and very expressive

                    + amazing composition between Monika/Sayori in foreground (warm colors, brighter, sharper) and Yuri/Natsuki in background (cool colors, darker, blurry)

                    + I love the rainy day mood, it's conveyed very well through the desaturated colors and transports you into the artwork

    + nice, harmonic color choices. Balances saturated vs desatured colors well

                    + I love how many details are in this artwork, it makes me want to keep looking at it and discover more. Especially the background, vending machines and book Sayori is holding

                    + I like the subtle chromatic aberration here and there

                    +  interesting looking poses and movement

                    + amazing and effective storytelling through only one image. You can tell the artist had a plan/story in mind while drawing this and every aspect of this artwork looks like it has purpose

    +  I love the different interactions between the girls and how it makes you want to come up with your own story for it

"Amazing illustration that is really great at storytelling while also looking beautiful and packed with detail and intention!"

Gubbey: 
                    + Very cool! While simplistic, it has a clean and consistent cel-shaded style.

                   +  The sharp lines and shading of Yuri and the BG contrast very nicely with the soft lighting coming from the window. 

  + Lines are crisp, smooth and confident. This artist knows their style well.

  + The use of bloom enhances the ethereal beauty of Yuri that the artist wishes to invoke.

  + Yuri is in her element in the library. This piece captures Yuri's grace and confidence - yes, *confidence* - when she is in an environment she finds herself able to navigate. This art understands that Yuri is a creature of grace - she isn't always a stammering, nervous, timid wreck.

  - The books are a little flat compared to Yuri herself. There's no shading on them aside from the ambient lighting overlays.

"A fine piece of art dedicated to the best girl. No pretense, no frills, just Yuri being unapologetically Yuri. Good stuff."

Storm: 

"Clear style with simplistic shapes, but lacks meaning."

Static: 

   +  The flat, cell-shaded style gives it a clean, poster-like look. While simple, it's clear and minimalistic, catching the viewer's attention!

   +  The use of large, clean color blocks is executed very well. No uneven edges; the shapes are confident and sharp!

   +  Strong silhouette and readable pose from a distance.

   +  Color harmony is spot on! Purples, oranges, and warm pinks blend into a beautiful palette.

   +  The choice to avoid excessive detail helps the elegance stand out without distraction.

   +  The library setting is perfect for Yuri.

   +  The lighting and mood make it easy to visualize a scene played out.

    - Background lack perspective alignment with the scene, which makes the shelves feel flat compared to Yuri.

    - The anatomy is slightly stiff, the elbow bend and arm position look a bit unnatural.

"This artwork did a fantastic job in capturing Yuri's character, and the background and atmosphere only add more to that."

Satchley: 

                    + beautiful flat style. Looks like it's cut out of paper

                    + I like how clean, precise and geometric all the shapes are

                    + beautiful sunset lighting and mood. The library being dark and in the shadows looks intriguingly mysterious

    + I like the simple geometric shadows and highlights

                    + harmonic and pleasant looking color palette

                    + I like how the artist overlayed shadow/light gradients on top of the character. Makes the character feel well integrated into the scene

                    +  the library setting fits Yuri very well

                    + the mysterious mood really adds to the scene and makes you feel like there is a deeper story behind Yuri being in a dark library at sunset

     - the composition of the scene and Yuri's pose feel a bit too static/symmetric

"The artist captured Yuri's character well and drew a very fitting background/scene for her. The intention of expressing Yuri's elegance and delicacy comes across clearly"

Gubbey: 
                    + Highly stylized interpretations of each character. Still feels "anime" but with a very unique style that rejects uniformity.

                   +  I love the different poses of the girls who are all tangled in the red string in different ways - Sayori and Natsuki around the neck, and Yuri through the heart. The different expressions also sell it.

  +Sayori's isolation from the group is a smart visual reference. 

  + The bright red strings draw the viewer's eye, standing out against the darkness before guiding them through all the horrible things in the background and Monika herself.

  + As mentioned in Style, smart placement of the girls to reflect narrative.

  + The use of "red string theory" imagery is smart and shows the artist's ability to use visuals to convey narrative. Using real-world philosphical and spiritual concepts is very useful visual shorthand leveraged excellently here. I encourage artists and writers both to do this kind of research.

