Through the immense popularity of anime, manga, or global phenomena, Japanese narratives have shaped global pop culture, influencing Western media with themes from Japanese folklore. In this context, Folklore Fusion is a visual communication project exploring the blend of tradition and modern storytelling through a cutting-edge CGI character project. After an inspiring trip to Tokyo, ECAL Bachelor Media & Interaction Design students created the Swijūs—hybrid creatures that merge Japanese and Swiss folklore. Folklore Fusion, with its playful Swijūs, examines the narrative potential of modular design and reflects cultural exchanges and shared narratives of our time. The project features exhibitions, a website, a book publication, and a trading card collection.
Explore the bilingual Folklore Fusion Japanese-English edition, a magazine-style book printed with metallic pantone. Serving as a visual archive, it compiles research, iconic imagery, and analyses to extend the project. By blending text, imagery, and AR content, it offers insights into the creative process behind the project.
You can find the Folklore Fusion Card Games here