An immersive 60-page comic adventure that blends animation, music, pop-culture, and health education—like an animated show in a book!
Check on Kickstarter
What if health education was a world of exploration?
I believe health education should feel like an adventure—something you experience, not just read about.
My name is Steven Christian. I’m a medical researcher, animator, and founder of Iltopia Studios. I’m excited to introduce my latest project: Cütie Catcherz!
Cütie Catcherz: One Shot
An immersive 60-page comic that blends storytelling, animation, and health education into one action-packed experience. It’s a comic you can read, watch, listen to, and interact with—like an animated show inside a book.
This Kickstarter is to raise the funds needed to publish the 60-page AR-activated book, produce high-quality physical copies, and make the experience as immersive and accessible as possible.
60 pages of story. 45+ minutes of original animation. 1 augmented reality enabled book!
This is probably the most innovative and accessible thing you will ever hold in your hands.
Welcome to Iltopia—a colorful island full of charm, chaos, and cuteness. Life here is usually sunny… until a mysterious Cootie outbreak begins to spread across the land.
Roscoe Thomason, a mischievous kid with a big imagination, is just trying to prep for a weekend picnic with his playground crush, Vanessa. But when he catches the Cooties, he vanishes without a trace—leaving behind only his beloved stuffed animal, Nimbus.
That’s when everything changes.
Nimbus magically comes to life and sets out to save Roscoe. Along the way, he teams up with Spicee Pickles and Ram-Bo to form the Cütie Catchers—a quirky crew on a mission to stop the outbreak and bring Roscoe home.
As they journey across Iltopia, they uncover the truth: this isn’t just a random outbreak—it’s a full-blown takeover by King Cootie, a monstrous force feeding on fear, self-doubt, and misinformation.
With only five days until Roscoe’s picnic, the team must catch all the Cooties, unravel the mystery of how to defeat them, and save the island—before it’s too late.
This story is all about resilience, teamwork, and friendship in a world where microbiology becomes magical.
Who It’s For
This series is designed for pre-teens and young adults—especially those navigating skin health and self-confidence for the first time. If you grew up with Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, The Magic School Bus, or Osmosis Jones, this is for you.
How it Works
- Grab the book
- Download the app
- Scan a page
- Watch it come to life with animation, voiceovers, and interactive scenes
And with my patent-pending Analog-AR headset, you can enjoy the full experience hands-free—no need to juggle your phone and the book at the same time.
This isn’t just a comic—it’s an immersive world of exploration. Every element, from the artwork to the AR, is part of the storytelling. It’s designed to be fun, educational, and unforgettable.
Why It Matters
Cooties are real. In 2016, the acne-causing bacteria was renamed Cutibacterium acnes, giving every kid in America cooties overnight.
I grew up with acne and misinformation. I used harsh products like alcohol and peroxide, which caused permanent skin damage—something that’s all too common in the Black community.
Now, as a medical researcher, I see the ongoing harm caused by misinformation, misdiagnoses, and mistreatment—especially for people with darker skin tones.
Cütie Catcherz was created to bridge that gap. It turns health education into a story you can understand and connect with. It’s grounded in science, wrapped in adventure, and built for real-world impact.
About the World
Cütie Catcherz: One Shot is part of a larger world called Eyelnd Feevr, where real medical challenges are reimagined as immersive, fantastical adventures. This is the 8th book in the Eyelnd Feevr world.
In this story:
- Roscoe mysteriously disappears
- Nimbus, his stuffed animal, comes to life
- He joins forces with Spicee Pickles and Ram-Bo
- Together they fight metaphorical “cooties”—creatures that represent acne-causing bacteria and the effects of stress, doubt, and misinformation
The way the characters fight Cüties in the story mirrors what readers can do in real life to take care of their skin.
What Your Support Makes Possible
Your pledge helps cover the full cost of:
- Printing and distributing the 60-page physical book
- Finishing the AR activation for every page
- Packaging and shipping rewards to backers
- Making the book available to educators, libraries, and resource centers
This project is more than just a book—it’s a new way to tell stories, teach science, and inspire self-confidence.
Let’s make it happen, together.
📢 We’re in the Media!
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this project would get this kind of attention — but here we are:
- Black Nerd Problems – Kickstarter for ‘Cütie Catcherz:’ A Revolutionary AR-Enhanced Comic Adventure Launches
- Nevada Today – Laugh, learn, repeat: Comics take on health education
- Black Public Media – PitchBlack Immersive 2025 | Steven Christian brings Cütie Catcherz to #PitchBLACK2025
- Cerius Interviews –Neuroscientist, Animator, and Comic Creator, – STEVEN CHRISTIAN
- The PVDcast – Episode 487 – Making Health Education Fun (Steven Christian)
Thank you for helping make Cütie Catcherz more than just a comic — together, we’re building an experience. 💛
Reward Tiers
This project is all about celebrating the physical-to-digital magic of storytelling. Each reward unlocks physical collectibles that activate interactive AR content—no digital-only tiers here. Supporters will receive beautifully crafted books, adorable plushies, quirky collectibles, and immersive experiences designed to educate, entertain, and inspire.
