When indie game developer Shinnosuke Kumazawa decided to create Finding Polka, he didn't just sketch out ideas; he drew them by hand with a ballpoint pen over two years. The result is a charming, hand-drawn adventure that brings to life a surreal world where the hunt for a lost dog becomes an exploration of dreams and nightmares.

At BitSummit, attendees could flip through Kumazawa's original sketches, tracing his creative journey. It’s not just the art that’s unique, but also its process: each line meticulously crafted to feel human rather than machine.

‘Finding Polka’ features around 300 A4 and 100 B4 drawings, all scanned into a digital format for animation. While the game is essentially hand-drawn, post-processing in Photoshop and Unity adds depth and movement. The game’s design reflects its personal inspiration: Kumazawa lost his French bulldog last year, which sparked this heartfelt project.

The influence of Where's Wally books isn’t just about finding characters; it’s about the joy of discovery within dense illustrations. But ‘Finding Polka’ diverges from its predecessor in style and substance, drawing inspiration from Japanese subculture and dreamlike art to create a unique experience for players, especially his own children.