Project Status Update: August 2025

An update about the status of RHB projects coming in August 2025 and beyond.

Hey patrons!

Behind the scenes, we're working daily to get art ready for the community. Yet when we encounter delays, we know long silences can result in some anxiety. So that patrons know where we are at, we've prepared a production status update report.

Project Status Updates (PSU) inform our patrons what work has been completed, what's currently being worked on, and what has to wait for a time in the queue. It's our way of assuring the community that come what may, we're never idle and plowing forward on our never-ending mission to keep art flowing.

With all that said, let's get to the Project Status Update! (NOTE: Some relevant information may be repeated in PSUs for ongoing projects.)

Hard Training (Virtual Novel)

• Art status: Several event (Chapter 6) oriented image sets have been completed this month. Yet more event images are planned for September.

• Estimated Completion: Although no final release date has been set for Hard Training Chapter 6, we believe that it can be finished by winter if production continues to go well. It has been suggested that some of the recently completed event art be released to promote the chapter and this may well happen in September.

• Impressions: The first half of August was largely spent focused on the virtual novel as this is our big, long-term project for the community. Now that a decent number of planned event images have been created, the team is shifting focus back to comic production.

COMIC ART

Akane & Kuno: Beach Bash Part 2

• Art status: Delayed (Nearing Completion).

• Jobs finished: Storyboarding, Sketching & Inking.

• Jobs pending: Coloring (In Progress), Backgrounds, Final Edits.

• Estimated Completion: August 19th. (POSTED AUGUST 16th)

• Impressions: The first storyboard of this comic page was completed on August 5th. This version did not move forward for production. Our reasoning: the presentation felt rushed and the payoff was not as big as hoped. This put the team in an awkward place as we had already completed the first installment. The decision was made to rework the art layout and turn current production back towards the Virtual Novel Hard Training. A revised storyboard was subsequently created a few days later. This version was ambitious and landed MUCH better. Delays stink, and we are sorry the community had to wait longer than initially expected, but ultimately the presentation shall be more satisfying thanks to the extra planning time. There might even be a little bonus or coda to follow up the mini-comic later in the month! 😊

Ranma Generations: Dirty Pair Conclusion

• Art status: Planned & Storyboarded.

• Estimated Completion: August 31st.

• Impressions: Our New School meets Old School Ranma cast crossover events were put on hold until the second season of Ranma arrived on Netflix (October). Dirty Pair might still end up being released around that time, but if production goes smoothly we'll aim for end of month release. Either way, more Generations content is planned for Halloween season (such as "Hustlers" which will star the two Nabikis).

Fan Requests

• Art status: Due to comic creation challenges, some of which were described above, the team has decided to prioritize the Virtual Novel and Comic production this month. As such, rather than rush Fan Requests on a shorter time table, we'll push those until September so that these projects can benefit from a full production cycle.

• Impressions: We've been averaging 2 Fan Requests per month, but in September we'll add at least a third. We don't want to fall too far behind on our goals creating art for the community.

Naughty Bits

Ukyo, Hayato & Patorashu: Bundle of Love

• Art status: Complete and posted.

Ranma-kun & Shampoo: Adoption Drive

• Art status: Complete and posted.

Ranma-chan & Ukyo: Growing Hungers Part 2

• Art status: Remastering set for 4th week of August.

• Impressions: The Naughty Bits remastering project has faced different challenges since its inception. In the earliest days of the project, most of the work was cleaning the art and presenting that in the highest resolution possible based on the existing master files. In this middle portion of Naughty Bits history, most base files are already in a good state in terms of size and cleanliness. What is lacking, however, is refinement. These Naughty Bits pages were originally created on a punishing schedule and frankly are rushed. At best, the quality is generally good, but at worst these pages are incomplete and head scratching. With more time available due to less cleanup, our goal with remastering has shifted to: how would we present this art today? And in doing so, we're changing art layouts (from portrait to widescreen), enhancing scripts (in some cases completing scripts), and sometimes even adding art (if it's possible and necessary) so that we can put out the full vision of each story. We've resisted this level of alteration in the past, but that's mainly because the artists who worked on the early Naughty Bits files are no longer with us (some having retired altogether). That's not the case with the recent remastered pages, which means we can go back and complete art that needed more time to bake. Arguably, this might not be the BEST use of our resources, but it's important for the team to have the option of completing these projects that remain dear to them. This remastering project is very likely the last time the RHB team will ever touch these comic pages so we prefer that each installment end in a good place. While not every page will require a high level of refinement to achieve this, be aware that when the team remasters an installment that does need the extra TLC, it'll get it. ❤️

OTHER FUTURE CONTENT PLANS

• A preview of the next mini-comic starring Ranma-chan! Details are being kept under wraps for the moment. Unlike Pathfinder, we prefer to unveil this project alongside production art. It might happen next week, it might happen next month, but it's on the way and the whole project will be completed sometime in the next 3 months.

• Announcement: Current Comic Lords may request a Halloween pinup, if they wish. Should there be extra art production slots available next month, Champions can commission a Halloween pinup too (this is not guaranteed happening, but possible). Slots for Comic Lords and Champions are deliberately kept low in number. If you see a slot open, and want us to make art for you, be sure to upgrade your pledge and reach out with your idea. Depending on the complexity, some Champions could need upgrading to Comic Lord tier temporarily, but our overall goal with this offer is to have fun with the community. Thanks to those who choose to participate and support the project! 😎

More art is always being planned and will be reported in the next project status update.

Thank you for being a patron!

-Deep Star & SHADE