$25 – Cütie Catcher Edition
Hold the adventure in your hands.
Get your hands on Cütie Catcherz: One Shot, a 60-page AR-enhanced softcover book that brings the story to life with animation, sound, and interactive scenes. This tier is the perfect entry point for readers who want to enjoy the immersive adventure and unlock bonus content using their phone or tablet. Whether you’re new to Iltopia or a longtime fan, this tier is your ticket to experiencing the magic of Nimbus and the crew.
$60 – Back 2 School Edition
Book, Backpack, Plushie & Stickers
You’ll get the full physical experience, starting with the AR-powered book Cütie Catcherz: One Shot, plus a 5” plushie of Spicee Pickles, a Cütie Catcherz-themed backpack, and a sticker pack featuring your favorite characters. Designed to inspire kids (and kids-at-heart), this tier is perfect for students, families, or anyone who wants a bit of cuteness and chaos in their daily adventures. Whether you’re heading back to school or just want to carry joy on your shoulder, this pack’s got your back.
$100 – Cütie Collector Edition
The story, the merch, and the immersive experience.
Step into full fandom mode with this collector’s dream. You’ll receive the Cütie Catcherz: One Shot book, a Cütie Catcherz backpack, and both plushies—Nimbus (8″) and Pickles (5″)—alongside a Cütie Catcherz T-shirt (in your selected size), 3 unique sticker packs, and your choice of a Nimbus or Pickles keychain. This bundle is perfect for anyone who wants to collect, wear, and cuddle their favorite characters while exploring the deeper layers of the world. Whether you’re building a shelf or building memories, this tier delivers on all fronts.
$200 – Cütie King Edition
The complete Cütie Catcherz experience—every item, every upgrade.
Rule Iltopia with this deluxe tier, packed with everything you could imagine and more. You’ll receive the Cütie Catcherz: One Shot AR book, Nimbus and Pickles plushies, 2 character keychains (Nimbus & Pickles), 2 collectible USB drives (Roscoe and Vanessa), the full 14-pack Cütie Sticker collection, the themed backpack, and a bonus T-shirt. Plus: a puzzle featuring unlockable AR animation, the Kickstarter-exclusive AR coaster minigame, and a 110-page digital behind-the-scenes sketchbook with concept art and production notes. This isn’t just a reward—it’s the full universe in a box. Built for backers who believe in the mission and want to experience every nook and cranny of the Cütie Catcherz world.
Stretch Goals
Let’s build something even bigger—together.
We’re starting with a base goal of $3,000 to bring Cütie Catcherz: One Shot to life. But the more we raise, the more exclusive content and quirky collectibles we can unlock for all backers.
Each stretch goal expands the Cütie Catcherz universe and brings bonus content to the people who believed in this project from day one. Let’s make this more than a book—let’s make it a movement.
$4,000 – Kickstarter Exclusive Sticker Pack
UNLOCKED FOR ALL BACKERS AT $20+
A one-of-a-kind sticker pack featuring exclusive art of Nimbus, Pickles, and Roscoe—only available through this campaign.
$5,000 – AR Minigame Coaster
UNLOCKED FOR ALL BACKERS AT $20+
Each eligible tier will now include a Cütie Coaster—a custom collectible coaster that unlocks a fun AR minigame when scanned. Watch Nimbus battle Cooties right in your hand.
$6,000 – Cütie Catcherz 300-Piece Puzzle (AR Edition)
COMING SOON — Available as Add-On
A beautifully illustrated puzzle that reveals hidden content when scanned with your phone. Assemble the image, then bring it to life.
$7,000 – Behind-the-Scenes Sketchbook (110 Pages, Digital)
COMING SOON — Available as Add-On
Get the official Cütie Catcherz digital sketchbook with concept art, early designs, and production notes. A must-have for fans, artists, and future storytellers.
$8,000 – Special Edition Cütie Catcherz LEGO Set
COMING SOON — Available as Add-On
We’ll produce limited-run LEGO-style sets featuring Roscoe, Nimbus, and iconic items from the story. Fully compatible with existing bricks and packed with storytelling potential
About the Creator
Created by Me! – Steven Christian – a medical student, Unity Certified Instructor, and lifelong artist on a mission to blend education with imagination.
Through animation, comics, and augmented reality, I build stories that educate, entertain, and empower. As someone who’s studied neuroscience by day and drawn superheroes by night, I believe health literacy doesn’t have to be boring—it can be magical, colorful, and wildly creative.
Cütie Catcherz is where my worlds collide: science meets storytelling, cartoons meet microbes, and kids (plus big kids at heart) get to learn while they laugh. I’m building experiences that spark curiosity, start conversations, and inspire the next generation of thinkers and creators.
Let’s turn the page together—and bring this quirky vision to life.
