How a Simple Frog Turned Into a Wizard with a Purpose

Not every project starts with a big concept or deep meaning. Sometimes, it just starts because you want to model something—something fun, simple, and satisfying. That’s exactly how this one began. I just wanted to make something in 3D that wouldn’t stress me out. Something light I could play with in my free time.

That’s how Froggo was born.

Starting with Simplicity

The goal was straight forward: create a simple, stylized design that would be easy to model. I started browsing concept art online for inspiration, and somewhere in that scroll, I found the spark. I kept it basic on purpose—clean geometry, simple textures. The idea was never to overcomplicate it.

Once I got the model done and gave him a little wave (after rigging, of course), I noticed something. This frog had character. He wasn’t just a model anymore—he had presence.

Enter: The Scooter Era

So naturally, the next logical step was to give him a scooter. Don’t ask why—it just felt right.

I modeled the scooter, threw Froggo on it, rendered the scene quickly, and posted it to one of my social channels. The feedback was fun and positive, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the character had more to say. The scooter was fun, sure, but it didn’t feel like his final form.

So I scrapped it.

Froggo the Apprentice Wizard

After a little thinking, the idea hit me: a wizard hat.

Something about this frog just said “magical side quest,” and the wizard vibe clicked right away. I modeled the hat, then thought: well, if he’s got a hat, he needs a staff. If he’s got a staff, he probably needs a cape.

So I gave him all of it. And that’s when Froggo really stepped into his role.

Bringing the Spell to Life

I posed him like he was casting a spell, and for the spell itself, I went with bubbles—soft, glowing, magical. They fit his vibe. Not too serious, but still purposeful. 

In the lore I’m slowly building, these bubbles are part of a low-level water-based purification spell. They clean the air and anything they touch. A spell from the School of Water, subtle and useful, especially for a frog who wanders into all sorts of environments.

That decision helped everything else fall into place. Suddenly this wasn’t just a fun little scene—it was a character with a role, a goal, a spell, and a story.

Froggo casting Cleansing Bubbles

Finding the Right Space

The last thing I realized was that something still felt off. That’s when it hit me: Where is Froggo? What kind of space would this version of him belong in?

That’s when I built the dungeon tunnel.

Using PBR-based textures and lighting, I created an underground hallway—a little moody, a little magical. I tweaked the textures and placed light sources just off-screen, like torches or magical ambient lighting. Then I lit the spell itself to match, balancing it all to create an atmosphere that felt lived-in and believable.

A path already taken.

Looking Back on the Build

This wasn’t a planned-out masterpiece. It was something I figured out as I went, layer by layer. Modeling, rigging, posing, texturing, lighting—each step pulled out more of Froggo’s personality. By the end of it, I wasn’t just building a model. I was building Froggo, the spell-casting frog who’s out exploring dungeons and quietly making the world a cleaner, safer place one bubble at a time.