Yoshitaka Amano
From Final Fantasy Wiki
Yoshitaka Amano is an artist who designed many characters for the Final Fantasy series as well as for other series. He is a native of Shizuoka, Japan. His uniqueness in his designs are such that he does not design images directly for animation or comics. Instead, his designs resemble that of a painting. He uses watercolor ink to make his drawings. His drawings contrast to many modern Japanese designers in that his drawings are made with smoother, flowing lines, especially when it comes to hair, a characteristic that defies the stereotype of pointy, spiky hair used by other designers. To this day Amano has drawn and designed most of the main characters and prominent points in the iconic games of the series.
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[edit] Work in the series
Amano was the lead character designer for the most games in the series. He designed the characters and enemies for Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, and Final Fantasy VI. He was also one of several designers for Final Fantasy IX. In Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, and Final Fantasy X, he also submitted some concept sketches of the characters, although he did not design them. His artworks for Final Fantasy XII can also be found in the International Zodiac Job System Ultimania.
| Game Name | Amano's Role(s) |
|---|---|
| Final Fantasy | Character Designer, Title Logo Designer & Graphic Designer |
| Final Fantasy II | Character Designer, Title Logo Designer & Graphic Designer |
| Final Fantasy III | Character Designer & Title Logo Designer |
| Final Fantasy IV | Character Designer, Image Designer & Title Logo Designer |
| Final Fantasy V | Character Designer, Image Designer & Title Logo Designer |
| Final Fantasy VI | Character Designer, Image Designer & Title Logo Designer |
| Final Fantasy VII | Promotional Artwork, Image Illustrator, Title Logo Designer & Character Artwork |
| Final Fantasy VIII | Promotional Artwork, Image Illustrator, Title Logo Designer & Character Artwork |
| Final Fantasy IX | Character Illustrations & Original Character Designer |
| Final Fantasy X | Promotional Artwork, Image Illustrations, Title Logo Designer & Character Artwork |
| Final Fantasy X-2 | Promotional Artwork, Title Logo Designer & Image Illustrator |
| Final Fantasy XI | Promotional Artwork, Title Logo Designer & Image Illustrator |
| Final Fantasy XII | Promotional Artwork, Title Logo Designer & Image Illustrator |
| Final Fantasy XIII | Promotional Artwork, Title Logo Designer & Image Illustrator |
[edit] Criticism
Amano has received criticism from the huge Final Fantasy fanbase, especially from the fans of newer Square Enix artist and designer Tetsuya Nomura, for using an unclear, washed-out style, as compared to the crisp and colorful designs of Nomura. When he uses Nomura creations for promotional illustrations, he also receives criticism for changing the characters' appearances too much and often making them unrecognizeable. Examples include a jet-black Barret, white-haired Tifa, blonde Squall and Rinoa, etc. His Cloud of Darkness design for Dissidia -Final Fantasy- (re-drawn by Nomura based on his artwork) has also received mixed feelings due to a revealing outfit and fanservicey feel.
[edit] Outside Final Fantasy
Amano has done character designs for various games and series, most notably the Front Mission series. However, he has also done illustrations for novels, such as a retelling of The Sandman: The Dream Hunters and Vampire Hunter D. He has also appeared as the character Hiroshi in the movie New Rose Hotel.
[edit] Gallery
 Character design of Rydia from Final Fantasy IV |
 Conceptual artwork of the character Tifa from Final Fantasy VII |
