CuteMonster Props
banner
cutemonster.bsky.social
CuteMonster Props
@cutemonster.bsky.social
SHOP: www.cutemonsterprops.com

I'm an SFX artist specializing in figurines, eSports trophies, and life-sized statues from the video games industry. By day I work for @volpinprops.com
Host of Brainlords: brainlords.podbean.com
Connoisseur of cute monsters.
Pinned
I was the lead on a run of 30 official statues for Sonic Team. These statues were a gift for a number of artists at Sega, including Naoto Ohshima.
Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 has officially begun!

I've donated 1/2 of the grand prize, a life sized replica of the Pure Nail from Hollow Knight alongside Hornet's Needle by @fluxtidedesigns.bsky.social that you can get by donating to @gamesdonequick.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Another big achievement for me this year was over 25 episodes of @jmanvelez.bsky.social and my podcast, Brainlords. It's been really wonderful to have a small project each week that takes something I care about and forces me to get offline and actually learn about it. I'm so greatful to have this.
January 2, 2026 at 8:22 PM
This was a hectic year for me but I had some genuinely cool stuff I got to do for work in 2025. A thread in no particular order:
Alright, let me try my hand at this. I don't have nearly as much output or as many people reaching out for collaborative stuff as Todd in the Shadows, but I've done plenty of things I'm proud of this year both on my own YouTube channel and elsewhere, and I'm going to arbitrarily rank my favorites:
In an attempt to feel good about this year, here are my top ten favorite moments I did across my entire professional year, the videos, the podcast, interviews I did, everything. They might have skipped past you but they're the ones that I like the most
January 2, 2026 at 8:15 PM
"New year new me!" my wife shouts as she closes and restarts Slay the Spire mid battle.
January 1, 2026 at 9:19 PM
I worked really hard voice acting and editing a really silly Christmas Carol parody sprinkled throughout this one. Please enjoy this festive yap session.
Christmas came early, we have a Game of the year extravaganza featuring @esper.bsky.social! We have spacial awards just for the best 2025 games in our BACKLOG.

Come listen to use yap about games we did play, games we *didn't* play, and even a special Audio Drama.

open.spotify.com/episode/6Iq5...
December 24, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by CuteMonster Props
Happy Bayonetta 2 day to all who celebrate.
December 24, 2025 at 5:29 PM
You got opinions about GotYs? Dump em here!
December 17, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Had alot of fun with this one discussing some all timers. Mother 3, Cave Story, and blowing some minds showing the connection between Homestuck and the Danganronpa fan translation.
New episode! This week Special Guest @bowloflentils.bsky.social helps us discuss our most influential fan translations. Some games defined entire careers, others crashed as a petty squabble for clout. Find out more in this super high school level episode!

open.spotify.com/episode/1Gae...
December 10, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Reposted by CuteMonster Props
@bobvids.com helps us uncover a shocking revelation about P.T. - The baby is now an 11 year old.
December 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by CuteMonster Props
We made this!
At #MTGWorlds, our competitors are playing for glory and the coveted World Championship trophy! Feast your eyes on our new trophy design inspired by the ever iconic Black Lotus. ✨

Check out all the action 👉 Twitch.tv/Magic
December 5, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Reposted by CuteMonster Props
and if you want to know how these trophies are made, you should check out this week's Casual Magic, which talks to @cutemonster.bsky.social about previous trophies!
At #MTGWorlds, our competitors are playing for glory and the coveted World Championship trophy! Feast your eyes on our new trophy design inspired by the ever iconic Black Lotus. ✨

Check out all the action 👉 Twitch.tv/Magic
December 5, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I get to have a rare brag, I'm now one of the few artists to have painted a Black Lotus for Magic the Gathering!
December 5, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by CuteMonster Props
QRP with something with Horns

…if there was ever a prompt made specifically for me, lol. Too many to choose from. 🤣

Photo by @sixofswordsphoto.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 2:23 AM
I did plenty of clean up work and painting on this including the cool halo effect on the "light" at the en
edge of the blade. We havent done anything for Overwatch in ages.
We made Vendetta's sword from Overwatch! It's canonically taller than Tracer!
December 3, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I'm on Casual Magic! we had a really insightful conversation about making card art into real life, how we overlook art made for advertising, and most importantly how to put an NES on a hot plate to speed run Dragon Quest 3.
December 2, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by CuteMonster Props
Finally got to wear my Shadowmoor elf cosplay again—but of course it would be outside in the cold at Ren Faire.

Butttttt I was able to get a few nice pics. I’m ready for Lorwyn. 😩
December 1, 2025 at 5:12 AM
New episode! It was fun chatting with Bob about some of our favorite games and the ways they break all conventions.
This week Special Guest @bobvids.com chats with us about modern horror game subgenres, liminal spaces, and scariest of all, Lasagna Cat.

open.spotify.com/episode/5w7B...
November 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Being a painter I have a soft spot for the guns in splatoon, especially the Aerospray. The photos really flatter the paint job I did on this one.
I wanna be a squid kid again

My airbrush gun was modeled by @dangerousladies.ca, body shop work by me and painting by @cutemonster.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 8:39 PM
The Alamo - chicken fried chicken slathered in queso at Old West Cafe, Denton, TX.
November 18, 2025 at 8:02 PM
It's quite simple really, if you have a CEO you're not an indie studio.
November 17, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The reason I'm such a pedant for the Akira bike slide is that nobody seems to understand why it was cool. There's a whole build up/contrast to another rider, it's precise, it sells the friction, there's an entire audio element emphasizing it.

Yet all that gets referenced is "what if bike sideways?"
November 16, 2025 at 6:25 PM
We're doing shorts now and I'm really blown away at how funny @jmanvelez.bsky.social makes them.
In between discussions of art and philosophy, here at Brainlords we often take time for more important issues like how awful modern Yoshi looks.
November 14, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I'm going to be helping at Shoebox!

There will be a lot more cool things to reveal as we get closer to the event but this is definitely something you won't want to miss out on.
Step right up! Introducing the eight fabulous cosplayers who will be your Carnival game hosts at Shoebox! Come and challenge them to mini-games and indie format showdowns all weekend. Will you find your new favorite way to play?

Get your badge ➡️ shoebox.gg/badges
November 14, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by CuteMonster Props
Buster Sword. Some assembly required.
November 13, 2025 at 2:23 AM
In FFIX, Black Mages only live for roughly a year so actually it's really flavorful of WotC to kill Vivi after about five months.
November 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM