about ARIMARUN

Meet Arimarun, though most people know them better as Meo or Ari, a Malaysian artist who blends the charm of traditional sketching with the vibrancy of digital coloring. Their journey began at just nine years old, drawing with nothing but a mouse on MS Paint on their mom’s old laptop. Inspired by Hatsune Miku and the beloved local series Boboiboy, Meo discovered a love for creating characters that only grew stronger with time. What started as a simple hobby eventually became a serious pursuit, leading them to invest in proper art tools and begin sharing their creations online around 2014.For years, Meo was best known for their traditional works, often brought to life with colored pencils. But by 2021, curiosity led them to explore digital art, and today their style bridges both worlds - traditional linework infused with the color and polish of digital tools. Their medium of choice, iBisPaint X, helps them seamlessly merge the two, resulting in a unique mixed media aesthetic.

Meo’s art finds its home across social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube, where they’ve built a supportive community of followers. Their creative world often revolves around their original project Hetatonix, an indie rock band made up of six characters; Nouri, Kai, Aina, L, Hairi, and Rosie, along with their mascots Ari and Mar, who act as guardians of their artistic journey. And while original characters are their main focus, Meo also delights in exploring fandoms such as Vocaloid (especially Miku), Genshin Impact, Vtubers, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.Beyond their personal projects, Meo has reached some exciting milestones in Malaysia’s art scene. In 2024, their illustrations were featured as official Vtuber Showcase standees for Jun (@66JunVT) and Hora (@HoraHorangiVT) at Animangaki, one of the country’s biggest ACG conventions. That same year adn the year before, they were also part of Comic Fiesta’s 100 Days Countdown, a massive community project where their artwork was displayed physically during the event. On top of that, Meo has brought their craft to local university events, hosting live commission booths and selling art prints, creating opportunities to connect directly with fans and clients.What makes Meo’s journey inspiring is their constant drive to learn and grow, even while balancing the life of a full-time student. With a deep passion for storytelling through characters and a commitment to pushing their art further, Meo is an artist whose path is just beginning and one worth following as they continue to share their creativity with the world.