# Cute Chibi Monsters with a Retro Pixel LoRA Our wolf monster from the last post looked like it came from a different game than the Sprute characters. The characters are small chibi sprites; the wolf was a detailed digital painting. This time we tried to make monsters in a style that sits next to them. ## The model Scenario hosts a FLUX.1 Dev LoRA called **Flux Retro Aesthetics**, described as "a Flux.1 LoRA for retro pixel art visuals". We looked for it on Replicate, Hugging Face, Civitai and Tensor.Art and found no copy, so for now it only runs on Scenario. Every image here is FLUX.1 Dev with that LoRA at 0.75, 28 steps, guidance 3.5, 1104x832. ## Round 1: the model's own prompt style Scenario's prompt helper suggested wording like "vibrant saturated palette, intricate dithered pixel details, crisp readable silhouettes, classic 16-bit RPG aesthetic". We used that for eight monsters: ```text Retro pixel art of a {monster}, a single full-body video game enemy standing in three-quarter view, centered on a plain white background. Vibrant saturated palette, intricate dithered pixel details, crisp readable silhouette, classic 16-bit RPG aesthetic. ``` ![Round 1, all eight](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/d2446dd9-b0b3-4f47-90da-22d452131b5c.png) Nice pixel art, but too HD for Sprute: realistic proportions, lots of detail. The slime came out as an octopus, and the mushroom as a person wearing a mushroom hat. ![wolf](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/306a66ce-f47a-41c8-9b98-54db183dc11d.png) ![slime](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/94d7935b-2ee4-4d42-af02-f547df8c8c9f.png) ![goblin](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/d141090c-589c-402d-9ee7-f8d0d746af82.png) ![skeleton](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/ca43ece9-32bf-467e-988c-979553b65f47.png) ![bat](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/a8abffc8-598e-46f8-899e-b78168950ed3.png) ![mushroom](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/3baeeefd-850f-44d5-b996-5a853e043c16.png) ![dragon](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/e5779560-585b-485f-a8c4-ef2d0d5b1518.png) ![golem](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/2a326fd2-3b6e-4d55-bac6-04d040ce1be7.png) ## Round 2: low-res chibi We asked for chibi proportions, chunky pixels and a small palette, facing lower right like the characters: ```text Low-resolution retro pixel art sprite of a cute chibi {monster}, big head and tiny body, a single full-body video game enemy standing in three-quarter view facing lower right, centered on a plain white background. 64x64 sprite scaled up, chunky large pixels, limited 16-color palette, simple flat shading, thin dark outline, crisp readable silhouette, classic SNES RPG overworld sprite. ``` 18 monsters, two seeds each. Here they all are next to four Sprute characters (red names), scaled to the same 128 px cell: ![All 36 next to Sprute characters](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/51b602e6-e916-4e5f-81a0-4282e9e6b024.png) ## The shortlist Twelve that look like they belong in the same game as the characters: ![Shortlist next to Sprute characters](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/9337434d-ba39-4df0-8d90-088e593e4119.png) Slime, bat, dragon, imp, skeleton, mushroom, frog, fire spirit, golem, orc, wolf and beetle. ## Every result **Bat.** Both cute. The first reads more as a round critter than a bat; the second keeps the wings. ![bat 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/16938d12-fd28-4aaf-b9bf-443dec6ec9c7.png) ![bat 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/b6f4c42b-6223-4390-9a7a-ea2cad4016d3.png) **Beetle.** The first is a crawling beetle seen from the front. The second stands up and fits better next to the characters. ![beetle 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/980702de-fe0b-404b-80e7-948cb017e549.png) ![beetle 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/82b75bc1-56bb-40b8-906b-e79bc9abf5af.png) **Dragon.** Both are good. Clean outlines, big eyes, small wings. ![dragon 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/8dedf8d4-cb6d-4d28-bd67-e5184191955f.png) ![dragon 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/ebf187ad-c802-4f1c-8073-dd0d5901ae0e.png) **Fire.** The first lost its face in the flames and grew a stray blue critter. The second is a keeper. ![fire 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/f6bffd35-3ea5-456a-a5db-e758cf9d90fb.png) ![fire 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/2ac9af7f-9ee5-4c80-8935-74bcca6b4ca5.png) **Frog.