  - Monika's airbrushed rendering feels incomplete. It breaks immersion when it's obvious a specific brush was used. It needs to be smoothed out like it is on the other girls.

  - While the others are excellently posed, Sayori feels too stiff and upright rather than limp and dangling.

"Two horror-based pieces among the nineteen valid submissions, and both are absolute bangers. Both also happen to convey the same moment from the vanilla game but with very different interpretations and atmospheres. This piece's only failings are some visual and technical oddities that can be fixed with a little time and polish. What the artist has made here is already nothing less than stellar, though."

Storm: 

"Distinct style with good substance."

Static: 

   +  Fantastic horror atmosphere; the strings, blood, and controlled composition work perfectly!

   +  The red string motif is well integrated into the design. It guides the eye smoothly from one character to the next, and back to Monika. I love this detail!

   +  Monika is in the center, which makes her the main focus. The background is dark, so nothing distracts from her. Perfect!

   +  The muted colors and bright red strings create a strong visual and symbolic contrast.

   +  Good line work with careful placement of each character that helps the overall focus and theme.

   +  The depth of the concept is perfect! Incorporating the Red String Theory into Monika’s manipulation narrative is brilliant.

   + “She Loves You” echoing through her obsession, even more so with her expressive work!

    - Some rendering is too airbrushed, which slightly flattens the image in places (Monika's chest and arms especially).

    - The light source is a bit unclear.

    -Sayori's pose is stiff, not quite selling the limpness her ""situation"" implies.

    - The characters' perspectives are not aligned with one another.

" I can't express enough how much I love the meaning behind this artwork. It's such a creative idea, and it was depicted perfectly! Amazing job!"

Satchley: 

                    + interesting semi-realistic artstyle that fits the dark atmosphere of the artwork very well

                    + I like how the lighting guides the viewer through the artwork. First you look at Monika in the spotlight and then notice the dark things happening in the shadows of the background

                    + nicely chosen color palette: Monika with warm tones and the dark scene behind in desaturated/cool tones

    + I love how much thought was put into the meaning behind this artwork with the "Red String Theory"

                    + the artist captured their intended meaning very well with the red string, composition and character's expressions!

     - the shading spills out of the lineart here and there

     - the direction of light doesn't feel clear enough

     - not drawing a background, I believe it's the ingame background (?)

     - the perspective of the characters doesn't feel cohesive in parts

"I really like the creepy atmosphere of this piece and how the artist depicted Monika being the mastermind behind all the girl's deaths"

Gubbey: 
                    + The style is very similar to vanilla DDLC in terms of how its shading is done.

                   +  I respect the concept and actually would use a higher quality version of these sprites. Let the girls breathe!!

  - It's very easy to see where the edits begin and end, especially on Yuri. From afar it looks okay but the more you zoom the more apparent it becomes, striped on like paint without a smooth gradient.

"It's easy to imagine why the sprites were originally drawn that way, but some of us prefer realism and modesty. The market is there!"

Storm: 

"It is a simple edit of the sprites."

Static: 

   +  The edit looks very similar to DDLC.

   +  Making the blazer less tight is an amazing idea, these girls need to breathe! Good job!

    - The shading on the edit could be smoother. You can see where the edit begins, not blending as smoothly.

" The idea and edit are simple but good. The blending and shading could be smoother, but overall, it's well done."

Satchley: 

                    + captured the DDLC style in the edit well

                    + I think making the blazers look less tight is a great idea and something I would've done as well if I had drawn the sprites today!

     - The shading on the edit could be smoother. You can see where the edit begins, not blending as smoothly.

"Great edit idea, but the execution could've been done a bit more cleanly to blend with the existing sprites more"

Gubbey: 
                    +  So creative!!! Casual Natsuki looks great as an N64 character.

                   +   Since we never actually see Casual Natsuki below the skirt in vanilla DDLC, that means the artist had to improvise and come up with her shoes and socks. Cool stuff!

                    +  The cat cupcakes are ultra cute too.

                   +   I really have no complaints in terms of quality, especially since 3D modeling isn't my area of expertise. It looks fantastic and that's all I have.

