Yoshitaka Amano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yoshitaka Amano
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| 天野 喜孝 | |
Amano in 2006
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| Born | March 26, 1952 Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
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| Known for | character design, illustration, printmaking, painting, sculpting |
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Notable work
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Final Fantasy, Vampire Hunter D, Speed Racer, Gatchaman, Casshan, Guin Saga |
| Awards | Seiun Award Dragon Con Award Julie Award Inkpot Award, 2018 Artist Guest of Honor, Worldcon 65 (Nippon 2007) |
Yoshitaka Amano (Japanese: 天野 喜孝, born March 26, 1952) is a famous Japanese artist. He designs characters, creates illustrations, and works on paintings and sculptures. He also designs sets for theater and movies, and even creates costumes!
Amano became well-known in the late 1960s. He worked on the animated TV show Speed Racer. Later, he created many popular characters for shows like Gatchaman, Tekkaman, and Casshern.
In 1982, Amano started working for himself as a freelance artist. He became a successful illustrator for many books. He worked on popular book series such as The Guin Saga and Vampire Hunter D. He is also very famous for his art in the video game series Final Fantasy.
Since the 1990s, Amano has shown his paintings in art galleries worldwide. He often paints on aluminum panels using acrylic and car paint. He has won the Seiun Award five times. He also won the 1999 Bram Stoker Award for his work with writer Neil Gaiman on Sandman: The Dream Hunters.
Amano's art is inspired by old Western comic books, Art Nouveau (a style of art), and traditional Japanese woodblock prints. In 2010, he started his own film company called Studio Devaloka.
About Yoshitaka Amano's Life
Amano was born in Shizuoka, Japan. He was the youngest of four children. His father was an artist who worked with lacquer, a type of varnish. When Yoshitaka was young, he loved to draw.
In 1967, he started working at Tatsunoko Productions. This company made anime (Japanese animation). His first paid job was for the Speed Racer anime. He designed characters for many anime shows, including Time Bokan, Gatchaman, and Honeybee Hutch.
In the 1960s, Amano learned about Western art styles from comic books. He really liked the comic book artist Neal Adams. Amano was also interested in psychedelic art and pop art from the West, especially the work of American artist Peter Max. In the 1970s, he studied Art Nouveau art from Europe. He also looked at Russian artists and ancient Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Amano worked at Tatsunoko Productions until 1982.
Amano's Early Fantasy Art
In the 1980s, Amano focused on creating art for science fiction and fantasy stories. His experience in animation, combined with these new interests, helped him create a unique art style. This style mixed modern surrealism (dream-like art) and realism (art that looks like real life).
After leaving Tatsunoko Production in 1982, he became a freelance artist. He illustrated many novels, including the Kimaira series and Demon City Shinjuku. In 1983, he started illustrating the popular Vampire Hunter D novel series. He also designed characters for the 1985 Vampire Hunter D movie. This was one of the first anime movies released outside Japan.
His illustrations also began to appear in art collections, like Maten in 1984. He also designed characters for the animated show Amon Saga.
Amano's Video Game Work
In 1987, Amano joined Square (now Square Enix). He worked on the first Final Fantasy game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Amano created many design ideas for the game, using both traditional and computer art. He also worked for another game company, Kure Software Koubou, designing characters and box covers for their First Queen series.
After Final Fantasy VI in 1994, Amano stepped back from being the main character designer for the series. However, he continued to create art for future games and design their title logos.
Amano's art became known worldwide after Final Fantasy VII was released in 1997. In 2006, Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy, asked Amano and composer Nobuo Uematsu to work on new video games at Mistwalker. Amano and Nobuo Uematsu also worked together on games like Fairy Fencer F.
Amano's Other Creative Projects
Amano's first art show, called "Hiten," was in 1989 in Tokyo, Japan. In 1990, he started designing sets and art for stage plays. His first theater work was for Nayotake.
Starting in 1995, his work began to get more attention outside Japan. He had exhibitions in France and other countries.
In 1998, Amano acted in the movie New Rose Hotel.
Freelance Work and Collaborations
In 2000, Amano illustrated The Sandman: The Dream Hunters by Neil Gaiman. This book won several awards. In 2001, he worked with Greg Rucka on a comic book called Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer. His character designs were also used in the movie Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.
He designed album covers for the Japanese band Galneryus. He also created illustrations for a project with author Neil Gaiman and featured David Bowie and Iman.
In 2008, Amano created an illustrated version of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera The Magic Flute. He also designed characters for the 2009 Jungle Emperor (Kimba the White Lion) TV special. This special celebrated the 50th anniversary of Fuji Television and the 80th anniversary of Osamu Tezuka's birth.
Studio Devaloka: Amano's Film Company
In 2010, Amano announced he had started a film company called Studio Devaloka. He planned to direct a 3D animated film called Zan, later renamed Deva Zan. The film's style was meant to look like Amano's paintings.
In 2013, an illustrated novel based on Deva Zan was released. Amano also worked with Japanese rock star Hyde on an art exhibition called Destiny and Decay: Nippon Evolution.
In 2023, Amano revealed the cover art for a song by rock artist Yoshiki.
