HoYoFest 2025 – neetols on HoYoVerse impact on her life and art

In line with the upcoming HoYoFest 2025, one of the event’s featured artist neetols was kind enough to answer a few questions about the (Genshin) impact of the various HoYo games on her life as well as her art!

Q: What was the very first thing that got you with Hoyo game titles?

A. I first got into Genshin (Impact) because I’ve always been into fantasy and anything medieval. I really liked Mondstadt the first time I saw it in game and that’s what made me continue playing and eventually exploring other Hoyo titles.

Q.What’s the toughest challenge when it comes to doing merch? Do you have any memorable moments where you’ve said, “I made it!”.

A. Apart from calculating costs, the biggest challenge is deciding on whether or not a design works for the specific product I have in mind. For example, my favorite thing to do is draw posters, but that doesn’t always translate well to smaller items like keychains. Knowing when to hold back and simplify things made creating merch much easier.

Q.Care to share with the readers what were the things that you learned working together with Hoyoverse and what’s different with now versus back when you were doing it by yourself?

A. There’s really not that big of a difference for me to be quite honest.

Q.Who are your biggest influences when it comes to your art?

A.Rumiko Takahashi, Jillian Tamaki, choodraws, and Sara Kipin are the first names that come to mind.

Q. How deep is the impact of Hoyo game titles in your art and the way you work?

A. My art has definitely become more dynamic since I started playing. I also leaned into making my art a more retro anime style for Hoyo and other fanworks specifically as I use a looser, somewhat more realistic style for my professional work in comics. The distinction helps lessen burnout for both and it’s fun to work in different styles for different audiences.

Catch neetols (Karen Alyanna Tordecilla) in booth #37 at HoYoverse’s HoYoFest 2025 happening July 24 to July 27 at the SMX Convention Center, Hall 3.