                    +  It's a cute sprite of cute Natsuki with a cute cupcake. It looks great and that's all it's trying to do.

  - That said, it seems a little desaturated compared to the equivalent sprite. Maybe it's purposeful, but I consider it a downgrade.

"It'd be so sick to have a trippy sequence in a DDLC mod where everything changes to N64 graphics for a while. Really leverage the meta horror angle to be as surreal and unexpected as possible. Hell, even the sprite itself looks like it could've come out of Fears to Fathom or a Chilla's Art game."

Storm: 

"Good low poly model, stellar work all around."

Static: 

   +  The style choice appears intentional, with a charmingly blocky design that evokes a retro/early 3D game aesthetic. I really love it!

   +  Clean mesh work for a low-poly model, no noticeable clipping or broken geometry from these views.

   +  Proportions are stylized but consistent, which works for this particular aesthetic.

   +  Textures are simple but effective, small details like the bow pattern on her head and shirt matters!

   +  It can be easily included in a DDLC-inspired game or animation without making it unrecognizable.

    - While charming, the blocky shape can look a bit messy in places like the hair. It could use a little more shape without losing its simple charm.

    - Some edges, particularly around the skirt and hair, could be cleaner or more deliberate in shape.

"I love the idea of low poly models for the girls, and the artist did super well with Natsuki here! I would love to see more of this artist work!"

Satchley: 

                    + great low-poly 3D style, would look amazing in a 3D version of DDLC!

                    + I like that the artist included a character sheet that showcases the model from different angles

                    + great attention to detail, it looks like Natsuki in character design, outfit, facial expression, pose, proportions etc

                    + Love the low-poly 3D model idea and how it could be used in a game

     - I think it would look even better if the shadow color had more saturation/color to it. It looks a bit gray (which would work for a horror game though!)

"Amazing low-poly 3D rendition of Natsuki! Would be really fun to see the other girls in this style too. The 3D model of her cupcake is a really cute bonus"

Gubbey: 
                    + Simple but clean. A cartoonish, expressive art style with sharp rendering and crisp lines.

                   +  I like how the neck ribbon is drawn. It looks like a moth!

                    + It's just Yuri giving us a big ol' smile. Aww.

  - Lack of shading on the neck ribbon's strings. Line art also has inconsistent thickness and continuity - the lines of the collar do not pass under the ribbon's strings on the left side (our left) and Yuri's front hair strands vary in terms of line thickness along the same lines.

"A cute portrait of Yuri. Simple, wholesome, and with a little polish it can truly shine like the edge of a knife."

Storm: 

"Simple bust picture, but good work all around."

Static: 

   + I love the stylization! It's the first time I've seen the ribbon drawn with this shape and style, great job!

   + Simple but works perfectly for a portrait!

    - Yuri's hairclip is horizontal, not vertical. I'm unsure if it's a stylish choice.

    - The collar ribbon doesn't have shading or color.

"Simple, but a really cute and unique portrait with beautiful color and art style!"

Satchley: 

                    + Very unique style, I like the stylization of the eyes, nose, blush and collar ribbon especially

                    + Accurate colors to the original from the game!

     - Yuri's hairclip is normally horizontal instead of vertical - I don't know if this was intentional by the artist though

     - Missing shading in the collar ribbon

     - Lineart/shading feels a bit hesitant and unsure

     -  I don't know if there is a deeper meaning, other than this being a very cute portrait

"Very cute portrait of Yuri with nice colors and style!"

Gubbey: 
                    +  Breathtaking!! The soft lines, warm colors and lovely character renditions all combine into a universally-appealing anime-style look.

                   +  Background is superbly detailed, even if it's blurred.

                    +  The artist superbly conveys a sense of motion with how the characters are posed and their fabric flows. It feels like we're capturing a candid moment rather than a careful pose

                    +  Background is beautiful and adds to the cosy, homey atmosphere this piece conveys.

                   +  Lighting is immaculate. The soft orange sunset atmosphere and the blooming light it casts upon the characters is done to perfection.

                    +  Whether this conveys a blooming romance or a gentle affirmation of friendship, there's no mistaking the tenderness and warmth that this piece exudes. It feels like a warm, safe hug.

