A fish-like monster from the folk tale Madam White Snake created by Chinese artist Wu Jian'an. [Photo provided to China Daily]

His favorite TV shows were all about animals. He loves lizards and snakes so much that he once raised more than 30 kinds of snakes and lizards in his bedroom.

The dragons he now designs are based on these reptiles.

His monsters often have sharp teeth or long tusks, which he says are inspired by crocodiles.

"I think ghosts and monsters from the East are more scary. They are supernatural. And, sometimes, even though they do not have eyes, they still know where you are."

When it comes to the creatures that he finds memorable, he says that the ghosts and monsters from A Chinese Ghost Story, produced by Hong Kong director Tsui Hark, impressed many Westerners.

The film is about a love story between a young man and a female ghost.

Referring to the size of the monsters, Acevedo says that those in the East have the same proportions as human beings, but monsters in Western films typically have bigger bodies to show that they are not humans.