Who is Gilly?

Ever feel like you're living life in slow motion while everyone else rushes past? Meet Gilly—a quiet girl with a thunderously loud inner world who proves that softness isn't weakness, it's strength.

The Girl Who Feels Too Much

Gilly is the main character from the fictional book series "Silly Gilly Daily," created by Indonesian artist and author Naela Ali. Naela Ali, born in 1992 and based in Jakarta, graduated from Bina Nusantara University with a degree in Visual Communication Design and has published 12 books since 2016, with some translated into Portuguese and Vietnamese.

First sketched in June 2011 and officially "born" in October 2024, Gilly emerged during a time when Naela was a loner, an over thinker, and in love with drawing. What began as a personal outlet became something much bigger—a gentle voice for doubt, wonder, clumsiness, and small joys that often go unspoken.

What Makes Gilly Special

Gilly doesn't chase dramatic moments or Instagram-worthy achievements. Instead, she finds meaning in the mundane: watching dust float in sunlight, journaling her overthinking spirals, and noticing the way rain sounds against her window. She's clumsy, drops things, over-explains when nervous, and apologizes too much. But that's exactly what makes her real.

Her hobbies reflect her gentle nature—drawing her thoughts instead of explaining them, daydreaming about clouds having personalities, and reading books about quiet people navigating life. She processes the world slowly, and there's profound beauty in that.

Meet Chuwy: The Sleepy Companion

Every gentle soul needs a partner in peace, and for Gilly, that's Chuwy—her lazy, snore-prone cat who doubles as her emotional anchor. Napping together is one of Gilly's favorite pastimes, one of the few times her racing mind finds stillness. Chuwy isn't just a pet; he's a constant source of joy and inspiration, a reminder that sometimes doing "nothing" is actually everything.

Why Gilly Resonates

In a world that glorifies hustle and loudness, Gilly offers something radical: permission to move slowly, feel deeply, and exist gently. She's appeared in three of Naela's books: "Silly Gilly Daily" (2019), "Silly Gilly Daily: Stay at Home" (2021), and "Gilly's Notes on Life, One Clumsy Step at a Time" (2025).

This emotional depth is exactly what makes characters like Gilly so powerful. She represents the kind of authentic storytelling that creates genuine connections—the foundation of meaningful creative communities. When characters feel real, when they mirror our own inner experiences, they become more than fiction. They become companions.

Building Communities Through Stories

At Maruna, we believe in the power of emotionally attached stories and strong characters to bring people together. Gilly embodies what we stand for: finding beauty in everyday moments, honoring sensitivity as strength, and creating spaces where people can connect authentically around the art and stories they love.

Through partnerships with artists like Naela Ali, we're able to bring beloved characters into tangible experiences—transforming emotional connection into moments of joy that you can hold, wear, and share.

Because sometimes, that's all we really need: someone (or something) that understands being sensitive isn't a flaw. It's just another way of being beautifully, honestly human.

😉