Khalia and Deimos:
New Avatars of the Collection
New Avatars of the Collection
I promised three new avatars in December...
"Didn't quite work out": ended up with two — Khalia and Deimos.
Not because I made them specifically for the Year of the Horse — they've been in my sketches for over a year now. Like this:
Not because I made them specifically for the Year of the Horse — they've been in my sketches for over a year now. Like this:
Had to postpone the third avatar for later — probably will show it in January 2026
Khalia and Deimos: The Jokers of the Collection — Company for Shiva
Meet: the 9th and 10th characters. Both belong to the "Joker" class — truly unconventional characters for businesses that unconventionally solve unconventional problems
Khalia — a cyber-centauress with a mobile,
Deimos — a golden cyber-horse-cowboy with a revolver.
Deimos — a golden cyber-horse-cowboy with a revolver.
Khalia: The Guide For... (Let everyone fill in their own "marketing swear words")
Khalia was created for situations when your user is confused, in a stupor, or "zoned out" on your resource — be it a landing page, an email, or a bot. She appears as a guide, grabbing attention with her unusual appearance and holding it in a death grip: try not to watch through what she's saying when she pops up in front of your eyes (in a pop-up or a bot, for example).
And what she says and shows, you'll definitely want to rewatch. Which means you'll remember it. And then you'll buy whatever sparked your interest.
The form of the centauress combines strength (the equine foundation), intuition (the human torso with a phone), and sex appeal (a half-naked woman "riding" herself — "what does she look like from behind?"). This makes her first an object of mixed thoughts, and then the subject of a formed attitude as a seductive assistant — a Lead-girl, whom you obey with both pleasure and caution (she might kick...).
I don't know if this perception is fair in relation to female viewers, but I think they will find some analogous or similar explanation for the desire to heed Khalia. Or they'll choose Deimos.
And what she says and shows, you'll definitely want to rewatch. Which means you'll remember it. And then you'll buy whatever sparked your interest.
The form of the centauress combines strength (the equine foundation), intuition (the human torso with a phone), and sex appeal (a half-naked woman "riding" herself — "what does she look like from behind?"). This makes her first an object of mixed thoughts, and then the subject of a formed attitude as a seductive assistant — a Lead-girl, whom you obey with both pleasure and caution (she might kick...).
I don't know if this perception is fair in relation to female viewers, but I think they will find some analogous or similar explanation for the desire to heed Khalia. Or they'll choose Deimos.
Although, take Ira or Zhunguo — they also create that feeling
So, why Khalia is the way she is. And what she's for
I approached it from the opposite direction: chose the female version because male centaurs look like... let's just say there would be some crude insinuations here (those who want to know about them, come back here after the New Year — I'm less constrained in my expressions there).
How I would use Khalia:
I think I can allow myself one "marketing-style" curse word here: onboarding — aside from the Lead-girl vibe, Khalia creates a feeling of support.
Although, take Ira or Zhunguo — they also create that feeling. True, you'd have to define it differently within yourself, due to the characters ingrained in them.
As for Khalia's character... Well, check out her Gesture Gallery — you'll understand everything yourself.
I approached it from the opposite direction: chose the female version because male centaurs look like... let's just say there would be some crude insinuations here (those who want to know about them, come back here after the New Year — I'm less constrained in my expressions there).
How I would use Khalia:
- For landing pages: as a step-by-step purchase guide.
- For email campaigns: as instructions after a transaction.
- For Telegram bots: as navigation through options.
I think I can allow myself one "marketing-style" curse word here: onboarding — aside from the Lead-girl vibe, Khalia creates a feeling of support.
Although, take Ira or Zhunguo — they also create that feeling. True, you'd have to define it differently within yourself, due to the characters ingrained in them.
As for Khalia's character... Well, check out her Gesture Gallery — you'll understand everything yourself.
Deimos: An Accent for Promo
My own words about Deimos will be written over there, in the Telegram channel. Here, in the article, it should simply be noted that Deimos is a character I'm simply fond of. They all are, in general, in my avatar collection, but this silent slacker, well, he's exactly how I sometimes feel.
Anyway, I also invite everyone to this character's Gesture Gallery on the website.
Let me reiterate: the gallery is not the final set of all gestures — it's a showcase. More details — here.
Anyway, I also invite everyone to this character's Gesture Gallery on the website.
Let me reiterate: the gallery is not the final set of all gestures — it's a showcase. More details — here.
