sweetest music…

clay render of a 3d character long-haired girl with flowing hair, inspired by the cover of Mariya Takeuchi’s ‘Sweetest Music’ singles

Client needed a stylized reinterpretation loosely inspired by the cover photogram of Mariya Takeuchi’s single “Sweetest Music”. Capturing the nostalgic charm of 1980s Japanese pop culture, the artwork fuses soft glamour, flowing movement, and dreamlike lighting with a distinctly modern anime edge.

We decided to go for a windswept red hair and slightly parted lips evoke a sense of candid spontaneity, an echo of the expressive grace found in Takeuchi's original portrait. Subtle stylization of facial features, paired with smooth, near-porcelain skin and stylized shaders, give the render a sculptural, collectible quality and the classic bow tie and minimalist clothing following closely the original costume to complete the look with quiet sophistication.

This piece aims to distill an ephemeral emotion timeless pop sentiment wrapped in light and shadow while transforming it into a contemporary digital sculpture. This 3d character is both tribute and transformation: a blend of retro musical iconography and present-day 3D artistry.

Stylized 3D render of a red-haired girl with flowing hair and soft lighting, inspired by the cover of Mariya Takeuchi’s ‘Sweetest Music’ single, evoking 1980s city pop aesthetics
collage of the stages of making a 3D render of a red-haired girl with flowing hair and soft lighting, inspired by the cover of Mariya Takeuchi’s ‘Sweetest Music’ single, evoking 1980s city pop aesthetics