Pauprint Studio launched its new open-world collection RPG Animo on September 16. One of the core hooks involves exploring a sprawling continent and rounding up mysterious creatures known as Animo. There are over 200 species of Animo waiting in the wild, and you can capture them simply by tossing an Anipod. Once secured, you can transform directly into these creatures to fight, climb, fly, and swim your way across every nook and cranny of the field.

Naturally, your first impression of the game will heavily depend on the Animo you manage to bag. Examining the roster, the most striking feature is undeniably the plush, fluffy, and downright luscious fur rendering. Many models draw inspiration from heavy-coated mammals like wolves, foxes, bears, sheep, and squirrels, alongside charmingly feathered avian types. Even those lacking a full coat manage to catch the eye with fluffy mufflers, delicate helmet trims, or accented head and tail feathers.

The fur detailing itself is remarkably meticulous. You can visually distinguish the sturdy guard hairs maintaining that bushy exterior, the soft yet dense undercoats keeping the creatures warm and snug, the sleek strands whipping around smooth heads, and finely split feathers. It looks decent enough from afar, but pulling the camera in for a closer inspection reveals a level of hair rendering that genuinely exceeds expectations.

▲ Even among Animo based on traditionally hairless creatures like crustaceans, amphibians, and reptiles, you can still feel the design philosophy pushing hard for that soft and fluffy aesthetic. Early-game Yeondaengmori sports a velvety lotus leaf atop its head, while the excavation expert Digcrab wears a soft patch of grass. Boomtailizard, exuding pure rock spirit, rocks an upright crest as its trademark. Twinklecho, evoking a butterfly, grows a progressively richer neck ruff with each evolution, showcasing just how far the developers are willing to take their affection for fluff.

▲ Plant-based Animo swap out fur for lush stems and foliage. Leaves polished by sunlight deliver a uniquely smooth finish, and some even sport oversized floral crowns to make a statement. By crafting helmet ornaments out of reeds to match the botanical theme, the developers managed to maintain aesthetic consistency while dialing up the finer details for players to appreciate.

Beyond these, you will run into plenty of other distinct Animo showing off their own flair, such as Clamstar with a night sky unfolding inside its shell, Fullcrab featuring glittering sand effects, and blazing spirits like Fwog and Flickerflame that look like they are burning from head to toe. Moving past mere cute or cool exteriors, the game thrives on detailed touches that reward closer observation. It is a clear testament to the tender loving care the development team poured into polishing every single asset.