Mus Minnius, aka Minnie Mouse
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Artist Filip Hodas imagines a world in which some of the most iconic cartoon characters have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Calling his series Cartoon Fossils, he has crafted 3D renderings that feature the skulls of Goofy, Scrooge McDuck, Spongebob Squarepants, Minnie Mouse, and more. Each of the artifacts is presented as though it is in a museum. The giant weathered bones and their well-worn accessories—such as Goofy’s Hat and Minnie’s bow—sit atop pedestals with tiny labels that reveal their scientific names and a description of the character on display.
Hodas created Cartoon Fossils as a way to experiment with the programs Zbrush and Substance Painter. Along the way, he changed his initial plans for the series. “I wanted to make them stylized as dinosaur fossils set up in a museum environment,” he writes, “but later decided against it, as the skulls didn’t look very recognizable on their own—especially with parts broken or missing.” Hodas then tweaked the overall aesthetic and opted for a “less damaged” appearance. “To make it more cartoony, I decided to contrast the realistic look of the skull with colorful flat backgrounds.”
This isn’t the first series in which Hodas has pictured a world that’s moved beyond its current cartoon universe. His aptly titled series Pop Culture Dystopia features 3D renderings of a post-apocalyptic future in which pop culture icons are ancient relics.
Artist Filip Hodas created a series of 3D rendered art called Cartoon Fossils.
Canis Goofus, aka Goofy
The pieces imagine a world where iconic characters from pop culture have gone the way of the dinosaur.
Spongia Bobæ, aka Spongebob Squarepants
Homo Popoculis, aka Popeye the Sailor
Canaria Tweetea, aka Tweety Bird
Anas Scroogius, aka Scrooge McDuck
