#theoctoarchive

Octonauts Desktop Wallpaper, released in February 2004.

This is the first art Meomi had ever released of Kwazii Cat’s final design, and one of the earliest art for the Octonauts brand overall. This is also the debut of any kind of GUP in the franchise! Interesting details include the first appearance of a reoccurring species in the animated series (a Giant Squid), the different spelling of Kwazii’s name within the description of the piece, and the description containing a rare reference to Kwazii’s role as Lieutenant within the team.

Kwazii was also commonly referred to as a Kitten instead of a Cat for the majority of the franchises pre-animation duration. Despite this, I don’t think he was intended to be an actual young kitten, and one reason he could’ve went by that was simply to complement his youthful, adventurous nature.

The small text below reads as follows: ©️ MEOMI DESIGN 2004 - WWW.MEOMI.COM - In which Lt. Kwazi Kitten encounters an amorous Architeuthis.

Octonauts Desktop Wallpaper, released in June 2004.

This is the first art Meomi released in this set that includes exclusively pre-introduced characters, and is nevertheless one of the earliest art for the Octonauts brand overall. Interesting details include the air balloon-esque contraption they’re riding, Shellington using a spyglass/telescope instead of his signature magnifying glass he’s seen with in future art, and Kwazii’s name being written in its finalized form in the description of the piece (when it was originally “Kwazi”). Shellington is also referred to as “Dr.” in the text, which isn’t a common title he’s attached to, just like Kwazii with his Lieutenant title.

The small text below reads as follows: ©️ MEOMI DESIGN 2004 - WWW.MEOMI.COM - In which Lt. Kwazii Kitten & Dr. Shellington explore the moon jelly sea in disguise.

Meomi art from January 25th, 2009. “Happy New Years!”

Octonauts Desktop Wallpaper, released in January 2004.

This is the first art Meomi had ever released of Captain Barnacles’ final design, and the Octonauts brand overall. Interesting details include the fantastical plant designs beneath the character, along with the emphasis on the Octopod being “a secret base” in the description of the piece.

A common reoccurrence in pre-animation Octonauts content is Captain Barnacles’ lack of a full uniform. He wore minimal clothes just like the other characters throughout all older MEOMI art, including the original books. It’s unknown why this change was made, so for now we can assume it was simply to complement the voice actor’s performance and the overall importance of the character’s role.

The small text below reads as follows: ©️ MEOMI DESIGN 2004 - WWW.MEOMI.COM - In which Captain Barnacles rides a bat ray towards the secret Octopod base.

Octonauts Desktop Wallpaper, released in December 2004.

This is the first art Meomi had ever released of all the Octonauts characters in one image, and one of the earliest art for the Octonauts brand overall. Interesting details include Tunip eating snow (ft. a miscoloured yellow muzzle), Dashi’s hairclips being blue instead of pink, Tweak’s look of utter rage, and Shellington just sitting behind their fort reading up on snowflakes and studying the snow :)

But of course, there’s an elephant in the room to discuss, and that’s Professor Inkling’s debut. He’s easily the most different from his final design and role in the franchise, even more than Dashi! The description shares one of two temporary names he’s been given before “Professor Inkling”, which is Commander ‘O’! He is dressed in a unique yellow-striped blue collar and a large hat covering his Dumbo Octopus ears, which were still there! He was always intended to be that species due to Meomi’s instantaneous fondness of the creature after watching Blue Planet, a 2001 series that was a major inspiration for the Octonauts throughout the wallpaper drawings. Clearly, Inkling wasn’t the same library-bound elder we know today just yet.

The small text below reads as follows: ©️ MEOMI DESIGN 2004 - WWW.MEOMI.COM - In which Commander ‘O’ referees the annual Octonauts Snowball Showdown.

Octonauts Desktop Wallpaper, released in October 2004.

This is some of the first art Meomi had ever released of Captain Barnacles, Kwazii Cat, and Peso Penguin, and one of the earliest art for the Octonauts brand overall. Interesting details include the crew’s intimidating, sharp swords (which Peso quickly drops in fear of what’s in front of them), the treasure chest that lay in a crevice of the sunken ship, and the ghosts they encounter, perfect for the piece’s debut during the spookiest month of the year. The ghosts leader seems vaguely cat-shaped, with the rest being more akin to bunnies or another creature of sorts. I’m particularly fond of the unique skull-shaped one.

The small text below reads as follows: ©️ MEOMI DESIGN 2004 - WWW.MEOMI.COM - In which The Octonauts encounter a sunken treasure ship protected by ghosts.

Concept art of the GUP-I by Meomi

Octonauts Desktop Wallpaper, released in April 2004.

This is the first art Meomi had ever released of Peso Penguin and Shellington Sea Otter’s final designs, and one of the earliest art for the Octonauts brand overall. Interesting details include the distinct purple environment, along with the goal of the mission being to rescue a pearl. Shellington has actually debuted in an earlier named appearance within previous Meomi art, but that’s a subject for a different post ;)

The small text below reads as follows: ©️ MEOMI DESIGN 2004 - WWW.MEOMI.COM - In which Captain Barnacles, Shellington and Peso Penguin rescue a giant pearl.