What For, or For Whom, Is Deimos
I would gladly use him for intros and short promos: a golden cyber-horse in a cowboy's pose, with a revolver he spins in his hand.
He gestures quite restrainedly, though sometimes — actively, and sometimes in a somewhat iron-wooden way — try walking on two hooves instead of four.
Deimos's key feature is that his lips are not synchronized with speech (lip sync). And this is my conscious choice: I knew that neural networks cannot handle the task of animal lip sync. At least — not yet...
Of course, I still went crazy trying, but succeeded only once out of a couple of hundred iterations, in Kling. That's when the decision solidified: what smart thing can a horse say to you with a mouth designed for "neighing," which you don't understand anyway? But if it steps on your foot — now you'll understand everything immediately...
The conclusion: Hooves are everything! Toothless ("How to Train Your Dragon") would confirm.
Lip sync is needed for dialogues, but in promos it's distracting; focusing on gestures and animation enhances engagement. That's my IMHO. Not forcing it on anyone.
He gestures quite restrainedly, though sometimes — actively, and sometimes in a somewhat iron-wooden way — try walking on two hooves instead of four.
Deimos's key feature is that his lips are not synchronized with speech (lip sync). And this is my conscious choice: I knew that neural networks cannot handle the task of animal lip sync. At least — not yet...
Of course, I still went crazy trying, but succeeded only once out of a couple of hundred iterations, in Kling. That's when the decision solidified: what smart thing can a horse say to you with a mouth designed for "neighing," which you don't understand anyway? But if it steps on your foot — now you'll understand everything immediately...
The conclusion: Hooves are everything! Toothless ("How to Train Your Dragon") would confirm.
Lip sync is needed for dialogues, but in promos it's distracting; focusing on gestures and animation enhances engagement. That's my IMHO. Not forcing it on anyone.
...whether the "sheriff" is understood by the Indians or not — it doesn't bother the "sheriff"...
Deimos's Archetype
The archetype that "stuck" to Deimos — gunslinger, shooter — is perhaps not entirely accurate: he rarely shoots.
But then again, if in the real Wild West people shot as often as they show us in movies, fairy tales about "cowboys in saloons" would never have appeared at all.
Deimos "prefers" a peaceful resolution to any dispute and accompanies them with easily interpretable gestures. Though he won't insist: whether the "sheriff" is understood by the Indians or not — it doesn't bother the "sheriff".
In my opinion, the applications are as follows:
The archetype that "stuck" to Deimos — gunslinger, shooter — is perhaps not entirely accurate: he rarely shoots.
But then again, if in the real Wild West people shot as often as they show us in movies, fairy tales about "cowboys in saloons" would never have appeared at all.
Deimos "prefers" a peaceful resolution to any dispute and accompanies them with easily interpretable gestures. Though he won't insist: whether the "sheriff" is understood by the Indians or not — it doesn't bother the "sheriff".
In my opinion, the applications are as follows:
- Stories and Reels: a hook in 1.5 seconds.
- Discount advertising conveyed through gestures.
- Video intros: storytelling without verbal overload.
The Logic Behind Choosing These Avatars
The collection of 10 avatars (light, dark, jokers) is now a little more complete. Khalia and Deimos solve specific pains: user indecisiveness and weak intros.
The theme of the Year of the Horse, embedded in their images and characters, is important but not defining.
In any case, the appearance of these images in my imagination, and later in prototypes, happened long before the arrival of 2026, with the onset of which I now congratulate everyone!
The theme of the Year of the Horse, embedded in their images and characters, is important but not defining.
In any case, the appearance of these images in my imagination, and later in prototypes, happened long before the arrival of 2026, with the onset of which I now congratulate everyone!
So, welcome not just new jokers, but the first heralds of the Year of the Horse in the collection!
You can appreciate the full palette of their gestures and characters in these characters' Gesture Galleries. And to discuss which avatar will solve your unconventional task — write in Telegram
You can appreciate the full palette of their gestures and characters in these characters' Gesture Galleries. And to discuss which avatar will solve your unconventional task — write in Telegram
Choose an Avatar from the collection
-
- NihonsanPrecision and style with Japanese spirit
- AsdisTough rocker with an anarchist heart
-
-
- ZhongguoCalmness with Eastern depth of wisdom
-
- IraConfidence and irony in every word
- DeimosThe Gunslinger who speaks with gestures
- KhaliaCyber centauress: he can kick, he can yell, but he will always bring you to the "Buy" button
