This gouache and ink illustration from tonight features Koda from Disney’s Brother Bear if he existed in the world of Zootopia. I'm fascinated by depicting him with a more robust, 'roly-poly' physique, a stark contrast to the small, slender cub he was in the movie. Our formerly slender brown bear is messily enjoying a chocolate ice cream cone on the sidewalk outside the Jumbeaux’s Café, the treat even getting onto his Gazelle t-shirt with each satisfied slurp. Kenai’s definitely going to have a hard time getting his adoptive brother’s clothes washed! This piece was inspired by pondering what Koda would look like in universes where animals lived and acted like people. Since bears likely don't hibernate in that world, I imagine him chubby year-round and always wearing t-shirts and shorts. The artistic choice to make him robust is rooted in emotional storytelling and design appeal: it visually symbolizes abundance, safety, and thriving emotional health after his difficult past (the loss of his mother). Emphasizing his volume also maximizes the 'cuteness' factor (baby schema) and implies potential for fun, bouncy physical comedy.