2 3 Animation & Illustration Senior Project 2025 Cyber Heart By Hannah Nasby 

Cyber Heart First Edition By Hannah Nasby 

6 7 Contents Origins......................................................4 World Development Synopsis.......................................8 Map................................................9 The Cipher Skyline Ruins................................12 Inside the Cipher.........................14 Characters C-Era.............................................18 Ri-El...............................................24 Code of Terminal Hearts......................30 Antagonist Jade...............................................32 Illustration Process..............................34 Closing......................................................36 

8 9 Origins & Early Development Cyber Heart began as a high school short story assignment written in 2017. It developed again through my accidental time in computer science and information system classes back in 2021. These classes led me to develop a curiosity about technology and AI. I became intrigued by the idea of technology controlling our lives and the concept of being brainwashed in a twisted reality. It was then, in 2021, that I laid the groundwork for Cyber Heart’s narrative, forming its core themes before any characters existed. Early on in 2024, the characters and plot twists grew in ways I hadn’t imagined, evolving into fully developed figures with fleshed out stories. Cyber Heart has allowed me to dive into the aesthetics of technical skills, machines, and code—areas I likely never would’ve gotten a chance to explore otherwise. The story weaves together themes of human emotion, identity, free will, hope, and romance that are juxtaposed against a futuristic, technology dominated world filled with mystery, conflict, puzzles, grand landscapes, various biomes, and fearsome monsters. It explores the extent of forgiveness and the dangers of letting technology consume us as the characters regain emotions they’ve been conditioned to fear. Emotions are painful, sometimes we wish they didn’t exist. C-Era’s story explores just how important those emotions are anyways. This book and these characters are inspired by the people I met, books I’ve read, and video games I loved. Inspired originally by The Maze Runner, and later influenced by Portal 2 and Xenoblade, Cyber Heart carries a strong cyberpunk and video game element seen within the puzzles of the Cipher, the character’s weapons, and their journey around the continent. Jade and C-Era: First Sketches Spring 2024 First Version of Cyndris Map Outfit Concept C-Era First Painting of C-Era Colony & Cipher Symbol Concept 

10 World Development 

12 13 Story Development In the post apocalyptic world of Cyndris, a continent surrounded by sea, six crumbling cities encircle a mysterious complex. The “Cipher”. The inhabitants, an array of humans and creatures whose lives are deeply intertwined with technology, remain unaware of the hidden forces of evil pulling the strings in their lives. Every trace of memory within the population is wiped clean, as if their pasts never existed. These sinister forces, referred to as The Lemniscate Order, secretly manipulate the inhabitants as though pawns by suppressing their emotions, erasing their memories, and living off their energy. The fallen dystopia is marked by a massive crater that is filled with a dense fog and an array of monsters and beasts. Like the tide, this fog ebbs and expands with a will of its own and occasionally threatens colonial safety when it rises above the crater walls. Aside from the Cipher, the crater is littered with The Skyline Ruins and various debris from a civilization long destroyed and forgotten. The radioactive ruins remain as a haunting reminder of the war that destroyed society long ago. C-Era, the latest amnesiac to awaken in this chaotic society, finds herself in the wrong territory. Ravenstone. Completely unaware of her identity, she is immediately confronted by threats from the outer environment and the insides of her new home. After gaining allies and information, she journeys the land seeking out the other colonies. She will solve deadly puzzles within the complex of the Cipher to uncover the truth and put an end to the fight for survival. As C-Era dives deeper into the Cipher’s underground “Crypto Chambers”, she and her companions begin to reclaim the fragments of their forgotten past. These newfound emotions, truth, and memories threaten to break them apart. The overpowered Lemniscate Order won’t allow their world to be dismantled. They will stop at nothing to eradicate any aggression toward the system of their world. Faced with an impossible choice, C-Era confronts her past- a truth so complex it threatens to unravel everything they know. Synopsis Colony Biomes in the Outer Region ▷ Ravenstone: a dry and mountainous desert with blinding dust storms ▷ Virdelion: a hot sunny forest filled with praries, plenty of fresh water ▷ Kafira: a pale green forest with moss hanging from trees, mild climate ▷ Solara: three tropical islands, a few volcanoes are scattered throughout ▷ Virelok: barren lands, packed with exposed stone and cold temperatures ▷ Glacium: a frozen mountain range, with frigid temperatures and pine trees 

