Back in 2015, I took a course on graphic novel design, and the final project was to write & plan out your own graphic novel. My project was called Space Bubble Cat, a very personal piece about a lonely cat who floats through space.

This was intended to be a submission for the June 2018 Bitsy Jam (theme: Space Whales), where I was inspired to revisit this project, update and finish it from its original version into an interactive Bitsy comic. However, I was not able to finish by the deadline of the jam.

Content warning: Sad

How to Read: Move to the bottom-right corner to turn the page. Read all speech bubbles in a panel before moving onto the next. As a general rule, speech bubbles are read from top to bottom.

Music: "daydream" and "apprehension", from the album Think by motherbear (the album has since been taken offline, but I encourage you to please check out her other stuff as well).

Thanks to Ayo for Borsky, Sean & Ducky for hacks, Em for playtesting, and Adam for making Bitsy.

StatusReleased
PlatformsHTML5
Rating
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
(103 total ratings)
AuthorEmma Dee
Made withbitsy
TagsBitsy, cat, Comics, Narrative, Pixel Art, sad, Space, space-bubble-cat, space-whale
Average sessionA few seconds
InputsKeyboard, Gamepad (any)

Development log

Comments

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(+1)

Wow, that was really nice and moving - it's the first time I read a graphic novel this way!

(+1)

absolutely amazing. from the game itself to the music to accompany it and the art style, it made me cry and is really an amazing game.

(+1)

That was beautiful! I resonated with the bubble cat very much, and loved all the different characters and their helpful (or confusing) words!!! 

(+1)

Very emotionally moving, very cleverly designed, very aesthetically pleasing. The weak point is the cumbersome navigation, but I'm glad you experimented with it, because traveling around the scenes is an interesting new experience.

i got the cursor stuck inside the whale, i cant get it to leave the grey area

Oh wow, interesting! I've never seen that before! If that happens I would just refresh and start the game again.

(+2)

this is really beautiful in a way, but I can't describe it. thank you <3

(+2)

Beautiful, made me cry. The music is very nice. Love it. I can't say much other than that...

(+2)

Thanks! 😊😊😊

(+1)

this is incredible, it's so moving... very relatable, and though sad, so hopeful. what a beautiful story <3

Thank you so much! ❀❀

(1 edit) (+1)

this is so beautiful i don't even have the words to describe it. i'm just so glad i found this

Thank you so much! 😊

(+2)

Wow this is just SO beautiful <3 

Thank you! 😁

(1 edit) (+2)

Oh wow, this was so sweet and beautiful (and sad). Deeply moving to read. I love the visuals and how you transition from panel to panel.

(+1)

Thanks so much! ^^

(+2)

This was beautiful. Space Bubble Cat is so charming and relatable and the game made me feel very emotional. Thank you for sharing!

(+2)

Thank you so much!! β™₯β™₯β™₯

(+4)

Gorgeous art, and I loved the presentation; the way it adapted the comic panels is great. The way you navigate between them does a lot for pacing, too.

Lots of familiar feels in this. Glad it ended on at least a hopeful note, and a way to find at least a sense of control. Hope Space Bubble Cat is okay out there.

P.S. Pretty sure this story radicalized me against space whales. I really wanted to trust that smile...

(+2)

hehe thank you so much! i'll have to find some of my old space whale art from college....

oh here's a good one!

https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/13573579_262517337447573_1753585237_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=109&_nc_ohc=u0OYZWbrafEAX-W9P-Z&oh=b55731ae95b170b756c8a727c02d40b5&oe=5F5A6B00

(+1)

Extremely cute! However, I still don't trust them >:I

(+1)

This was sad but also very cute, good job!

Thank you! πŸ₯°

(+3)

can you make another where he finds  a freind please this is just to depressing

(+4)

I think you can be certain that Space Bubble Cat finds a friend. There's a lot out there in the universe, and he's going forth with hope now! 😊

(+1)

thank you

(+2)

I have to admit, I related really deeply to the story as a metaphor for depression and general loneliness, and being told to be your own friend first is advice I have mixed feelings about. but I'm glad Space Bubble Cat found hope <3

(+1)

aww... what a beautiful story.

Thank you! πŸ’–

(+1)

i cried a lil

aw :') thank you so much for playing!

(+2)

my boyfriend introduced your comic to me and i've just finished reading it. it resonated so much with me that i'm a crying mess now. ;v; thank you so much for making this comic <3

aaah ;v; thank you so much!

(+1)

lovely game! we need more bitsy comic books I think

Thank you! ^^

(+2)

dang this is good

Thank you!!! πŸ’–πŸ’–

(+3)

I love this so much! It's such a great use of bitsy, the music is perfect for the atmosphere, and the writing was very heartfelt and well done! 

(+1)

Thank you so much for your kind words!!!! πŸ˜­πŸ˜­πŸ’–β€πŸ’•πŸ’š

(2 edits) (+1)

The art is so cute and the story is so touching <3 i really appreciate this, i hope you keep doing amazing stuff or just doing the things that makes you happy!

Awww this is so sweet! πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’– Thank you so much!!!

I'll be your friend...    \(^-^)/

βœ¨πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–βœ¨

Nice and sweet.

Thank you!! πŸ’–πŸ’–

This is powerful. Masterly illustrated, written & paced.  CW "sad" is accurate!

aaaah thank you very much! πŸ’–βœ¨

Thank you for "owning friend".

You're welcome!! Thank you for playing!! πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–

(+1)

What a creative use of bitsy and storytelling! After awhile of trying to get out of each panel, I began to feel trapped like the cat - which made the story even richer and more personal. I also loved your character designs!

Oh my gosh, thank you!! I actually considered making it easier to traverse through panels, but then decided to leave it as-is as an artistic choice. I'm very glad it payed off!! πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–

(+1)

I am so full of feeeeeelings! It is so cute, and so sad, and that nightmare sequence was terrifying, and the space bubble feels like such a good image to express how I feel sometimes.

Yeah samee!! Thank you so much!! βœ¨

(+1)

Emma what the hell I didn't expect to be crying this morning

wow

πŸ˜­πŸ’–βœ¨

(1 edit)

πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’– Sorry! lol

(+1)

I do not cease to wonder what can be done on the bitsy.

Your game and how made this comics is awesome!

Thank you thank you!!

(+1)

That was a good story, it really drew me in.   The art was incredible,  and the music really set the mood, especially when the music changed.  Really well done! Also I hope Bubble Cat finds a friend for his travels😭

Thank you so so much!! I hope he does too! ✨

This was so beautiful <3

Thank you <3

!!!!! Aaaah thanks!!

(+1)

Am actually crying. This is beautiful.

πŸ˜­πŸ˜­βœ¨πŸ’–

(+2)

I hope there's a sequel. I need more Bubble Cat.

(+1)

Yes! He's my darling boy, I'd love to do more with him! I'm definitely hoping to get those socials back into active status.....

(+2)

you're just trying to make me cry arent you!!!!!! heck this is so good!!! im so emo tho rip ITS SO BEAUTIFUL AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

(+1)

eeeeeee thank you, onion!!! πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–

(+1)

πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–

(+1)

Wow! That was an impressive and such a creative/original use of Bitsy.

Thank you!!! 😊😊

(+1)(-1)

i really like this! the comic panel structure is so cool and like it builds this really strong mood and idk it's just a good good game!!

thank you so much! βœ¨πŸ›Έ