Yoshitaka Amano

Articleissues
copyedit=April 2008
introrewrite=April 2008
refimprove=April 2008Infobox Artist
bgcolour=#FBF5DF
name=Yoshitaka Amano

---

imagesize=200px
caption=
birthname=天野 嘉孝
birthdate=birth date and age|1952|7|28
location=Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
deathdate=
deathplace=
nationality=Japanese
field=character design, illustration, printmaking, painting, sculpting
training=
movement=
famous works=Final Fantasy series, Vampire Hunter D
patrons=
awards=Seiun Award, Dragon Con Award, Julie Award

nihongo|Yoshitaka Amano|天野 喜孝 (formerly 天野 嘉孝)|Amano Yoshitaka (born July 28 1952) is a Japanese artist known for his illustrations for Vampire Hunter D and for his character designs, image illustrations and title logo designs for the "Final Fantasy" video game series developed by Square Enix (formerly Square). [ [http://www.animenewsservice.com/archives/amano.htm ANS Exclusive Interview: 10 Questions To Yoshitaka Amano.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] .

Biography

Animation

Amano was born in Shizuoka, Japan; as a young adolescent, he was fascinated with drawing. In 1967, he began working for Tatsunoko Productions in the animation department, where he was introduced to the early Japanese anime movement. [ [http://www.ex.org/4.7/04-feature_amano1.html ex.org interview.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] [ [http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q3-2002/081302c.html RPGamer interview.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] His first paid project was for the Speed Racer anime franchise (also known as Mach GoGoGo). He worked in character design for anime shows such as the Time Bokan series, the "Gatchaman" series, Tekkaman and the "Honey Bee". [http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=3&cId=3152237 1UP.com A Day in the Life of Yoshitaka Amano.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.]

In the 1960s, Amano was exposed to Western art styles through comic books and their Japanese Western-influenced counter parts. Amano was also fascinated by the art styles of psychedelic art and pop art of the West, particularly the work of American Pop artist Peter Max.Amano: The Complete Prints of Yoshitaka Amano Collins Design November 4 (2003) by Unno Hiroshi ISBN 0-06-056763-5. Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] In the 1970s, Amano's intrigue led him to the study of the artworks of the late 19th century and early 20th century European movement of Art Nouveau, as well as the ancient Japanese hand woodblock printing work of Ukiyo-e. While concentrating on illustration, he was still at Tatsunoko Productions until he left in 1982.

Early fantasy works

In the early 1980s, he concentrated on illustrations for Science Fiction and Fantasy, while still keeping the influence of his animation and other illustration works from the 1960s and 1970s. This in turn created a unique personal style, which was influenced by both modern surrealism as well as realism fluent in many classic and modern techniques.

In 1983, he was behind the illustrations for the novel Demon City Shinjuku and the first of Hideyuki Kikuchi's novel series "Vampire Hunter D". This was adapted to a movie in 1985 for which Amano worked as character designer. The film was one of the first anime movies to be released outside of Japan. In interviews, however, Amano has stated that he was not pleased with the final product of the movie. More involvement in illustration had led to the creation of collections of his artwork being published, such as "Maten" in 1984. [ [http://www.amanosworld.com/html/biblio/bib1.html Amano's World The Art of Yoshitaka Amano English Website Bibliography of "Maten".] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.]

Final Fantasy

In 1987, he was introduced to a newly developed art department with a promising future for conceptual design for video games. He joined Square (now known as Square Enix) to work on what was expected to be their last video game for the Famicom (Nintendo Entertainment System): "Final Fantasy" (released on December 18 1987 in Japan). This task opened a new realm for Amano to work in. Even though video game technology was very young, Amano produced striking pieces of conceptual design for the games in both traditional and computer designed artwork [ [http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/ZDM/story?id=2396111 ABC News The Genius Behind Final Fantasy.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] . Final Fantasy, the first in a continuing series, was a success and brought Square popularity in the RPG genre in Japan, as well as modest international fame. But the series would ignite extreme international fame as the series continued. At this time, he also worked for another video game company called Kure Software Koubou in which he did box cover illustrations as well as some character designs. This included work on Kure's First Queen series, which, despite being fairly unknown overseas, is regarded a classic in Japan.

Branching out

In 1989, he had his first exhibition called "Hiten" at Yurakucho Mullion in Tokyo, Japan. [ [http://www.amanosworld.com/html/exhibitions.html Amano's World The Art of Yoshitaka Amano English Website Exhibitions.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] He continued to work with Square and their Final Fantasy series, and in 1990 he started to work as an artist for stage theater. His first work for theater was Tamasaburo Bando's Nayotake, which was in the same year. During this time while working as illustrator, character designer and set designer, he had exhibitions of his becoming well-known for his printing works.

In 1994, after "Final Fantasy VI", he was no longer the main character, image and graphic designer of the series (he started to provide promotional and character artwork for the next games, as well as working on the title logo designs for most of the games), but in 1995 he started to become better known world wide with his work at the Biennale d'Orléans in France, and then in his newly established workshop and exhibition "Think Like Amano" in New York in 1997 [ [http://www.amanosworld.com/html/shows/thinklike.html Amano's World The Art of Yoshitaka Amano English Website "Think Like Amano Exhibition".] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] , which followed another exhibition in New York at the Angel Orensanz Foundation entitled "Hero" [ [http://www.amanosworld.com/html/shows/hero.html Amano's World The Art of Yoshitaka Amano English Website "HERO Exhibition".] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] . Amano also appeared in the 1998 movie "New Rose Hotel" which is loosely based on the William Gibson short story with the same name, in which he played the character Hiroshi [ [http://www.combustiblecelluloid.com/2002/newrosehot.shtml Combustible Celluloid Movie Review New Rose Hotel.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] .

