Zhang Hanzhi

Hi! I’m Hanzhi, a 2D artist based in Espoo, Finland.
I focus on creating fun, clear, and engaging game experiences, using bold, bright colors to bring playful, cartoon-style designs to life.

CV About Itch.io

Concept Art & 2D Art

→ Follies (#Character #environment)
→ Absinthe Tails (#Character #environment)
→ Thoughts Out! (#Character)
→ #Cookie Jar (#Board game)
→ Expires (#Pixel Art)
→ Game Jam (#Character #Environment )

2022

01. Follies

Follies is a solo project, inspired by Stephen Sondheim's musical of the same name.
The story follows two couples as they return to a long-abandoned theatre for one final reunion.

My role:

Concept Art (Character & Environment)

Game Design

_{Itch.io: https://soupsfactory.itch.io/absinthe-tail}

Character Design

This work aims to highlight the similarities and differences between the two girls in their youth and old age.
Once shining on stage, their souls now linger like ghosts in the decaying theater.

I drew inspiration from women's fashion trends of the past century, designing outfits that reflect each character's personality and highlight their distinctive style traits.

Environment Art

I used photos of real-life theaters from the last century to create a captivating but destroyed stage for the game.
It is a festivity among ruins.

Challenge

For me, creating distinct differences between different characters is challenging, but making the same character across different stages of their life is even more difficult.

I designed the character silhouettes based on their features, ensuring that the visual language remained consistent. Only then did I focus on designing the detailed costumes.

In terms of 3D rendering, I experimented with hand-painted textures and achieved high-contrast color rendering through strategic lighting.

2023

02. Absinthe Tails

Absinthe Tails is a multi-ending puzzle game developed by a team of 7 in 3-mouth.
Players need to search for clues within images, chats, and sounds.

My role:

Concept Art (Character & Environment)

2D/3D Art

UI Design

Game Design

_{Itch.io: https://soupsfactory.itch.io/absinthe-tail}

Concept Art

The protagonist's desk is the most important setting in the game. I wanted to create the image of a disheveled, alcoholic detective, with the space feeling dark and chaotic.

Game Art

To echo the signature green of absinthe, the game’s visuals are dominated by green tones, creating a slightly intoxicating and surreal atmosphere.

Challenge

The image is divided into 9 sections, and players need to zoom in on each section to search for clues. The composition of the images became crucial.

I built 10 scenes in Blender, 3D made it very easy to adjust the camera, rendered it and then refined it in Photoshop. Finally finished 10 images in a relatively short time.

2023

03. Thoughts Out!

"Thoughts Out!" is a 3D platformer game developed by a team of 9 members in 3-mouth.
The story follows an office worker who, tired of the job, escapes into a daydream,
only to find that the problems from work continue to haunt her/him even in the dream.

My role:

Concept Art (Character )

2D/3D Art

UI Design

Narrative Design

_{Itch.io: https://ssssand.itch.io/thoughts-out}

Character Design

To create a clear distinction between the real-world characters and those in the fantasy world, I designed the fantasy character as a small frog who could perfect fit in a jungle environment, complementing the act of jumping.

Challenge

This was my first 3D project, and it made me realize that designing 3D characters is a completely different process from designing 2D ones. It requires a spatial mindset to ensure the character looks appealing and coherent from every angle.

The real challenge began after the design was completed. While working with the 3D modeler to refine the model and finish texture painting, I had to simplify the design, enhance key features, and retain the design’s standout elements—all under tight time constraints.

Additionally, I explored a gender-neutral character design, as the feeling of being "tired of work" is a universal experience that resonates with everyone. In the end, I was able to bring to life a character that I’m truly proud of.

2022

#Cookie Jar

#Cookie Jar is a solo project where 5 players come together to form a girl idol group.
They compete in various idol activities to win the support of fans, the most popular member will be the winner.

My role:

2D Art

Game Design

2022

Expires

My role:

2D Art

Animation

Game Design

Programming

2023

Game Jam

My role:

2D Art