Pine Hoverfly Conservation DLC
- Dom Ho
- Jan 21
- 4 min read
"Turning a tiny insect into a big force for good..."
OVERVIEW
Sometimes the smallest characters can have the biggest impact.
As part of an ongoing initiative between Story of Seasons and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Marvelous Games set out to create a special downloadable content pack that would support real world conservation efforts. The focus was the Pine Hoverfly, one of the UK’s rarest insects and a surprisingly important part of native woodland ecosystems.
Blacklist Creative teamed up with Marvelous Games to design a brand new Pine Hoverfly character for use across a Story of Seasons clothing and accessories DLC pack. One hundred percent of the proceeds would go directly towards Pine Hoverfly conservation, turning a charming in game addition into something with genuine real world impact.
“Sometimes the smallest characters can make the biggest difference.”
The CHALLENGE
Designing for an established and much loved franchise always comes with responsibility. The Pine Hoverfly needed to feel instantly at home in the warm, comforting world of Story of Seasons, while still being recognisable as a real insect with a real story behind it.
There was also a deeper layer to the brief. This was not just about creating something cute. The character represented an ongoing conservation mission, with real funding and real outcomes attached. It needed to invite players in, spark curiosity and do justice to the work being carried out by the RZSS.
“Cute, credible and conservation led. All at once.”
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THE APPROACH
We worked closely with the Marvelous Games team from the outset, spending time studying the visual language of Story of Seasons and the animal designs created by Matsuyama san. Proportions, expressions and shape language were carefully analysed so the Pine Hoverfly would feel like it belonged naturally in the game’s world.
From there, the real Pine Hoverfly was translated into a stylised character. Scientific reference helped ground the design, while simplified forms, soft colours and expressive features brought the charm players expect from the series.
The process was highly collaborative, with regular feedback loops allowing the design to evolve quickly while staying true to both the established art style and the conservation message at the heart of the project.
DESIGNER INSIGHT
To give a closer look at the thinking behind the Pine Hoverfly character, we asked Emmie Bednall, Design Lead at Blacklist Creative, a few questions about the process.
What was your initial reaction to the brief of trying to make a tiny, unheard of insect into a cute mascot?
I am very into wildlife conservation, so I was really excited to tackle this brief and bring the story of the Pine Hoverfly to fans of Story of Seasons. I had not heard of the hoverfly myself, so it was also fascinating to learn more about the conservation efforts of the RZSS and their partnership with Marvelous.
“It felt like a great opportunity to tell a conservation story through something playful.”
When tasked with matching Matsuyama san’s style from Story of Seasons, which features did you feel you needed to get right?
Matsuyama san has a great style and it was a brilliant challenge to try and match it. I focused mainly on the larger heads and cute eyes, as well as simplifying the body shapes so the character would sit comfortably alongside the other animals in the game.
Was there a particular feature or early sketch that set the direction for the final design?
The existing Story of Seasons style really set the direction. I went straight in with a massive head, then played around with the scale of the eyes, wings and body to see what worked best alongside those larger proportions.
How did you approach making the hoverfly cute without losing its essential character?
It was a multi pronged cute attack. Making the eyes larger helped match both the real Pine Hoverfly and the game’s style, while reducing the size of the wings kept everything feeling soft and readable.
Which features of the real Pine Hoverfly were most important to keep, and which did you adapt or leave out?
I love the orange tail that Pine Hoverflies have, as it really helps them stand out from other flies, so keeping that was important. I softened the main body colour to add to the charm, and I chose to only show two legs, as including all of them became overwhelming and hard to read at a small scale.
What do you hope fans of the series will appreciate about the design when they see it?
I hope they appreciate the care taken to get it as close as possible to Matsuyama san’s beautiful work, and that it feels just as cute and at home as the other animals in Story of Seasons.
THE RESULT
The finished Pine Hoverfly character was rolled out as part of a Story of Seasons DLC pack featuring themed clothing and accessories. Every purchase contributes directly to Pine Hoverfly conservation work led by the RZSS.
Since the partnership began, the Pine Hoverfly population has seen a noticeable and meaningful boost, showing how games, when paired with the right partners, can support positive environmental change.
“A small character with a very real impact.”
WHY IT MATTERS?
This project is a great example of how creative work can go beyond entertainment. By combining thoughtful design, close collaboration and a clear purpose, the Pine Hoverfly became more than a mascot.
For us, it is a reminder that play can educate, inspire and contribute to real change, and that even the smallest ideas can help protect something important.
