Topic: Turns out all of the NES covers may have borrowed heavily from other works.

[Ratty]

So I've seen topics about the first two individually, but I don't think I've ever seen a thread about all of them in one place. I apologize if there has been and this is a redundant thread.

Well, to cut to the chase I was looking through this great feature on Hardcore Gaming 101 (which is a year old so many of you may have seen it) about blatant tracing and photo referencing in the art for games. Mostly for covers or advertisements but also for in-game art. I was surprised to find all four covers (including both for CV3) shown here, rather than just the first two.

Most of us have seen the comparison between Frank Frazetta's The Norseman and the original cover for Castlevania

As well as the use of Clyde Caldwell's cover illustration from the original D&D Ravenloft Module as a basis for the cover of Simon's Quest.

However I suspect a lot of people may, like me, have not been aware that the Japanese cover for Castlevania 3 is possibly derivative of the poster art for Return of the Jedi. By way of another Konami illustration that more obviously rips off said Star Wars film.
Return of the Jedi - Dark Adventure - Akumajō Dracula III
 
The article also suggests that the cover art for Castlevania 3 outside of Japan  is influenced by this Clyde Caldwell illustration. Though I'm not entirely convinced of this one.

Thoughts?

[Chernabogue]

As CV was based on horror movies at that time, it doesn't surprise me a lot, but that's indeed the inspiration for all the covers.

[X]

Personally I've always felt that was a part of the NES' charm. I could spend hours starring at the boxart of my favorite NES titles and even duplicating the art for drawing practice. You don't see thing like that nowadays.

[Darkweaver]

I remember when I first saw Simon's Quest and I said to myself "Hey! That's the cover of the Ravenloft module!"  All they did was change Strahd's (the vampire in Ravenloft) face and added Simon in the picture.  I was rather surprised they were able to get away with that unless they had permission.

[DoctaMario]

The first two I can definitely see, but I don't see any resemblance between the outside-Japan CV3 art and the Caldwell piece. Interesting stuff though!

[LuxKiller65]

The CV3-Star Wars similarity is quite funny, thanks for posting. The big skull really reminds a lot of the Dark Vader face now that I've seen it

[bronty]

So I've seen topics about the first two individually, but I don't think I've ever seen a thread about all of them in one place. I apologize if there has been and this is a redundant thread.

Well, to cut to the chase I was looking through this great feature on Hardcore Gaming 101 (which is a year old so many of you may have seen it) about blatant tracing and photo referencing in the art for games. Mostly for covers or advertisements but also for in-game art. I was surprised to find all four covers (including both for CV3) shown here, rather than just the first two.

Most of us have seen the comparison between Frank Frazetta's The Norseman and the original cover for Castlevania

As well as the use of Clyde Caldwell's cover illustration from the original D&D Ravenloft Module as a basis for the cover of Simon's Quest.

However I suspect a lot of people may, like me, have not been aware that the Japanese cover for Castlevania 3 is possibly derivative of the poster art for Return of the Jedi. By way of another Konami illustration that more obviously rips off said Star Wars film.
Return of the Jedi - Dark Adventure - Akumajō Dracula III
 
The article also suggests that the cover art for Castlevania 3 outside of Japan  is influenced by this Clyde Caldwell illustration. Though I'm not entirely convinced of this one.

Thoughts?

Some of this I've seen before; some I haven't - thank you for sharing, its fascinating.

I can add one thing.    The US CV3 cover had nothing to do with that caldwell.   Absolutely nothing.

The guy who wrote that seems to think that the CV 1,2,3 were the same artist and hence possibly ripping off the same material but CV 1,2 were japanese art and US CV3 by a different artist altogether.   I know the artist and will share that info soon but not yet.

In the meantime, you guys might enjoy seeing the pencil artwork prior to painting for SC4.   Obviously only of these two was chosen to go with but I think you guys can agree that they are both great and that either way it would have ended up in a tremendous box cover.   (the images are a little too wide - sorry about that, so you have to scroll to the right)

[bronty]

[bronty]

[Dark Nemesis]

These artworks are boss!!!!

[Akumajou Jason XX]

I can see how that one game is ripping off Indiana Jones and Return of the Jedi at the same time, but the Akumajou Densetsu link is tenuous, at best.  Perhaps the artist based Trevor (Ralph)'s pose slightly on Indy, but not really on RotJ.

Either way, it's amazing that the old SCIV artist kept his original sketches around for all this time.  Fantastic pieces of history there.

[Gunlord]

That is *really* cool!

[Dremn]

Holy shit bronty, how did you get those? The second sketch is really cool.

[bronty]

I can see how that one game is ripping off Indiana Jones and Return of the Jedi at the same time, but the Akumajou Densetsu link is tenuous, at best.  Perhaps the artist based Trevor (Ralph)'s pose slightly on Indy, but not really on RotJ.

Either way, it's amazing that the old SCIV artist kept his original sketches around for all this time.  Fantastic pieces of history there.

thanks guys, appreciate the nice comments.   The sad part is he chucked dozens of similar sketches for other konami titles including other CV titles because, well, they were taking up space.   Only a few survived 

[Shiroi Koumori]

thanks guys, appreciate the nice comments.   The sad part is he chucked dozens of similar sketches for other konami titles including other CV titles because, well, they were taking up space.   Only a few survived 

Awww... if he knew about this place. he could have sold those sketches to collectors here.
Looking at the bright side, at least there were survivors.