The Making of Retro Haven Mall

Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most iconic locations in the Kid Kuma universe: Retro Haven Mall. If you’ve already explored the lore, you know this mall isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a character in itself. But how did it come to life?

Inspired by a Nostalgic Era

We wanted Retro Haven Mall to feel like a dream mash-up of every late '80s and early '90s hangout spot — a place buzzing with neon lights, arcade sounds, mixtape vibes, and fashion disasters we all secretly loved. Think food courts with checkered floors, synth-pop echoing from every store, and enough wild signage to give your inner child sensory overload (in the best way).

A Living, Breathing World

Unlike your typical “abandoned mall” trope, Retro Haven is very much alive when our story begins. We designed it to be a living ecosystem, filled with quirky vendors, underground secrets, and the looming presence of Kurohato Toys, the sinister company hiding in plain sight. Every shop, escalator, and janitor closet holds a potential clue or encounter.

Visual Design

The visual aesthetic took cues from classic anime malls, 16-bit video games, and real-world mall architecture. We created moodboards with everything from Tamagotchi ads to vintage mall maps and started sketching. The result? A multi-level maze of nostalgia, danger, and story potential.

Easter Eggs Galore

Kid Kuma fans, keep your eyes peeled! Retro Haven is packed with hidden references to other Kuma characters, retro tech, and even some cryptic teasers for future plot lines. The deeper you explore, the more you'll uncover.

Akira in her finished (Full Color) character bible artwork, these visual character bibles are used for us to gain a consistent visual understanding, and allow for us to showcase the unique personality of each character.

Akira Takami is the first to receive a character bible sheet, next up, is Kid Kuma, Yoshio, and Shadowclaw. Stay tuned for more updates on the Kid Kuma feeds.

As we begin to kick it into gear for the Kid Kuma graphic novel, the latest updates to Akira's character bible are here! The linework has been completed, as our artist moves forward with painting and color work.🐻💙

Illustrations done by: Raoni Vidal aka Lembas

Akira Takami, in some black and white sketches from the Kid Kuma visual character bibles. Isn't she the cutest?🐻💙