From first sketch to final pixel – by hand.
From first sketch to final pixel – by hand.
I grew up watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the 90s, and the Party Wagon was always one of my favorite parts of that world – radical, playful and a little absurd. Today, though, it feels dated. My goal: keep the attitude and the fun, but give it a modern design language that reads as one coherent vehicle rather than a van with parts bolted on.
Kowaboom started as sketches and paintovers in Photoshop, built around a modern, bus-inspired silhouette. Over roughly two years I kept jumping between 2D and 3D – sketching, building, spotting what didn’t work and going back to the drawing board.
The Turtles live in the face: headlights with a determined, slightly aggressive look, a front graphic inspired by the wide, pinched grin of the 90s cartoon, and a round shell-armor element up front.
Proportion was the biggest one. Early versions carried skateboards on the roof and drifted into soft, rounded shapes – losing the clear, boxy volume that made the original work. Finding that box again with modern surfacing took several rounds.
The spoiler was the other turning point: instead of an add-on, I integrated it into the rear fenders, so the back reads as one designed form rather than a kitbash.
( 01 · Coming soon )
The storyboard is done. In an upcoming video I’ll play the frames in sequence – with every sound effect made by myself. The full animation follows in Unreal Engine.
Video coming soon
( 02 · Reservations open )
Hand-finished 3D print in two sizes – Pocket €20 · Collector €220. Produced only if enough people are in. Reserve now: free, no obligation.
Reserve your Kowaboom →
