why that choice of sword style, over the way that his sword is depicted in Ayami Kojima's artwork? As someone who does a bit of actual swordfighting, the style of blade and shield shown here are from very different eras, and suit different fighting styles. The basket hilt is a much later thing as a whole than the big shield style. I don't know if it' to do with perspective, but the blade also looks a smidge on the short side. Otherwise, I really love Al's look here.
OK so, as Dracula9 pointed out, the Shield and the Sword could've came from different eras. However, there is the question of the Ayami Kojima artworks.
You see. Recently, people here at the Dungeon were trying to point out just what kind of sword is the Alucard Sword. The question made me interested as I discovered that
no one could do that with accuracy, since in Ayami Kojima's artworks Alucard appears holding two different types of swords, and in the game there is one more different sword - the item icon.
That's three different Alucard Swords. If we consider the in-game attack sprite, that would be four.
So, in creating this Alucard, Junki was told to follow the icon for the Alucard Mail. He extended this and decided to follow the icons for both the Alucard Mail and the Alucard Sword, taking the appropriate creative liberties. The icon for the sword is the only thing explicitly called "Alucard Sword" that never changed shape every time it appeared, different from the concept art.
So, while we were inconsistent with Kojima, we are still consistent with the sword
![Tongue :P](http://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/Smileys/classic/tongue.gif)
Your artist is legit! This style reminds me alot of Yoshitaka Amano's style.
You should totally make an artbook for your ideas and include everything in one spot. Kinda like those World of Play books.
In fact Junki has been taking big inspiration from Yoshitaka Amano lately! I knew he would apply this to Umbra, and I'm not opposed to it, even if it brings a little discrepancy between the artworks. He's learning, I can't stop the guy.
I feel Alucard's face is a bit too effeminate. Even more so then Ayami Kojima has ever done when sketching him. No personal offense to the artist in question but there does need to be a balance. I do however like the look of the outfit and also keeping Alucard's traditional SotN sword and shield as well.
Indeed it is, and I voiced that to him. HOWEVER I did not tell him that this is an issue, because this is his style. If this is how he envisions vampire Alucard, then this is how it shall be.
I'm not saying it's NOT effeminate, attention here. I'm saying that I want the artist to keep true to his style. I'll not choose the artist and then start telling him what to do when his portifolio tells me precisely what his style is.