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The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: Reinhart77 on March 23, 2012, 10:41:04 PM

Title: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 23, 2012, 10:41:04 PM
Well, the topic was prompted by the announcement of a new Square Enix game that is using Order of Ecclesia's artist Masaki Hirooka.  I'd be interested in seeing the art in that game just for that.

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/square-enix-teases-unidentified-fantasy-game-for-summer/ (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/square-enix-teases-unidentified-fantasy-game-for-summer/)

But it's also just an excuse to talk about Order of Ecclesia's art and if you'd like to see more of it in Castlevania games.  I loved the character designs in Order of Ecclesia.  I didn't care too much for the monster art that appeared in the intro video though.  Guess they didn't seem very much like Castlevania monsters to me.  At least the anime intro in Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin had some recognizable enemies in it (I'm a big anime fan, so I was more than happy with the anime style of those games).  But that's my only complaint.  I'd be more than happy if Masaki Hirooka made some more art in future CV games and Ayami Kojima was unavailable.  I don't know anything about this guy though.  If he's working on a Square game, is he still available for a Konami game?  Or does he just work with whoever he feels like?
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: thernz on March 23, 2012, 11:45:35 PM
Yeah, he's freelance.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Lumi Kløvstad on March 24, 2012, 12:30:03 AM
Yeah, he's freelance.

And we love him for it. Well, at least I do.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: GuyStarwind on March 24, 2012, 02:05:25 AM
I think the art is great. I would be colored happy if we had some more of it. I'm curious how some of the Belmont's would look.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Nagumo on March 24, 2012, 02:16:24 AM
I hope this guy returns to work on the Castlevania series. I think I actually dig his work more than Kojima's.   
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: X on March 24, 2012, 09:14:30 AM
I liked the art style too. His guys looked like guys, it was so refreshing to not see a pretty boy.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: K.G. Morder on March 24, 2012, 09:54:42 AM
(http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kq1y2gYM071qze2m9o1_500.jpg)
DEM EYES.

his stuff really seems just much more detailed compared to Kojima's.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: A-Yty on March 24, 2012, 11:16:45 AM
I hope this guy returns to work on the Castlevania series. I think I actually dig his work more than Kojima's.   

Ditto.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Odile Kuronuma on March 24, 2012, 01:07:51 PM
(http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kq1y2gYM071qze2m9o1_500.jpg)
DEM EYES.

his stuff really seems just much more detailed compared to Kojima's.
In some cases yes. I liked how Barlowe had all those wrinkles. But for the rest I think Kojima puts more details in the clothes.
If they ever hire someone to do the art for a Castlevania game and Kojima wasn't available, they should totally hire him. That or hire Yoh and Koh Yoshinari, the character designers for Valkyrie profile.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Kramgnauh on March 24, 2012, 01:10:49 PM
So that's OoE artist! I like it!
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: darkwzrd4 on March 24, 2012, 01:13:36 PM
I hope this guy returns to work on the Castlevania series. I think I actually dig his work more than Kojima's.
Same here.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Ahasverus on March 24, 2012, 02:19:22 PM
Same here.
I third this.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: KaZudra on March 24, 2012, 07:54:36 PM
Masaki Hirooka > Ayami Kojima

Ayami's style IS good, but let's face it, Girly men aren't awesome.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: VampirehunterB on March 24, 2012, 08:41:10 PM
(http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kq1y2gYM071qze2m9o1_500.jpg)
DEM EYES.

his stuff really seems just much more detailed compared to Kojima's.


Ayami Kojima's illustrations of eyes is probably her strongest side imo, soma being a good example.
(http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/348/6/3/63613995b6ad797856d6e60fd0b9341f-d4j4f5z.jpg)

regardless, I will always consider ayami kojimas artwork to be absolutely superior no matter what. she makes to such a supreme detailed quality unmatched.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: K.G. Morder on March 24, 2012, 11:17:27 PM
Yknow what art style was neat?

the Dracula X X art.

(http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/7393/akumajodraculaxxart01.jpg)

Also, i guess this thread is officially now another "what artist you would like to see back" thread? XD
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: DragonSlayr81 on March 24, 2012, 11:28:35 PM
Masaki Hirooka > Ayami Kojima

Ayami's style IS good, but let's face it, Girly men aren't awesome.
C'mon. Ayami's Trevor looks pretty badass. Her Draculas too!
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: KaZudra on March 25, 2012, 01:53:19 AM
C'mon. Ayami's Trevor looks pretty badass. Her Draculas too!

well yeah, but I was really referring to her renditions of non-belmonts and Bruno Simon
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Nagumo on March 25, 2012, 02:07:46 AM
I still can't understand why anyone would say Chronicles Simon is a girly man. I bet he looks more manly that any person who said he was not.  8)

 
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: A-Yty on March 25, 2012, 04:34:58 AM
Chronicles Simon looks like a boyish man, but the way he dresses is just..no.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Arma on March 25, 2012, 05:02:43 AM
Yknow what art style was neat?

the Dracula X X art.

(http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/7393/akumajodraculaxxart01.jpg)

Also, i guess this thread is officially now another "what artist you would like to see back" thread? XD

What was the name of that artist?
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: VampirehunterB on March 25, 2012, 06:40:23 AM
yeah that Dracula X art is extremely cool!
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Puwexil on March 25, 2012, 07:52:10 AM
The Dracula X/Dracula XX/Vampire's Kiss art is by Akihiro Yamada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihiro_Yamada), an accomplished artist. I love his colour and shadow work.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: A-Yty on March 25, 2012, 08:03:36 AM
The only thing about that picture I don't like is Richter's hair. Other than that, I really like the artist's style. There have been so many talented people doing CV art over the years Kojima feels overexposed.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: crisis on March 25, 2012, 08:30:40 AM
richter is rockin' the justin bieber haircut tough
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 25, 2012, 10:10:26 AM
i've always found the Dracula XX art as rather ugly.  i prefer the straight anime style of Rondo of Blood.  but it's got its merits.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Wallz! on March 25, 2012, 10:46:43 AM
While the Dracula XX art is unique, it never really fit the game itself, IMO.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: DragonSlayr81 on March 25, 2012, 02:59:22 PM
Dracula in the XX art looks like he could be an 80s New Wave singer.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: beingthehero on March 25, 2012, 03:54:08 PM
I also preferred Rondo's box art. Dracula XX's Maria looked like an anthropomorphic sunflower for some reason.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: Arma on March 25, 2012, 06:59:08 PM
The Dracula X/Dracula XX/Vampire's Kiss art is by Akihiro Yamada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihiro_Yamada), an accomplished artist. I love his colour and shadow work.

Thanks for the name, I visited his gallery. I like it because he uses different styles.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: crisis on March 25, 2012, 08:17:17 PM
Does anyone know who the artist was for Akumajo Dracula:The Arcade?

(http://pressthebuttons.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83452033569e20120a5992146970b-800wi)
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: VGuyver on March 28, 2012, 02:14:21 AM
Pretty demonic looking Belmont there. Kinda digging it's style.
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: VampirehunterB on April 03, 2012, 04:21:55 PM
concerning unique art, I would have loved to see akihiro yamada(who made the dracula x art) combined with the art illustrator of vampire hunter D.
(http://www.corndogcomics.com/images/products/large_783_vamp-d-vol-1.jpg)
(http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/cv5/offart/offart5.jpg)

I can't help to feel the resemblance between the two!
Title: Re: Masaki Hirooka's art
Post by: beingthehero on April 03, 2012, 04:38:32 PM
I'm afraid I don't see much resemblance between Bowser and D.  :(