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Everyone who knows me knows I idolize Yoshitaka Amano. He's my very favorite artist in the whole world, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I found some of his poses and facial expressions a bit weird.

At any rate when I was searching the net for some more of Amano's work, I came across some that I've never seen before, and I couldn't help but laugh at the hilarious faces they were making. Here's the sort of stuff I've found:







Final Fantasy characters on drugs, I think.



Here's Terra holding out her sword, but what is with this bored look on her face?

Anyway, if you find any more goofy looking Amano artwork, go ahead and post them here.

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"Some fight for justice. Some fight for law . . .
. . .Cecil, what will you fight for?"
~KluYa

Those look doctored, probably by Nomura fans. *sigh* Yoshida gets no love. Amano's art just doesn't do it for me. I think its to do with the pale colours used and the fact that he gave Strago a mohawk

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Since I advertise CoN there I think it's only fair that I advertise The Wiki here.

Never seen the Strago pic, but I used to have a strategy guide that had that Edgar picture, so I can say it's not Nomuracized.

I love Yoshida as well, though when I think of his art I always think of the tight closeups on the disturbingly well-sculpted asses of Ashley and Merlose in Vagrant Story. Sometimes I wonder if that was either Matsuno or Yoshida's idea, or if it was something they agreed on...

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"If art doesn't risk upsetting expectations and challenging its audience, it can only stagnate."

Most of Amano's artwork owns beyond all comprehension.
Much better than the belts and zippers we get from Tetsuya Nomura.

Lol. The one of Strago looks so cute !

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Currently playing Chrono Trigger !!
Currently looking forward to Don't Know.

Quote (trismegistus @ 4th November 2010 21:56)

I love Yoshida as well, though when I think of his art I always think of the tight closeups on the disturbingly well-sculpted asses of Ashley and Merlose in Vagrant Story. Sometimes I wonder if that was either Matsuno or Yoshida's idea, or if it was something they agreed on...

Why do you think I like it?

Though to be serious, I just find his art style appealing. He doesn't make it too crazy and LSDish like Amano, nor does he go all out on zippers and belts like Nomura. Though his design of Ashley does have his ass cheeks hanging out of his shorts...

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Since I advertise CoN there I think it's only fair that I advertise The Wiki here.

Quote (R8.50 Mango @ 4th November 2010 20:27)

Those look doctored, probably by Nomura fans. *sigh* Yoshida gets no love. Amano's art just doesn't do it for me. I think its to do with the pale colours used and the fact that he gave Strago a mohawk

this isn't doctored, there's no way these are. This is all exactly in his style and I've seen the whole set. I saw them on the FF wiki, for pete's sake! My personal favorite is the one of Celes:





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I say what I wanna say, I play how I wanna play.

There's the one where Strago is on a motorbike.

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

The last two images in the first post are missing...

but anyway, the facial expressions he uses, at least to me anyway, seem to fit. For character sketches, each of those could almost be viewed as caricature sketches. I'd say the expressions he chose for each one are meant to betray their personality by expression of an emotion most synonymous with it.

Edgar, hence, ought have an unconcerned look of confidence and coolness while in a battle stance. Even if something was bothering him, as a King, he needs to have a good poker-face. (As an aside, Lady Gaga sort of ruined that expression for me.)

Strago, also appropriately (and who so far as I'm aware has always had a mohawk, so I'm not sure what that objection was about,) seems to be jumping and staring at something in surprise (that little yellow cloud thing sort of looks like it might be a movement indicator- besides which, his feet aren't on the ground, although I suppose he could have float cast on him). As is obvious, and has already been noted above, Strago is sort of bug-eyed here. Maybe the intention here was highlighting not only his age by allowing Amano to draw the giant eyes with giant wrinkles, but also to show an alertness and intensity not common for that same age demographic he otherwise references with the rest of the character design. Overall, though he might be thought of as "surprised" looking in this drawing, it dawns on me that "shocked" is a better word. I might also argue for, at least in part, intensely concerned- maybe the way he looked when Relm was caught in the burning mansion.

I'd make some comments on the other examples originally furnished, but they don't exist.

I guess my point is though: Yes, they are a bit comical looking, so laugh if you will, but I can't help but feel that the style was perfect for the subject. Maybe it would be tautological to mention it at this point, but what the hell: I looovvvveeee Yoshitaka Amano... and not just for Final Fantasy. Amano, unlike some other character designers I can think of, (a few of whom I even like,) even ignoring his serious art, in sketches and his character designs, even in the most off-center examples, exhudes not only style, but a flowing smoothness pleasing to my eye, and simple communicability.

To elaborate, I have never looked at a drawing of a character by Amano (even characters not first designed by him) and immediately not felt it to be a good representation of whoever it is of (assuming I was familiar with the character). Even if I didn't trust my first impression, all of the critical analysis, attempts to subvert the symbolism, and breakdowns of his more serious character art has led me back to that same beginning judgment.

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If you've been mod-o-fied,
It's an illusion, and you're in-between.
Don't you be tarot-fied,
It's just alot of nothing, so what can it mean?
~Frank Zappa

Sins exist only for people who are on the Way or approaching the Way

Quote (Glenn Magus Harvey @ 27th December 2010 21:32)

There's the one where Strago is on a motorbike.

That's my favourite Amano art !

This post has been edited by ZidaneTribal on 28th December 2010 08:09

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Currently playing Chrono Trigger !!
Currently looking forward to Don't Know.

MogMaster: You make an interesting assessment of Amano's style.

Perhaps you're right--he's not as good of a character designer, but perhaps much better as an artist.

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

GMH: I believe Narratorway made that distinction in the Amano vs Nomura topic. Honestly though, I have to say I like Amano quite a bit on both fronts.

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If you've been mod-o-fied,
It's an illusion, and you're in-between.
Don't you be tarot-fied,
It's just alot of nothing, so what can it mean?
~Frank Zappa

Sins exist only for people who are on the Way or approaching the Way

I find Amano's character designs to be wayyyy overly ornate. It fits characters like Gogo and Gilgamesh, but not others, such as Cecil.

This post has been edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on 30th December 2010 07:22

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

I would agree that that appears to be a look of shock on Strago's face and the impression his pose leaves of being taken aback by something. It leaves me wondering what an aged master magician and seasoned monster hunter who has knowledge of arcane arts that were nearly lost thousands of years ago could possibly be so startled by. However when Edgar gives that smug swave look makes me think more of his infamous womanizing ways. Perhaps I should be beaten for thinking this but when you put the two pictures together it reminds me of a scene in the midgame that went something like this:

"Hey baby, how old are you?"
"Ten years old."
"#*%&!"
[Cue edgar hanging his head down in shame.]

Pairing these two images together makes me think that maybe, possibly Strago could have overheard that exchange. Either that or the bugeyes aren't caused byt shock but rather an immense pain caused by a kick in the crotch so hard it suspended him in midair. Who knows?

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Role reversal at its finest.