Grimmo

For years, streamer Grimmo_TV searched for the perfect overlay setup that could feel like home—a design that captured his love of gothic horror, sci-fi, and VHS aesthetics without overwhelming the stream. After cycling through more than a dozen overlays, Grimmo knew it was time to create his forever overlays: a custom package built specifically for his brand.

That’s where we came in.

At Nerd or Die, we specialize in turning scattered ideas and half-realized visuals into polished, functional, and uniquely personal custom stream overlay designs. This project was all about blending Grimmo’s gothic, VHS-inspired visuals with a cleaner, more professional style that would stand the test of time.

Grimmo had a collection of assets originally made by a Twitch overlay designer, which to his surprise ended up using AI tools. He ultimately felt like they lacked originality and polish. While the gothic-meets-sci-fi vibe resonated with him, the execution left him feeling like he didn’t fully “own” his look.

“I’m a sucker for sci-fi and space opera stuff. I’ve spent so long trying to make my mind up about what I actually want. I think i’ve had like 15 different overlays over the last few years hahah i’m the worst. Definitely want my forever overlays so I can just focus on streaming” – Grimmo

He needed:

• A streaming package (overlays, webcam frame, scenes, and transitions).
• A custom logo/mascot with a horror-inspired edge.
• Subtle animation effects—think VHS static, glitches, and atmospheric wiggles—that would enhance the aesthetic without becoming distracting.
• A design flexible enough to include widgets (like a Spotify tracker or countdown timer) while keeping performance-friendly file sizes.

We kicked off by discussing aesthetic anchors: a gothic reaper silhouette, sci-fi ornamental designs, and VHS horror textures. The plan was to elevate the existing visuals rather than discard them entirely, using animation, refinements, and brand-specific tweaks to make the designs feel authentic and lasting.

Logo & Mascot Redesign

• We reworked Grimmo’s Grim Reaper mascot into a sleek design—balancing gothic themes with a level of minimalism that carried the important details.
• The idea presented carried an esport-like sharpness but gained character through VHS filters, smokey glows, and subtle green neon accents.

• The positive response to this work meant we had established great stylistic choices to carry through the rest of the design.
• The typography used for “Grimmo” wasn’t too different from the original text – just cleaner, bolder and more contemporary to compliment the overall sci-fi and gothic vibe.

Custom Animations

• Static designs of the Grim Reaper were moved from Illustrator to After Effects, where we rigged the body and skull face ready for animation. We applied glitch, wiggle, and tape distortion effects.
• The addition of green fog was originally a way to create depth and separation from the background, but became a staple effect.
• These treatments provided movement and energy while staying true to the horror-inspired mood.

Stream Package Design

With the style set from the branding development, we knew to keep things clean, with a hint of grunge and old 80s VHS. Starting with, well… the Starting Soon screen we decided to do something a little different. It was important to make an impact with the grim reaper logo, so we animated it. We kept it very subtle with green fog, screen tears and a grainy texture over the top. We added some old customized VHS style assets including a stream rating and production partner labels as well as picked out a serif font that is reminiscent of the time.

Now the fun part. The countdown anticipation needed to be worth it. We created a special transition that included the Grim Reaper waking from his slumber, then slashing the “Grimmo” to active it and finally lunging at the audience into the static.

Watch the demo below with sound on! 🔊

Technical Execution

File sizes were optimized for smooth performance and used short looping animations rather than long, heavy video files.

Consistency Across All Assets

With consistent themes across all assets, we were able to develop a style guide which can be used moving forward for future events, scenes, socials and more.

The result was a unified stream identity: dark, moody, and unmistakably Grimmo_TV. The reaper mascot served as a strong anchor across overlays, while VHS textures and sci-fi gothic details gave his stream a distinct personality.

Grimmo himself summed it up best:

“That is f**in awesome, holy! You’ve nailed the vibe perfectly. I have no idea how you managed to catch it from my garbled descriptions—miracle work.”

The project not only gave Grimmo the forever overlays he’d been chasing for years, but also a visual brand flexible enough to grow with him as a creator.

Every streamer has access to pre-made packs—and at Nerd or Die, we make some of the best. But custom stream overlays go further: they’re designed from the ground up to match your vision, personality, and long-term goals.

For Grimmo, that meant transforming a scattered mix of gothic horror assets into a cohesive, professional package he could proudly call his own. For other streamers, it might mean a clean minimalist brand, a neon cyberpunk aesthetic, or something entirely new.

This project with Grimmo_TV shows what’s possible when creativity meets customization. By reimagining existing assets, refining them into a professional mascot, and building a fully animated stream package, we created a design system that feels timeless, personal, and true to the streamer’s brand.

If you’re ready to take your stream to the next level with your own custom stream overlay design, contact Nerd or Die help you create your custom stream design.