#TFWLB

[jukebox-arts]

Bet you can’t guess what game series I really like rn

[asavt]

I've been feeling a little more down these past few days, and motivation hasn't exactly been very high... I ended up doing some practice with Hollow from Imaginary Friend Asylum! I like to draw her, is very fun.

[parasour]

Marco Polo‼️

Haiii, I'm alive!! I love this silly game so much, Marco and Polo are my favs! Drew these when the game came out but never posted them here

Y'all should definitely watch Imaginary Friend Asylum it's such a cool game and suuuuper underrated!!

[sharkov]

Polo and niccolo would absolutely swear in italian considering niccolo swore in the game (he said shit) (btw the translation may not be right) che cagna.. = what a bitch.. accurato = accurate

[cinderacequeen]

I get very emotionally attached to father and paternal figure characters who are/become overprotective of the kid(s) under their guardianship.

I feel like Pooky will always see Annabelle like this no matter how old she gets 🥺

[nighttime-imagination-ifa]

Does Anthony have an imaginary friend too?

Niccolo: "The other friends love her though, especially Polo. Those two get along great."

Annabelle: "She even gets along with Pooky!"

[gooberminator]

a lil polo break from artfight 🫶

i love him so much and im super excited for imaginary friend institution to come out!!!

[taki-is-an-artist]

Can we see Polo? (He's my favorite he's so silly)

Polo: "I swear sometimes I believe my existence here is merely for this dehumanizing humor.."

Niccolo: "It's not Polo.. we've been over this."

Polo: "THEN STOP CALLING ME GAY!"

Edward: "Then stop acting like your so happy and dramatic!"

The children find entertainment in picking on each other and their friends, and nobody is safe from it. Especially not Polo.

((OOC: I had so much fun with this little shitpost, and this is a friendly reminder ALL the imaginary friends and ALL children can be asked questions as well!!))

[cartooemcanhis]

ifa chaos

[catdof456832acdb]

Thought I would try another Polo pose. What do yall think?

[sillybolgggg]

SILLY SCRIBBLES LETS GO

[jukebox-arts]

I’m a menace with too much power. Been making stickers of IFA in the server, comedic one liners courtesy of @quilandscroll being hilarious, and also reminding me of the Cosmind sticker pack I have (bottom two)

[insemzandtaya]

I’m a huge fan of the games The Friends We Left Behind and Imaginary Friend Asylum. There’s just something appealing to me about the concept of humans having monster companions. In a lot of ways, the bond between child and imaginary friend reminded me of the Digimon franchise—which simultaneously made me adore the Friends We Left Behind world even more while also making me curious about what Digimon the imaginary friends may best translate to.

Here’s my personal thoughts, but if you’re a fan of both franchises, feel free to make your own list/s and tag me in it!

—————

When the protagonist first comes to the asylum, he meets Niccolò Galo and Polo.

Despite Polo’s humble demeanor in the above concept art, he is depicted as flamboyant, pompous, and outspoken. His design is also loosely based off a 1600s entertainer. Jokermon immediately came to mind until I remember the existence of Fakemon. It has all the spirit of Jokermon but shares more physical features with Polo, including the mask, cape, and drama masks.

—————

Next up is Edward Bennett’s friend, Twistee.

While it’s never expressly stated that Twistee is part plant, his coloration and texture immediately brought to mind images of plants. Ajatarmon felt like a perfect fit, not just for the coloration but for its flexible body and the inclusion of a mask in its design. While Twistee is friendlier than most Ajatarmon, the visual similarities couldn’t be overlooked.

—————

Tommy Bennett and his friend, Smudge, are the youngest residents at the asylum.

Smudge is an artist at heart, and he uses his drawings to express himself. I went back and forth between Bacomon and Omekamon for a while before ultimately settling on the latter, not only for color-matching purposes but also for the fact that both love drawing and both wear drawn-on faces.

—————

Pete Gustavo and Marco are the newest residents at the asylum, so very little is known about them.

Marco may have been the most difficult for me to find a Digimon counterpart to. Though I thought of him as a sentient doll, the Wiki describes him as “fishlike,” and his dialogue consists of little more than pirate puns. When disregarding his appearance altogether and focusing on his behavior in both games, I was left with a gruff creature that spent a lot of time in or around water and consistently had a pirate motif. Piranimon fit the best to me, but other Digimon like Hookmon, MarineChimariamon, and Mermaimon were also considered.

—————

The first character the protagonist meets from the girl’s ward is Annabelle Walker and her friend, Pooky.

Despite resembling a jester, Pooky is anything but comedic. He is fiercely protective of his human and is known for going to extreme lengths to keep her safe. He also has a strong affinity with fire. I went back and forth between Phelesmon, NeoDevimon, and SkullSatamon for a while, but I ultimately settled on the Phelesmon for visual and symbolic reasons.

—————

Momo Akane’s friend, Pixie, is characterized best in The Friends We Left Behind.

Pixie craves attention and loves singing. Other than this, the only thing we know about her is the fact that she sports a “lolita punk” aesthetic. To my knowledge, there are no Digimon that marry the popstar concept with Pixie’s highly stylized design choice. LovelyAngemon was the closest match, especially when compared to the some other options.

—————

Charlotte Weaver is a shy girl who likes making dolls with her friend, Dolly.

There is no doubt in my mind that young Charlotte would have a Dressmon partner if she lived in the digital world. Both Dolly and Dressmon are patchwork dolls stuck with sewing pins. While other Digimon may have more visual similarities to Dolly, few (if any) manage to capture the sewing theme as well as Dressmon.

—————

[MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!!]

Last but not least is the protagonist himself, Anthony Rivers, and his elusive imaginary friend, Hollow.

Hollow is no where to be seen in The Friends We Left Behind, and she only appears in the second half of Imaginary Friend Asylum. However, she plays a crucial role in both games’ overarching plots. Her clockwork-porcelain-angel design is unique, but I feel Quantumon captures some of Hollow’s more notable features and shares her ability to rewrite history.

[wanderingmoonflower]

Who up imagining they friends?

Okay, real talk though, I've been absolutely OBSESSED with Imaginary Friend Asylum and The Friends We Left Behind (patiently waiting for Imaginary Friend Institution). The designs for the friends are all so unique and colorful and they're full of life and I love each of them

I did make this for a playlist cover, but I love it too much not to share. There's also an alt version without the pink overlay under the cut

edit: i forgot pooky's wings :(

Personally though I prefer the overlay, makes it look more dreamy (even though it turns Hollow completely pink)

[sharkov]

(its so fucking blurry) a contribution for this fandom anyways a bit of a spoiler for ending

[cinderacequeen]

JK, Pook has absolutely zero remorse…and he'll do it again if it means keeping his Annabelle safe 💥_💥 🔥