"While it doesn't quite match the DDLC art style, it'd be lovely to see in a mod someday, especially if it utilizes the sense of depth in this piece with parallax movement. As a standalone work of art, it is like Natsuki's cookies: warm, sweet, wholesome. Tastes like love and care."

Storm: 

"Very clean, high quality pictures, I am astonished by my very lack of complain."

Static: 

   + Absolutely nails the DDLC CG aesthetic, clean anime lines, soft gradient shading, and vivid color palettes. Could easily be a CG for the original game!

   + Clean line art, excellent anatomy for Sayori, and strong control of lighting and depth of field (background blur is well executed).

   + The background is beautiful!

   + The warm sunlight streaming in creates a cozy, storybook feel. Beautiful atmosphere!

   + Clothing folds and shading are handled with a lot of care and attention.

   + Everything has so much attention to detail, it's impressive!

   + Although the meaning is unknown, I can see that it's very sweet. The artwork speaks for itself, and no explanation is needed.

   + Feels like a slice-of-life scene right before an important story beat.

    - The OC's pose, especially the arm and shoulder, feels a bit stiff, and the torso twist doesn't flow naturally with the leg position.

    - The OC's head positioning feels slightly off in perspective compared to the rest of the body.

"Simply a beautiful piece. The attention to detail and rendering is fascinating. Stunning."

Satchley: 

                    + beautiful anime style with pleasant atmospheric colors!

                    + I love the shading style (switching between sharp rendering & blurring)

                    + This looks like it could be a game CG, everything about this is done with a lot of attention to detail and care!

                    + Amazing background art

                    + Artist created great atmosphere with the lighting. It looks like the golden hour before the sun sets

                    + I love the movement in this piece and how the fabric is folding/moving with the characters

                    + I don't know the context of this piece, but just looking at it makes me imagine what the meaning behind it could be. The artist conveyed a story in just one image, which isn't easy to do!

     - Personally I would've left the plant on the left without blur, just to help divide the image into foreground, middleground and background better

"Beautiful illustration full of detail, meaning, amazing shading and movement! It's fun to look at all the details"

Gubbey: 
                    + Lovely anime style with soft but vibrant colors and detailed eyes.

                   +  Soft rendering looks great on Sayori. Shading feels more like a gradient with no hard lines between shades.

                    + The tears are rendered well and very distinctive upon her cheeks.

                    + A lovely and tender scene, intimate and touching. It's lovely how much Sayori seems to trust and adore MC at this moment.

                   + Now that Sayori's FAT ASS isn't obscuring the view, we can take in the gorgeous, smooth lines and lovingly rendered lighting of this fanciful background. It's beautiful!

                    + Pink-colored grass doesn't actually exist (at least not in Japan) so I'll call this a very pretty suspension of disbelief

                    +  Effective framing of the composition. The deck, trees, ocean and sunset all form distinctive layers that guide the viewer's eyes across the scene. 

                   + Very good lighting radiating from the sunset. The shadows cast by both the deck rail and the trees create mesmerizing visuals.

                    + Sublime attention to detail.

                    + A serene and faintly otherworldly environment, well-suited to romantic and poetic scenes.

  - Sayori's hand is comically tiny. I get that she's an anime girl, but geeeez

  - Not enough is done to make Sayori distinct from the background. Either blur it or darken her since the light is coming from behind.

  - The perspective is VERY skewed the further we go to the left. Unless there's some kind of fisheye thing going on, it would not look that dramatic.

"The style here is great and lovely to look at. If the scene that accompanies it is sufficiently well written, many tears would flow. And in the next scene, Sayori goes to the pharmacy to pick up antidepressants... and hand growth hormones."

"With some fixes to the screwy POV, this background would be a fantastic addition to any Japan-based VN. Add gentle ocean sound effects and a SnowBlossom effect with sakura petals and you will have an immaculate atmosphere."

Storm: 

"Clean artwork with no apparent mistakes that glare you in the eye."

"It is simply a background used in the previous submission, but it is a good artwork."

Static: 

   + A soft, romantic anime look that suits Sayori’s character. Works beautifully!

   + Clean linework and consistent coloring style, the piece is polished and readable.