14 15 The Cipher 

Skyline Ruins & Crater Long ago, a cataclysmic conflict shattered human civilization, leading to its collapse and twisted reconstruction under the Lemniscate Order, a manipulative, power hungry syndicate lurk- ing in the shadows of reality on their own existential plane. The Cyndris crater and Skyline Ruins serve as evidence of this violent history. This post-apocalyptic area harbors an array of destroyed skyscrapers overgrown by plants and wildlife. The fog sea that lingers here hosts an array of fearsome monsters, hybrids of flesh and technology, and fog beasts, a unique race of creatures likened to demons fused with machines. The fog beasts rarely venture beyond the veil of the fog within the crater, moving in sync with it’s shifting tides and striking without warning. The average colonist avoids the Skyline ruins entirely, only venturing in with a group when water is scarce in their own territory. The most courageous individuals delve deeper into the ruins, towards the center, tasked not only with scavenging resources but also with gathering intelligence on The Cipher itself. 16 17 

Ciphernetic Proxylith Unit “The Cipher” At the heart of Cyndris lies The Cipher, a colossal, labyrinth-like tower with an extensive underground structure. Originally built by Tempest, one of the early Lemniscate leaders, The Cipher now functions as a central force- funneling the world’s energy, containing its most dangerous enti- ties, and concealing truths long buried. It drives the inhabitants into a relentless struggle for surviv- al. The tower’s vast underground complex stretches miles down and holds fragments of lost data and various dangerous experiments. The Ciphernetic Proxylithic Unit directly references the CPU of a computer. Its title combines elements of code, hidden messages, feedback, machinery, and systems of control that make up a unit designed by a higher power. Despite its futuristic appearance, The Cipher is an ancient building directly tied to the Lemniscate Order implanting a system of code to control the world and all its inhabitants. Each colony is driven by the promise of regaining their lost memories and identities if they reach the top of the Cipher. Fueled by this hope, many enter the labyrinthine tower, prepared to face deadly creatures, ancient guardians, and mind-bending puzzles that await around and within the complex. However, unknown to them, the truth is more sinister—the system is administrator blocked, meaning no one can truly escape or reclaim their memories, no matter how far they climb. 18 19 

20 21 Characters 

23 22 C-Era “Cierra” The Girl Who Walks with Lightning Although her past is unknown due to amnesia. She is renowned across Cyndris for her unique bond with electricity and her ingenious problem-solving skills. Cyan electricity courses through her veins and signature blade, Arcbyte, that allow her to blast through enemies with unmatched power and speed. Since C-Era can wield electricity, some colonists believe she holds the key to the Cipher’s deepest secrets, a force capable of ending all suffering in their apocalyptic world—while others whisper she might be the cause of it all. Despite the uncertainty surrounding her true nature, she is ever determined to uncover the truth of her past—and create a better future for the colonies of Cyndris. 

24 25 Character Development C-Era the main character of Cyber Heart, was the hardest to design. Although her narrative and dual nature remained solid, I struggled a long time with her face. She needed to have the strength of a main protagonist and harbor the capacity for both good and evil in her character. Her brazen and sharp personality drive the story forward and support her natural intellect. C-Era’s final design was inspired by a few characters from the Xenoblade Chronicles Series. However, I took additional inspiration from Taylor Swift’s “Ready For It” music video and many other visuals online. The triangle hair clip and shirt cut-out in C-Era’s final design echo the sharp angles of The Cipher. Her stark white hair distinguishes her, giving her an air of otherworldliness that make her less natural. Her unique affinity with electricity, firstly cyan and then later pink, comes from within her body. This power causes her eyes to blaze with an intense glow when she pushes beyond her limits and, when drained of her energy, causes temporary blindness and leaves her eyes a faded gray. Her power regenerates over time or can be jump-started by siphoning electricity from other sources. This ability links her to the foundation and creation of The Cipher. C-Era “Cierra” In the harsh desert colony of Ravenstone, a white-haired young woman named C-Era awakens with no memory of who she is. Fierce, quick-witted, and guided by a deep sense of justice, she doesn’t hesitate to challenge powerful forces that stand in her way. With her sharp intellect and formidable power, she quickly earns the respect—and fear—of those around her. With unfamiliar faces at every turn, C-Era must learn to navigate the treacherous landscape and make sense of the chaotic world around her. “Careful with your next move- I don’t just play the game, I rewrite the rules.” Signature Ability: Voltarion Havoc C-Era Moodboard 

26 27 A sleek and lethal blade forged from a unique metal alloy, Arcbyte crackles while delivering arcs of energy with each strike. Both elegant and destructive, its power is as mysterious as its wielder. Arcbyte’s Blade 

28 29 Ri-El “Rhy-el” The Flame-Bound Defender Ri-El is a dual amputee with two advanced robotic arms. Most of the time, he doesn’t miss his human arms as the metal ones help him disconnect from any pain- ful emotions. However, he prefers not to talk about his arms, often wearing gloves to feel more human and to blend in with the other members of his colony when he’s not out leading missions. Beneath his armored exterior, those who encounter Ri-El recognize his dedication to the safety of Ravenstone through his unwavering service and compassionate leadership. Ri-El remains constantly vigilant for any fogbeast threats or attacks from other colonies, maintaining a keen awareness of any unusual events. The unexpected arrival of C-Era immediately arouses his suspicion, prompting him to take the responsibility of monitoring her carefully once she awakens. 

