Topic: CV4 art - Tom Dubois

[PFG9000]

Castlevania III ad



Turtles in Time ad #1



Turtles in Time ad #2

[bronty]

All the ones on the list so far are correct (even the ones with question marks) but it's not complete.   I'll try dig up the list I had going.   Plus other ads not mentioned here.   Getting a list of those will be the hard part

[Belmontoya]

What would you call his art style?

Is there a style or genre name for it?

[Abnormal Freak]

Alls I know is I've always appreciated how duBois fused great cartoony poses with high levels of detail. It's like a mash of comic book and western fantasy art, not unlike the paintings of Glenn Fabry and Simon Bisley.

Except that duBois has a greater sense of movement/action, more in line with someone like Bruce Timm.

[bronty]

Alls I know is I've always appreciated how duBois fused great cartoony poses with high levels of detail. It's like a mash of comic book and western fantasy art, not unlike the paintings of Glenn Fabry and Simon Bisley.

Except that duBois has a greater sense of movement/action, more in line with someone like Bruce Timm.

His style is his own, I think that's what everyone likes about it.   Very original work and not trying to copy anybody else.   I get why you compare to bisley, and that's a good comparison and one he'd probably like as he thinks well of bisley, but they are as different as they are similar.   He's just his own guy, as is bisley.

Anyhoo, I dug up this pic and thought y'all might find it interesting to see his work on different subject matter.   If you look closely the 7 dwarves and the old witch are all hidden in the background somewhere.

[X]

Interesting. Found all seven dwarfs and the witch    not sure if Prince Charming is in there...

[bronty]

I don't think so, at least if he is, its news to me

[bronty]

I don't think so, at least if he is, its news to me

Here's one more non-game piece and a 180 from snow white.   Made for a playboy article on rock groupies that got cancelled last minute.   Sorry for the shit quality image.

[Eric Roman]

Shit, it's great to have one less life question after all this time. #coolstorybro

[Sumez]

One thing that really floored me in that interview was the reveal that Tom's only insight into the games he were illustrating for came from VHS tapes that had to be promptly returned to Konami.

Look at a piece like the Contra 3 artwork. This is probably the greatest piece of official American video game artwork to ever be created! It's right up there along with my favourite Japanese ones.
While it's over-the-top cheesy, that's 100% in line with the style and feeling of the game. The image is LOADED with details without feeling crammed or flooded. But there's so much going on there. And EVERYTHING on the image is in the game! And super faithful to boot! From the look of the enemies to multiple actual gameplay elements! (the dual guns, climbing the arms of the flying robot, etc.)

If I didn't know any better, I'd think the image was created by a hardcore fan of the game. If he got it all from a tape recording, it must have been a complete playthrough of the entire game, with the intro sequence included obviously. No doubt, Tom took pride in his work, has an amazing eye for detail, and wanted to deliver the best he could.

I'd really love to see some more of the stuff this guy did. From non-box videogame art, to any commisions or spare time work he's been doing since then.
PFG9000, where did you dig up all these ads?

[Gunlord]

Castlevania III ad



Turtles in Time ad #1



Turtles in Time ad #2

I've always wondered if anyone won that trip to Transylvania.

[Sindra]

Late to the realization that Dubois also did Bloodlines and Belmont's Revenge.

I would kill for those originals.


That's right.


KILL.

[X]

That...thing...looks like it needs a good long shot from a Proton Pack. 

[PFG9000]

PFG9000, where did you dig up all these ads?

I have an embarassingly thorough collection of game magazines from that era.  Years ago when I was trying to figure out who this artist was, I noticed the similarity in art style.  I'm sure there are more ads that he's done, but I haven't had a chance to go through any of the magazines yet to look for them.