   + The warm pink tones of the scene harmonize well with Sayori’s color palette.

   + Though not entirely clear, it appears to be a sweet moment between Sayori and MC, with the cherry blossoms and sunset adding to the scene.

   + Works perfectly as a background for both the CG and a BG by itself.

   + Gorgeous color harmony! The pink blossoms, warm sunlight, and pastel tones create a dreamlike, romantic mood.

   + Ocean and sky colors blend well, with a serene gradient from the horizon.

   + I love the addition of the shadows on the walkway.

   + The composition guides the viewer's eye along the path toward the sunset, which effectively frames a scene.

   + This is a calm, beautiful place for emotional and romantic moments. It's perfect for Sayori and MC.

    - The light is behind Sayori, so she should be in more shadow, especially on her face, hair, and torso. Currently, she looks pasted onto the background instead of blending in.

    - Some shading in her hair and inside her collar is missing, making parts look flat compared to the rest.

    - The anatomy is off. The hand is too small, stiff, and lacks a curve. The top of the head should be rounder to match the skull. The mouth and jaw are placed too low, making the face look unnaturally long.

    - The railing and deck don't quite align with the vanishing point, making them look slightly skewed compared to the rest of the scene.

    - The shadows on the railing are nice, but the tree shadows need to look more natural. They should follow the shape of the trunks, not just go straight down.

    - Grass texture is flat and lacks depth, more shading and variation in tone would give it dimension.

    - The trees' bark shading could be more detailed to separate them from the sunlight behind.

    - The ocean texture feels too simple compared to the detail in the trees.

"The atmosphere and setting is done very well in here, the meaning for the CG only makes it better!"

"Well done background, could easily be in a game!"

Satchley: 

                    + I like the anime style and shading in the eyes and hair

                    + I really like how the artist blended the shadows and shine in her hair

                    + Nice colors and rendered tears

                    + Beautiful romantic scene between MC and Sayori! Makes me wonder what Sayori could be saying to MC 

                    + I can see this working really well in a visual novel

                    + Great attention to detail

                    + I like how the sunset light is casting shadows on the walkway

                    + Because this background has MC and Sayori in it in the other version, I think the artist did a really good job choosing this setting for a romantic scene!

     -  I think with the light source being behind her, Sayori's shading should be darker to really make her part of the scene

     - The anatomy needs a bit more work (Sayori's hand being too small, the top/back of her head needing to be rounder and her mouth/jaw being too low)

     - Shading missing in hair piece on her forehead and on the inside of her collar

     -  I think it would be even more impactful if the shadows in the trees were stronger to better differentiate them from each other

     - The grass infront of the trees should also be cast in shadow

     -  The perspective feels a bit skewed

"Love the setting and meaning behind this illustration! It looks like it could be a CG in a visual novel"

"Very well done, detailed background for a romantic scene!"

Gubbey: 
                    +  Like what I said above: soft but vibrant colors, detailed eyes, anime AF.

                   +   Also what I said above: Soft rendering looks great on Sayori... and the eyes are detailed.

                    +  Has Sayori graduated, or is she simply eating out at a fancy restaurant? No idea, but she wears it well.

  - However, it feels like this might be an older piece than "Sayori CG." Her outfit lacks depth and detail with only minimal fabric wrinkling.

  - The background is extremely simplistic. Flat, and lacks rendering and distinctiveness.

"This piece has potential but needs to be polished up with some more detail and rendering, particularly in Sayori's clothes and the background. I'd also like it if Sayori was a bit more expressive - that muted smile really doesn't tell me much, and since it's a bust-high portrait it's all we really have to work with. I wish Sayori all the best in the adult world!"

Storm: 

"No glaring mistakes, clean artwork sending it's message across clearly, that is Sayori's has graduated in a single attempt, this is sensational."

Static: 

   +  The art soft shading style gives her a tender, gentle look, fitting Sayori's personality. Cute!

   +  The blending of the hair and eyes is really smooth and makes them pop perfectly.

   +  The evening sky smoothly changes from purple to pink, and the stars quietly come into view while the sun is setting.

   +  The scene suggests a vital milestone in Sayori’s life. It's cute!

   +  The combination of cap and bow is a cute touch that keeps her recognizable while showing she's moving forward in life.

