JOIN THE JOURNEY TODAY AND HELP THIS STORY BLOOM
Traumatized by severe bullying, quiet artist Makisa Sato transfers schools to hide in the shadows. Instead, she is swept up
Traumatized by severe bullying, quiet artist Makisa Sato transfers schools to hide in the shadows. Instead, she is swept up
CEO & Founder of Vault Studios
This is my story, and how it all came to life.
The Unexpected Spark
Growing up, I actually hated anime. I never liked it and thought it was the weirdest thing ever. That all changed the day a friend introduced me to a show I will never forget: Angel Beats. Ever since that day, I have been completely hooked. I love almost all anime now—though I stick to the English dubs because I am definitely not the fastest reader!
Finding the Pencil Again
I was always an artist growing up and loved to draw, but my style leaned toward fine art and horror—never anime. Eventually, I put the pencil down. For a long time, I didn't draw at all—not even to sign my own name.
Two years ago, fueled by my new love for anime, I decided to pick the pencil back up and try drawing anime characters. That was when I drew the very first, original concept image of Makisa.
Out of the Darkness
Around that time, I was dealing with severe depression. Moving in and out of dark mental states can really wear a person down. But I stuck with my art, and a question sparked in my mind: What if I made a story about a girl who got bullied for being different, but became more beautiful as the story went on?
That idea evolved into something much deeper than I ever expected. One day, while scrolling for something to watch, I realized I couldn't find anything that truly moved me in the endless sea of identical anime shows. I asked myself, "What happened to the shows that actually made me feel something?"
I wanted to feel that emotional impact again. So, I decided: If I can't find one, I will make one.
The Birth of a Webtoon
I started drawing, brainstorming, scrapping ideas, and writing. I wrote every single day for months. Once most of the chapters were on paper, I realized I wasn't just creating a neat little story—I had built something truly special.
I decided to bring it to life as a Webtoon. Soon, dedicated followers and big fans started showing up to support the story. I love every single one of them. But as the community grew, I chose to place the comic on a temporary hiatus. Why? Because I wanted to bring my viewers something even bigger and better: an actual anime.
The Next Chapter: Join the Journey
I am sharing my journey today to show you that no matter how hard life gets, and no matter who tells you that you can't do it, you must keep going. Despite the odds, you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. I want to prove that through Makisa's story, and through my own.
If you want to help me make this vision larger than life, I will be launching a crowdfunding campaign very soon! Keep an eye out for updates—I am even planning to make some handmade crochet dolls of Makisa as rewards.
Thank you for being here. Bye-bye for now, and take care!