It’s no secret that Overwatch is among Blizzard’s most popular games to date. The shooter continues to grow with more heroes from diverse backgrounds that possesses rich backstories making it a game where players can connect with heroes and join the world. One fan, as part of a project for her Master’s Degree, wowed Blizzard with her fan-made Overwatch hero Tara.

RM-Parfait, as the tag goes, is a Thai artist attaining a degree in game design. Her character draws inspiration from Thai culture. The name Tara itself means water in Thai and the artist notes that Siamese Fighting Fish and Plaited Bamboo Fish were lent to the aesthetic of the fan-made Overwatch hero. Check out the sample gallery above for a taste:

It would be one thing to just draw up a character with a story, but the artist developed a full concept with special abilities like a “bubble that traps enemies for two seconds” and a “drone that heals allies”. Various skins, including a Halloween skin, special weapons, a fighting fish inspired logo and even her own map. The art for this fan-made Overwatch hero is so extensive that we couldn’t possibly show it all here, but interested readers can view the entire concept here!

Jeff Kaplan, the game’s director, happened upon the concept and was floored by the design. He responded to the artist with a resounding “Wow!” This ramped up excitement in the thread and fans began showing support, beseeching Kaplan to take on the artist for his design team and the fan-made Overwatch hero.

Kaplan himself was only once just a notable player of World of Warcraft. Eventually, his passion led him to the director of Overwatch. If he can do it, it would seem that a bright future lies ahead for this Thai artist and her concepts.

What about the design of Tara really stands out as the kind of character one might see in Overwatch? Join in on the conversation in the comment section below! Don’t forget to follow DFTG on Twitter for live gaming and entertainment news 24/7!