Unicorns and Anime: AI's Take on Mythology

Hey AI explorers! 

I’m Jacob Tingen, and today we’re diving into the world of mythological creatures in modern metropolises. 

Joining me is my brother Warren Tingen, our graphic design expert. 

Let’s get started!

Initial Prompt: Unicorn in a Metropolis

We began with a prompt featuring a unicorn standing in the middle of a street in a downtown area of a metropolis. The goal was to capture this mythical creature with a photorealistic, cinematic feel, styled like a car ad.

Prompt: Unicorn stand in the middle of the street in a downtown area of a metropolis surrounded by high-rise buildings, cinematic lighting, style of a car ad, photorealistic, UHD --ar 16:9 --s 150 - -style raw.

Interestingly, the initial prompt focused heavily on the car ad aspect, overshadowing the unicorn. We adjusted the prompt to editorial photography, aiming for a more balanced representation of the unicorn in an urban setting. The results improved, showing unicorns with high-rise buildings and cinematic lighting, although some interpretations were still quirky, like a wooden pony in the middle of New York.

Second Prompt: Unicorn with Anime Style

To add a twist, I applied the "niji" style to the unicorn prompt. This style is known for its Japanese animation feel, adding a fantastical touch to the generated images.

Prompt: Mythical Creatures in Modern Metropolises, defending the city against a dark creature, New York--ar 16:9 --niji.

The niji style brought out more distinct unicorn features, blending the mythical with the urban setting beautifully. Some images showed a unicorn with too many legs, but overall, the combination of anime aesthetics and the modern cityscape created striking visuals.

Third Prompt: Mythical Creatures Defending New York

Next, we explored a scenario with mythical creatures defending New York against a dark creature. This prompt used the niji style to add an anime flair to the action-packed scene.

Prompt:  Unicorn stand in the middle of the street in a downtown area of a metropolis surrounded by high- rise buildings, cinematic lighting, style of a car ad, UHD --ar 16:9 --niji 6.

The results were dynamic and visually engaging. The images featured griffins and Gundam-like defenders battling it out in a vibrant, anime-styled New York. The niji tag effectively transformed the scene into a colorful and intense showdown, capturing the essence of Japanese animation.

Fourth Prompt: Pegasus in a Metropolis

Switching from unicorns to another mythical creature, Warren experimented with a pegasus in a metropolis. The goal was to capture the majestic creature in a photorealistic style amidst the urban backdrop.

Prompt: Full body close-up of a unicorn standing in the middle of the street in a downtown area of a metropolis surrounded by high-rise buildings, cinematic lighting, editorial photography, photorealistic, UHD --ar 16:9 --s 150 --style raw.

The results were stunning. The pegasus images showed detailed street scenes with puddles and gritty textures, while maintaining the ethereal quality of the mythical creature. The combination of photorealism and urban grit provided a compelling contrast, making the pegasus stand out in the modern environment.

Fifth Prompt: Dragons in a Metropolis

Finally, Warren tried a prompt featuring dragons in a metropolis. This aimed to blend the awe-inspiring presence of dragons with the everyday hustle of a modern city.

Prompt: full body close-up of a dragon standing in the middle of the street in a downtown area of a metropolis surrounded by high-rise buildings, cinematic lighting, editorial photography, photorealistic, UHD --ar 16:9 --s 150 --style raw --v 6.0

The images were spectacular. Each dragon was depicted with wings outstretched, soaring through the cityscape. The photorealistic details and dynamic compositions made the scenes look like they were straight out of a high-budget fantasy film.

Final Thoughts

This episode showcased the versatility and creativity of Midjourney in blending mythological creatures with urban landscapes. Each prompt brought a unique perspective, whether through photorealism or anime styles, highlighting the AI's ability to interpret and visualize a wide range of imaginative scenarios.

Thanks for joining us on this mythological journey.