30 31 Character Development Ri-El began as a simple character with little impact on the story, but I soon realized he needed more depth. Originally, I envisioned him as a bulky, armored fighter wielding a shield and blade, but I kept gravitating toward a slimmer, more agile aesthetic while integrating the complexity of his robotic arms into the design. To accommodate this, I reimagined him as a complex character that carries the weight of his past (sym- bolized by his robotic arms). He fights for his colony and seeks justice for the pain he’s endured after learning the truth of his past: being experimented on by Jade, Tempest, and the Lemniscate Order that control Cyndris. Ri-El’s fighting spirit, robotic arms, and initially bitter demeanor became integral to his design as his character arc became more than just about discovering his identity and protecting his colony, Over the course of the story, his character gradually shifts toward a softer side, shedding his constant guardedness— especially during his time with C-Era. Ri-El is C-Era’s complement, with warm colors that contrast her cooler tones. His jacket helps him blend in and seem more approachable, hiding his mechanical arms when he wants to. In combat however, he often elects for his cape instead, giving him the ability to fully utilize the strength of his arms. Although, he never takes off his gloves, they make him feel more human. Ri-El is one of four Ravenstone captains based in the earthy, dry desert of Cyndris. He is widely respected for his strength and defensive fighting style. He is equipped with two advanced robotic arms and a large blade, powered by a fiery violet gem, that he uses to devastate his opponents in flame. Though his power is undeniable, the mystery of his lost memories linger, pushing him to fight not only for his colony but also for the truth of his own identity. Ri-El “Rhy-el” Signature Ability: Molten Annihilation Ri-El Moodboard “You make me feel...you make me feel,” he said quietly, fiercely, “and I don’t like it. I want it to stop. Now” 

32 33 Volcanic-X A large, heavy titanium blade that delivers crushing blows. The Volcanic-X is fueled by a violent gem embedded in the blade, funneling flame energy through a pipe along its side, allowing the weapon to incinerate its surroundings. The blade’s surface glows orange like molten when activated, radiating an intense heat that scorches the ground with each swing. When Ri-El needs speed instead of strength, he opts for the Violet Gauntlets, a shorter blade that attaches to his mechanical arms, the purple energy slicing through enemies with speed and precison leaving behind violet sparks upon strike. Weapon Alternative: Violet Gauntlets 

34 35 

36 37 “Every system has its flaws, darling. Lucky for you, I’m here to correct yours- whether you survive or not.” Verdigris: Blade of the Neurogrid Hailing from the obscure Lemniscate Order, Jade is a vicious Ryzaari leader who defends the corrupt nature of Cyndris. He is one of the “system gods” that distort the citizen’s memory and life- continuously maintaining it to control his power and immortality. His terrifying speed and strength, developed from decades of practice, make him formidable on the battlefield. Unlike the common inhabitants of Cyndris, Jade has full memory of his past, and he refuses to let go of C-Era. Jade Antagonist Signature Ability: Quantum Zenith Jade’s signature blade, Verdigris, accentuates his sharp edge, allowing for greater power and precision. He devastates opponents with green blasts or slices them apart with his intense energy. Though powerful, he can be emotionally unstable and possessive which often lead to miscalculated actions. Most of the time, he watches from the shadows, silent and unknown, gaining life from the code of reality. Jade will only interfere if the system of Cyndris is threatened, or he has a score to settle with his personal life. 

38 39 1. Ideation 2. Rough Line 3. Line 4. Flat Colors 5. Shadow Pass 6. Light Pass 7. Clean-Up + Final Touches Process: Cover Illustration 

40 41 Closing The journey into C-Era’s world has only just begun. The Cipher, cloaked by the tide of fog, harbors countless secrets yet to be revealed. The conflict among the inhabitants has been redirected, the colonies struggling to survive. Who is the real enemy? Only the depths of the Cipher can tell them. At the story climax, Ri-El uncovers the truth behind his robotic arms and C-Era begins to unravel the chaos of her past. She faces a choice: seek redemption by healing Cyndris, or fall back into the comfort of former ties. Ri-El will fight for Ravenstone. Jade will defend his system. Where will C-Era’s loyalties lie? Or will she choose to walk her own path? To Be Continued... 

“To all of the worlds that exist, and to all that have yet to be discovered” Thank you Lord for letting me meet these characters and learn from their journey. Though they came from my hand, these characters are so obviously yours, not mine. May we continue to create for your glory as we tell stories of light overcoming darkness.  In Jesus name, Amen 

No content