Jess Bianchi x Summoner
16th May 2025
TDF’s Jess Bianchi is renowned for her ethereal, anime-inspired depictions of fantastical beings and women warriors. She was the obvious choice to give Summoner gaming studio's typically brutalist aesthetic a new direction.
Tasked with an open brief around Summoner's wolf shadow puppet logo, Jess Bianchi created her first ever black and white piece, drawing inspiration from the all-female Japanese manga artist group CLAMP to stage a priestess who summons a demonic wolf.
Mystical elements weave throughout the monochrome narrative, meticulously crafted with assistance from animator Mariana Diaz. Layered with shadow puppetry and morphing bodies, the piece asks where shadow ends and the body begins, with rich textures that feel both ancient and contemporary.
The approach paid off. Through skilled attention to silhouette and negative space, the piece casts subtle hints at Summoner's future directions.
“We were drawn to Jess' character-driven style and knew it would translate beautifully into our darker aesthetic,” said Summoner. “The collaboration was a joy – her creativity and craft pushed the project into unexpected and exciting territory.”
Obsessed? See more of Jess’ work here.
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