List of Works
Animation Projects
- Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (1972)
- Casshan (1973)
- Hurricane Polymar (1974)
- New Honeybee Hutch (1974)
- Time Bokan (1975)
- Yatterman (1977)
- Zenderman (1979)
- Rescueman (1980)
- Yattodetaman (1981)
- Gyakuten! Ippatsuman (1982)
- Itadakiman (1983)
- Tekkaman: The Space Knight (1975)
- Gowappa 5 Gōdam (1976)
- Angel's Egg (1985)
- Vampire Hunter D (1985)
- Amon Saga (1986)
- Lily C.A.T. (1987)
- Ayakashi (2006)
- Jungle Taitei: Yūki ga Mirai wo Kaeru (2009)
- Gibiate (2020)
- Exception (2022)
- Zan (2026)
Novels and Books
As an Author
- DEVA ZAN (2013)
As an Illustrator
- Vampire Hunter D (1983-ongoing)
- Guin Saga (1984–1997)
- The Heroic Legend of Arslan (1986–1999)
- Sohryuden (1987-ongoing)
- Rampo Edogawa Mystery Collection (1987–1989)
- The Tale of Genji (1997)
- Sandman: The Dream Hunters (1999)
- Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer (2002)
- Yoshitaka Amano's HERO (2006-ongoing)
- Shinjuku (2010)
Art Books
- Maten / Evil Universe (1984)
- Genmukyu / Castle of Illusions (1986)
- Imagine (1987)
- Hiten / Flying Universe: The Art of Yoshitaka Amano (1989)
- Dawn (1991)
- The Heroic Tales Of Arslan (1991)
- Mono (1993)
- Steps To Heaven (1993)
- 'Japan, Final Fantasy (1994)
- Katen (1994)
- Budōhime / Princess Budou (1996)
- Yousei / Fairies (1996)
- Guin Saga (1996)
- Kan'oke / Coffin (1997)
- Think Like Amano (1997)
- Biten (1999)
- 1001 Nights (1999)
- Märchen (2000)
- Vampire Hunter D (2000)
- POEM (2001)
- The Sky (2002)
- Kiten (2002)
- Symphony' (2002)
- Amano First (2003)
- The Virgin (2004)
- Yoshitaka Amano x HYDE – Destiny and Decay: Nippon Evolution (2013)
- Yoshitaka Amano Exhibition Art Book: The World Beyond Your Imagination (2015)
Video Games
- Esh's Aurunmilla (1984) – Character Designer
- Final Fantasy (1987) – Character Designer, Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy II (1988) – Character Designer, Title Logo Designer
- First Queen (1988) – Box cover artist
- Final Fantasy III (1990) – Character Designer & Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy IV (1991) – Character Designer, Image Designer and Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy V (1992) – Character Designer, Image Designer and Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy VI (1994) – Character Designer, Image Designer and Title Logo Designer
- Front Mission (1995) – Character Designer
- Final Fantasy VII (1997) – Promotional Artwork, Image Illustrator, Title Logo Designer
- Kartia: The Word of Fate (1998) – Art Designer
- Final Fantasy VIII (1999) – Promotional Artwork, Image Illustrator, Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy IX (2000) – Character Illustrations & Original Character Designer
- El Dorado Gate (2000–2001) – Creative Director
- Final Fantasy X (2001) – Promotional Artwork, Image Illustrations, Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy X-2 (2003) – Promotional Artwork, Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy XI (2002) – Promotional Artwork, Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy XII (2006) – Promotional Artwork, Title Logo Designer
- Lord of Vermilion (2008) – Guest Card Illustrator
- Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008) – Title Logo Designer & Image Illustrator
- Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (2009) – Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy XIII (2010) – Promotional Artwork, Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy XIV (2010) – Title Logo Designer
- Lord of Arcana (2010) – Guest Monster Designer
- Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy (2011) – Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy Type-0 (2011) – Promotional Artwork, Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy XIII-2 (2011) – Title Logo Designer
- Fantasy Life (2012) – Image Illustrator
- Fairy Fencer F (2013) – Art Designer
- Child of Light (2014) – Image Illustrator
- Terra Battle (2014) – Character Design
- Final Fantasy Explorers (2014) – Title Logo Designer
- Mobius Final Fantasy (2015) – Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius (2015) – Promotional Artwork, Title Logo Designer
- World of Final Fantasy (2016) – Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy XV (2016) – Promotional Artwork, Title Logo Designer
- Dissidia Final Fantasy NT (2018) – Title Logo Designer
- War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius (2019) – Title Logo Designer
- Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) - Title Logo Designer
- Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin (2022) – Title Logo Designer
- Front Mission 1st: Remake (2022) – Character Designer
- Final Fantasy XVI (2023) – Title Logo Designer
- Fortnite – Amano's Heart collaboration (2023) – Character Designer & Image Illustrator
- Front Mission 2 Remake (2023) – Character Designer
- Front Mission 3 Remake (TBA) – Character Designer
Music Projects
- Raphael: Sweet Romance (1999), Yume Yori Suteki na (1999), Hanasaku Inochi Aru Kagiri (1999), Eternal Wish (Todokanu Kimi e) (1999), Promise (1999) – Cover Illustrator
- Galneryus: The Flag of Punishment (2003), Advance to the Fall (2005), Beyond the End of Despair... (2006), Best of the Awakening Days (2009), Best of the Braving Days (2009) – Cover Illustrator
- Vocaloid 3 Library: Zola Project (2013) – Image Illustrator
- Random Encounter: Lost Frequency (2017) – Cover and Interior Illustrator
Other Works
- Magic: The Gathering Liliana, Dreadhorde General (2019) – Image Illustrator
- Vogue Italia January issue (2020) – Cover and editorial illustrator
See also
In Spanish: Yoshitaka Amano para niños
