A most impressive display: Behind the latest Lunar New Year skins
Lunar New Year is a special time to pay homage to times past while celebrating the hope for a better future. This year is no exception for Overwatch as we look forward to the Year of the Tiger, and honor the beast symbolic for courage, respect, and momentous changes yet to come.
Lead concept artist David Kang and concept artist Tim Guo personified these symbols in their creative visions for the latest Legendary skins: Seolbim Mercy and Nezha Tracer.
Kang began the ideation for Seolbim Mercy by attempting to portray themes like beauty, grace, and royalty. One of Kang’s top priorities was to create a skin that honored Korean culture and Lunar New Year. “We are really proud of the Hanbok—a traditional Korean dress,” says Kang. “We wanted to create a Hanbok gown that would have been worn by royalty or for people of higher status.” The concept art team worked closely with our teammates in Korea to make Mercy’s Hanbok feel both realistic and authentic.
When asked about his favorite elements of the skin, Kang replied, "I really like the sharp contrast between her Eastern-influenced hair and the Western features in her original hero design. I also enjoyed adding details to her weapons to make them feel both royal and true to Korean culture.”
The most challenging parts of the skin to design were also the most rewarding for Kang to work on. “Every time I work on a Lunar New Year skin for Korea, the most difficult part is representing and doing justice to another culture,” says Kang. “As a Korean-American, I feel a huge sense of pride working on Lunar New Year skins.” The finalized skin is an elegant tribute from Kang and the Overwatch team to an equally beautiful holiday and culture.
Nezha Tracer was created by concept artist Tim Guo
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