Microcosm

Graphic Design / Illustration / Animation Mike Snowdon freelances under the name Microcosm.

Microcosm's skills and services are broadly described as design, illustration and animation. Based in Liverpool with over a decade of experience, he works full-time for Draw & Code where his skill-set has expanded into the realms of virtual and augmented reality, app design, web design and projection mapping for large scale theatrical productions. One man's design reflects a world of inspiration t

hrough confident, considered work with a versatile and refined style. A hands on approach is apparent in highly crafted works and Microcosm loves escaping the pixels for the paints in the screen printing studio. If you're looking to work with Microcosm Studios or have an enquiry, please get in touch.

28/09/2025

Haradashi 腹出し “Belly Exposer” are a charming brand of yōkai often associated with Sake and lonely people. They are generally harmless, often appearing to cheer people up by doing comical dances and making faces with their bellies. Some Haradashi are headless, others come with an elderly nun’s head and flowing long dark hair. Drinking alone becomes less sad when the belly exposer joins the party, changing your fortune to one of hope and aspiration.

For the face on the bally I’ve gone with a Hyottoko (火男) style design, another popular character and mask design often found in popular Japanese folklore. One origin for the character could be from an old tale about a boy with a bizarre face who could create gold out of his belly button. When someone dies, there’s a tradition of displaying a Hyottoko mask above the fireplace to bring good fortune to the house.

20/09/2025

Sōjōbō 僧正坊 “High Priest” is the most famous daitengu, who lives on Mount Kurama in the northern part of Kyōto. While regular Tengu have more crow-like features, daitengu are often depicted as more human but still with their trademark long nose.

Tengu are often associated with a form of Buddhism, where within Kurama Temple and the high mountains, the Yamabushi train in their esoteric arts. Tengu are known to be masters of military tactics and swordsmanship, appearing in tales where they train some of Japan’s most renowned Samurai, such as Minamoto Yosh*tsune from the Tale of the Heike.

14/09/2025

Chōchin Obake 提灯お化け “Paper Lantern Ghost” is another yōkai which falls into the Tsukumogami category; an object which transforms and comes to life once it reaches 100 years old.

A Chōchin Obake splits one of the wooden ribs of the lantern, developing a wide mouth with a long tongue and either one or two giant eyes. They are generally harmless, giving a fright to passers by, but some are often other more dangerous Yokai in disguise. In rare cases, they can sprout arms and legs too.

Despite being one of the more famous yōkai, they don’t tend to appear in literature, only in illustrative form.

09/09/2025

Kasha 火車 “Fire Cart” are a type of bake-neko “monster cat”. They stand tall over humans on their hind legs and are covered in Hellfire or lightning. They are said to steal away dead bodies, either delivering them to Hell, or simply eating or playing with them.

Kasha were once ordinary house cats who, in their aging wisdom, began to develop magical powers. Some turn into bake-neko, more powerful cats turn into neko-mata, and beyond that some turn into Kasha. Superstition has led to the practice of docking a cat’s tail short in order to prevent it from such transformations.

05/09/2025

Hitotsume Kozou 一つ目小僧 “little priest boy” is a child-like Japanese yokai who dresses as a monk, with a distinct single eye. They are generally harmless, and like to sneak up on you in dark streets. In East Japan, on the 8th of December, it is told that they travel the country recording who has been bad, and deliver their ledgers to the God of pestilence and bad luck, who then brings misfortune to those deserving families. However, Hitotsume Kozō leave their ledgers with the guardian deity of travels for safekeeping until February 8th, so local villagers have a tendency to ceremonially burn these shrines down and rebuild them each year, hoping to escape their fates!

01/09/2025

In Japanese folklore Kappa 河童 “river-child” love cucumbers and sumo-wrestling. Knowledgable in medicine they are reported to have taught bone setting to mankind. They have their dark side too, often known to assault and drown people. They have a small bowl of water on top of their heads which if spilled, force them to return to the water, so if ever confronted by one, you should challenge them to a bowing contest!

18/04/2025

It’s been a heavy start to 2025, so here we are breaking blocks with - some Maltese Limestone blocks into one shape or another amidst the stunning Mount Pleasant Gardens in Cheshire.

I attempted a statue - these happy little monks are often found on Japanese trails and offer protection to lost children and travellers alike.

13/04/2025

played a cool acoustic set this afternoon and I was on the front row to take it all in… not often your fav artist performs in front of your design work 🤓 Proud seeing Liverpool’s music scene in such good hands with

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Liverpool

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http://www.themicrocosm.co.uk/

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