Freelancing

In 2000, Amano did the illustrations for comic writer and novelist Neil Gaiman on [ [http://archives.cnn.com/1999/books/reviews/12/23/sandman/ CNN Review "A dark tale 'of enduring charm".] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] which won several awards and was nominated for a Hugo Award [ [http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=156389629x Powells.com Bibliography "The Sandman: The Dream Hunters".] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] , as well as having his character designs used again in another Vampire Hunter D movie entitled . In 2001, Greg Rucka and Amano collaborated with another comic book tale, this time for Marvel Comics, [ [http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Comics&action=page&type_id=&cat_id=&obj_id=31718 Cinescape Comics Book Review Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] . In 2006, he was selected with Final Fantasy video game composer Nobuo Uematsu, by former designer and creator of Square-Enix's Final Fantasy series, Hironobu Sakaguchi to work on video games at his company Mistwalker [ [http://www.animenewsservice.com/archives/amano.htm ANS Exclusive Interview: 10 Questions To Yoshitaka Amano.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] . He also stated in an interview in the French magazine "Japan Vibes" that he is working on artwork for Final Fantasy XIII [ [http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=6266 Japan Vibes interview.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] . Finally, his series, Hero, will debut to American audiences by Boom! Studios. He has also illustrated three album covers for the Japanese power metal band Galneryus: "The Flag of Punishment" (2003), "Advance to the Fall" (2005) and "Beyond the End of Despair" (2006). [ [http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/list_from_code_banner.html?key=306037 cdjapan.co.jp Galneryus listing.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] .

List of works

Animation

*"Science Ninja Team Gatchaman" (1972)
*"New Honeybee Hutch" (1974)
*"Time Bokan" (1974)
*"Neo-Human Casshern" (1975)
*"Gowappā 5 Godam" (1976)
*"" (1976)
*"Hurricane Polymer" (1977)
*"Akū Daisakusen Srungle" (1983)
*"Genesis Climber MOSPEADA" (1983)
*"Okawari Boy Starzan-S" (1984)
*"Sei Jūshi Bismarck" (1984)
*"Angel's Egg" (1985)
*"Vampire Hunter D" (1985)
*"Amon Saga" (1986)
*"Twilight of the Cockroaches" (1987)
*"1001 Nights" (1998)
*"Ayakashi" (2006)
*"Fantascope ~Tylostoma~"(2006)
*"Bird's Song" (2007)
*"" (2007)

Illustrations

Select domestic Japanese works
*"Vampire Hunter D" (1983-ongoing)
*"Guin Saga" (1984-1997)
*"The Heroic Legend of Arslan" (1986-1999)
*"" (1987-ongoing)
*"Rampo Edogawa Mystery Collection" (1987-1989)
*"Tekiha Kaizoku Series"
*"Shinsetsu Taikō-ki"
*"Chimera-ho Series"
*"Garouden"
*"The Tale of Genji" (1997)
*"Galneryus" - Album art
*"Sword World RPG" - Assorted artwork

Select Japanese editions of foreign works
*"A Cup of Magic! (1981)
*"The Prince in the Scarlet Robe, Corum (1982)
*"Erekosë Saga (1983)
*"Elric Saga (1984)
*"Dream Weaver (1985)
*"The Chronicles of Castle Brass (1988)
*"Hoka Series
*"Seven Brothers" (2006)

Foreign works
*"" (1999)
*"" (2002)

Video Games

"Note: Tetsuya Nomura was also character designer of minor characters in "Final Fantasy VI" , main character designer of "Final Fantasy VII", "Final Fantasy VIII", "Final Fantasy X", "Final Fantasy X-2", "Final Fantasy XIII", and "Dissidia: Final Fantasy". Tetsuya Nomura and Nobuyoshi Mihara were the character designers of "Final Fantasy XI". Toshiyuki Itahana was the character designer of "Final Fantasy IX". Akihiko Yoshida was the character designer of "Final Fantasy XII". Yoshitaka Amano has stated that he is currently working on Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII but his role is unknown so far. [ [http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q2-2006/042606d.html Amano Working on Final Fantasy XIII.] Retrieved on 2006-5-9.] . It is confirmed that he will be the Title logo designer and Image illustrator on Fabula Nova Crystallis.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.pinkwork.com/yoshitaka/amano.htm Amano in pinkwork city] (interview sound & video)
* [http://www.amanosworld.com/html/ Amano's World - The Art of Yoshitaka Amano] (English website)
* [http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3152237 A Day in the Life of Yoshitaka Amano] (videos and interview)
* [http://marvel.com/catalog/?artist=Yoshitaka%20Amano Yoshitaka Amano's work on Marvel.com]
* [http://www.darkhorse.com/news/interviews.php?id=1394&qt=dhnl108q Interview at Official Dark Horse Website]
* [http://www.ganime.jp/fantascope/index.html Ga-nime: Fantascope ~Tylostoma~]
* [http://www.ganime.jp/torinouta/index.html Ga-nime: Bird's Song]