    - Anatomy is slightly off; the shoulder slope is uneven and doesn’t align with the collarbone, and the nose is positioned too high despite her head being tilted downward.

    - The colors are too dull, causing the background and Sayori to blend together accidentally.

    - Background appears flat.

    - Shadows are muddy and a bit hard to see, especially on the face and neck, which makes the lighting unclear.

"A touching artwork for Sayori done super well with a sweet meaning. Good job!"

Satchley: 

                    + Cute anime style

                    + Nice rimlight from the sunset behind her

                    + I like how the artist paid attention to the stars slowly appearing as the sun sets

                    + I don't know the meaning but judging by the graduation cap and building in the background, is this maybe depicting a scene in the evening of her graduation day together with MC? Very interesting and cute idea

     - Anatomy needs a bit more work (collarbone too far apart, nose too high up, mouth/jaw too far done)

     - Shadows feel a bit too muddy/gray in parts, choosing a slightly more saturated color especially in the skin and hair would work better

     - The background feels a bit flat and without perspective

"Nice Sayori focused illustration with interesting setting/meaning behind it!"

Gubbey: 
                    +  Fantastic. I am so ready for love and literature on the Sega Genesis.

                   +    I love how each of their expressions conveys their personality - Sayori's bright smile, Monika's lidded eyes of knowing, Yuri's awkwardly pursed lips and Natsuki's gremlin grin.

                    +  And it's even better in motion. Go check it out on the site!!

                    +  I don't know much about the technical aspects of pixel art - I know people limit themselves by colors and stuff like that. I just know that I like what I see and the Dokis are presented perfectly like this.

                   + And it MOOOOOVVVVES!!!

                   - Not really a deeper meaning here. It's the Dokis, they're retro now, and Monika's going to be even worse at programming in assembly.

"I'd like to imagine different "statuses" for each of the portraits, like they're characters in an RPG. Bruised and bloody while injured, sick and green when poisoned, enraged when... enraged. I dunno. All I know is that I want more pixel Dokis!"

Storm: 

"I love the style and quality, but it is a simple headshot."

Static: 

   +  Stunning pixel art style, the animation is fantastic as well!

   +  The whole piece is clean and consistent!

   +  Beautiful and smooth animation!

   +  Wonderful color choice. Although vibrant, it's soft enough to be pleasant to the eye.

   +  Although there's no visible meaning, it is a clear portrait of all the dokis. Saying enough for itself.

"All the artworks are stunning. I'm impressed by how the artist animated this so smoothly and how the art style is so captivating. Amazing job!"

Satchley: 

                    + amazing pixel artstyle with great looking animation

                    + looks like it could be in a visual novel/game

                    + the lineart and shading look very clean and precise, which isn't easy to do with a pixel artstyle

                    + added points for the nice animation

                    + overall has a very high quality and polished look

                    + beautiful shading and color choices

     - I don't know if there is a deeper meaning, other than these being very well done character portraits

"It's so much fun to look at these pixel art portraits of the girls! It's a refreshing artstyle and the animation really sells it"

Gubbey - "Hi. It's me, Gubbey. Thank you all so much for participating in 2025's Doki Doki Creatives event. Any criticism I have given here has been done so in the spirit of genuinely wanting to give what little advice I can to help you improve. I have seen nineteen works of art here all of which someone out there put their all into creating. And you did it because you wanted to make something to share with the world. That is always worth something. You are always worth something. Any work of art, woven with the artist's soul and sincerity, has a reason to exist. I have seen plenty of that as I judged each of these. Thank you again. It's been my absolute pleasure."

Static - "I want to say something from the heart: while I've been judging each artwork one by one, every single piece here is truly special in its own way. Each of you put time, creativity, and love into your work, and that's something worth celebrating far beyond points or rankings!

 I'm genuinely rooting for every artist who shared a part of themselves in this contest, and I hope you all feel proud of what you've created! Good luck, everyone!"

Satchley - "I wish I could give all submissions full points, they are all great in their own ways! But in the spirit of this being a contest, I had to be a bit nitpicky/critical 🙏Amazing artworks by everyone and I'm always impressed by how creative and talented this community is!"