In a slightly unnerving illustrated series by Mahmoud Refaat, well-known cartoon characters are drawn with a partial skeleton showing. Cute Yellow is aptly named, given the featured pop culture characters are all yellow. This includes Homer Simpson, Pikachu, Spongebob Squarepants, Tweety Bird, Winnie the Pooh and a Minion from Despicable Me. The portion of their skeleton that is showing is a very scientific and surgical like rendering.
The Egyptian illustrator recreates the cute cartoons in a way that contrasts their typically adorable nature by including a slice of their skulls. According to DesignTaxi, the Mahmoud Refaat artwork gives us " a glimpse of what lies beneath the façade of these characters" in a way that is "perhaps showing us that looks can be deceiving."
Cute Cartoon Craniums
Mahmoud Refaat Illustrates the Skeletons of Yellow Cartoon Characters
Trend Themes
1. Illustrated Anatomy Art - Art that merges anatomy and pop culture to create a unique aesthetic.
2. Deceptive Appearances - Highlighting the difference between outward appearances and internal structure.
3. Science-inspired Illustration - Art that incorporates scientific and anatomical details.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Design - Applying anatomical and scientific elements to traditional art forms.
2. Pop Culture Merchandise - Developing merchandise that merges popular culture with scientific or anatomical concepts.
3. Medical Education - Using illustrated pop culture characters to make the study of anatomy more engaging.