** The first is tiny and half off-model. The second, with its leaf sprout and torch-like spear, fits well. ![frog 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/9ca6fb98-f6b0-41fd-b0bc-00603038a8b3.png) ![frog 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/e3137954-be06-433c-b7d2-1badab10c60f.png) **Ghost.** Both came out tiny, a few pixels tall in a big empty canvas. Needs another try. ![ghost 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/75cfc40b-a3a0-42ac-ba2a-8b3254f5d247.png) ![ghost 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/ce3b4370-0cf7-44f6-a9d8-0bbcee1924f8.png) **Goblin.** Cute, but neither is green: the model drew elf-eared kids. The prompt needs "green skin". ![goblin 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/fe67c858-2fd1-4dc9-9fad-3047154f1890.png) ![goblin 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/76672f86-6486-4481-901c-3b0d0fc65476.png) **Golem.** The first, a blocky rune golem, fits. The second is heavier and less cute. ![golem 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/60be1ce2-ba60-4a4a-8719-d39f18af20a4.png) ![golem 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/09f5ab9f-4d8c-46e1-9e12-c5732b153abe.png) **Imp.** The first faces the right way and reads instantly. The second is seen from behind. ![imp 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/66d7ffe0-358c-45b1-8344-95b2549e0e97.png) ![imp 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/570a469d-4732-4f03-8a03-242dbd48bf9b.png) **Mimic.** Neither is a treasure chest. The model drew mouths and tongues without the box. ![mimic 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/23900545-dc70-4193-a9c1-44101daaa9ef.png) ![mimic 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/155406b1-b384-4cb2-a235-17928b9c5ff5.png) **Mushroom.** The first is a naked figure seen from behind. The second, with a baby mushroom beside it, is a keeper. ![mushroom 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/12404074-0e39-4e6d-8a0c-5c53303c819c.png) ![mushroom 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/57844f67-4d71-42c8-8146-21e97a48bfce.png) **Orc.** Both work. The first is softer and closer to the characters. ![orc 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/4acb2327-8670-47ce-9e56-799b13a98a6f.png) ![orc 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/d4b7e9c0-6235-4c4d-af43-3aa1d3986b5c.png) **Rat.** Realistic rather than chibi, and the second is tiny with a watermark-like smudge in the corner. ![rat 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/cdbb3b12-207c-414a-8ca8-4ad3616b377d.png) ![rat 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/1a3e6760-4c17-4970-955c-be27afdbe9a2.png) **Skeleton.** Both are good chibi skeletons. The second is the one we kept. ![skeleton 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/b46a468e-42e4-496e-bb5a-83e9fd09c01c.png) ![skeleton 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/4be968a8-4f23-4a98-84e2-454270f13230.png) **Slime.** Both work. The second, sitting on a patch of grass, is the cutest thing in the batch. ![slime 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/c5290cbc-4fe6-4bb8-92b5-4ad8aa2ad036.png) ![slime 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/27e7f738-7836-4583-9801-195b6238af55.png) **Spider.** Fuzzy, but too big and too dark to sit next to the characters. ![spider 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/846922ea-2acc-436e-8a7c-0218031c97a4.png) ![spider 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/f856313a-0ddb-4a12-b791-fc5f8f56035a.png) **Sprout.** Neither is cute: one is a leafy bush on legs, the other a grumpy plant goblin. ![sprout 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/a7f6f13e-158b-4ace-bc91-289924fb1314.png) ![sprout 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/01085708-e900-4eca-882f-ec4f5bf6839d.png) **Wolf.** The first has a broken face. The second, standing upright, is a keeper. ![wolf 1](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/7122db51-c1fb-4d45-83a0-49fe027c122f.png) ![wolf 2](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/682665f051e3d254b7cd5062/4c6b5675-b2b8-4485-8dd4-30cc3c7be882.png) ## Cost 9 credits per image in round 1 and 17 per pair in round 2: 72 + 306 = 378 credits for 44 images. ## Next steps - Retry the ghost, goblin (with green skin) and mimic (as a chest). - Compare with an open LoRA, prithivMLmods/Retro-Pixel-Flux-LoRA, on our own GPU. - Turn the shortlist into four-direction sheets and animate them with Sprute. ‒ Sprited Dev 🐛